Charles Deane collection, 1840-1909 (majority within 1848-1889)

Summary

Creator:

Deane, Charles, 1813-1889

Abstract:

This collection contains correspondence that Charles Deane, a merchant and historian based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, received in the mid-19th century. Deane's correspondents included ministers, historians, and politicians, who discussed American history, contemporary historiography, and the activities of historical societies in the Boston area.

Extent:

0.25 linear feet

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Cheney J. Schopieray, 2004, and Meg Hixon, February 2012

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection contains correspondence, gift acknowledgements, engraved portraits, and photographs related to Charles Deane, a merchant and historian based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Deane's correspondents included ministers, historians, and politicians, who discussed American history, contemporary historiography, and the activities of Boston-area historical societies.

The Correspondence series (165 items) contains 146 letters to Charles Deane, 5 letters to Robert C. Waterston, 4 letters to Helen Waterston Deane, and 10 letters to Deane's children and other recipients. Charles Deane's correspondents provided news of social events in Boston and Cambridge, particularly related to local historical and antiquarian societies. Many writers offered opinions on Deane's writings, acknowledged the receipt of his publications, or thanked Deane for reviewing their own material. Others discussed topics in American history. One partially printed invitation regards a "Popham Celebration" in honor of the founding of the first English colony in North America (August 10, 1869). Additional items include a condolence letter from Thomas Wentworth to Helen Deane after Charles Deane's death (November 14, 1889).

Charles Deane received 8 Gift Acknowledgements between April 17, 1845, and October 13, 1864, thanking him for contributions to the Harvard University Library (6 items), the Boston Public Library (1 item), and the Boston Athenaeum (1 item). The documents are signed by Josiah Quincy, John Langdon Sibley, and other library affiliates. Two Engraved Portraits depict William Ellery Channing (1780-1842) and Amos Lawrence (1786-1852).

The Photographs series contains 3 carte-de-visite studio portraits depicting William Ellery Channing, Ezra Stiles Gannett, and George Livermore.

Biographical / Historical:

Charles Deane was born in Biddeford, present-day Maine, on November 10, 1813, the son of Ezra Deane, a physician. He attended local schools before moving to Boston, where he worked for merchants Waterston, Pray & Company; he became a partner in 1840. In 1856, he published an annotated transcription of William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation and received an honorary master's degree from Harvard University. After his retirement in 1864, Deane devoted his time to historical studies, traveling throughout the United States and Europe. In 1871, he received an honorary law degree from Bowdoin College. Deane married Helen Waterston in 1841, and they had six children: Lucy, Mary, Charles, Walter, Ruthven, and George. Charles Deane died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on November 13, 1889.

Acquisition Information:

1994. M-2999.5 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series:

• Series I: Correspondence
• Series II: Gift Acknowledgments
• Series III: Engraved Portraits
• Series IV: Photographs

The first two series are arranged chronologically, with undated items placed at the end.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Alternate Locations

The cartes-de-visite are housed in the Graphics Division (C.3.17).

Related Materials

Additional Charles Deane manuscripts may be found in the Book Collectors collection and the Peter Force papers.

Four manuscripts related to Charles Deane are laid into books held by the William L. Clements Library:

• Francis Jewett Parker to Charles Deane, February 12, 1876. In: Parker, Francis Jewett. Colonel William Prescott: the Commander in the Battle of Bunker's Hill. Honor to Whom Honor is Due... Boston: A. Williams & co.
• Charles Deane ANS, February 22, 1876. In: Deane, Charles. Records of the Council for New England: Reprinted From the Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, for April, 1867. Cambridge: J. Wilson & son, 1867.
• Charles Deane to Henry Martyn Dexter, February 12, [1880]. In: Dexter, Henry Martyn. The Congregationalism of the Last Three Hundred Years, as Seen in Its Literature: With Special References to Certain Recondite, Neglected, or Disputed Passages. In Twelve Lectures, Delivered on the Southworth Foundation in the Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass., 1876-1879. With a Bibliographical Appendix. New York: Harper & brothers, 1880.
• Charles Deane to Samuel L. M. Barlow, March 16, 1886. In: Deane, Charles. John and Sebastian Cabot. Cambridge, Mass., 1886.

Charles Deane contributed to many published works, including the following items held by the Clements Library:

• Appleton, John. Catalogue of the Library of the Massachusetts Historical Society... Boston: Printed for the Society, 1859-1860.
• Belknap, Jeremy, and Charles Deane. Journal of a Tour to the White Mountains in July, 1784. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1876.
• Bradford, William, and Charles Deane. History of Plymouth Plantation. Boston: Little, Brown and company, 1856.
• Deane, Charles. A Bibliographical Essay on Governor Hutchinson's Historical Publications. Boston: Priv. print., 1857.
• Deane, Charles. The Cabot Legends. Ottawa: J. Durie & son [etc.], 1897.
• Deane, Charles. Catalogue of the Valuable Private Library of the Late Charles Deane: Comprising a Fine Collection of Rare Americana Including Early Voyages and Discoveries...To Be Sold by Auction March...1898...[by] C.F. Libbie & Co.... [Boston: Libbie Show Print, 1898.
• Deane, Charles. Memoir of George Livermore: Prepared Agreeably to a Resolution of the Massachusetts Historical Society... Cambridge: J. Wilson & son, 1869.
• Deane, Charles. Remarks on Hubbard's Map of New England. Cambridge, [Mass.]: J. Wilson and Son, 1888.
• Deane, Charles. Remarks on Sebastian Cabot's Mappemonde. Cambridge [Mass.]: Press of J. Wilson & son, 1867.
• Deane, Charles. Some Notices of Samuel Gorton: Chiefly Derived From Early Manuscripts... Boston: Coolidge & Wiley, 1850.
• Deane, Charles. Spurious Reprints of Early Books. Boston: [Cambridge, University press], 1865.
• Hakluyt, Richard, and Leonard Woods. A Discourse Concerning Western Planting. Cambridge: Press of J. Wilson and son, 1877.
• Smith, John, and Charles Deane. The Last Will and Testament of Captain John Smith: With Some Additional Memoranda Relating to Him... Cambridge [Mass.]: Press of J. Wilson and son, 1867.
• Smith, John, and Charles Deane. A True Relation of Virginia. Boston: Wiggin and Lunt, 1866.

Bibliography

Crompton, Samuel Willard. "Deane, Charles." American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press, 2000. DOI: 14-00137.

An inventory of the collection and brief additional information about contributors is available in the Manuscripts Division.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Gifts.
Historians--United States--Correspondence.
History Societies, etc.
Learned institutions and societies--Massachusetts.
Philanthropists--Charitable contributions.

Formats:

Acknowledgments.
Cartes-de-visite (card photographs)
Engravings (prints)
Invitations.
Letters (correspondence)
Portraits.

Names:

Boston Athenaeum.
Boston Public Library.
Harvard University. Library.
Channing, William Ellery, 1780-1842.
Gannett, Ezra S. (Ezra Stiles), 1801-1871.
Lawrence, Amos, 1786-1852.
Livermore, George, 1809-1865.
Abbot, Ezra, 1819-1884.
Adams, Charles Francis, 1807-1886.
Adams, Charles Francis, 1835-1915.
Arnold, Isaac Newton, 1815-1884.
Bancroft, George, 1800-1891.
Child, Francis James, 1825-1896.
Clarke, James Freeman, 1810-1888.
Convers, Francis, 1795-1863.
Eliot, Charles William, 1834-1926.
Ford, Worthington Chauncey, 1858-1941.
French, Daniel Chester, 1850-1931.
Frothingham, Richard, 1812-1880.
Garnett, George.
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, 1823-1911.
Hoar, E. R. (Ebenezer Rockwood), 1816-1895.
Hoar, George Frisbie, 1826-1904.
Lawrence, Abbott, 1792-1855.
Lawrence, Amos Adams, 1814-1886.
Lenox, James, 1800-1880.
Lincoln, Levi, 1782-1868.
Norton, Charles Eliot, 1827-1908.
Peabody, Andrew P. (Andrew Preston), 1811-1893.
Waterston, R. C. (Robert Cassie), 1812-1893.
Winthrop, Robert C. (Robert Charles), 1809-1894.

Places:

Boston (Mass.)--Social life and customs.
Cambridge (Mass.)--Social life and customs.
United States--Historiography.
United States--History.