Benjamin Carson family correspondence

Collection

Identifier: Coll. 4234

Staff Only

Scope and Content note

This collection consists entirely of letters written by Benjamin Carson to his wife and son while traveling for work. The letters share details of the towns he visited, the people he met, his sales (and lack thereof), and the weather. A desk calendar from a hotel frequented by Carson in Calais, Maine, is also included.

Dates

1917 - 1934

Creator

Carson, Benjamin (Person)

Access

Unrestricted

Copyright

Access to collections at Maine Historical Society is not an authorization to publish. Rights and reproduction requests may be submitted in writing to the MHS Image Services Coordinator or Research & Administrative Librarian, subject to format.

Biographical note

Benjamin Carson of Houlton, Maine, was a traveling shoe salesman. Frequently on the road around the state of Maine, he wrote often to his wife Edith (née McIntosh) and their son, Merton, while traveling.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Provenance

Gift of E. Christopher Livesay, June 20 and June 27, 2022 (acc. no. 2023.021).

Processing note

E. Christopher Livesay gifted these papers to MHS as part of a larger donation of material compiled over decades as a collector of Maine-related manuscripts and books. All of the material from the donation shares accession number 2023.021.

The material arrived in two folders: letters and envelopes. Additional folders were created to improve housing and letters were arranged chronologically. The envelopes were housed in the collection’s final folder and numbered to correspond with the letters. The material was processed as an individual collection.