Levi Stockbridge Papers, 1841-1978
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Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric S. Cartier. 2003-05-29
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Levi Stockbridge Papers
Creation of Levi Stockbridge Papers
Time of Creation of Levi Stockbridge Papers
Stockbridge, Levi, 1820-1904
Biographical History for: Levi Stockbridge Papers
Biographical Note Levi Stockbridge was born in Hadley, Massachusetts on March 13, 1820 to a well-known family of agriculturalists, lawyers, and educators. He attended local schools as a boy, and due largely to his own initiative and efforts, became a widely respected expert and pioneer in agriculture. He also had a reputation as a fine public speaker, a talent he cultivated at the local lyceum. Stockbridge came to Massachusetts Agricultural College (M.A.C.) in 1867 as an instructor in agricultural research. During his tenure as instructor and president of M.A.C. (1867-1882), he conducted many experiments and developed experimental methods and formulas on manuering, and chemical fertilization, which won him wide acclaim. Stockbridge was also a consumer advocate of the time, demanding that public trials of farm equipment take place on the grounds M. A. C. Stockbridge enjoyed the respect and devotion of his students. He was firm and demanding with them, as demonstrated in his carefully kept attendance and labor records, as well as fair and compassionate, often loaning money to his students and even to the college during hard times. As a noted agriculturalist, he served on the Massachusetts Cattle Commission from 1869-1891, and on the State Board of Agriculture for 12 years. His work on the Cattle Commission dealt to a great extent with control of contagious diseases among cattle. Stockbridge participated in civic affairs and politics. A stalwart of the Grange, he was a leader in the cooperative movement. He served as a town selectman, town moderator, and assessor at various times for the town of Amherst, as well as a state legislator - elected to the House of Representatives in 1855, 1870, and 1883, and serving in the Senate from 1865 -1866. He was unsuccessful in a bid for a U.S. Congress seat on the 1880 Labor-Greenback party ticket. Stockbridge remained active lecturing and traveling until his death on May 2, 1904, at the age of 84.
Acquired pre-1972, for the most part, with no record of source; later additions from Stockbridge family via John M. Stockbridge (1977 and 1979) and from Mrs. John L. Blanchard (1962).
Scope and Contents of the Collection Correspondence, personal notebooks, travel diary, journal as a farmer (1842-1845), drafts of articles and reports, published writings, lecture notes, notes on experiments, clippings, photocopies of personal and legal records, and biographical material, including reminiscences by Stockbridge's daughter; together with college rules and routines, review notes and examinations, committee notes, records of college finances, student attendance, student labor, payments to students, laboratory work, and work on buildings, auction records and assessor's notes, notebook of Amherst, Massachusetts town records (1876-1890), and printed matter about Amherst and national elections including some about his candidacy for Congress on Labor-Greenback party ticket 1880; and papers (13 items) of Stockbridge's son, Horace Edward Stockbridge (1857-1930), agricultural chemist and educator including letter (1885) from him to the elder Stockbridge, written from Japan while he was professor of chemistry and geology at Hokkaido University, handwritten recollections of Japan by his wife, Belle, and biographical material.
The collection is open for research.
Processed by Michael C. King, 1975.
Agriculturists--Massachusetts--History--Sources.
lcsh
Agriculture--Experimentation--History--Sources.
Legislators--Massachusetts--History--19th century--Sources.
Stockbridge, Levi, 1820-1904.
lcnaf
Stockbridge family.
Massachusetts Agricultural College--History--Sources.
Massachusetts Agricultural College--Presidents--History--Sources.
Massachusetts Agricultural College--Students--History--Sources.
Massachusetts Cattle Commission--History--Sources.
Greenback Labor Party (U.S.)--History--Sources.
Amherst (Mass.)--Politics and government--19th century--Sources.
Massachusetts--Politics and government--1865-1950--Sources.
aat
series
Series 1: Writings
Creation of Series 1: Writings
Time of Creation of Series 1: Writings
Public Lectures are arranged in alphabetical order by title, one manuscript per folder, and include speeches, essays, and lectures delivered before various groups. Many of the dates and groups to which these lectures were delivered are unknown. The School Lectures were those addressed to his classes in 1868-1869. The Publications folder contains pamphlets reporting on Levi Stockbridge's experiments and work. Drafts of encyclopedia articles are found in folder 31. Folder 32 contains reports and petitions to various governmental bodies. For reports of entire committees on which Stockbridge served, see Series III under Committee Records and Reports. Experiments and notations appear in folder 33. Featured here is his record of the plant, soil, and evaporation experiments of 1878. This is the subject of his 1879 publication, found in folder 30. The final folder of the series includes questions that were drafted for presentation to Dr. Bailey through the public press concerning tuberculosis.
Series 2. Student and School Records
Creation of Series 2. Student and School Records
Time of Creation of Series 2. Student and School Records
Includes M.A.C. Financial Records, Class Attendance Records, Class Labor Records, and Miscellaneous. Financial records of Stockbridge are handwritten in notebooks for the years 1867, 1869, and 1880. Folders 36-46 hold class attendance records and class labor records for the years 1870-1882, arranged in chronological order. The folder labeled Miscellaneous includes copies of exam questions, rules, work records, and other M.A.C. matters, arranged chronologically.
Series 3. Subject File
Creation of Series 3. Subject File
Time of Creation of Series 3. Subject File
Includes Auction Records, Biographical Information, Certificates, Clippings, Committee Records and Reports, Letters from Levi Stockbridge, Letters to Levi Stockbridge, Letters and Correspondence Concerning Stockbridge Family Lineage, Miscellaneous, Personal Notes, and Town Business. It should be noted here that photographs of Levi Stockbridge originally contained in this collection are located in the photo file of the University Archives. Biographical information includes diaries, tributes, and character sketches. A number of certificates included here document some of the varied activities of Stockbridge in public and private life. The Clippings contain references to the work of Levi Stockbridge, and references to his family. A notebook of selected clippings kept by Stockbridge himself is included. Folders designated Committee Reports and Records include notes, records, and printed reports from the committees on which Stockbridge served. These were produced from 1855 to 1893, with the bulk in the 1870s and 1880s. Letters, both to and from Levi Stockbridge, cover a variety of subjects -- educational, agricultural and personal. Some are originals, some rough drafts, and some are copies. Folder 64 holds letters and notes to and from family members with regard to establishing a family tree. A letter from Samuel Wright Stockbridge to his father, written in 1822 is from an uncle of Levi Stockbridge's. The Miscellaneous folder includes a deed, published essays by his son, Horace, a Grand Council code book, campaign handbills, and a Grange Store commemorative booklet, arranged in alphabetical order. Stockbridge kept a small notebook with an alphabetical listing of certain philosophical sayings and statements which he may have used in his writing or lecturing. Also, in this notebook (in folder 66) are some assessor's notes. Folder 67 contains two notebooks filled with notations on various town matters for the years 1889 - 1890.
Public Lecture - "Agricultural Advantages of Mass." 1871
Public Lecture - "Agricultural Life" n.d.
Public Lecture - "Agricultural Education" n.d.
Public Lecture - "The Agriculture of Eastern Hampshire County" 1871
Public Lecture - Lecture notes on New York Commission's investigations on abortion (1867-1869) n.d.
Public Lecture - "Appreciation of the Art of Agriculture" 1868
Public Lecture - "Crop Rotation" 1869
Public Lecture - "Does Farming Pay? n.d.
Public Lecture - "Elements of Different Nationalities" n.d.
Public Lecture - "Feeding Plants and Manuering the Soil" n.d.
Public Lecture - First address on agriculture to first class of Mass. Agricultural College 1867
Public Lecture - "For the Locomotive" 1867
Public Lecture - "Has the Building of Railroads Been as Much Advantage to the Agricultural as the Mercantile Interests of the Community?" n.d.
Public Lecture - "Large and Small Farms" n.d.
Public Lecture - "The Management of Pastures" (2 copies- 1 typed, 1 handwritten) n.d.
Public Lecture - "The New England Town System" 1888
Public Lecture - "On Education" n.d.
Public Lecture - "Phrenology" December, 1841
Public Lecture - "Phrenology" January, 1842
Public Lecture - "Progress - Has It Made the Mass of Mankind Happier?" n.d.
Public Lecture - "The Relations and Mutual Dependence of Our Producing Industries" n.d.
Public Lecture - "A Ride Through Wonderland" (Yellowstone Park) n.d.
Public Lecture - "Run Out Pastures - How Shall I Keep the Boys on the Farm?" n.d.
Public Lecture - "Shays' Rebellion'' n.d.
Public Lecture -Temperance" 1845
Public Lecture - "What I Saw Between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean" (p. 1, 2, & 5) 1884
Public Lecture - "Who Pays the Bills?" n.d.
Public Lecture - "Wholesomeness in Farm Buildings" 1890
School Lectures - 2 notebooks 1868-69
Publications
"The Stockbridge Fertilizers and Formulas" (W.H. Bowker) 1876
"Investigations on Rainfall, Percolation, and Evaporation of Water from the Soil, Temperature of Soil and Air, Deposition of Dew on the Soil and Plant" (2 copies) 1879
Encyclopedia Articles
"Stockbridge Manures" 1877
"Root Crops" 1882
Reports and Petitions
Report to Dept. of Agriculture 1872
Petition that M.A.C. not be made part of Amherst College n.d.
Report to Committee on Grain Crops n.d.
Experiments and Notes
Evaporation - Plant and Soil Experiment 1878
See Series I, Folder 30
Notes on the Investigations of 1878 (3 of 4 pages) 1878
Report on Experiments and Investigations from 1868 - 1879 1879
Notes - Questions prepared to pose to Dr. Bailey through the public press (re: tuberculosis) n.d.
Reports published in the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture- Massachusetts 1856-1872
Reports published in the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture 1873-1893
School Financial Records (3 notebooks, 2 sheets) 1867, 1869, 1880
Class Attendance Records (1 notebook) 1870-1871
Class Attendance Records (3 notebooks) 1871-1873
Class Attendance Records (3 notebooks) 1873-1874
Class Attendance Records (6 notebooks) 1874-1876
Class Attendance Records (6 notebooks) 1876-1878
Class Attendance Records (5 notebooks) 1878-1879
Class Attendance Records (3 notebooks) 1880-1882
Class Attendance Records (1 notebook) n.d.
Class Labor Records (1 notebook) 1868-1869
Class Labor Records (1 notebook) 1869-1870
Class Labor Records (1 notebook) 1872-1873
Class Labor Records (2 notebooks) 1878-1879
Laboratory Record (1 notebook) n.d.
Notebook work done on buildings credited to farm 1868
2 sheets payments made to students 1868
Exam - Sophomore Class 1869
Freshman Review Notes 1872
Exam for Grinell Prizes - Senior Class 1878
Routines and Rules (M.A.C.) 1881-1882
Auction Records (also some assessor's notes) 1865
Biographical Information (Diary)
"Farmer's Journal" - handwritten 1842 - 1845
"Farmer's Journal" - typed 1842 - 1845
Biographical Information - Travel Diary 1888, 1891
Florida, West Coast, Canada n.d.
Biographical Information
"A Tribute to Levi Stockbridge" (3 copies - 1 bound, 2 paper) by W. H. Bowker June 14, 1904
"Levi Stockbridge and the Stockbridge Principle on Plant Feeding"(2 copies - Excerpts from Bowker's Tribute) 1911
Speech honoring Levi Stockbridge June 17, 1913
Speech honoring Levi Stockbridge by W. H. Bowker June 17, 1913
Address by W. H. Bowker on dedication of Stockbridge Hall October 29, 1915
Character sketches (2) n.d.
"Reminisences of Levi Stockbridge", by his daughter, Anna Stockbridge Tuttle n.d.
Excerpts from "Reminisences of Levi Stockbrige" n.d.
Certificates - pertaining to the life and activities of Levi Stockbridge 1850, 1855, 1865, 1869, 1885, 1892, 1897, n.d.
Clippings
Levi Stockbridge speech note, to Mass. Board of Agriculture 1867
"Tobacco Culture in the Connecticut Valley" November 2, 1870
"Stockbridge House" December 11, 1934
Anna Stockbridge Tuttle 1940
Notebook kept by Levi Stockbridge containing various newspaper clippings n.d.
Committee Records and Reports
Committee on Removal of County Buildings- Berkshire County (notes) 1855
Cattle Commission (notes) 1871
Cattle Commission Report to Legislature 1882
Agriculture Committee (notes) 1883
Cattle Commission Annual Reports (2) 1887, 1889
Cattle Commission (notes) 1882-1892
Inspection of Tubers and Glanders (notes) 1892-1893
Letters from Levi Stockbridge
Stockbridge, Francis May 2, 1864
Trustees of M.A.C. December, 1868
Mr. Dodge June, 1875
Postcard 1877
Winchester, J.P. April, 1888
Tuttle, Mary S. March 14, 1902
President Clark and trustees (Pres. M.A.C.) n.d.
to editor (defending his formulas) n.d.
to New York Atlas n.d.
Letters to Levi Stockbridge
Russell, Fred May, 1862
Figuet, D.D. May, 1880
Figuet, D.D. June, 1880
Figuet, D.D. July, 1880
Berry, A. July, 1880
Winchester, J.F. April, 1888
Underwood, N. Orison June, 1896
Letters and Correspondence concerning Stockbridge Family Lineage
Stockbridge, Helen S. to B.B. Wood (M.A.C. Librarian) April 18, 1929
Tuttle, Anna Stockbridge to George Hawley (2 copies) January 20, 1934
Tuttle, Anna Stockbridge to Rand, Prof. F.P. February 20, 1934
Tuttle, Anna Stockbridge to President Baker February 24, 1934
Hand, Prof. F.P. to Anna Stockbridge Tuttle February 24, 1934
Tuttle, Anna Stockbridge to Prof. F.P. Rand February 26, 1934
Rand, Prof. F.P. to Anna Stockbridge Tuttle March 2, 1934
Tuttle, Anna Stockbridge to Prof. F.P. Rand March 9, 1934
Memo - to Anna Stockbridge Tuttle for information March 15, 1934
Wood, B.B. to J.S. Stockbridge March 23, 1934
Wood, B.B. to Derry L. Stockbridge March 23, 1934
Stockbridge, J.S. to B.B. Wood April 16, 1934
Rand F.P. to Anna Stockbridge Tuttle n.d.
Wood, B.B. to Irving L. Speare March 6. 1945
Speare, Irving L. to B.B. Wood March 8, 1945
Wood, B.B. to I.L. Speare April 21, 1945
Speare, I.L. to B.B. Wood April 24, 1945
Miscellaneous notes on family lineage (6 pieces) 1945
Miscellaneous
Deed - Bangs, Howard to Levi Stockbridge 1845
Grand Council Code Book 1854
Grange Store 50th Anniversary 1927
Handbills for 1880 political campaign 1880
Personal Notes - notebook, including some assessors notes n.d.
Town Business (2 notebooks) 1889 - 1990
Family Papers rcd. 1974
Family Tree and List of Living Descendants