Fanny Fern and Ethel Parton Papers, 1805-1982
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Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
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Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Fanny Fern and Ethel Parton Papers
Creation of Fanny Fern and Ethel Parton Papers
Time of Creation of Fanny Fern and Ethel Parton Papers
Fern, Fanny and Ethel Parton
Biographical History for: Fanny Fern and Ethel Parton Papers
Biographical Note Pen and ink drawing of Fanny Fern (Sara Willis Parton)by her daughter, Ellen Eldredge Parton, n.d. Sara Payson Willis Parton, author and newspaper columnist better known as Fanny Fern, was born in Portland, Maine on July 9, 1811 to Nathaniel Willis and Hannah Parker. The fifth of nine children, Sara was educated in Boston and at Catharine Beecher's seminary in Hartford, Connecticut. While still in school she occasionally contributed to her father's periodical for children, Youth's Companion. Willis married Charles Eldredge in 1837. The couple had three daughters, Mary, Grace, and Ellen. After the death of Eldredge in 1846, Willis married Boston merchant Samuel P. Farrington, whom she divorced three years later. After several dismal employment ventures, in 1851 she began writing under the name Fanny Fern for several small Boston magazines. Numerous newspapers soon picked up her humorous pieces. A collection of her writings was published in 1853 as Fern Leaves from Fanny's Port-Folio, an immediate bestseller. She married historian and biographer James Parton in 1856. Fanny Fern's other publications include two novels, Ruth Hall (1855) and Rose Clark (1856); and six collections of her columns including Fresh Leaves (1857), Folly as It Flies (1859), Ginger-Snaps (1870), and Caper-Sauce (1872). Her astounding success led to a regular weekly column in the New York Ledger, making her America's first women columnist. Fern's works incorporated wit and impudence, dealing with such topics as domestic problems, equality between the sexes, the double standard of morality, the need for parents to respect willful children, and tomboys. She deplored excessive housework and too large families, encouraged women to seek wider fields of endeavor, poked fun at the august male, and criticized conventional religion. A suffrage supporter after 1858, Fern was a co-founder of New York City's pioneer woman's club, Sorosis, in 1868. Fanny Fern died of cancer in New York on October 10,1872. Ethel Parton was born in New York on December 1,1862 to Mortimer Thomson (whose pen name was Q. K. Philander Doesticks) and Grace Eldredge, daughter of Sara Payson Willis Parton (Fanny Fern). Fanny Fern (her grandmother) and James Parton adopted her after the death of her mother. After Fanny Fern's death in 1872, James Parton married Ethel's aunt, Ellen Willis Eldredge, and the couple cared for Ethel along with their own children. Ethel was educated at home by James Parton, at the school of Jane Andrews, and at the Putnam Free School in Newburyport, Massachusetts. After high school Ethel worked for James Parton as "secretary, literary assistant, and occasional collaborator." She changed her surname to Parton on attaining her majority. After James Parton's death, Ethel was a correspondent for Youth's Companion (founded by her great-grandfather, Nathaniel Willis) and contributed verses and stories to St. Nicholas. At age 70, she began writing children's books. These included 6 titles, popularly known as "The Newburyport Chronicles" which were set in early 19th-century Newburyport: Melissa Ann (1932), Tabitha Mary (1933), Penelope Ellen (1936), Vinnie Applegay and Minnie Applegay (1937), Runaway Prentice (1939), The Lost Locket (1940), and The House Between (1943). Ethel Parton died in 1944.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Fanny Fern and Ethel Parton Papers contain 7 linear feet and consist primarily of biographical data, including photographs, and material pertaining to the two women's writings. The collection is actually two separate but related sets of papers and have been arranged as such, beginning with the Fanny Fern Papers (SERIES I -IV), and continuing with the Ethel Parton Papers (SERIES V - IX). Types of material include correspondence, photographs and daguerreotypes, typescripts, printed matter, books, artwork, and memorabilia. The bulk of the papers date from 1850 to 1944, although many of Ethel Parton's typescripts are undated and it is unclear how many of them ever reached publication. Items that may be of particular interest to researchers include Fanny Fern's correspondence; photographs and drawings of Fanny Fern and members of her extended family; early editions of books by Fanny Fern; typescripts of all of Fanny Fern's New York Ledger articles (1856-72), compiled by Florence Bannard Adams, as well as a run of original issues of the New York Ledger (1871-72) containing pieces by Fanny Fern; "Popular Pundit: Fanny Fern and the Emergence of the American Newspaper Columnist," a paper by Smith College senior Elaine Gelles Breslaw '56; and typescripts of two unpublished biographies of Fanny Fern: "Fanny Fern: An Informal Biography" by Ethel Parton and "Who on Earth Was Fanny Fern?" by Ruth Sexton Sargent.
Newspapers--New York (State)--New York--History--Sources
lcsh
Publishers and publishing--United States--History--Sources
American wit and humor--Women authors--19th century--Sources
Women authors, American--19th century--Sources
Authors, American--19th century--Sources
Children's literature--Authorship--19th century--Sources
Feminists--United States--History--19th century--Sources
Satire, American--19th century--Sources
Women journalists--United States--History-19th century-Sources
Fern, Fanny, 1911-1872
lcnaf
Parton, Ethel, 1862-1944
Thomson, Mortimer, 1831-1875
Doesticks, Q.K. Philander, 1831-1875
Willis, Nathaniel Parker, 1806-1867
Parton, James, 1822-1891
Beecher, Catharine Esther, 1800-1878
Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896
Parton family
Willis family
Hartford Female Seminary (Hartford, Conn.)--History
New-York ledger--History
series
SERIES I. FANNY FERN BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL (1805-1982)
This series contains correspondence; legal documents, including those relating to Fern's divorce from Samuel Farrington and to the situation with the family of her first husband, Charles Eldredge; a genealogy and a family history; and articles, clippings and typescripts. There correspondence, legal documents, and articles and clippings pertain to Fanny Fern and her family; the typescripts are of the unpublished biography of Fanny Fern by Ruth Sexton Sargent and the senior thesis by Elaine Gelles Breslaw.
[See also SERIES VIII. ETHEL PARTON WRITINGS]
SERIES II. FANNY FERN CORRESPONDENCE (1829-1870)
The series includes correspondence with Catharine Beecher, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Major Benjamin F. Butler, as well as with members of Fern's family.
SERIES III. FANNY FERN MEMORABILIA (n.d.)
This series consists of sketches; a memo book and a school album; a ceramic tile; and gloves lace, and fabric samples from Fern's wedding gown.
SERIES IV. FANNY FERN PHOTOGRAPHS (n.d.)
This series contains photographs, daguerreotypes, and a tintype of Fanny Fern and her family.
SERIES V. FANNY FERN WRITINGS (1850-1884)
The series consists of contracts, financial statements, typescripts, newspapers, and books by Fanny Fern and by others. The books are early editions and are very fragile.
SERIES VI. ETHEL PARTON BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL (1884-1980)
The series has in it correspondence pertaining to Ethel Parton material in the Newburyport (MA) Public Library, legal documents, photographs, clippings, memorabilia, and printed matter, as well as information about artist Nike Parton.
SERIES VII. ETHEL PARTON CORRESPONDENCE (1885-1945)
This series contains correspondence with family, friends and acquaintances and is limited in scope.
SERIES VIII. ETHEL PARTON WRITINGS (1896-1943)
This series consists of royalty statements, book reviews, contracts, correspondence, draft manuscripts and typescripts, notes, and fragments of writings. It includes a draft manuscript and a typescript of Parton's unpublished biography of Fanny Fern, "Fanny Fern: An Informal Biography."
SERIES IX. ARTWORK (1891-1943)
The series contains sketches by Parton, and drafts of hand made Christmas cards she created based on Dutch tile designs.
SERIES I. FANNY FERN BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL
Nat'l Union Catalogue of Mss. Colls., data sheet, Parton family history1968, n.d.
Willis family genealogyn.d.
Last Will and Testament, Mary Eldredge1857
Last Will and Testament and Letters Testamentary, Sara Payson Parton1873, n.d.
[see also OVERSIZE MATERIAL]
Legal documents pertaining to Hezekiah Eldredge1805-49, n.d.
Correspondence and legal documents, Farrington family1851-99, n.d.
Correspondence to Florence Snow from Hope Willis Rathbun re: Fanny Fern and family matters1966-67
Articles about Fanny Fern, including related correspondence1896-1971, n.d.
Clippings about Fanny Fern and other family members1874-1982, n.d.
Typescript, "Popular Pundit: Fanny Fern and the Emergence of the American Newspaper Columnist," by Elaine Gellis Bradshaw1956
Typescripts, "Who On Earth Was Fanny Fern?," by Ruth Sargentcirca 1978
SERIES II. FANNY FERN CORRESPONDENCE
Incoming
Beecher, Catharine1829, n.d.
Dana, Mary C.n.d.
Dodge, Mary A.1869
Eldredge, Charles to and from Fanny Fernn.d.
Flournoy, John James to Fanny Fern and Nathaniel P. Willis1830
Greenwood, Grace1870
Stowe, Harriet Beecher1868, n.d.
Torrey, E. Sutton to Fanny Fern1858
Outgoing
Butler, Major Benjamin F.n.d.
Eldredge, Ellen1871, n.d.
"Florence Fern," n.d.
Parton, Etheln.d.
Van Cleve, Mrs.n.d.
Willis, Richard S.1844
Other
Greene, Mrs. E. Ferguson to Ellen E. Parton1899
Willis, Katherine to Ellen Parton1931, n.d.
Willis, Mary to Nathaniel P. Willis1823
Willis, Nathaniel P., letter and versen.d.
SERIES III. FANNY FERN MEMORABILIA
Memo booksn.d.
Clipping and legal document, Town and Country Club of Newport, RIn.d.
Sketches of Fanny Fern by Ellen Eldredge Partonn.d.
Tile with handwritingn.d.
School albumn.d.
Fabric sample from wedding dresscirca 1837
Gloves and lace from wedding dresscirca 1837
SERIES IV. FANNY FERN PHOTOGRAPHS
Photocopies of photographs
Photographs of Fanny Fern and extended familyn.d.
Daguerreotypes
Grace Eldredgen.d.
Hannah Parker Willisn.d.
Grace Eldredge Thomson and Mark Thomsonn.d.
Grace Eldredge Thomsonn.d.
Ellen and Grace Eldredgen.d.
Ellen and Grace Eldredge as little girlsn.d.
Charles Eldredge, seated 1/2 face, full lengthn.d.
Charles Eldredge, profilen.d.
Charles Eldredge, seated facing left, 1/2 face, full lengthn.d.
Mark Thomson (?)n.d.
Edward Willisn.d.
Ellen Eldredge with her grandfathern.d.
Unidentified womann.d.
Tintype: two Willis children (possibly Harry and Josephine Jenkins,children of Mary Willis Jenkins)n.d.
SERIES V. FANNY FERN WRITINGS
Contracts, publishers checklists, statements, and advertisements1850-73, n.d.
Articles by Fanny Fern for The New York Ledger: typescripts1855-72
List of articles by Fanny Fern for the Olive Branch, the Boston True Flag, and the New York Ledger1851-62, located in bound volumes at the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA
The New York LedgerFeb 1871 - Feb 1872
Books by Fanny Fern
Caper Sauce1872
Fanny Fern: A Memorial Volume, ed. James Parton1873
Fern Leaves From Fanny's Portfolio (6 copies)1853-54
Ruth Hall: A Domestic Tale of the Present Time1855
Folly as it Flies1859
Fresh Leaves1857
Little Ferns1854
Rose Clark1856
Ruth Hall (2 copies)1855
Play Day Book: New Stories for Little Folk1857
Shadows and Sunbeams (2 copies)1881 (?), 1884
Books by others
Life and Beauties of Fanny Fern by an anonymous author1855
Rural Matters by Nathaniel Parker Willis1849
The Watchman by J.A.M.1855
SERIES VI. ETHEL PARTON BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL
Correspondence re: the Ethel Parton Papers in the Newburyport Public Library, Newburyport, MA1974-80
Graduation memorabilia, typescripts, and autobiographical sketches1880-1934, n.d.
Clippings: Dedication of Ethel Parton Reading Room at the Newburyport Public Library1905
80th birthday party at the Newburyport Public Library: photograph and card1942
Clippings and correspondence re: name change5 Feb 1884, n.d.
Marriage certificate, Mortimer Thomson and Grace Eldgedge1861
Silhouette of Ethel Parton by Frieda Castelhun1931
Memorabilia1865-68, n.d.
Draft manuscript for plaque inscription, Upper Green, Old Newbury, MA1895
Photographs
Ethel Parton and brother, Mark Partonn.d. (glass plate negative)
Ethel Partonn.d.
Parton family1862-79, n.d.
Thomson family1873-77, n.d.
Published article, "Great Auction Sale of Slaves" by Mortimer Thomson1859, and his obituary, 1875
Ellen Willis Eldredge Parton: correspondence and memorabilian.d.
Nike Parton: resume, clippings, and printed matter1956-77, n.d.
SERIES VII. ETHEL PARTON CORRESPONDENCE
Family
Parton, Ellen W. E.1887, 1897
Parton, Hugo1887-1931
Parton, Jamesn.d.
Parton, Mabel1887
Friends and acquaintances
Cushing, Fanny1885
Eckert, Robert P.1934
Flower, Milton1939
Hills, Laura1936, n.d.
Lawson, Marie A.1932, n.d.
Mulliken, Sarah E.1930, n.d.
Pearson, Edmund1912-80
Pederson, Rachel Field1938
Ruchione, Alice1945
Van Doren, Carl1939
Withington, Anne1914
Zlotnik, Mae W., to and from Ethel Parton1939
Bailey, Alice W.1899
Maynard, Harriet1937
Stevens, E.N.1928
SERIES VIII. ETHEL PARTON WRITINGS
Royalty statements1939-43
Reviews of books by Ethel Parton1931-37
Book Club listings1936-43
Correspondence
Publishers1930-43, n.d.
Wilford, Jessie Douglas1931-43, n.d.
Published prose
Books
The House Between (1943)
Draft manuscriptn.d.
Typescriptn.d.
Melissa Ann (1931): typescript of preface, n.d.
Penelope Ellen and Her Friends (1936): notesn.d.
The Year Without a Summer (1945): draft manuscriptn.d.
Articles and stories
Various stories in St. Nicholas1896-1910
"The Author of Penelope Ellen," Young Wings1936
"The Launch of the 'Mariana'," Youth's Companion1896
[see OVERSIZE MATERIAL]
Other stories1899-1940, n.d.
Unpublished prose (?)
"Art Enlivens the Way": draft manuscriptn.d.
"A Bit of Recaptured History": draft manuscriptn.d.
"At the Sign of the Proud Peacock": typescriptn.d. (incomplete)
"Charades": typescript and notesn.d.
"Dumb Immortals": typescriptn.d.
"Fanny Fern: An Informal Biography"
Draft manuscriptcirca 1928
Typescript (copy 1)n.d.
Typescript (copy 2)n.d.
Typescript (copy 3)n.d.
Correspondence and notes1940, n.d.
"Flower, Fruit and Fancy": typescriptn.d.
"Jan Vinges' Pea Patch": typescriptn.d.
"Nothing to Wear": typescriptn.d.
"Pigs and Peacocks," n.d.
"The Pocket Princess": typescriptn.d.
"Peter Duponceau": typescriptn.d.
"Peter's Luck": typescriptn.d.
"Three Teachers": typescriptn.d.
"When the Great Were Little": typescriptn.d.
Unidentified fragmentsn.d.
Published and unpublished verse
"The Ballad of the Borrowing Lady": draft manuscriptn.d.
"Children and Childish Fancies": draft manuscript and typescriptsn.d.
"Colonial period": notes and typescriptsn.d.
"Gift Verses": draft manuscripts1939-40
"Revolutionary period": draft manuscripts and typescriptsn.d.
"The White Cub": draft manuscriptn.d.
Miscellaneous versen.d.
SERIES IX. ARTWORK
Sketches1891-93, n.d.
Drawings and verse for "Delft tile Christmas cards," 1932-43
Books by Ethel Parton, added to the collection in 2005
The House Between: A Story of the 1850s, 1943 (2 copies)
Melissa Ann: A Little Girl of the Eighteen Twenties, 1931
The Mule of the Parthenon and Other New Stories of Ancient Greece, 1932
Penelope Ellen and Her Friends: Three Little Girls of 1840, 1936
Runaway Apprentice: The Story of Jeffrey, Susan, Tris, and Tibby in the Year 1800, 1939 (2 copies)
Tabitha Mary: A Little Girl of 1810, 1933 (3 copies)
The Year Without a Summer: A Story of 1816, 1945
OVERSIZE MATERIAL
Letters Testamentary, Sara Payson Parton (Fanny Fern)1873
Legal documents pertaining to Hezekiah Eldredge1878, n.d.
Contract between Sara Eldredge (Fanny Fern) and Derby Miller1853
Marriage annullment between Sara Farrington (Fanny Fern) and Samuel Farrington1853
Youth's Companion10 September 1896
Letters from John Flournoy to Sara P. Willis (Fanny Fern) and Nathaniel Willis, her father1830
"Notice" by Samuel Farrington in The Bee25 Feb 1851
Portland Transcript12 December 1852
Petition of James Parton and Ellen Eldredge Parton to the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts14 Feb 1876