Jonas and Seth C. Burnham papers

Collection

Identifier: Coll. 4235

Staff Only

Scope and Content note

The collection consists of poems, essays, speeches, and themes by the two Burnhams. Most of the material was composed while the creators were students at Bowdoin College. Many pieces are heavily edited and a couple bear comments by a professor.

Dates

Creation: 1819 - 1857

Creator

Burnham, Jonas (1798-1889) (Person)
Burnham, Seth C. (1837-1901) (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

Jonas Burnham (1798-1889) of Farmington, Maine, graduated from Bowdoin College in 1823. He married Jane Merrill, became a clergyman, and worked at Farmington Academy and the May School. Their son, Seth C. Burnham (1837-1901), also attended Bowdoin College, class of 1855. He worked as a lawyer and banker, eventually moving to Boston and then Worcester, Massachusetts.

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 papers arrived in two different groups but were merged into one collection upon closer examination and research into the creators. The items were rehoused and the material was processed as an individual collection.