Richard Frothingham Papers II 1614-1895 Guide to the Collection

Table of Contents Collection Summary Biographical Sketch Collection Description Related Materials Arrangement Acquisition Information Organization Detailed Description of the Collection Preferred Citation Access Terms

Collection Summary

Biographical Sketch

Richard Frothingham was born in Charlestown, Mass. to Richard Frothingham and Mary Thompson in 1812. In 1833 he married Vrylena Blanchard and had six children. In 1834 he became the treasurer for the Middlesex Canal Company and remained at that position until 1860. During that time he wrote articles for the Boston Post and, in 1852, became one of its proprietors and managing editor; he remained a contributor until 1865.

Throughout his life Richard Frothingham was active in government and his community. Between 1847 and 1877, he served as treasurer at the Massachusetts Historical Society. He was also active in Tufts College and the Universalist Church. Politically he was active both locally and nationally with the Democratic Party as mayor of Charlestown from 1851 to 1853, a representative to the state legislature, a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, an an unsuccessfully candidate for U.S. Congress several times.

Richard Frothingham was best known for his work as a historian. He wrote several works relating to local and Revolutionary War history including History of the Siege of Boston (1849), Life and Times of Joseph Warren (1865), The Rise of the Republic of the United States (1873), and a History of Charlestown that remained unpublished. He died in 1880.

Collection Description

The papers of Richard Frothingham consist of research notes and original documents collected primarily for his History of Charlestown including lists of early settlers, copies of the proceedings of the town government, and a large quantity of Revolutionary War-era materials. The collection also contains four annotated copies of his work: History of the Siege of Boston (two editions), Life and Times of Joseph Warren, and The Rise of the Republic. Inserted into the works are notes, newspaper clippings, and illustrations.

Also included is a large quantity of personal papers including correspondence, some referring to his grandfather, Richard Frothingham's attempts to recover payment due to him from his service in Col. Gridley’s Regiment of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, newspaper clippings, a scrapbook of reviews of his works, and volume entitled In Memoriam commemorating Major William F. Clark of the 30th Mass. Infantry, who lost his life during the Civil War. Correspondents include General John E. Wool, Robert C. Winthrop, R.C. Waterston, Justin Winsor, George Washington Warren, and others. Nine volumes of his journals from his early twenties to mid-thirties contain his thoughts on politics and society as well as discussions of his readings.

Related Materials

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) holds the following collections related to the Richard Frothingham papers II:

Richard Frothingham papers, 1685-1895. Finding aid available at: http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0159.

Richard Frothingham Charlestown papers, 1634-1890. Finding aid available at: http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0087.

Arrangement

Frothingham's research notes are arranged topicially under the headings assigned by him.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Thomas G. Frothingham, Oct. 1959.

Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized into the following series:

Detailed Description of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Richard Frothingham papers II, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.