John Fairfield papers

Collection

Identifier: Coll. 145

Staff Only

Scope and Content note

These are primarily letters to John Fairfield from various political figures, family members and his law partner, William P. Haines, from 1821-1847. Letters in each folder are in chronological order with the letter writer’s name, date and location. Papers also include documents, accounts, and certificates. Some of the items are from after John Fairfield’s death.

Dates

Creation: 1802 - 1859
Creation: Majority of material found within 1821 - 1847

Creator

Fairfield, John, 1797-1847 (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

John Fairfield (1797-1847) was an attorney and politician from Maine. He served as a U.S. Congressman, governor and U.S. Senator. On September 25, 1825, Fairfield married Anna Paine Thornton, the daughter of Dr. Thomas G. Thornton, a former U.S. Marshal for Maine and a niece of Richard Cutts and Anna Paine Cutts. They were the parents of nine children, and Mrs. Fairfield died in 1882.

Extent

6 Linear Feet (12 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Container list

Box 1: Letters, Jan. 1821-Dec. 1837
Box 2: Letters, January-August 1838 + undated
Box 3: Letters, September 1838-February 1839
Box 4: Letters, Mar. 1-Apr. 29, 1839
Box 5: Letters, May, 1839 – Dec. 22, 1840
Box 6: Letters, Jan. 11, 1841 – Dec. 30, 1842
Box 7: Letters, Jan. 1, 1843-Dec. 31, 1844
Box 8: Letters, Jan. 1 – Dec. 26, 1845
Box 9: Letters: Jan. 12, 1846 – May 27, 1847; Ledger: letters, 1829-1837; receipt book, 1855-1859 (very fragile)
Box 10: Legal documents, accounts, business records, correspondence, 1802-1845
Box 11: Family letters, letters from William P. Haines, law partner, 1824-1847
Box 12: Military & state papers, certificates, 1824-1847

Provenance

Gift of Mr. & Mr. Henry Owens of Saco, Maine, early 1960s (acc. no. MS00-19). They are direct descendants through Miss Elizabeth Ring, and lived in Fairfield’s mansion in Saco.

Processing note

There was a preliminary list of the letters in chronological order, probably done in the 1960s. At some other point, the letters were put into folders, but the list did not show which letters were in which box or folder. Every folder was checked, checking the dates on the letters and marking off each box and folder from the list. There were many letters in the folders that were not on the list, so separate lists were made and integrated into this finding aid. There were letters on the list that were not in the folders - they are indicated. All folders were changed to archival folders.

Box 10 was processed by Nancy Noble, MHS Archivist – documents were originally folded, some tied with tying tape, and some kept together with rubber bands. The documents were unfolded, and kept together, if possible, although there were many folded documents loose in the box. Whenever possible the original title on the packet was used as the folder title.