1858-1949
Guide to the Collection
Restrictions on Access
The Squire Edward Howard 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.
Abstract
This collection consists of the papers of Capt. Squire Edward Howard of West Newton, Massachusetts; his wife Helen (Marsh) Howard; their daughters Pauline Stoddard (Howard) Boynton and Marjorie Marsh Howard; and Pauline (Howard) Boynton's sister-in-law Blanche Harvey Boynton. Also present are papers of Dr. Winfield Scott Montgomery of Washington, D.C. The collection contains military papers, correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, writings, and genealogical material.
Biographical Sketches
Squire Edward Howard (1840-1912) was born in Jamaica, Vermont, on 15 May 1840, the son of Nathan Stoddard Howard (1810-1872) and Celista Church (Bills) Howard (1809-1881). One of ten children, he grew up in Jamaica, Vermont, and attended Leland and Gray Seminary in Townshend, Vermont, where he later worked as an instructor of penmanship (ca. 1855-1861). In 1861, Squire Howard enlisted in the Union army, and he served as sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain in the 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. On 9 December 1864, he was honorably discharged for wounds he received at the Battle of Cedar Creek (19 October 1864). In 1894, Capt. Howard received a Congressional Medal of Honor for actions he took during the engagement at Bayou Teche, Louisiana (14 January 1863).
After Capt. Howard left military service, he managed Ashdale Plantation in Lady's Island, South Carolina, where he oversaw the cultivation of cotton (1865-1867); worked in the hardware business in New York and Brattleboro, Vermont (1867-1879); co-owned a cattle ranching business in Wyoming, Montana, and Texas called the Stoddard and Howard Live Stock Company (also Stoddard, Lapham and Howard) (1879-ca. 1891); worked as an insurance executive (ca. 1890-1912); and served as an elected representative in the Massachusetts General Court (1891-1892).
Capt. Howard was active in his community as a member of the Sheridan Veterans Association; the Boston Life Underwriters Association; the Vermont Association of Boston; the Vermont Veterans' Association; the Massachusetts Rifle Association; Charles Ward Post 62, Grand Army of the Republic; the Massachusetts Commandery of the Loyal Legion of the United States; the Newton Associated Charities; and the Brae-Burn Country Club in West Newton. He also traveled extensively through Europe with his family. Capt. Howard attended the Second Congregational Church in West Newton, where he worked as a Sunday School teacher and deacon. In 1899, he was nominated to the Newton School Board, where he served as a member and chairman until his death in West Newton on 26 November 1912.
On 5 November 1868, Capt. Howard married Helen E. Marsh (1840-1918). The couple had three children: a son who died in infancy (1870-1870) and two daughters, Pauline Stoddard (Howard) Boynton (1873-1958) and Marjorie Marsh Howard (1880-1898). The family lived in Brattleboro, Vermont (1868-1879); Geneseo, Illinois (1879-1883); and West Newton, Massachusetts (1884-1912).
Helen E. (Marsh) Howard (1840-1918) was born in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, on 23 March 1840, the daughter of Reuben Marsh (1788-1855) and Mary (Wetherbee) Marsh (1793-1859). The youngest of seven children, she was raised in Chesterfield and later lived in Boston, Massachusetts (?-1868). Helen Marsh was a director of the West Newton Women's Educational Club, an officer of the West Newton Woman's Guild, an officer of the Pomroy Home, and a member of the Brae-Burn Country Club in West Newton. She also traveled extensively through Europe with her family. Her brother Benjamin Lloyd Marsh (1823-1865) was a co-founder of the Jordan Marsh Company, the first department store in the nation, and another brother, Charles Marsh (1829-1886), was a partner in the company.
On 5 November 1868, Helen Marsh married Capt. Squire Edward Howard (1840-1912), and they had three children. Helen (Marsh) Howard died on 1 May 1918 in West Newton, Massachusetts.
Pauline Stoddard (Howard) Boynton (1873-1958) was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, on 13 September 1873, the elder daughter of Capt. Squire Edward Howard (1840-1912) and Helen (Marsh) Howard (1840-1918). Pauline Howard attended Miss Hersey's School for Girls in Boston, West-Newton English and Classical School, and college in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Pauline Howard was an author who published children's stories about animals in John Martin's Book: A Magazine for Little Children (ca. 1916-1922). She also wrote a full-length children's book called The W. Chuck Family, inspired by stories about woodchucks that her father told her as a child, which was published by Houghton Mifflin and Co. in 1920. Howard was also a member of the Daughters of Vermont; secretary of the Vassar Students' Association; vice president of Miss Hersey's School Association; a member of the Women of the Parish, a group organized by the Second Congregational Parish in West Newton; a member of the Women's City Club of Boston; and a member of the Brae-Burn Country Club in West Newton. She also traveled extensively through Europe with her parents.
In 1922, Pauline Howard married Dalton Boynton (1887-1976), an electrical engineer from Little Boar's Head, North Hampton, New Hampshire. After their marriage, the couple lived in Little Boar's Head and Boston, Massachusetts (1922-1927), and Hampton Falls, New Hampshire (1928-1958). Pauline (Howard) Boynton died on 7 July 1958 in Hampton Falls.
Marjorie Marsh Howard (1880-1898) was born in Geneseo, Illinois, on 10 December 1880, the younger daughter of Capt. Squire Edward Howard (1840-1912) and Helen (Marsh) Howard (1840-1918). She was first in her high school class at Newton High School and captain of the calisthenics battalion; wrote stories for her high school publication, the Newton High School Review; and was appointed to deliver the speech at her high school graduation. On 11 May 1898, a month before graduation, she was hit and killed by a train on the Boston and Albany tracks in Brighton, Massachusetts.
Blanche Harvey Boynton (1882-1969) was born in North Hampton, New Hampshire, on 20 August 1882 to Abbie Lydia Boynton (1843-1912) and George Alfred Boynton (1845-1925). One of four children, she grew up in North Hampton and lived there until her death on 22 August 1969. Her brother Dalton Boynton (1887-1976) was married to Pauline (Howard) Boynton (1873-1958). Blanche Boynton was clerk of the Little Boar's Head District, North Hampton; a member of the North Hampton Congregational Church; auditor of the Every Other Tuesday Club of Rye; and a member of the Red Cross.
Winfield Scott Montgomery (1853-1928) was born in Fort Adams, Mississippi, on 15 May 1853, the son of Frank Montgomery and Celestine (Britton) Montgomery (1833-?). He had at least one brother, Henry Percival Montgomery (1850-1899). The brothers were born into slavery, but in 1862 they liberated themselves by joining the company of the 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment, who were encamped in Algiers, Louisiana. Winfield Montgomery met and befriended Sgt. Squire Edward Howard and Capt. Henry F. Dutton at the encampment. According to Montgomery, Sgt. Howard gave him a name, which was denied to him by his enslavers. Montgomery moved to Townshend, Vermont, and lived with Capt. Dutton's family (1864-1873). He graduated from Leland and Gray Seminary in Townshend, Vermont (1873); Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire (1878); and Howard University in Washington, D.C. (1890), where he earned a degree in medicine.
Dr. Montgomery worked as a teacher and a professor of ancient and modern languages (1877-1882). He was also a supervising principal and the assistant superintendent of public schools for children of color in Washington, D.C., and the director of special classes (1882-1924).
In 1883, Dr. Montgomery married Emma Rosa Wilder (1859-1949), and they had five children: one son, Wilder Percival Montgomery (1885-1931), and four daughters: Marcia R. (Montgomery) Cooke (1888-?), Scottrosa Gregg Montgomery (1893-?), Maria E. (Montgomery) Smith (1894-?), and Lydia A. (Montgomery) Hillman (1897-?). Dr. Montgomery died on 11 September 1928 in Washington, D.C.
Collection Description
The Squire Edward Howard family papers consist primarily of the military papers, correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, writings, genealogical material, and other papers of Capt. Squire Edward Howard, a U.S. Civil War veteran, Medal of Honor recipient, cattle rancher, and Massachusetts state representative; his wife Helen (Marsh) Howard; their elder daughter Pauline (Howard) Boynton, an author of children's literature; and their younger daughter Marjorie Howard. The collection also contains one diary of Pauline (Howard) Boynton's sister-in-law Blanche Harvey Boynton and one folder of papers of Dr. Winfield Scott Montgomery, professor and administrator of the public schools for children of color in Washington, D.C., and a friend of Capt. Howard. The bulk of the material pertains to Capt. Howard and Pauline (Howard) Boynton. Major subjects covered in the collection include the U.S. Civil War, cattle ranching, the Massachusetts General Court, children's literature, and European travel.
Acquisition Information
Gift of the family of Pauline Howard Boynton, October 2023.
Custodial History
The collection was originally owned by Pauline (Howard) Boynton (1873-1958). She passed the collection on to her cousin John B. Holmes (1912-1998), who passed it along to his son Richard D. Holmes (1945-).
Restrictions on Access
The Squire Edward Howard 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. Squire Edward Howard papers, 1858-1914
This series contains correspondence written by Squire Edward Howard, his military papers from the Civil War, diaries, scrapbooks, a letterbook, his speeches and other writings, and his personal and professional papers.
A. Correspondence, 1867-1907
Arranged chronologically
This subseries contains letters from Capt. Howard to Helen Marsh (later Howard) and their children Pauline and Marjorie. The correspondence starts with love letters and notes written on slips of paper (1867-1868) from Capt. Howard to Helen Marsh during their courtship and engagement. Capt. Howard often refers to Helen as "Nell" or "Nellie" and himself as "Ben Johnson."
Letters from 1869 to 1879 were written while the couple lived in Brattleboro, Vermont. Letters written from 1879 to 1894 chronicle Capt. Howard's time running his cattle ranching business in the western United States while Helen and the children were living in Geneseo, Illinois, and later West Newton, Massachusetts. He discusses branding, buying, and selling cattle and shipping them to market, as well as riding many miles between Texas and Montana to drive the cattle between pastures. In his letter written to Marjorie Howard on 12 January 1884, he tells stories about fictional woodchucks, characters that would play a large role in the literary career of his other daughter, Pauline (Howard) Boynton. In 1891 and 1892, he writes to Pauline about business in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and his work on his writings and lectures. Folder 46 contains unidentified correspondence (1867-1892, undated).
B. Military papers, 1861-1911
Arranged by type and then chronologically.
Among the records included in this subseries are Capt. Howard's certificates of enlistment, muster, and honorable discharge in the Civil War; certificates of commission as second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain; leave-of-absence documentation and medical certificates of disability; court-martial proceedings on the steamship Cahawba; lists of weapons and other property lost in action during the Third Battle of Winchester; and records pertaining to Capt. Howard's Congressional Medal of Honor.
Folder 53 contains transcriptions of articles about the Trent Affair in 1861, and Folder 54 contains transcriptions of letters written by Confederate soldiers under the leadership of Army Lieutenant General Jubal Early, on 18 October 1864, the day before the Battle of Cedar Creek.
Oversize military papers, 1861-1897
Stored onsite at Ms. N-2702.Oversize documents include an agreement designed and signed by Squire Edward Howard to enlist in the Union Army (1861); some of his certificates of commission (1862-1864); a list of property lost in action during the Third Battle of Winchester (1864); a certificate recognizing Howard as a Companion of the First Class of the Medal of Honor Legion (1897); and a letter and memorial certificate from the Massachusetts Commandery Military Order of the Loyal Legion mourning Capt. Howard's death (1913).
Also included is the 20 February 1862 edition of the Vermont Phoenix listing all members of the 8th Vermont Regiment, annotated by Howard, as well as the 28 March 1863 edition of the St. Martin Democrat, a newspaper of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. The latter paper contains an advertisement for the sale, at public auction, of eleven enslaved people by enslavers Preval A. Broussard and his wife Felicia Broussard of St. Martin Parish. The individuals listed and their approximate ages are: Daniel, 55; Thomas, 19; Isidore, 17; Auguste, 18; Davis, 50; Francoise, 15; Pauline, 16; and Nancy, 35, with her three children, Deria, 8, Zaï, 6, and Eugene, 4. The paper also features a story about Jim, a Black man enslaved by John Fuller, of the town of Franklin in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
Military papers, 1863-1911
Transcriptions of articles about the Trent Affair, undated
Transcriptions of Confederate letters, undated
C. Bound volumes, 1865-1912
Arranged by type and then chronologically.
This subseries contains Capt. Howard's diaries, scrapbooks, and a letterbook that span the time from the Civil War to just before his death.
Diaries, 1865-1901
Diary, 1 January - 31 December 1865
This diary begins after Capt. Howard was discharged from the army during the Civil War. The diary documents his entry into the cotton business and the day-to-day operations of Ashdale Plantation in Lady's Island, South Carolina. In his entries, he discusses hiring employees, making repairs to buildings, overseeing the cotton fields, ginning cotton, tending to the store, and issues with caterpillars in the crops.
Notable entries include 15 January 1865, when he mentions seeing "Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln" at Representatives Hall in Washington, D.C.; 18 January 1865, when he meets President Lincoln while on a walk between the Treasury and the White House; and 18 April 1865, when he receives news of the assassination of President Lincoln and the attempted assassination of Secretary William Seward. In his 2 January 1865 entry, he mentions a visit from Miss Helen Marsh, his future wife. This diary contains racist language.
Diary, 1 January - 14 October 1866
This diary documents Capt. Howard's day-to-day operations of Ashdale Plantation. In many entries, he mentions his time spent with, and possibly courting, "Miss Holden," who works at a nearby schoolhouse. The diary includes an ink pen tip that was stored in the diary's binding.
Diary, 5 January 1879 - 28 January 1880
This diary was written by Capt. Howard while he was cattle ranching in Colorado and Wyoming. He documents his cattle business with Stoddard and Lapham, driving cattle miles each day, and the work he conducted on the house and corrals. He also describes the frequent illnesses of his wife Helen and daughter Pauline. In the 24 February 1879 entry, he lists the names, birth dates, and death dates of Howard family ancestors. At the back of the diary is a financial ledger where he records his cash on hand and daily expenses.
Diary, 10 October 1900 - 14 May 1901
This diary was written by Capt. Howard while he, Helen, and Pauline traveled through Europe with members of the Stoddard family. He describes their travels through England and Italy and their trip to and from Europe on the steamship Winifredian. On 7 November 1900, he mentions the election of President McKinley. On 24 December 1900, he describes seeing Pope Leo XIII at St. Peter's Basilica.
Scrapbooks, 1884-1896
Scrapbook, 1884-1895
This scrapbook contains newspaper articles about the 8th Vermont Regiment, the Battle of Cedar Creek, Capt. Howard's account of the Battle of Winchester, the veterans of the Civil War, the history of United States presidents, and cattle raising. Also included is the 10 July 1886 obituary of Charles Marsh, a partner in Jordan Marsh and Co. and brother of Capt. Howard's wife, Helen (Marsh) Howard.
Scrapbook, ca. 1886-1893
This scrapbook contains poetry, stories, reports on church sermons and other religious topics, and tributes to Bishop Phillips Brooks.
Scrapbook, 1890-1896
This scrapbook of newspaper clippings documents Capt. Howard's nomination and election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, as well as his work in the House.
Loose papers and newspaper clippings from "Scrapbook, 1890-1896"
This folder contains photocopies of the original newspaper clippings that were stored in the scrapbook.
Letterbook, 1893-1912
This letterbook contains copies of letters on onionskin paper written by Capt. Howard to various people during his time as an insurance executive. The letters are both business and personal in nature.
D. Writings, 1860s-1911, undated
Arranged chronologically.
This subseries contains speeches, lectures, essays, and sketches of talks written and delivered by Capt. Howard about the Civil War, war poetry and songs, cattle ranching, religious art, Texas, and Rome. The writing "Hell in Texas" is not attributed to Capt. Howard. Also included are writings from his time teaching at Leland and Gray Seminary (1858-1861). Titles written in quotation marks were provided by Capt. Howard.
The Old Sergeant, "John Brown," and Philip Kearny, 1860s
Nation and Religion, ca. 1860s
"Dedication of Cedar Creek Monument," 1884
"Lost in the Mesquite," 1880s
"The Trumpeter," 1893
Sketches of talks for 8th Vermont Reunion and Vermont Veterans Dinner, 1894 and 1896
"On the Trail," 1896
In this lecture, Capt. Howard documents his experiences driving cattle from Texas to Montana.
Memorial Address in Natick, Massachusetts, 1896
"Sketch of the Early History of Texas," 1892 or 1896
Speech for the Vermont Association, 1897
"The Morning Surprise at Cedar Creek," 1898
Speech ephemera, 1890s
"Lecture on Rome" with catalog of slides, 1901
Information and the slides for this lecture were prepared during Capt. Howard's trip to Rome in 1900.
"Congressional Medal of Honor," ca. 1909
"Battle of the Cotton," 1909
Battle of Bayou Tech, ca. 1911
Writing about war poetry, undated
Battle of Winchester, undated
"Joachim and Anna," undated
"Hell in Texas," undated
Sketches on talks, undated
E. Personal and professional papers, 1858-1914
Arranged by type and then chronologically.
This subseries contains professional papers from Capt. Howard's time working as a teacher of penmanship, running a cotton plantation, and owning a cattle ranching business. Also included are papers from clubs he belonged to and papers pertaining to his death.
Professional papers, 1858-1891
These folders contain papers created by Squire Edward Howard and his students while he was a teacher of penmanship at Leland and Gray Seminary in Townshend, Vermont. Included are essays, orations, "Chronicles" of the Leland Literary Association, and graduation speeches (1858-1861). Also included are papers related to Ashdale Plantation (1865-1867); Stoddard and Howard Live Stock Company (1883 and 1891); and Stoddard, Lapham and Howard (date unknown).
Oversize professional papers, ca. 1858-1861
Stored onsite at Ms. N-2702.This folder contains an oversize work of calligraphy depicting the alphabet and different animals, likely created by Squire Edward Howard while he was a teacher of penmanship at Leland and Gray Seminary. The folder also includes some essays and orations (1858-1861) and the constitution and bylaws of the Leland Literary Association (1859).
Club records, 1889-1896
This folder contains Massachusetts Rifle Association ephemera from Capt. Howard's shooting matches and a history of the Vermont Association of Boston.
Travel papers, 1896-1899
This folder contains ephemera from the Howard family's trips overseas on steamships.
Papers related to Squire Edward Howard's death, 1912-1914
This folder contains papers pertaining to memorials to Capt. Howard, his estate and will, and a war pension for Helen (Marsh) Howard.
Loose newspaper clippings, undated
This folder includes loose newspaper clippings that mostly contain jokes. The clippings contain racist language.
II. Helen (Marsh) Howard papers, 1861-1918
This series contains correspondence to and from Helen (Marsh) Howard and six diaries that she kept between the ages of 21 and 78. A tribute to Howard after her death can be found in the Squire Edward Howard papers (Series I.E.), stored inside his funeral program. Her estate papers can be found in the Pauline Stoddard (Howard) Boynton papers (Series III.C.).
A. Correspondence, ca. 1867-1912
Arranged chronologically.
This subseries contains telegrams, letters, and notes from Helen (Marsh) Howard to Capt. Howard during their courtship (ca. 1867), as well as letters she wrote to her husband when he was cattle ranching out West and she and the children were living in Geneseo, Illinois (1881), and later West Newton, Massachusetts (1891). Subjects include family and health matters and updates on their children. The subseries also includes two letters to Helen and Pauline Howard.
B. Diaries, 1861-1918
Arranged chronologically.
This subseries contains diaries written by Helen (Marsh) Howard.
Diary, 1 January - 31 December 1861
This daily diary was kept by Helen Howard when she lived either in New Hampshire or Boston, Massachusetts. She describes her daily activities, social life, and church.
Diary, 1 January - 28 December 1873
This daily diary was kept by Helen (Marsh) Howard while she and her family lived in Brattleboro, Vermont. She describes visits with friends, attending church and Sunday School, and attendance at meetings and the Sewing Society. At the back of the diary is a financial ledger where she records her income and daily expenses.
Diary, 29 February 1884 - 31 December 1885, 1887, 1888
This is a weekly diary that was kept by Helen (Marsh) Howard while she and her family lived in Brattleboro, Vermont, and later in West Newton, Massachusetts. The focus of the diary is Helen's stories about her daughter, Marjorie Marsh Howard, who was four years old at the time. This diary contains racist language.
Travel diary, 30 June 1898 - 19 August 1899
This travel diary, kept by Helen (Marsh) Howard, documents her sightseeing trip with Capt. Howard and Pauline Howard throughout Europe. She describes their travels through England, Scotland, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland. Her daughter Marjorie died two months prior to the trip.
Diary, 1 January 1900 - 31 December 1904
This is a line-a-day diary kept by Helen (Marsh) Howard while she and her family lived in West Newton, Massachusetts. Topics of the diary include attending church and lectures, visits with friends, trips to Boston, and attending meetings of the Women's Guild and the West Newton Educational Club. In her 1901 entries, she documents a trip that she, Capt. Howard, and Pauline Howard took to Europe, where they visited Italy, France, Belgium, and England.
Diary, 1 January 1915 - 31 December 1918
This line-a-day diary was kept by Helen (Marsh) Howard while she and her family lived in West Newton, Massachusetts. Topics in the diary include church, visiting friends, lunches, visits to the Brae-Burn Country Club, and attending Miss Heloise E. Hersey's lectures.
III. Pauline Stoddard (Howard) Boynton papers, 1880-1949
This series contains correspondence to and from Pauline Howard (later Boynton), her writings and speeches, financial records, literary ephemera, diaries, a travel scrapbook, and a notebook.
A. Correspondence, 1880-1926
Arranged by type and then chronologically.
This subseries contains letters between Pauline (Howard) Boynton and various publishers, as well as personal letters.
Professional correspondence, 1916-1924, undated
Professional correspondence consists primarily of letters between Pauline Howard and Morgan Shepard ("John Martin") and Helen Waldo of John Martin's House, Inc. Publishers (Garden City, New York). Also included are letters from Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Co. Publishers (Boston, Massachusetts) and Librairie Hachette (Paris, France). Subjects include the publication of Pauline's "W. Chuck" and "Fish" short stories for children in John Martin's Book: A Magazine for Little Children, feedback on her writings, payment for her work, and illustrations being prepared by Herman Drucklieb. The letters also discuss the publication of Pauline's book The W. Chuck Family by Houghton Mifflin and Co. in 1920, as well as the publication of her stories in a French school textbook.
Personal correspondence, ca. 1880-1926, undated
Included are letters to and from Pauline Howard and one letter from her husband, Dalton ("D") Boynton, to an unknown person. The letters are largely from Pauline's cousin, Charles Bills Knight of Troy, New York. Two notable letters are from Heloise Edwina Hersey, a professor of English at Smith College, lecturer, and principal of Miss Hersey's School for Girls. In one letter, Hersey offers advice to Pauline about the publication of her book The W. Chuck Family (9 June 1919).
B. Writings, ca. 1910s-1920s
Papers in this subseries are arranged in the order they were received by the donor. Writings with multiple pages are placed in their own sleeve.
This subseries contains Pauline Howard's children's stories (ca. 1910s-1920s), writings for adult audiences, notes on scraps of paper in preparation for her writings, her speeches (ca. 1918, undated), and literature ephemera (ca. 1920). Among her children's stories are titles such as Cherry Chuck and the Enormous Animal, How Mrs. Bass and Mrs. Trout Went Shopping, and The Morning After the Picnic. Also included is the manuscript for her book The W. Chuck Family. Of note is a draft dedication for the book to her father, Capt. Squire Edward Howard. Her stories for adult audiences include titles such as Life's Value, Automobiles I Have Known, and Personal Hells.
C. Financial papers, 1918-1929
Arranged chronologically.
This subseries contains financial papers from the estate of Helen M. Howard (1918-1920); Pauline Howard was the executor of the estate. Also included are Pauline Howard's income tax records (1929).
D. Miscellaneous papers, ca. 1900-1922
This subseries contains Pauline (Howard) Boynton's calling card, a list of wedding presents, a satirical writing, and notes on scraps of paper.
E. Bound volumes, 1882-1949
Arranged by type and then chronologically.
This subseries contains diaries, a travel scrapbook, and a notebook written by Pauline Howard (later Boynton).
Diaries, 1882-1949
Diary, 5 January - 20 July 1882
This diary was written by Pauline Howard when she was nine years old and living in Geneseo, Illinois. She discusses playing with friends, tea parties, taking writing lessons, taking walks with her father, and going to Sunday School.
Diary, 1 January - 30 October 1883
This diary was written by Pauline Howard when she was ten years old and living in Geneseo, Illinois, and later Chicago, Illinois. She describes ice skating, attending church and Sunday School, visits to Boston, household chores, and music lessons. She also discusses settling into their new homes in Chicago.
Diary, 8 November 1924 - 5 March 1926
This "motor trips" diary was written by Pauline (Howard) Boynton when she was 51 to 53 years old and living on Chestnut Street in Boston, Massachusetts. In the diary, she logs her domestic and international trips by dates traveled, where she traveled to, the number of miles she traveled, the length of the trip, who she traveled with, and remarks about the trips themselves.
Diary, 1 January 1930 - 30 December 1934
This line-a-day diary was written by Pauline (Howard) Boynton when she was 57 to 61 years old and living in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. Entries for 1930 and 1931 detail trips she took by sea domestically and abroad, including to the Middle East, Turkey, Greece, Italy, the Caribbean, and the southern United States. Other subjects include visits with friends and family, work she and her husband Dalton Boynton did on their house and property, luncheons and picnics, and attending meetings. Of note is an entry on 8 November 1932, where she mentions the election of President Franklin Roosevelt. In her 17 April 1932 entry, she describes a trip to the Shenandoah Valley where she sees a monument to the 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment.
Diary, 16 February - 7 April 1937
This travel diary was written by Pauline (Howard) Boynton when she was 64 years old and living in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. In the diary, she details her trip to Japan and China. She also lists the other passengers on her ship and describes their personalities.
Diary with key, 1 January 1945 - 31 December 1949
This "five-year diary" was written by Pauline (Howard) Boynton when she was 73 to 76 years old and living in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. She discusses events relating to World War II, visits to the village of Little Boar's Head ("L.B.H."), attending lectures and exhibits, mending clothing, visits to the library, cooking and baking, and P.T.A. meetings. In one notable entry, on 12 August 1945, Pauline mentions the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill losing reelection as prime minister of the United Kingdom, and states, "European war over." The key to this diary was stored in a small envelope within its pages. The key remains with the diary but has been placed in a separate paper enclosure.
Diary, after 1922
This undated travel diary was written by Pauline (Howard) Boynton sometime after 1922. In the diary, she describes her travels through Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; and France. Included in the folder is a photocopy of portions of two newspaper clippings that were found within the pages of the diary.
Travel scrapbook, 1899
In this travel scrapbook, kept from 29 January - 6 September 1899, Pauline Howard documents her sightseeing trip to Europe with her parents when she was 26 years old. Her sister, Marjorie Howard, died two months prior to the trip. The scrapbook contains written entries, photographs, graphics, and ephemera. The entries begin in Italy and continue through their travels in Switzerland, France, and England, and on the ship back to Boston. For Pauline's mother's diary of the trip, see the Helen (Marsh) Howard papers (Series II.B.). This scrapbook has been disbound by the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Notebook, ca. 1894-1910
This notebook was written by Pauline Howard while she was living in West Newton, Massachusetts. She appears to have used it while she was a college student and later a member of Miss Hersey's School Association. In the notebook, she outlines the history and works of different authors, quotes writings, provides commentary on books, and takes notes on Miss Heloise E. Hersey's lectures on literature.
IV. Marjorie Marsh Howard papers, 1894, 1898
This series contains letters to and from Marjorie Howard (1894, undated), a newspaper tribute to Marjorie after her death (1898), and a tribute to Marjorie in the Newton High School Review (1898). Information on Marjorie as a child can also be found in the Helen Marsh Howard papers (Series II) and Squire Edward Howard papers (Series I).
V. Howard and Marsh genealogy papers, 1901, undated
This series contains genealogical material with the names, births, marriages, and deaths of members of the Howard and Marsh families and other related family members born between 1760 and 1851. Also included is an obituary, from 1901, for Helen (Marsh) Howard's niece, Helen Marsh Fletcher.
VI. Blanche Harvey Boynton diary, 1920-1923
This series contains a diary kept by Blanche Harvey Boynton from 1 January 1920 - 31 December 1923, while she was living in North Hampton, New Hampshire. Subjects include regular visits from her brother Dalton Boynton and her sister-in-law Pauline (Howard) Boynton, household chores, visits with friends, church, and the weather.
VII. Winfield Scott Montgomery papers, 1901, 1913
This series contains a speech Prof. Winfield Scott Montgomery delivered during "Old Home Week" in Townshend, Vermont (15 August 1901), and a letter he wrote to Helen (Marsh) Howard after Capt. Squire Edward Howard's death (14 April 1913). Prof. Montgomery describes his personal history from the time of the Civil War through his youth in Vermont, his observations of Vermont, and his relationships with Capt. Howard and the 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment.
Preferred Citation
Squire Edward Howard 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.
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Materials Removed from the Collection
Photographs from this collection have been removed to the MHS Photo Archives. Printed material removed and cataloged separately. Artifacts, including Squire Edward Howard's Medal of Honor, removed to the MHS Artifacts Collection.