1612-1958
Guide to the Collection
Restrictions on Access
The bulk of the Endicott family papers (except two oversize boxes and one extra tall volume) is 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.
Abstract
This collection consists of the papers of the Endicott family of Salem and Boston, Mass., in particular William C. Endicott, Sr., attorney, judge, and politician; his wife Ellen P. Endicott; their son William C. Endicott, Jr., Boston attorney and civic leader; their daughter, Mary C. Endicott (Chamberlain Carnegie), third wife of British Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain; and Louise T. Endicott, wife of William C. Endicott, Jr.
Biographical Sketches
Endicott family
John Endecott was born in England in 1588 and was a soldier and surgeon until becoming a member of the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1627. He was selected as the company's agent in America in 1628, and landed in Salem later that year. In 1629, the company selected him as governor, a position he held until he was superseded by John Winthrop in 1630. During his time in the colony he served, with the exception of one year, as either assistant, deputy governor, or governor. His 16 terms as governor were the longest tenure of any chief executive in the colony's history. A soldier and government official, he was in essence the colony's chief military officer for much of his life. He married Ann Gower in 1626. After her death in Salem in 1630, he was married a second time to Elizabeth Gibson in 1632. They had two children, John and Zerubabbel. Governor Endecott died in Boston on 24 November 1665.
William Putnam Endicott was born in Salem on 5 March 1803, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Endicott. A graduate of the Harvard College Class of 1822, he served as supercargo aboard ships traveling to Europe and the West Indies before returning to Salem where he worked for commercial houses. In 1844 he represented Salem in the Massachusetts General Court. He married Mary Crowninshield on 31 January 1826. She bore four children and died on 13 March 1838. In 1844, he married Harriet French Peabody. He owned homes in Milford, N.H. and Salem where he died on 11 March 1888.
William C. Endicott, Sr. was born 23 November 1826 in Salem, the son of William Putnam and Mary Crowninshield Endicott. He graduated from Harvard College in 1847, studied law and was admitted to the Essex Bar in 1850. He ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 1866, 1867, and 1869, and for Congress in 1870. In 1873 he was appointed a justice of the state Supreme Judicial Court, a post he held until 1882. Following an extensive tour of Europe, he returned to public and political life in 1884, running unsuccessfully for governor. The following year he was appointed secretary of war in Grover Cleveland's first cabinet, a post he held until 1889. Returning to Boston, he resumed his law practice until retiring in 1891. He married Ellen Peabody in 1859 and was the father of William C. Endicott, Jr. and Mary C. Endicott. In his private life, he was a member of numerous clubs and civic organizations including the Saturday Club and the Massachusetts Historical Society. He died on 23 May 1900.
Ellen Peabody Endicott was born in Salem on 21 May 1833, the daughter of George Peabody and Clarissa Endicott Peabody. She was married 13 December 1859 to William C. Endicott, Sr. and had two children: William C. Endicott, Jr. (1860-1936) and Mary Crowninshield Endicott (1864-1957). She was one of the foremost hostesses in Salem, Washington, and Boston, where she enjoyed an active social life until her death on 20 August 1927.
William C. Endicott, Jr. was born in Salem on 28 September 1860, the son of William C. and Ellen P. Endicott. He graduated from Harvard University in 1883 and attended Harvard Law School before beginning his own practice. In 1886 he accompanied his family to Washington, where he served as his father's private secretary. After leaving Washington at the close of the first Cleveland administration in 1889, he resumed his law practice in Danvers until returning to Washington in 1893, first as an attorney specializing in pardons at the Department of Justice and later as private secretary to Attorney General Richard Olney. On leaving Washington he resumed his practice of law in Boston. His activities in Boston included terms as trustee of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (1822-1936), member (1915-1936) and president (1927-1936) of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and treasurer of the Museum of Fine Arts (1920-1936). He died on 28 November 1936.
Mary C. Endicott (Chamberlain, Carnegie) was born on 16 April 1864 in Salem, the daughter of William C. Endicott, Sr. and Ellen P. Endicott. She married British Member of Parliament Joseph Chamberlain, father of future British Cabinet Ministers Arthur Neville and Joseph Austen Chamberlain on 26 November 1888, and moved to England. As Chamberlain's wife, she accompanied him on numerous state visits and served as stepmother to his children. She was widowed in 1914 and in 1916 married William H. Carnegie, the Dean of Westminster. Widowed again in 1936, she remained in England until her death in July of 1957.
Louise T. Endicott was born Louise Marie Thoron in New York on 26 November 1864. The daughter of a socially prominent New York family with strong Boston ties, she was educated in convent schools in the United States and France. She married William C. Endicott, Jr. on 3 October 1889. They had no children. She died on 20 April 1958.
Related families
Joseph Peabody was born in 1757 in Middleton, Mass. He worked as a farmer before serving in the Revolution as a soldier and sailor and later as a commercial sailor. In 1791, he retired from the sea and became a part owner of ships trading with the East Indies, the West Indies, and Europe. He married Elizabeth Smith in 1794. He became one of Salem's richest merchants and, following his death in 1844, left a large financial legacy. In 1814 he purchased an estate in Danvers that later became the family's summer home. Two members of the Endicott family, Moses and Samuel, were employed by him as ship captains, and his granddaughter, Ellen, married William C. Endicott, Sr. in 1859.
George Peabody was born in Salem on 23 September 1803, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Peabody. He graduated from Harvard in 1824. He married Clarissa Endicott in 1825 and was the father of four children, including Ellen Peabody Endicott. He served on his father's ships before returning to work in his father's counting house and serve as president of the Salem Bank. He died on 3 January 1892.
Joseph Chamberlain was born 8 July 1836 in Birmingham England and was an industrialist before becoming mayor of the city and later a member of Parliament. He rose through the ranks, eventually becoming secretary of state for the colonies in 1895 where he served until 1905. He was married three times and fathered seven children, including Joseph Austen Chamberlain (1860-1933), British chancellor of the Exchequer, and Arthur Neville Chamberlain (1869-1941), chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister. He married Mary C. Endicott, his third wife, in 1888, and died on 6 August 1914.
Collection Description
The Endicott Family Papers consist of 37 cartons of manuscripts (stored offsite), 2 oversize boxes and 1 extra tall volume (stored onsite), and printed materials arranged in nine series that document the Endicott family of Salem and Boston from 1612 to 1958. The bulk of the collection dates from 1860 to 1936 and consists of the personal papers of William C. Endicott, Sr., attorney and secretary of war in the first Grover Cleveland administration (1885-1889); his wife, Ellen Peabody Endicott; their son, William C. Endicott, Jr., a Boston attorney and civic leader; their daughter, Mary C. Endicott Chamberlain Carnegie, the third wife of British Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain; and Louise (Thoron) Endicott, the wife of William C. Endicott, Jr.
In addition, there are historical and genealogical research materials gathered by the family including much information on John Endecott, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; and Joseph Peabody, a Salem merchant and the grandfather of Ellen Peabody Endicott. There are also papers of members of related families, Endicott household records, and a separate series of personal and family photographs.
Family correspondence (1799-1957) forms the largest single series in the collection and is arranged in subseries by family member. Ellen (Peabody) Endicott (Mrs. William C. Endicott, Sr.) was the most prolific family correspondent, in particular with her mother, Clara Endicott Peabody, and her daughter Mary -- the latter correspondence extends over 57 years.
In addition to the family correspondence, the five principal family members are represented in five separate series of personal papers which fill 23 cartons and constitute the bulk of the collection. Spanning the years 1845-1958, each series is further subdivided into subseries pertaining to each individual's life, interests, and activities. Included are personal correspondence, ephemera (defined as incidental and miscellaneous printed material that has not been separately cataloged due to its transitory nature, such as calling cards, invitations, place cards, and miscellaneous circulars), and bound volumes, such as diaries, scrapbooks, and account books.
The William C. Endicott, Sr. papers , the largest of the five principal member series, cover his career as a prominent Essex County attorney, politician, state Supreme Judicial Court judge, and secretary of war in Grover Cleveland's first cabinet, including materials documenting the capture of Geronimo in 1886, and controversies over attempts to return captured Confederate battle flags in 1887. His papers include correspondence, legal case files, diaries, letterbooks, and scrapbooks. Ellen P. Endicott's papers document nearly 70 years as a wife, mother, and social figure in Salem, Washington, and Boston. Papers of her daughter Mary C. Endicott cover her life as social figure in Washington and England, in particular from 1889 to 1914 during her marriage to British Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain. The William C. Endicott, Jr. papers consist of materials connected to his career as an attorney, civic and social figure, and philanthropist. Among these are files from his service as president of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1927-1936. The Louise T. Endicott papers document her life as a Boston social figure and wife of William C. Endicott, Jr. Her diaries and engagement books record the family's activities over a 70 year period from 1884-1954.
Families related to the Endicotts are also documented through original manuscripts and transcribed documents of the Ward, Peabody, Crowninshield, Gardner and Gray families. A series of household records includes correspondence, bills, invoices, and guest books pertaining to the Endicott family's homes in Salem, Danvers, and Boston. The Historical/Genealogical Papers series contains research notes and transcribed documents on the family's history and origins by William C. Endicott, Sr., William C. Endicott, Jr. and Mary C. Endicott.
Acquisition Information
The Endicott Family Papers were donated to the MHS in several installments between 1916 and 1958. William C. Endicott, Jr. transferred substantial portions of his father's papers in 1916 and 1922. Large donations were also made by Louise T. Endicott in 1940 following the death of William C. Endicott, Jr. The bulk of the remainder of the collection was transferred to the MHS in 1958 by Benjamin W. Thoron and Walter Muir Whitehill following the death of Louise T. Endicott.
Restrictions on Access
The bulk of the Endicott family papers (except two oversize boxes and one extra tall volume) is 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. Family Correspondence, 1617-1957
Arranged into series by correspondent (see below)
Family correspondence is the largest series in the collection. It consists of letters written between members of the family and related families, the bulk written by five principal family members, William C. Endicott, Sr., Ellen P. Endicott, Mary C. Endicott, William C. Endicott, Jr., and Louise T. Endicott. Much of the family's domestic life was chronicled by its female members, specifically Mary and Ellen Endicott, whose correspondence spans 57 years. The earliest documents were produced by John Endecott, the family's first ancestor in New England and include certificates, letters, and indentures. This series is divided into subseries consisting of correspondence among members of the larger extended Endicott family (General Family Correspondence) and the family correspondence of each of the five principal family members. See also the personal papers of each family member in Series II-VI.
A. General Family Correspondence, 1617-1948
Arranged chronologically
General family correspondence consists of letters and telegrams between members of the extended Endicott family. The bulk of this correspondence was produced by members of the Peabody and Mason families, specifically Fanny P. Mason, William P. Mason, and Fanny Lithgow (Payson) Prince. Several items by John and Zerubabbel Endecott are also included. Letters among the five principal family members are arranged separately below.
B. William C. Endicott, Sr. Family Correspondence, 1835-1895
Arranged chronologically by correspondent
William C. Endicott, Sr.'s family correspondence consists of letters and telegrams between himself; the other four principal family members; his father, William Putnam Endicott (1802-1888); and members of his extended family, including Timothy Endicott, George Peabody, Endicott Peabody, and William Mason. The letters concern family matters, such as the health of various members, events, and the operation of the Endicott household. They refer as well to William C. Endicott, Sr.'s careers as attorney, justice of the Massachusetts state Supreme Judicial Court, and secretary of war in Grover Cleveland's first administration (1885-89).
C. Ellen P. Endicott Family Correspondence, 1842-1927
Arranged chronologically by correspondent
Ellen (Peabody) Endicott's family correspondence comprises the largest single subseries within this series. A prolific writer, Ellen Endicott corresponded frequently with other family members, especially her mother, Clara Endicott Peabody, and her daughter, Mary C. Endicott. Other family members include William C. Endicott, Jr., George A. Peabody (father), and George A. Peabody (brother). Most of her correspondence chronicles family activities.
D. Mary C. Endicott Family Correspondence, 1871-1957
Arranged chronologically by correspondent
Mary C. Endicott's family correspondence spans a wide range of dates and subjects. It covers her life from a young girl growing up in Salem, as a member of Washington society during her father's term as secretary of war in the first Cleveland administration, her marriage to British colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain, and her later life as a member of English society. Significant correspondence within this subseries comes from the other four principal family members, in particular, her brother William C. and her sister-in-law, Louise T. Endicott, her cousin, Fanny P. Mason, and her step-grandchildren, Beatrice and Ida Chamberlain.
E. William C. Endicott, Jr. Family Correspondence, 1863-1936
Arranged chronologically by correspondent
William C. Endicott, Jr.'s family correspondence dates from his early years until his death. The bulk concerns family activities, however as he matured, an increasing amount concern the operations of the household. Some correspondence concerns his genealogical research and his involvement in numerous clubs and civic organizations.
F. Louise T. Endicott Family Correspondence, 1876-1957
Arranged chronologically by correspondence
Louise T. Endicott's family correspondence begins prior to her marriage to William C. Endicott, Jr. in 1889 and continues to her death in 1958. Most of her correspondence consists of letters among several family members, including Mary C. Endicott and Ellen P. Endicott. Of special note is her correspondence with Mary C. Endicott's stepchildren, British statesmen Austen and Neville Chamberlain. These letters, along with Chamberlain items from Series VII, Related Family Papers, have been removed to the Endicott Family Special Collection. See the guide to that collection for more information. Louise Endicott also corresponded with members of the Thoron and Mason families.
II. William C. Endicott, Sr., Papers, 1842-1902
Arranged chronologically within topical subseries
The papers of William C. Endicott, Sr. cover the years 1842-1902, with the bulk produced between 1852 and 1889. This series is divided into eight subseries covering his life and career as politician, attorney, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court justice, and secretary of war in the first Grover Cleveland administration (1885-1889): Personal Correspondence; Legal Papers; Speeches and Memorials; Secretary of War papers; Harvard University Materials; Diplomas, Awards, and Certificates; Miscellaneous and Ephemera; and Bound Volumes.
William C. Endicott, Sr.'s papers constitute the largest series for any one family member in the collection. They include a wide variety of media, such as letters, telegrams, calling cards, scrapbooks, legal briefs, and memoranda.
A. Personal Correspondence, 1847-1899
Arranged chronologically
William C. Endicott, Sr.'s personal correspondence spans the dates 1847-1899 and includes letters to and from friends and business associates.
A separate box containing letters from special correspondents, including longtime Harvard University president Charles Eliot, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Melville Fuller, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell, Francis Parkman, U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and Presidents Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison, has been removed from the collection and is now housed with the Endicott Family Special Collection. See the guide to that collection for more information.
B. Legal Papers, 1852-1895
Arranged chronologically by case
This sub-series consists of legal correspondence (1852-1895), dockets, and briefs produced from 1853-1891 by William C. Endicott, Sr., as a lawyer in Salem and Boston and as a justice of the state Supreme Judicial Court. Other items in this subseries include: commissions, rulings, the first death sentence he delivered as a member of the Supreme Judicial Court (1879), and a will which he helped execute.
C. Speeches and Memorials, 1851-1891
Arranged chronologically
This subseries contains William C. Endicott, Sr.'s speeches delivered between the years 1851 and 1891. Many of these are handwritten copies delivered to lyceum groups in Salem. He also wrote political speeches on behalf of the Constitutional Union Party campaign in 1860 and his own gubernatorial campaign in 1884, and memorials written between 1857 and 1871.
D. Secretary of War Papers, 1885-1889
Arranged chronologically and by correspondence type
The majority of this subseries consists of correspondence to and from William C. Endicott, Sr.'s office as secretary of war in Grover Cleveland's first administration (1885-89). Some items were addressed to Endicott's adjutant, Capt. Richard C. Drum. Subjects addressed in these papers include: the appointment of a collector for the port of Boston (1885), the capture of Geronimo (1886), efforts to quell Indian disturbances (1885-87), and controversies over the return of Confederate battle flags (1887). Also included are items from fellow cabinet officers, a group of letters from Cleveland and a letter from Benjamin Harrison accepting Endicott's resignation as secretary, and ephemera relating to Endicott's term in office.
Endicott's letters from Cleveland and Harrison have been removed to the Endicott Autograph Collection. See the list of materials removed from the collection at the end of this finding aid for a complete list.
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
E. Harvard University Materials, 1843-1896
Arranged by subject
From his first association with Harvard College as a student from 1843-47 until his resignation from the Harvard Corporation in 1895, William C. Endicott, Sr. produced a variety of materials concerning his relationship with the school. These papers include grade reports, law school records, moot court case files, records of his activities as an Overseer and member of the Harvard Corporation, and items relating to alumni activities.
F. Diplomas, Awards, and Certificates, 1847-1889
Arranged chronologically
Items include a certificate and diploma from Harvard College (both 1847), an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard (1882), and a certificate of membership in the Essex Agricultural Society.
G. Miscellaneous and Ephemera, 1842-1902
Arranged chronologically
Calling cards, programs, lists, invitations, transcripts, biographical materials, dance cards, and other miscellaneous printed material dating from 1842-1902.
H. Bound Volumes, 1845-1900
Arranged chronologically by format
This subseries contains diaries, letterbooks, scrapbooks, notebooks, and an account book. See the descriptions below and carton list for more detailed information.
1. Diaries, 1858-1893
Arranged chronologically
William C. Endicott, Sr.'s diaries cover the years 1858-64, 1866, 1869, 1871-84, 1886-88, and 1890-93. There are, in addition, transcripts of four years of diaries kept between 1858 and 1861.
Diary Transcripts, 1858-1861
Originals:
2. Letterbooks, 1885-1889
Arranged chronologically
Six letterbooks contain copies of Endicott's outgoing personal and business correspondence written between 1885 and 1889, including letters written as secretary of war.
3. Scrapbooks, 1885-1900
Arranged chronologically
Five scrapbooks (one oversize) of clippings (including two kept during his term as secretary of war), a scrapbook of invitations, and a scrapbook of calling cards.
Scrapbook, 1885-1889
Extra tall volumeStored ONSITE at Ms. N-1182 (XT)4. Other Bound Volumes, 1845-1889
Arranged chronologically
Includes: a book of poetry and verse from 1845, a wastebook (1852-69) containing business records, a book of dinner lists, and a book list from his term as secretary of war.
III. Ellen P. Endicott Papers, 1857-1924
Arranged by format
Ellen P. Endicott's personal papers date from 1857 to 1924 and have been divided into three subseries: Personal Correspondence, Miscellaneous, and Bound Volumes.
A. Personal Correspondence, 1857-1924
Arranged chronologically
Ellen P. Endicott's personal correspondence dates from 1857-1924, with the bulk between 1870-1885. Most of her letters are found in Series I, Family Correspondence, where she is the most prolific correspondent.
B. Miscellaneous, 1893-1909
Arranged chronologically
Calling cards and place cards.
C. Bound Volumes, 1885-1912
Arranged chronologically
These include an account book purchases and investments (1902-12), three visiting lists, and a scrapbook kept during her time in Washington during her husband's tenure as secretary of war.
IV. Mary C. Endicott Papers,
Arranged chronologically by format
Mary C. Endicott's personal papers are divided into three subseries: Personal Correspondence, Ephemera, and Bound Volumes. Her papers were kept between 1876 and 1957, with the bulk written between 1889 and 1936. Mary Endicott also produced items found in Series IX, Historical/Genealogical Papers.
A. Personal Correspondence, 1885-1949
Arranged chronologically
Mary C. Endicott's personal correspondence was written between 1885 and 1949, with the bulk between 1889 and 1936. Many are between Mary and her friends in America after her move to England in 1889. Despite the fact that she was the third wife of Joseph Chamberlain, few contain more than sketchy references to English political affairs.
She also collected a number of letters written by Chamberlain which have been removed to the Endicott Special collection. See the guide to that collection for more information.
B. Ephemera, 1879-1957
Arranged chronologically by format
This subseries consists of invitations, calling cards, and clippings.
C. Bound Volumes, 1876-1902
Arranged chronologically by format (see below)
1. Diaries, 1882-1902
Arranged chronologically
Mary C. Endicott's diaries date from 1882-1902. Items prior to 1885 involve her life in Salem, those from 1885 to 1889 cover her activities in Washington as daughter of the secretary of war, and others produced thereafter contain information about her time in England.
2. Miscellaneous Bound Volumes, 1876-1891
Arranged chronologically
Miscellaneous bound volumes include a scrapbook kept between 1876-1881, two commonplace-books from 1877 and 1881, a 1878 composition book, a book of lists and notes from 1888-89, and two visiting lists from 1889 and 1891.
V. William C. Endicott, Jr. Papers, 1869-1936
Arranged by subject or format
The papers of William C. Endicott, Jr. cover the years 1869-1936, with the bulk between 1883 and 1936. The papers are divided into six subseries: Personal Correspondence; Addresses and Memorials; Clubs and Organizations; Diplomas, Awards, and Certificates; Ephemera and Printed Materials; and Bound Volumes.
A. Personal Correspondence, 1877-1936
Arranged chronologically
William C. Endicott, Jr.'s personal correspondence dates between 1877 and 1936, with the bulk from 1883-1930.
Letters between William C. Endicott, Jr., and select correspondents, including Richard Olney, Henry Cabot Lodge, Theodore Roosevelt, and John Singer Sargent, have been moved to the Endicott Family Special Collection. See the guide to that collection for more information.
B. Addresses and Memorials, 1892-1935
Arranged chronologically
This subseries contains original and copies of addresses, speeches, and memorials written or delivered by William C. Endicott, Jr.
1. Addresses, 1892-1935
2. Memorials and Obituaries, 1892-1935
C. Clubs and Organizations, 1892-1936
Arranged by organization
William C. Endicott, Jr.'s activities as a civic leader are documented in materials on the clubs and organizations to which he belonged. This subseries contains papers kept between the years 1892 and 1936, with the bulk between 1920 and 1936. The papers include general files (arranged chronologically) and files on specific clubs including the Massachusetts Historical Society where he served as president from 1927-1936.
D. Diplomas, Appointments, and Certificates, 1874-1897
Arranged chronologically
This subseries includes a diploma from the Salem Grammar School (1874), a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College (1883), and appointments and certificates dating from his period of service with the Department of Justice in the second Grover Cleveland administration (1893-97).
E. Ephemera and Printed Materials, 1872-1936
Arranged by subject
William C. Endicott, Jr.'s Ephemera and Printed Materials include pamphlets relating to his work as private secretary in the secretary of war's office and president of the Board of Trustees of the Girls Reform School of Washington, D.C., as well as miscellaneous items relating to the Massachusetts and Harvard Tercentenary celebrations.
F. Bound Volumes, 1869-1936
Arranged chronologically
Bound volumes kept by William C. Endicott, Jr. date from 1869-1936 and consist of seven letterbooks (1889-1934), a commonplace-book (1877-1929), a notebook, two scrapbooks, two diaries (1887-88), and an account book (1921-1930). The volumes also include letterbooks relating to his administration of the George Peabody and Fanny (Payson) Prince trusts.
Letterbooks:
VI. Louise T. Endicott Papers, 1863-1958
Arranged by format
Louise T. Endicott's personal papers date from 1863-1958, with the bulk between 1889 and 1945. They have been divided into three subseries: Personal Correspondence, Ephemera, and Bound Volumes.
A. Personal Correspondence, 1883-1957
Arranged chronologically
Louise T. Endicott's personal correspondence covers the period 1883-1957 with the bulk between 1895 and 1940. This subseries also includes letters to friends and social acquaintances prior to her marriage in 1889 to William C. Endicott, Jr.
B. Ephemera, 1894-1956
Arranged chronologically
Calling cards, invitations, and other ephemeral materials.
C. Bound Volumes, 1863-1958
Arranged chronologically by format
1. Diaries/Engagement Books, 1884-1954
Arranged chronologically
Louise T. Endicott's diaries/engagement books span a 70-year period. The volumes through 1936 also served as William C. Endicott, Jr.'s engagement calendars.
2. Other Bound Volumes, 1863-1958
Arranged chronologically
These include: an expense book kept by Louise (Thoron) Endicott and other members of the Thoron family, two autograph books, a guest register, a dinner guest list, a visiting book, a Christmas card list, and a book of notes on the death of William C. Endicott, Jr.
VII. Related Family Papers, 1672-1940
Arranged chronologically by family (see below)
The Related Family Papers series contains personal papers written by families related to the Endicotts, including the Ward, Crowninshield and Peabody families. The papers include correspondence, diary transcripts, and business records.
Papers of the Chamberlain family have been removed to the Endicott Family Special Collection. See the guide to that collection for more information.
A. Miscellaneous Third-Party Letters, 1845-1940
Arranged chronologically
Miscellaneous third-party letters include items collected by, but not connected to members of the Endicott family.
B. Legal Papers, 1672-1869
Arranged chronologically
The Miscellaneous Legal Papers include deeds, property, and probate records. Copies are included.
C. Crowninshield Family Papers, 1800-1888
Arranged chronologically
Papers of several members of the Crowninshield family of Salem, including correspondence of Benjamin Crowninshield (1768-1818) and John Crowninshield (1825-1890). The papers consist of family correspondence and business letters.
D. Peabody Family Papers, 1812-1859
Arranged by correspondent
Papers of the Peabody family of Salem, including Joseph Peabody (1757-1844) and George Peabody (1803-1892) relating to the family's business and personal lives.
E. Ward Family Papers, 1799-1938
Arranged by subject
The Ward Family Papers contain original and transcribed correspondence, obituaries, mortgages, and wills. The transcripts were used as research notes by William C. Endicott, Jr. Also includes annotations and notes of Thomas Wren Ward's grandson George Bucknam Dorr.
F. Gray-Gardner Papers, 1703-1812
Arranged by family member
The Gray-Gardner Papers contain transcripts of documents produced by members of these two families.
VIII. Household and Travel Records, 1792-1956
Arranged by subject
A. General Household Records, 1861-1954
Arranged by subject
General Household Records contain correspondence, lists, deeds, ledgers, ephemera, bills, and invoices relating to the Endicott households in Salem, Washington, and Boston.
B. Travel Records, 1913-1931
Arranged chronologically
Travel Records contain receipts and bills documenting the family's journeys to Europe and Egypt.
C. Peabody Farm Records, 1792-1956
Arranged by subject
Peabody Farm Records relating to the family's summer home in Danvers, Mass. include vital records for livestock, permits, receipts, lists, bills, and a visiting book.
IX. Historical/Genealogical Papers, 1612-1947
Arranged chronologically and by record type
Historical/Genealogical papers relate to research into the history and genealogy of the family by William C. Endicott, Sr., William C. Endicott, Jr., and Mary C. Endicott. They include transcripts of original documents, research notes, correspondence, forms and charts, registers, and ephemeral materials.
A. Correspondence, 1878-1944
Arranged chronologically and by subject
Historical/Genealogical Correspondence contains letters on research and publications on the family's history and origins.
B. John Endecott Papers, 1612-1665
Arranged chronologically
Transcripts of John Endecott papers relate to the life and work of Governor John Endecott, including letters, official papers, and other items relating to his service to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. These items were used in research on his life and career. Items are filed by the date of the original manuscript or document.
C. Research Notes, 1628-1936
Arranged chronologically and by subject
Research Notes consist of handwritten notes, transcripts, and lists. Papers prior to 1665 relate primarily to the life and career of John Endecott while those after that date center around the family as a whole. These papers were compiled by William C. Endicott, Sr., and William C. Endicott, Jr. Items are filed by the dates of the original document.
D. Miscellaneous, 1915-1947
Arranged by format
Miscellaneous items include ephemera and clippings.
E. Bound Volumes, 1901-1931
Arranged by subject
Bound Volumes include notebooks and other volumes relating to the family's history and origins, including notes, burial, and vital records.
Materials Removed from the Collection
Printed Materials Removed from the Collection
For a list of printed materials removed from this collection, see Curator of Manuscripts.
Grover Cleveland - Benjamin Harrison Letters
The following is a list of letters written by Grover Cleveland and one letter by Benjamin Harrison. The Cleveland and Endicott letters have been removed to the Endicott Special Collection and are stored onsite. See the guide to that collection for more information. Other letters between Cleveland and Endicott can be found in the Cleveland Papers in the Library of Congress.
- List of Grover Cleveland letters:
- 7 August 1885
- 14 October 1885
- 22 December 1885
- 28 May 1886
- 13 October 1886
- 22 October 1886
- 28 October 1886
- 4 November 1886
- 5 November 1886
- 17 November 1886
- 20 December 1886
- 20 January 1887
- 7 February 1887
- 7 February 1887
- 18 April 1887
- 20 May 1887
- 22 July 1887
- 15 September 1887
- 25 October 1887
- 13 December 1887
- 7 April 1888
- 20 April 1888
- 30 October 1888
- 9 December 1888
- 19 December 1888
- 25 January 1889
- 16 February 1889
- 18 February 1889
- 23 February 1889
- 4 May 1891
- 3 November 1981
- 30 May 1892
- Benjamin Harrison letter:
- 5 March 1889
Photographs Removed from the Collection
The following photographs were removed from the Endicott family papers and placed in the M.H.S. Photo Archives, July 1996.
- A. Eight (8) photo albums. Album subjects include:
- Portraits of men (mostly unidentified).
- Portraits of prominent men and their wives.
- Portraits, members of the class of 1883, Harvard College, including William C. Endicott, Jr.
- Series of photographs related to the life and career of Winfield Scott Hancock.
- Series of photographs related to the life and career of Ulysses S. Grant.
- Portraits of European royalty and other prominent persons.
- Views of the Danvers farm, including the house and gardens.
- Portraits of Civil War figures and other prominent Americans.
- B. One (1) document box of glass plate negatives.
- C. One (1) document box of tintypes.
- D. Seven (7) oversize boxes of photographs. Subjects include:
- One (1) box, interior views of 163 Marlborough St., Boston, 1900-01.
- One (1) box, interior views of 163 Marlborough St., Boston, 1913.
- Three (3) boxes of family portraits, n.d.
- Two (2) boxes of architectural views of Salem and Washington, D.C.
- E. Six (6) manuscript boxes of photographs. Subjects include:
- Three (3) boxes of portraits.
- Three (3) boxes of miscellaneous views.
Museum Objects Removed from the Collection
The following items have been removed from the Endicott Family Papers and have been placed in the Society's museum collection, August 1996:
Book Plates
"Founded (beehive seal) AD 1791 Massachusetts Historical Society"(triangle of 3 bees)
"From the Fund Bequeathed to the Massachusetts Historical Society By James Savage Received ______ (with MHS Seal above image of) James Savage Born July 13, 1784 Died March 8, 1873 (flanked by volumes and inkwell.) Line engraving on wove paper, c. 1875. Artist: Forbes Lithograph Co.
"Massachusetts Historical Society" (MHS seal and motto) "Bought with the income of the fund bequeathed by Mrs. Charlotte Augusta Langdon (Cook) Sibley of Groton In Memory of Her husband, John Langdon Sibley." Etching on wove paper, October 1910. Artist: Sidney Lawton Smith.
"Massachusetts Historical Society" (MHS seal and motto at top of decorative stone) marked "Massachusetts Historical Society Founded AD 1791". Etching on wove paper (20th century, early) Artist Sidney Lawton Smith.
"Massachusetts Historical Society" (MHS seal and motto at top of decorative stone tablet) marked "Quid Melius Bonotate Et Beneficia The Massachusetts Historical Society From the fund Bequeathed by the Reverend Robert Cassie Waterson." Etching on wove paper, August, 1908. Artist: Sidney Lawton Smith.
"Massachusetts Historical Society," (MHS seal and motto at top of decorative stone frame around view of Boston State House) "Printed for the Massachusetts Historical Society From the Fund Given by William Bradford Homer Dowse." Etching on wove paper, 1919. Artist: Sidney Lawton Smith.
Massachusetts Historical Society, (MHS seal and motto) "Bought With the Income of the Fund Bequeathed by John Langdon Sibley. Received 19__" (lamp atop 3 vols. of Sibley's Harvard Graduates). Etching on wove paper, November 1910. Artist: Sidney Lawton Smith.
"Massachusetts Historical Society (arms & crest of Boylston Family with motto Humani Bona Animi) Library of Henry Adams Given by Brooks Adams and Charles Francis Adams January IX MCMXIX" Line engraving on wove paper, 1930. Artist: Alfred J. Downey.
Printing Plates
Sword owned by Governor John Endecott with which he is said to have cut the cross from the King's colors in 1634. Unknown engraver after unknown photographer. Zinc plate, c. 1924.
The Endicott Pear Tree. From a photograph made 15 September 1923. Unknown engraver after unknown photographer. Zinc plate, c. 1924.
Fruit from the Endicott Pear Tree. From a photograph made 15 September 1923. Unknown engraver after unknown photographer. Zinc plate, c. 1924
Endicott Burying Ground, Danvers. From a photograph made 24 May 1920. Unknown engraver after unknown photographer. Zinc plate, c. 1924.
Sundial owned by Governor Endecott made by Boyer of London in 1630 and now in possession of the Essex Institute. Unknown engraver after a photograph. Zinc plate, c. 1924.
The Endicott Pear Tree, Orchard Farm, Danvers, Ma. from a drawing made in 1863 by Maurice Curran Obey. Unidentified engraver after Maurice C. Obey. Zinc plate c. 1924.
The Endicott Pear Tree with the Oakes Cow. From an oil painting made in 1816 by Miss Hannah Crowninshield. Zinc plate, c. 1924.
Artifacts
Field glasses given to Capt. William Cogswell, 2nd Regiment Mass. Vol. Infantry by William C. Endicott, Sr., 25 May 1861.
Field glasses case, leather, given to Capt. William Cogswell by William C. Endicott, Sr., 25 May 1861.
Mourning Ring, Crowninshield funeral ring made in 1761 by Paul Revere.
Mary Endicott, lock of Mary Endicott's hair, c. 1865.
William C. Endicott, Jr., Lock of baby hair of William C. Endicott, Jr., c. 1860.
Two (2) British campaign ribbons, House of Commons seat for Birmingham, c. 1905.
Essex Agricultural Society, several 1st and 2nd Premium blue ribbons.
Preferred Citation
Endicott 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.