COLLECTION GUIDES

1798-1984

Guide to the Collection

Restrictions on Access

The Blake-Clapp Arguimbau family papers are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.


Collection Summary

Abstract

This collection consists of the papers of the interrelated Blake, Clapp, and Arguimbau families, primarily family and personal correspondence, but also diaries, sermons, poetry, and other papers.

Collection Description

The Blake-Clapp-Arguimbau family papers contain correspondence, diaries, subject files, poetry, and other papers of three interrelated families.

The bulk of the collection consists of family and personal correspondence among Clifford Blake Clapp, Lawrence Baker Arguimbau, Elinor Clapp Arguimbau, Nicholas Clapp Arguimbau, Ellen Hubbs Arguimbau, and Reginald deCourcy Arguimbau.

The papers of Lawrence Arguimbau include his diaries on gardening and the raising of daylilies in Onset and Lancaster, Mass.; correspondence; and subject files, including papers related to his role as a faculty member at the Mass. Institute of Technology and testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950s.

Also included are sermons, lectures (most on temperance), poetry, and two diaries (1856, 1861-1864) kept by Jonathan Blake, a town official and historian of Warwick, Mass., as well as poetry and other writings of Martha Merriam Blake.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Ellen H. Arguimbau, Edith A. Davidson, and Nicholas C. Arguimbau, Jan. 1997.

Restrictions on Access

The Blake-Clapp Arguimbau family papers are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

Detailed Description of the Collection

I. Jonathan Blake papers, 1798-1887

A. Sermons and lectures, 1832-1887

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 1

Sunday School reports, 1836, 1841

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 2-5

Sunday School sermons, 1832-1844

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 6-13

Misc. sermons and lectures, undated

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 14

Misc. sermons and lectures, 1835-1853

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 15-19

Lyceum speeches, undated

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 20

Writings on temperance, undated

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 21

Writings on temperance, Feb. 1887

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 22

Speeches on railroads, undated

B. Poetry, 1803-1887

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 23-24

Undated

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 25

1803-1821

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 26

1836-1839

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 27

1840-1849

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 28

1841-1851 (gathering of leaves)

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 29

1850-1851

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 30

1852

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 31

1853

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 32

1854-1859

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 33

1866-1887

C. Miscellaneous, 1798-1855

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 34

History of Warwick, undated

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 35

List of distribution of Abner Goodell's estate (Jonathan Blake, administrator), undated

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 36

List of Warwick residents with their cattle [tax list], undated

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 37

Deeds, 1798, 1803

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 38

Justice of Peace commission, 1814-1855

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 39

Jonathan Blake, Sr. will, 1825, probated 1837

D. Bound volumes, 1853-1864

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 40

Poetry, 1853-1854

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 41

Diary, 1856

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 42

Diary, 1861-1864

II. Martha Merriam Blake Clapp papers, 1828-1890

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 43

Published poetry, undated

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 44

Poetry book, 1828-1862

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 45

Poetry book/diary, 1848

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 46

Poetry, 1851-1890

Carton 1SH 112WFolder 47

Autograph album, 1835-1853

III. Clapp/Blake/Jones family papers, 1835-1941

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 1

Genealogy/obituaries, 1861-1941

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 2-7

Correspondence, 1835-1926

IV. Clifford Blake Clapp papers, 1888-1969

A. Correspondence, 1888-1969

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 8-9

Ellen Hubbs Arguimbau, 1950-1963

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 10-21

Lawrence Baker Arguimbau, 1941-1968

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 22-23

Nicholas C. Arguimbau, 1954-1968

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 24-25

Albert, Ruth, and Charles Bee, 1932-1949

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 26-30

Frank N. Blake, 1937-1947

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 31-33

Henry (Bud) and Corrine Blakeslee, 1944-1969

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 34

Chalmers Clapp, 1928-1931

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 35

Charles M. Clapp (nephew), 1949-1962

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 36

David and Lois Clapp, 1947-1968

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 37

E. Gardiner Clapp, 1944-1968

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 38-43

Frederick G. Clapp, 1926-1944

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 44-52

Gladys Clapp and children, 1926-1968

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 53-56

Prescott and Emeline Clapp, 1926-1956

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 57-62

Richard and MaryAnn Clapp, 1928-1969

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 63-67

Robert, Jr. and Faye Clapp, 1943-1969

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 68-73

Roger and Laura Clapp, 1944-1969

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 74

Mary Louise Clapp, 1888

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 75

Clara A. Jones, 1931-1943

Carton 2SH 112X $Folder 76-80

Gardiner M. and Kate Sanborn Jones, 1926-1951

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 1-9

Marjorie Clapp Landis, 1926-1969

B. Miscellaneous, 1944-1968

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 10-15

C. Writings, 1912-1955

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 16-17

Writings, undated

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 18-20

Writing for Literary Digest, 1912

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 21

Library arrangement systems, 1912

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 22

Social science classification outline, 1931

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 23

Research on Henry Kuhl, 1935

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 24

Literary journal excerpts, 1950-1955

D. Bound volumes, 1960-1968

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 25

Edith Temple Horne [library cataloging] rule book, undated

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 26-27

Diaries, 1960-1968

V. Lawrence B. and Elinor Clapp Arguimbau papers, 1887-1983

A. Correspondence, 1931-1982

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 28

Barbara Arguimbau, 1943-1977

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 29-31

Lawrence to Elinor Arguimbau, 1939-1971

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 32-41

Elinor to Lawrence Arguimbau, 1942-1971

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 42-45

Ellen Hubbs Arguimbau, 1959-1972

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 46-47

Nicholas Clapp Arguimbau, 1959-1971

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 48

Edwin H. Armstrong, 1946-1953

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 49-50

A-C miscellaneous (chronologically), 1931-1959

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 51-52

Rama Krishna Chattopadhyaya, 1946-1964

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 53-54

Letters to/from China, 1974-1975

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 55-63

Clifford Blake Clapp, 1947-1963

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 64-69

Robert T. Clapp, 1963-1982

Carton 3SH 112Y /Folder 70-71

Elizabeth, Mary, Kit and Priscilla Clapp, 1960-1982

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 1

Clapps and Blakesleys, 1960-1982

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 2

Commack Methodist Church, 1963

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 3

D. V. (Tino) Constantinides, 1931-1932

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 4

Esther Davidson, 1962-1971

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 5

Jean Filon, 1960, 1965

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 6

Osmund Fraenkel (lawyer), 1953-1955

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 7-10

India, 1947-1955

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 11-16

D. D. Kosambi, 1948-1970

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 17

Maverick, 1969-1973

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 18

Maynard Moving Co., 1971-1972

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 19

Nashua River cleanup, 1966-1967

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 20

Political (Henry Wallace campaign), 1948

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 21

Political campaigns (McCarthy and Bradley), 1968

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 22

Arun Prasad, 1953-1969

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 23-25

George Sanderson (airstrip), 1964-1970

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 26

Eric and Isabelle Starbuck, 1950-1958

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 27-28

John Wiley and Sons, 1944-1975

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 29-34

Incoming miscellaneous, 1948-1982

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 35-36

Outgoing miscellaneous, 1959-1971

B. Subject files, 1929-1975

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 37

Foreign stamps

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 38-39

House Un-American Activities Committee, 1953-1956

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 40

HUAC clippings, 1952-1954

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 41

HUAC testimony, hearings, 1954

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 42

Lancaster historical workshop, 1967-1968

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 43

Lancaster history, notes

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 44

Lancaster history: Correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, 1961-1965

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 45

Leominster Citizens Council for Human Rights: By-Laws

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 46

LBA: Articles and books, 1930-1945

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 47

LBA: Biographical data, 1948-1965

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 48

LBA: Death/obituaries, Nov. 1975

Carton 4SH 112Z +Folder 49-50

LBA: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1929-1975

C. Bound volumes, 1887-1983

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 1

[LBA]: School notebooks, undated

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 2

LBA: Notebook of cigar bands, undated

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 3

LBA: Penmanship notebook, 1913

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 4

LBA: Homework, grade 3, 1914

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 5

LBA: Daylily seedlings, 1958-1966

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 6

LBA: Daylily seedlings, 1959-1965

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 7

LBA: Daylily seedlings, Onset, 1964-1974

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 8

LBA: Wildflower record, 1964-1972

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 9

LBA: Wildflower record, 1972-1983

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 10

LBA: Garden (Lancaster), 1960-1970

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 11

LBA: Gardening, 1966-1973

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 12

LBA: Garden book (Lancaster, Onset), 1971-1976

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 13

LBA: Gardening notebook, 1974-1983

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 14

LBA: Garden, Onset, 1976-1982

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 15

LBA: Birds, 1980-1983

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 16

LBA: Miscellaneous notes

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 17

Gracie Soper: Drawing books, 1887

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 18

Gracie Soper: Drawing books, 1889

VI. Arguimbau family correspondence, 1920-1984

Carton 6SH 1132 9Folder 1-19

Reginald deCourcy Arguimbau to LBA, 1926-1931

Carton 6SH 1132 9Folder 20-25

LBA to RdA, 1926-Mar. 1928

Carton 7SH 1133 AFolder 1-8

LBA to RdA, Apr. 1928-1931

Carton 7SH 1133 AFolder 9

George Arguimbau to LBA, 1930-1956

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 19

Miscellaneous, undated

Includes an address book.

Carton 5SH 1131 8Folder 20

Miscellaneous, July 1920-Apr. 1984

Preferred Citation

Blake-Clapp-Arguimbau family papers, 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.

Persons:

Arguimbau, Elinor Clapp.
Arguimbau, Ellen Hubbs.
Arguimbau family.
Arguimbau, Lawrence Baker, 1906-1975.
Arguimbau, Nicholas Clapp.
Arguimbau, Reginald deCourcy.
Blake family.
Blake, Jonathan, 1780-1864.
Clapp, Clifford Blake.
Clapp family.
Clapp, Martha Merriam Blake.

Organizations:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology--Faculty.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities.

Subjects:

Daylilies.
Family history--1850-1899.
Family history--1900-1949.
Family history--1950-1999.
Gardening.
Poetry.
Sermons--1832-1853.
Temperance--Addresses, essays, lectures.
United States--History--1953-1961.
Warwick (Mass.)--History.
Warwick (Mass.)--Officials and employees.
Women poets.

Photographs Removed from the Collection

Daguerreotypes from this collection have been removed to the Daguerreotype collection (Photos. 1.412-425).