1906-1985
Guide to the Collection
Restrictions on Access
The Francis Whiting Hatch 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.
Abstract
This collection consists primarily of creative papers of writer, poet, playwright, composer, and lyricist Francis W. Hatch. Included are numerous samples from each genre, including plays produced at Castine, Maine, and columns published in various magazines and newspapers. Also included are a series of letters with his Harvard classmate George Brownell and other letters; clippings and scrapbooks (1947-1970) of his writings; genealogical material; and papers related to Hatch's other personal interests.
Biographical Sketch
Francis Whiting Hatch was born in Medford, Mass. on 9 January 1897. He attended Volkmann School, Brookline, and graduated from Harvard College in 1919. Prominent in business, civic, and cultural affairs of Boston, he was also a writer, poet, playwright, composer, and performer. In the summer--and year round after his retirement in 1967--he made his home in Castine, Maine. He married Marjory Kennard Hatch. He died in Boston on 14 May 1975.
Francis Whiting Hatch was vice-president and director of the advertising firm Batten, Barton, Durstine, and Osborn for four decades and held several business directorships. He was a trustee of such organizations as the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Noble and Greenough School. He served as chairman of the Red Feather Drive, president of the Harvard Alumni Association, president general of the Society of the Cincinnati, president of the Castine (Maine) Hospital, and in other local and national positions.
His writings, both prose and light verse, appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Down East, The Saturday Evening Post, The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Pilot. His column "Where But New England" appeared regularly in the Essex County (Mass.) newspapers until his death. His musical comedies were performed by amateur groups such as the Vokes Players, Inc., Wayland, Mass.; and the Cupola Players, made up of Hatch family and friends in Castine. Many of his songs, among them "Some Coward Closed the Old Howard" and "Vote Early and Often for Curley," as performed at the piano by the composer, were favorites at public and private gatherings and have been published and recorded.
Collection Description
The bulk of the papers date from 1945-1975 and illustrate the public and creative life of Francis Whiting Hatch. The papers reveal little of his business life or of his personal life beyond the range of his interests, his friendships, and his love of Castine, Maine, in particular. The bulk of the papers consist of Francis Whiting Hatch's creative output: prose, poetry, music, and scripts. Whether the voluminous newspaper and magazine clippings comprise a complete record of his published writings is uncertain.
The collection is housed in 5 record cartons (stored offsite) and one oversize box (stored onsite). A large quantity of material is in typescript form; some items contain manuscript changes, and some writing is in rough draft. The correspondence consists primarily of single letters from various individuals. The only sustained correspondence is between Francis Whiting Hatch and his Harvard classmate George Brownell, which was saved by Brownell.
The collection also includes biographical and genealogical material, Christmas cards, journals, notebooks, research notes, pamphlets, notices, reports, programs, invitations, clippings concerning institutions in which Francis Whiting Hatch was interested, theatrical programs and handbills from musical productions, clippings about Francis Whiting Hatch and his family, ephemera, and photographs.
The collection is divided into three series: Personal and creative papers; activities and interests; and clippings and scrapbooks. Because many of the writings are undated, no systematic effort has been made to remove duplicates.
Newsclippings of writings by Francis Whiting Hatch have been arranged chronologically for each publication. Many of the clippings found in the scrapbooks can also be found with the loose clippings.
Restrictions on Access
The Francis Whiting Hatch 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.
Acquisition Information
The papers of Francis Whiting Hatch were assembled by Mr. Hatch, his wife Marjory Kennard Hatch, and his son Francis Whiting Hatch, Jr. They were sorted and arranged by Caroline D. Bain in June 1986. Additional papers were incorporated into the collection by Mrs. Bain in June 1987.
The papers were donated to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1990.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. Personal and creative papers
A. Personal
Biographical: Gleason School, Volkmann School, Harvard College, memorials, obituaries
Francis Whiting Hatch and Marjory Kennard Hatch citations and awards
Travel
Journal/notebook, Moisie Salmon Club (June-July 1969) and notebook, New York, Henley, London, Dublin (June 1973)
Miscellaneous
Notebooks
B. Correspondence
Outgoing, undated, 1928-1974, some with replies
Incoming correspondence, 1945-1974, A - W
Arranged alphabetically.
A - G
Includes the following correspondence: Arnie Aronson, 1955; Philip Allen, 1956; George and Gillian Ames, undated; Bryson Anderson, 1964; Clarence Anderson, 1971 (photocopy), undated; Walter Arnold, 1969; Ferol Austen, 1969; Mrs. David Austin, 1963; Mal Barter, undated; Charles Sumner Bird, 1956; William A.H. Birnie, 1946, 1957; David Black, 1966; Peg Beuchern; Tony Butler, undated; Harry M. Carey, 1961; Mary Ellen Chase, 1957 (photocopy); Norman Cousins, 1964 (photocopy), 1970; Charlotte G. Day; Baron Jean deLustrac, 1967, 1971; A.H. Dente, undated; Ernest Dodge, 1964, 1965; Mrs. Woodrow M. Donovan, 1967; R.E. Eyerly, 1946; Arthur Fiedler, 1974; Alvan T. Fuller, 1955 (photocopy); Mary E. Gallagher, 1959; Wendell Garrett, 1965; and Mrs. Norvel Gillespie.
H - L
Includes the following correspondence: Francis Hatch, 1967; George Hatch, 1967; Roscoe Conkling Hatch, 1957; Tim Hatch, 1965; Robert Haynes, 1956; Mrs. Paul Herrick, 1970; Mary Payne Hilliard; H.D. Hodgkinson, 1954; Harvey Hood, 1957; Llewellyn Howland, 1947-1966 (14 items); W.R. Hulbert, 1955; Michael Kelleher, 1954; Jacqueline Kennedy, 1965 (photocopy); John F. Kennedy, 1956, 1961; Phillips Ketchum, 1955; Charles Lancet, 1970 (photocopy); Clive Lawrence, 1970; Edith M. Lean, 1955, 1961; Erich Leinsdorf, 1966; Nina Fletcher Little, 1968; R. McAllister Lloyd, 1956; Lawrence Lombard, undated; Alfred Loomis, 1955; Arthur T. Lougee, 1956; and Robert Lowell, with poem, undated.
M - O
Includes the following correspondence: David McCord, 1973; W.J. McCullach, 1946-1947; Alden MacIntyre, 1956; Louise MacLeod, 1965; George W. Martin, 1951; Howe Martyn, 1942; Jacques Massenet, 1965, with enclosure from Charles LucetRuth Mehrtens, 1961; Elizabeth Moseley, 1962; Orland, Maine, schoolchildren; and Barbara Owen, undated.
P - S
Includes the following correspondence: R.W. Palmer, 1929; Richard Palmer, 1971; Sr. Peggy, 1974; Mrs. Carlton Perkins, 1972; Malcolm Perkins, undated; Lewis Perry, Jr., 1970; Herbert Pratt, 1954, 1965; Jerry [Preston?], 1971; Nathan M. Pusey, 1956, 1970; Irving Rabb, 1965; Sidney Rabb, 1965; Muriel Rattner, 1945, 1946; Charles Rice, Jr., 1946; F.N. Robinson, 1965; Richard Saltonstall, 1955; Barbara Sessions, 1967 (photocopy); Emily Sheppard, 1946; Glenwood Sherrard, 1945; Henry Simonds, 1965; and Ernest Stockwell, 1967.
T - W
Includes the following correspondence: Emily Tavel, 1963; Leslie P. Thompson, 1954; Vernon Underwood, 1968; H.S. Warren, 1958; Mrs. David Wasson, undated; Julian Watkins, 1972; Philip Weld, 1964, 1970; Henry White, 1961; Paul Dudley White, M.D., undated, 1955; Carrington Williams, M.D., 1963; Gluyas Williams, 1946; and Lee Witting, 1975.
Francis Whiting Hatch and George Brownell (and others), 1942-1975
Re: Wedding anniversary, 1955
Re: Red Feather Drive, 1955-1956
Re: Francis Whiting Hatch birthday, 1957
Re: Society of the Cincinnati, 1962-1965
Includes the following correspondents: Harve Alphard; Samuel Berniss; F. Gorham Brigham; William Bush; Leonard Carmichael; W. McC. Chapman; Rene de Chambrun; Winston Churchill (to, from Francis Whiting Hatch); Mark W. Clark; Dick Crenshaw; Marie Eichelsen; Daniel Z. Gibson; Cte. G. d'Hureux; Francis Hill; Mrs. Lyons Lee; Fred Lightfoot; Armistead Maupin; Stephen Caldwell Millett, Jr.; Emily Tuck Mills; Joseph Mitchell; Lewis Perry; Louis de Pitray; F. Powell; Blanchard Randall; Harold Reeves; G. Tuck; Gerard de la Villesbrunne; and Carring Lou Williams.
Francis Whiting Hatch and Marjory Kennard Hatch Christmas cards, 1926-1954
C. Writings
Assorted prose
For individuals and special occasions
Submitted to magazines, with negative responses from editors, 1942-1972
Articles for "Where But New England," Christian Science Monitor, Boston Globe, etc., 1937-1974
Misc. stories, articles, undated
Misc. stories, articles, undated
Louis Sockalexis: Article for Down East, correspondence, research, 1955-1963
Re: Old Howard Theater, 1963
Poetry
For individuals and special occasions, 1938-1974
Submitted to magazines, with letters from editors, including Katharine White and Norman Cousins, 1929-1967
Miscellaneous poems, undated
Miscellaneous poems, undated, 1938-1975
Miscellaneous
Research notes, undated
Drafts and fragments, plays, poems, essays
Speeches (some photocopies)
Musical compositions and theatrical scripts
Song book
Includes lyrics to the following: "Bigger Than Both of Us Boy"; "Bring the Bucket"; "I Wish I Knew the Answer"; "Love is a Pain in the Neck"; "Parents Are a Problem"; "Somebody's Got to Make It"; "Swan Boats"; "Green Thumb"; "We Do a Little More Damage Than Fire"; "Windmill Hill"; and "You Are a Breath of Heaven."
Miscellaneous lyrics
Includes lyrics to the following: "A Son of Old MIT"; "You Don't Need a Carriage to Serve the Carriage Trade"; "Swan Boats"; "Election Year"; "Yes, the Hot Breath of Texas"; "God Save the Bricks on Beacon Hill"; "I Can't Sleep"; "A Cup of Tea"; "You Are a Breath of Heaven"; "Charles Street"; "News Travels in N.H."; "Darling Little Demonstration Home"; "We All Rever Paul Dever"; "Relief Relief"; and "Vote Early and Often for Curley."
Lyrics, drafts, etc.
Sheet music
Includes the following sheet music: "Opening Sequence"; "Cranberry Doxology," 1950; "We Haven't Got TV"; "Vote Early and Often for Curley"; "Goodby Republican Boston"; "Man of Distinction"; "The Ad Man"; "You Make All the Difference"; "Bermuda"; "Darling Little Demonstration Home"; "Come to a Bird Sanctuary with Me"; "The Hot Breath of Texas"; "Dear Old Take Home Pay"; "Closing Chorus and Act I"; "Christmas in Ravello"; "That Stuff is Awful Silly"; "Those Television Masts on Beacon Hill"; "Could This Be the Evening?", 1950; "A Rainy Day on Beacon Hill"; "Escape on the Cape," 1950; "By the River"; "The Fish Commish"; "Windmill Hill," 1947; "I'm a Lucky Guy," 1950; "A Son of Old MIT," 1950; "Bad Man" - Closing Chorus Act II; "Linden Street"; "Grandma," 1950; "Symphony in Tin"; "God Save the Bricks on Beacon Hill"; "I've Torn the Box Top Off My Heart," 1939; "Holiday for Two," 1947; "Pepperell's Lullaby"; "Under a Covered Bridge"; and "New England I'm Coming Back Home."
Sheet music
Includes the following sheet music: "Parents Are a Problem," 1958; "You Made All the Difference," 1950; "Lord Protein's Song"; "This Thing is Bigger Than Both of Us Dear"; "Opening Scene"; "Madakawando's Daughter"; "We Do a Little More Damage Than Fire"; "Boy Bring the Bucket"; "Love is a Pain in the Neck," 1950; "Somebody's Got to Make It"; "I Wish I Knew the Answer"; "Swan Boats"; "Twenty-five Bucks for a Sundial"; "You Don't Need a Carriage"; "Proud of My Cap"; "A Pill is a Pal is a Pullman"; "I'm Burning for an Intern"; "Let's Let Nature Take its Course"; "On the Old North Shore"; and "Country Docs Are Lucky."
Sheet music
Includes the following sheet music: "Brinks"; "Bronze Memorial Plaque"; "Bye and Bye," 1920; "Love Brings a Touch of Sadness"; "Drinking Song," words by George Santayana; "I'm Being Psycho-Analyzed," 1937; "Prologue"; "Sign of Spring"; "Sleeping Pill"; "Snug as a Bug in a Rug"; "You Said Goodnight But You Meant Goodbye"; "You Sent Me Singing"; "The Younger Generation," 1937; "Vote Often and Early for Curley" (with additional lyrics), 1950; "We Put Grandma Down the Electric Pig" (with additional lyrics), 1950; and "What Goes On in a Woman's Mind," 1937.
Sheet music
Stored ONSITE at Ms. N-184 (Oversize).Includes the following sheet music: "Marriage, Oh My Darling"; "West Begins in Weston"; "Baby Sitter"; "Box Top"; "Old Fashioned Cook"; "Post War World"; "Brooklyn"; "Army Navy Store"; "A Letter from Home," 1944; and "Putt! Putt! Putt!"
"For conductor" band arrangements, 1947
Includes the following sheet music: "Marriage, Oh My Darling"; "West Begins in Weston"; "Baby Sitter"; "Box Top"; "Old Fashioned Cook"; "Post War World"; "Brooklyn"; and "Army Navy Store."
"Holiday for Two" musical sketches, 1947
"Holiday for Two" musical sketches, 1947
Stored ONSITE at Ms. N-184 (Oversize)."I Love a Livery Stable" flute and tenor sax, music by Francis Whiting Hatch, Alice Valkenburgh, Selene Howe
Scripts, 1938-1966
"Cranberry Sass" lyrics, 1950
"Dearest Susan," 1954
"One on the Town," 1955
Scripts, etc.
Costume and set sketches, program, clippings
"The First One Hundred Years," 1966, including correspondence with R. Flood
"The First One Hundred Years," 1966, including correspondence with R. Flood
Stored ONSITE at Ms. N-184 (Oversize)."Sweet Charity"
Script, 1963
Drafts of lyrics and score
Correspondence, tickets, review
"Escape on the Cape"
"Rt. 128"
Unidentified lyrics
Misc. music, not necessarily by Francis Whiting Hatch
Programs, including Tavern Club productions, 1953-1874
II. Activities and interests
A. Activities
Harvard Class of 1919: histories, poems
Harvard commencement, 1956, including speech by Francis Whiting Hatch
Society of the Cincinnati
1962-1965
Churchill funeral, 1965
Boston Symphony Orchestra Golden Trumpet Ball
Old Howard Theater: history, programs
Programs, announcements, brochures re: events involving Francis Whiting Hatch, 1953-1966
B. Hatch family
Genealogical notes
Letter, Betsey Mann to Cousin David, 13 May 1883
Remington/Seigle family: biographical
Samuel Whiting and family: correspondence, accounts, obituary, 1815-1892
Whitney family
Francis Whiting Hatch grandchildren: poems, drawings
C. Miscellaneous
Deed to Marjory Kennard Hatch property, 1931
Photocopy.Castine, Maine history
Miscellaneous ephemera
Currency: $10 bank note (1864)
City of Boston bond, 1947, signed by Josiah Quincy
Early prints from magazines, etc.
Writings by others
Scripts, Tavern Club shows, not by Francis Whiting Hatch, 1954-1965
Vokes Theater, 1960
Diary, Mrs. E. C. Woodward, Leadville, Colorado, 1883
Misc.
Misc. posters
Stored ONSITE at Ms. N-184 (oversize).Drawings
1 photostat.Stored ONSITE at Ms. N-184 (oversize).III. Clippings and scrapbooks
A. Clippings
Writings: newspaper
"Where But New England," 1963-1975
Boston Globe, 1949-1970
Boston Globe Magazine, 1966-1969
Christian Science Monitor, 1956-1973
Ellsworth American, undated, 1970-1975
Elderberry Times, 1974
Misc. papers, undated, 1945-1974
Poetry (various publications), 1930-1975
Book reviews, 1966-1973
Poetry, special printings, 1950-1973
Writings: magazines, 1938-1975
Francis Whiting Hatch activities and family
General, 1940-1976
Harvard commencement, 1956
Society of the Cincinnati, 1964-1965
Boston Symphony Orchestra Golden Trumpet Ball, 1965
Boston Symphony Orchestra Toy Symphony, 1967
B. Scrapbooks
"Where But New England" and Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 1962-1967
"Where But New England" and Christian Science Monitor, 1963-Jan. 1965, Lisbon Falls Enterprise
"Where But New England," 1967, 1968, Atlantic Monthly, April 1961, and other items
"Where But New England," Aug. 1969-Feb. 1970, and other publications
Correspondence, Advertising News, 1968-1969, "Where But New England," 1970
Misc. publications, 1947-1966
Preferred Citation
Francis W. Hatch 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:
Subjects:
Materials Removed from the Collection
Printed Materials Removed
For a list of printed materials removed from this collection, including musical scores and theater broadsides, see Curator of Manuscripts.
Photographs Removed
The following photographs were removed the the MHS Photo Archives (Photo. Coll. 333), July 1990.
Francis Whiting Hatch: portraits and snapshots, 1918-
Francis Whiting Hatch: with Marjory Kennard Hatch and Francis Whiting Hatch, Jr.; also at 60th birthday party and Harvard reunion, 1964.
Francis Whiting Hatch and Francis Whiting Hatch, Jr. in public life. Publicity glossies, including group picture signed by Christien Herter.
Francis Whiting Hatch, Jr. and Marjory Kennard Hatch: portraits and snapshots.
Family snapshots: Beverly, New Jersey
Family: Castine, including Cupola and box, glossies and enlargements.
Family snapshots: Cazenovia, N.Y.
Family snapshots: Vermont.
Family snapshots: Wayland, Mass.
Family snapshots: Miscellaneous
Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn: undated, 1936-1948
Harvard Commencement, 1956
Society of the Cincinnati
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Golden Trumpet Ball, 1965
Old Howard Theater
Maine (mostly Castine): scenes, buildings (some identified), glossies and enlargements
Maine (mostly Castine) snapshots: places, buildings, etc.
Castine, Maine: people, enlargements.
Castine, Maine snapshots: people (some of Hatch family members)
Abraham Lincoln
Miscellaneous
Museum Objects Removed
The following items were removed to the MHS Artifacts Collection, July 1990:
Honor Guard badge, 44th U.S. Presidential Inauguration, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, January 20, 1961.
Society of the Cincinnati pin, undated, presumably owned by Francis W. Hatch.