New Manuscripts Finding Aids, August 2026

Many manuscripts collections have been processed and made available for research, ranging from a Broadway Theaters scrapbook depicting a “School of Educated Dogs” to the papers of WWII veteran Robert S. Simpson, who helped establish a typhus hospital at the liberated Allach concentration camp. As always, all are welcome to visit the Clements to research these materials in person.

Broadway Theaters scrapbook, 1864-1882

An unidentified individual created this scrapbook to collect materials about productions put on at four Broadway theaters in New York City between 1864 and 1882: Broadway Theatre, Olympic Theatre, Hofele’s Theatre, and two items from Barney Williams’ Broadway Theatre. Materials include printed images, sections of posters, playbills, programs, and more, representing over 34 Broadway acts, over 40 actors and actresses, and a number of stage scenes.

J. L. Davis with his “School of Educated Dogs” as featured in the Broadway Theaters scrapbook

Maria and Elizabeth Burton papers, 1835-1880

These papers contain correspondence, compositions, diaries, and other material belonging to Maria and Elizabeth Burton, two sisters from Wilton, New Hampshire. The Burtons were a well-educated, well-connected, and reform-minded family. Maria and Elizabeth were both school teachers who wrote fiction and poetry in their free time, and the bulk of the Burtons’ papers consist of compositions either authored or collected by the sisters in the 1830s and 1840s. Additional material consists of Elizabeth Burton’s personal correspondence, two diaries, a literary association constitution, and documents from the Lexington Normal School, which the sisters attended.

Fairfield Catholic Library record book, 1805-1872

This volume contains records of purchases, bylaws, meeting notes, financial accounts, and member registers of the Fairfield Catholic Library from its establishment in 1805 to its dissolution in 1832. The subscription library, which was located in Fairfield, New York, and composed of between 20 to 40 members each year, lent subscribers books for an annual fee. Between 1837 and 1872, members of the Buell family of Fairfield used this volume intermittently, primarily to record financial transactions.

Fulton-Donnelly-Wilson family papers, 1844-1922

The Fulton-Donnelly-Wilson Family Papers include correspondence, financial and legal documents, notebooks, printed items, and objects associated with this Ohio farming family. The papers date to the late-19th and early-20th centuries and largely belonged to Civil War veteran Zephaniah Fulton. Zephaniah and his son John Peter Fulton’s financial management of the farm is documented as well as Zephaniah’s military service. Zephaniah’s wife Mary Love received letters from her extended family, some regarding the 1918-1920 flu pandemic. Two early documents originated with the Donnelly branch of the family.

Gift of Linda Wilson, 2019

William H. Jordan papers, 1808-1918

These papers contain the correspondence, documents, writings, and photographs of Captain William H. Jordan of Grass Lake, Michigan. Jordan served in the 11th Regiment of the Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War and most of his papers date to that period or feature Jordan’s reflections on it. The bulk of Jordan’s correspondence consists of letters home to his wife Frances “Fannie” Jordan in which he wrote about camp life, battles and raids, and his health. Other letters illuminate his political connections. Jordan’s writings provide additional detailed accounts of his time in the army, his interest in genealogy, and his political activities.

Gift of William C. Jordan, 2019

Luther C. Newton ledger, 1837-1862, 1879-1880

This ledger (approximately 100 pages) was kept by New Hampshire papermaker and day laborer Luther C. Newton. It documents his financial transactions between 1837 and 1862. Newton recorded entries from Warner, New Hampshire (1837-1841), Hancock, New Hampshire (1842), and Bennington, New Hampshire (1843-1862). The volume also contains later entries from 1879 and 1880 by Newton’s son, John Willard Newton. Entries are grouped by account holders and an incomplete index of accounts is included at the beginning of the volume. Seventeen pieces of ephemera (primarily scrap paper containing notes and arithmetic) are laid into the volume.

Collection processed and finding aid created by graduate intern Diana Baxter.

Robert S. Simpson papers, 1903-2005 (majority within 1941-1945)

This collection contains the documents, writings, photographs, and other materials of Battle Creek, Michigan, physician and World War II veteran Robert S. Simpson. The bulk of Simpson’s papers date to his wartime military service during which he instructed technicians at Fort Benjamin Harrison and served in English, French, and German hospitals. Of particular note, in Germany, Simpson helped establish a typhus hospital at the liberated Allach concentration camp.

Gift of Michael Simpson, 2019

Leonard Stout account book, 1843-1850

This account book was originally owned by plasterer George W. Collins and later purchased and owned by plasterer Leonard Stout. The first nine pages were penned by Collins and record “Rules of the Work of Plasterers in Cincinnati”. This section includes a “Bill of Prices” for labor and materials, stucco work, rough casting work, and extras; as well as eight “Rules for Measuring”. Later pages were kept by Stout and account for plastering work and other labor performed by Stout and colleagues, boarding expenses, debts, and credits for labor paid in both cash and in bartered resources.

Collection processed and finding aid created by graduate intern Theresa Azemar.

Sally Batchelder diary and boarding house ledger, 1855-1876

Sally Batchelder used this volume from 1855 to 1859 as a ledger to record financial transactions related to the boarding house she kept at Bumstead Place in Boston, Massachusetts. From 1861 to 1876 she used it as a diary, reflecting on her experiences living at the Home for Aged Women in Boston and documenting her religious and social life.

Jacob S. Hoffman scrapbooks, 1876-1894 (majority within 1880-1893)

Jacob S. Hoffman compiled these two scrapbooks between 1876 and 1917, clipping and pasting theater playbills, programs, advertisements, and other printed ephemera into repurposed copies of Report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (1884). Content relates to opera houses and theaters, vaudeville and comedy troupes, and other performances mainly in the Mid-Atlantic region. These include productions he participated in as an actor, stage manager, and in other roles. The second volume includes more content relating to circuses, animal and comedy shows, freak or side shows, and businesses relating to the entertainment industry.

Jacob S. Hoffman scrapbook