ca. 1858-1962
Guide to the Photograph Collection
Abstract
This collection contains mostly portraits of members of the Massachusetts Charitable Society, dating from ca. 1858-1962.
Historical Sketch
The Massachusetts Charitable Society was organized by a group of men in Boston in 1762 as a society for "mutually aiding and assisting each other, their families, widows and orphans who may be reduced by the adverse accidents of life..." (from the 1779 charter). Founded as the "Massachusetts Society," the organization changed its name to the "Massachusetts Charitable Society" at its incorporation in 1779. The Society originally met at the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston, later frequenting the "Bunch of Grapes" and other local landmarks. The founding members of the Society were John Tileston (a writing school master), Ephraim Copeland, Barnabas Webb, Habijah Savage, and John Perkins, Jr. The membership consisted primarily of artisans and tradesmen. The Massachusetts Charitable Society was the first society of its type to enroll members without regard to religion, trade, or national derivation.
The Society remains in existence today. The organization continues to fund needy members and their families and supplies grants to support education, community service, historical scholarship, and the arts.
Collection Description
This collection contains portraits of members of the Massachusetts Charitable Society, dating from ca. 1858-1962. Subjects include Massachusetts legislator and printer Osmyn Brewster, printer Uriel H. Crocker, George Glover Crocker, Boston brass founder William Cooper Hunneman, and Capt. John Soren, among many others. Some photographs depict various group gatherings of the Society to celebrate its anniversaries. Photographers include James E. Purdy and Charles F. Conly of Boston, Massachusetts, as well as H. William Tupper (Cambridge, Massachusetts), among others. All of the photographs are black-and-white; some are photo-reproductions of portrait paintings. Included are cartes de visite and cabinet cards.
Acquisition Information
The collection was deposited by the Massachusetts Charitable Society in September and October 1977.
Arrangement
Photographs are arranged and numbered in alphabetical order.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Beal, Benjamin (1802-1874), ca. 1871-1874
Taken by Bushby & Hart (Lynn, Mass.).Member from 1851-1874.
Beal, Frank, ca. 1859-1865
Taken by John A. Heard (Boston, Mass.).Brewster, Osmyn (1797-1889), ca. 1884-1887
Taken by the Notman Photographic Co. (Boston, Mass.).Member from 1833-1889.
Brewster, Osmyn (1797-1889), with Uriel H. Crocker (1796-1887), September 1886
Photographer unknown.Osmyn Brewster was a member from 1833-1889. Uriel Crocker was a member from 1804-1887.
Inscription on back of photograph: "Mssrs. Crocker & Brewster. Taken on Mr. Crocker's 90th birthday, Sept 13th 1886."
Canterbury, William Headley (1852-1923), ca. 1910
Taken by H. William Tupper (Cambridge, Mass.).Admitted as member in 1885; president, 1907-1911.
Codman, John, ca. 1870-1880
Photographer unknown.Inscription on back of photograph: "Memorial Sept. 1897."
Cram, George W. (1866-1933), ca. 1921-1928
Taken by James E. Purdy (Boston, Mass.).Crocker, George Glover (b. 1843), 1910-1913
Taken by Marceau (Boston, Mass.).Admitted as member in 1878.
Crocker, Lyneham, ca. 1910
Taken by Fabian Bachrach (Boston, Mass.).Crocker, Lyneham, ca. 1920
Photographer unknown.Crocker, Uriel H. (1796-1887), ca. 1870
Taken by Falk (New York, N.Y.).Hamlin, Edward, ca. 1910
Photographer unknown.Haskell, Elias (1768-1857), undated
Photographer unknown.Photograph of portrait drawing, artist unknown.Hunneman, Samuel Hewes (1800-1869), ca. 1858-1867
Taken by John D. Andrews for Davis & Co. (Boston, Mass.).Hunneman, Samuel Hewes (1826-1903), ca. 1880-1890
Taken by Partridge (Boston, Mass.).Hunneman, William Cooper (1769-1856), undated
Photographer unknown.Photographs of a portrait painting, artist unknown.Hunneman, William Cooper (1801-1846), undated
Photographer unknown.Photographs of a portrait painting, artist unknown.Kellen, William V., ca. 1910-1920
Taken by C.S.H. Studio (Philadelphia, Pa.).Kellen, William V., ca. 1910-1925
Taken by Lewham-Loveland.Norcross, Grenville H., 1904
Taken by Charles F. Conly (Boston, Mass.).Osborn, Francis Augustus (b. 1863), October 1902
Taken by Elmer Chickering (Boston, Mass.).Pierce, Andrew D., ca. 1920
Photographer unknown.Pierce, John Homer (1840-1933), 1863
Taken by Charles F. Conly (Boston, Mass.).Admitted as member in 1863.
Rogers, Gorham, ca. 1900
Taken by Notman.Rogers, Gorham, Jr., ca. 1900
Photograph unknown.Simpkins, John, ca. 1875-1880
Photograph unknown.Soren, John (b. 1757), undated
Photograph unknown.Photo of portrait painting, artist unknown.Admitted as member in 1793.
Stone, Edwin A., 1888
Taken by James E. Purdy & Co. (Boston, Mass.).Stone, Herbert E. (b. 1879), September 1916
Taken by James E. Purdy & Co. (Boston, Mass.).Treadwell, Sanford L. (1846-1928), ca. 1910
Taken by H. William Tupper (Cambridge, Mass.).Wellington, Alfred Augustus (1807-1871), ca. 1861-1865
Taken by Frederic L. Lay (Boston, Mass.).Admitted as member in 1856.
Wellington, Frederick Augustus (1841-1896), ca. 1888-1896
Taken by Ambrose S. Vose (Boston, Mass.).Admitted as member in 1872.
Whittemore, Henry, ca. 1880
Photographer unknown.Unidentified man, ca. 1860
Copy photograph taken by James E. Purdy & Co. (Boston, Mass.), original photographer unknown.Unidentified woman [possibly a member of the Hunneman family], undated
Photograph of a portrait painting, artist unknown. Photographer unknown.Group photograph of Massachusetts Charitable Society members, at 200th Anniversary Dinner 1962
Taken by George M. Cushing (Boston, Mass.).Two duplicate photographs and one composite photograph.See also oversize Photo. 159.42.
NEGATIVES: Unidentified group photographs of Massachusetts Charitable Society members at 150th Anniversary Dinner, 30 September 1912
Taken by Alfred E. Wellington. 2 film photonegatives.Group photograph of members of the Massachusetts Charitable Society at 150th Anniversary Dinner, 30 September 1912
Possibly taken by Alfred E. Wellington.Group photograph of Massachusetts Charitable Society members at 200th Anniversary Dinner 1962
Taken by George M. Cushing (Boston, Mass.).Preferred Citation
Massachusetts Charitable Society photographs, Photo. Coll. 159, Massachusetts Historical Society Photo Archives.
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.