1849-1981
Offsite Storage Inventory
Restrictions on Access
The bulk of the Ralph Lowell papers 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.
Note: This collection is PARTIALLY PROCESSED.
Abstract
This collection consists of the papers of Ralph Lowell, businessman, soldier, philanthropist, civic leader, and educational television pioneer. The collection includes letters, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, and printed materials concerning Lowell's long association with Harvard and A. Lawrence Lowell; Lowell's activities at Lee, Higginson & Co. and the Boston Safe Deposit Co.; and his charitable work for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and WGBH educational television.
Collection Description
This collection consists of papers of Ralph Lowell (1890-1978), banker, soldier, philanthropist, civic leader, and educational television pioneer. They consist of letters, diaries of Ralph Lowell (80 volumes), scrapbooks, and printed material. The collection includes correspondence, notebooks, and essays detailing Lowell's undergraduate education at Harvard (class of 1912), as well as materials illustrating his long association with Harvard, especially as president of the Harvard Club and as a cousin and friend of Harvard president A. Lawrence Lowell.
There are in addition papers concerning Lowell's activities at Lee Higginson & Co. and as president of the Boston Safe Deposit Co., as well as other papers related to his charitable efforts on behalf of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the WGBH Educational Foundation. There are also papers and miscellaneous printed materials relating to Lowell's involvement in the Plattsburg, N.Y. military training camp movement, 1915-1917, and the Military Training Camps Association, 1940-1948.
Ralph Lowell married in 1917 Charlotte Loring (b. 1897), and the couple had seven children: Charlotte (1918-1927), John (b. 1919), Ralph (b. 1923), Mary Emlen (b. 1925), Lucy (b. 1928), Susan (b. 1932), and James Hale 2nd (b. 1937). There are some papers in the collection of Charlotte Loring Lowell and some of the children, as well as genealogical papers and earlier materials relating to ancestors of Ralph Lowell.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mrs. Ralph Lowell, July 1979, with additions, 1981.
Restrictions on Access
The bulk of the Ralph Lowell papers 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.
Note: This collection is PARTIALLY PROCESSED.
Summary Description of the Collection
Additions to collection, 1928-1977
Ralph Lowell diaries
Other volumes
Scrapbooks
Oversize Materials
1 oversize boxSTORED ONSITE at Ms. N-2077Materials Removed from the Collection
Medals
Challenge Cup Boston Poultry Association medal [not in Storer]
Society of Mayflower Descendants medal, Charlotte Loring Lowell [not in Storer]
Society of Mayflower Descendants badge, Charlotte Blake Loring [not in Storer]
Park Memorial medal of Lowell Institute School [not in Storer]
Charlotte Lowell Memorial medal [not in Storer]
Ralph Lowell "Grand Bostonian" award medal [not in Storer]
American Legion 12th National Convention badge [not in Storer]
Ralph Lowell Award medal [not in Storer]
Delta Kappa Epsilon medals (3), John Lowell, John Lowell, Jr. & Ralph Lowell [Storer 0868]
Harvard Polo Club medal, Ralph Lowell [Storer 0909]
Institute of 1770 medals (2), John Lowell, Jr. & Ralph Lowell [Storer 0920]
Pierian Sodality medal, Lowell Family [G.S.E..] [Storer 0936; Julian RF-11]
Signet Club medal, Ralph Lowell [Storer 0942]
Sphinx Club medal, Ralph Lowell [Storer 0946]
Stylus Club Medal, Ralph Lowell [Storer 0947]
Centennial Anniversary Battle of Bunker Hill medal [Storer 0990]
Bunker Hill Monument/ Warren medal [Storer 2053]
Museum Objects
LOWELL Button (matrix for) [MHS Artifact no. 1066.01-.02]
LOWELL Tray [MHS Artifact no. 0954]
LOWELL Knife, cake [MHS Artifact no. 0953]
LOWELL Tray [MHS Artifact no. 0952]
BOOTT Elizabeth Needlework picture (framed) [MHS Artifact no. 0745]
LOWELL Ralph / EMERSON COLLEGE Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0914]
LOWELL Ralph / BOSTON UNIVERSITY Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0907]
LOWELL Ralph / BOSTON COLLEGE Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0908]
LOWELL Ralph / NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY L.L.D. Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0909]
LOWELL Ralph / TUFTS UNIVERSITY L.H.D. Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0910]
LOWELL Ralph / BATES COLLEGE L.L.D. Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0911]
LOWELL Ralph / BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0913]
LOWELL Ralph / LOWELL TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0915]
LOWELL Ralph / BOSTON COLLEGE Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0916]
LOWELL Ralph / BOSTON UNIVERSITY Gown, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0917]
LOWELL Ralph / SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY Hood, academic [MHS Artifact no. 0912]
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Paper weight with seal [MHS Artifact no. 1077]
USS CONSTITUTION / GRAND BOSTONIAN AWARD Plaque [MHS Artifact no. 1078]
EDELWEISS Flower, pressed [MHS Artifact no. 1067]
LOWELL John / Fob, seal [MHS Artifact no. 1068]
LOWELL John / Ring, mourning [MHS Artifact no. 1069]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [Infantry] [MHS Artifact no. 1074.01]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [U.S. Reserves] [MHS Artifact no. 1071.07]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [Infantry] [MHS Artifact no. 1074.03]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [Infantry] [MHS Artifact no. 1074.02]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [Lt. Col.] [MHS Artifact no. 1073.01-.04]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [Maj.] [MHS Artifact no. 1072.01-.02]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [Maj.] [MHS Artifact no. 1072.05-.06]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [Maj.] [MHS Artifact no. 1072.03-.04]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [U.S. Reserves] [MHS Artifact no. 1071.08]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [Infantry] [MHS Artifact no. 1074.04]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [U.S. Reserves] [MHS Artifact no. 1071.06]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pins [U.S.] [MHS Artifact no. 1071.01-.05]
LOWELL Ralph / Insignia pin [U.S. Reserves] [MHS Artifact no. 1071.09]
LOWELL Ralph / WWI Flag, service [MHS Artifact no. 1316]
LOWELL Genealogy plaque plaque, engraved and framed [MHS Artifact no. 1315]
LOWELL Shoe ribbon [MHS Artifact no. 1070.01-.02]
AT&T/ CLARK, DODGE & COMPANY Cable [MHS Artifact no. 1076]
HARVARD TERCENTENARY/ LOWELL Ralph / Baton, Marshal's [MHS Artifact no. 1065]
Graphics
Ink drawing on [card stock?], [1973], "Favorite 'Group' - The Grand Bostonians." Left to right: Arthur Fiedler, David T.W. McCord, Samuel Eliot Morison, Archibald MacLeish, John W. McCormack, Paul Dudley White, Ralph Lowell. Framed.
Photographs
Photographs removed to the MHS Photo Archives.
Preferred Citation
Ralph Lowell 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.