The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: James Terry, 1844-1912

Title: Papers

Dates: 1878-1916

Call No.: Col. 366

Acc. No.: 65x95

Quantity: 307 items

Location: 9 C 4

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

James Terry was interested in a variety of scientific and historical subjects. At some point in his career, he appears to have worked at he American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and he published his only book Sculptured Anthropoid Ape Heads in 1891. For part of his life, Terry resided in Hartford, Connecticut, and was an antiques dealer. He primarily sold china manufactured by Enoch Wood and Ridgway. In addition, he was an avid collector of early American bookplates and pursued this interest in conjunction with his desire to write a history of early American libraries, both institutional and private.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The majority of the collection contains Terry's correspondence, arranged in alphabetical order by writer. Many of the letters deal with collecting and researching ceramics, particularly Staffordshire. Plates, pitchers and other pieces discussed often contained historical scenes of the United States and universities in blue. He often corresponded with Edwin Atlee Barber, another noted collector of porcelain. Additional letters pertain to Terry's collecting of books and bookplates. Several of the documents make reference to items from George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, including a letter from Amy Townsend inquiring about Washington's banquet table. Some of the correspondence is accompanied by photographs. One folder features information on china manufacturers with depictions of delft. Another document with the heading, Isaac B. Farrar, traces the history of a Vermont pottery.

Also included in the collection are manuscript catalogs of the James Terry Collection. One is entitled: "A Descriptive Catalogue of a portion of the contents of my Colonial Dining Hall at my house 78 Wethersfield Avenue, compromising historical furniture, silver, prints, portraits, and historical china." Another is a descriptive catalogue of items in the Terry Collection lent to the Mattatuck Historical Society by Mira E. Terry in 1916. Finally, the collection contains a phrenological description of Terry by L.N. Fowler, done on March 10, 1848 in New York.

ORGANIZATION

The correspondence in the collection is arranged alphabetically. The other items are in labeled folders at the back of the box. A name index to the collection is attached.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from Cedric Robinson.

RELATED MATERIALS

The American Antiquarian Society has a collection of Terry’s papers, particularly relating to his bookplate collecting and research on the history of libraries.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Fowler, L. N.

Barber, Edwin Atlee, 1851-1916.

Washington, George, 1732-1799 - Estate.

Topics:

Mattatuck Historical Society.

Antiques.

Staffordshire pottery.

Pottery - Themes, motives.

Delftware.

Pottery industry - Vermont.

Phrenology.

Bookplates.

Correspondence.

Catalogs.

Photographic prints.

Collectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 9 C 4

Box 1:

Folder 1: Correspondence: Aldrich, Walter (.1)

Bibliographer and Antiquarian, Providence, RI, offering china and books, 1894

Folder 2: Correspondence: Barber, Edwin A. (.2-.64)

West Chester and Philadelphia, 1892-1901, about collection china, and about Barber’s book The Pottery and Porcelain of the United States

Folder 3: Correspondence: Beardsley, B. F. (.65)

Hartford, Conn., 1892, about selling china

Folder 4: Correspondence: Bensusan, J. (.66)

New York City, 1894, has shipped Washington pitcher

Folder 5: Correspondence: Bolles, Ellen M. (.67-.71)

Brooklyn, Conn., 1894, selling and shipping ceramics

Folder 6: Correspondence: Brock, A. (.72-.74a)

Cabinet maker, upholsterer, dealer in antiques, Pittsfield, Mass., 1894, includes bill of sale for a Washington mug

Folder 7: Correspondence: Burrage, Clarence V. (.75)

Jamaica Plain, Mass., no year, selling father’s collection of pitchers

Folder 8: Correspondence: Bushnell, Jane Finch (.76-.77)

Madison, Conn., 1893, about a pepper pot for sale

Folder 9: Correspondence: Chase, S.(?) M.(?) (.78)

Washington, DC, 1912, about manuscripts for sale

Folder 10: Correspondence: Clark, Henry F. (.79-.80)

Danielson, Conn., 1895, shipping a pitcher

Folder 11: Correspondence: Clark, W. W. (.81)

New Bern, NC, 1903, about library of Judge Sitgreaves of NC

Folder 12: Correspondence: Conklin, Wm. T.; his correspondence with George D. Seymour and Thomas R. Trowbridge (both of New Haven, Conn.) (.82)

Struthers, Ohio, 1892-1893, wishing to sell a plate

Folder 13: Correspondence: Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, George F. Eaton, secretary (.83)

New Haven, 1909, asking Terry’s opinion of a paper written by Geo. G. MacCurdy

Folder 14: Correspondence: Albert C. Bates, Connecticut Historical Society (.84)

1903, about work of the society

Folder 15: Correspondence: Doolittle, M. C. (.85)

Cheshire(?), 1891, the Williams have no desire to sell

Folder 16: Correspondence: Doughty, C. H. (.86-.87)

Gray, Maine, 1899, still seeking information about a pottery in Gray

Folder 17: Notes: Farrar family in pottery business in Middlebury and Fairfax, Vermont (.287a-b)

Mentions a Mr. Murry who married sister of Caleb Farrar; also mentions Isaac B. Farrar, and others involved in pottery business

Folder 18: Correspondence: Foley, P. K. (.88-.88a)

Boston, Mass., 1906, bill of sale for a broadside, and photostat of a broadside, dated Boston, Dec. 1, 1773, about not permitting the unloading of tea from ships in Boston harbor

Folder 19: Fowler, S. N.: his phrenological description of James Terry, 1848 (.286)

Folder 20: Correspondence: Frey, I.(?) L. (.89)

Palatine Br., 1892, about china with American scenes

Folder 21: Correspondence: Fuller, Jno. N. (.90-.91)

Chicago, 1910, about books about Connecticut

Folder 22: Correspondence: Gilbert, Jno. Jay (.92-.93)

Baltimore, 1893-1894, about exchanging duplicates of china

Folder 23: Correspondence: Griggs, Stephen A. (.94)

Brooklyn, Conn., 1894, about selling china

Folder 24: Correspondence: Griswold, Ellen W. (Mrs. J. Welles) (.95)

Wethersfield, 1894, about buying back some family china

Folder 25: Correspondence: Hagan, Ernest F. (.96-.97)

Cabinet maker and upholsterer, New York, 1892, 1898, about selling china

Folder 26: Correspondence: Halsey, R. T. H. (of Halsey & Hudnut) (.98)

New York, 1899, about Staffordshire pottery with American views

Folder 27: Correspondence: Hansel, Sloan & Co. (.99)

Hartford, Conn., 1893, interested in buying tortoise shell plates

Folder 28: Correspondence: Hart, Edward G. (.100-.103)

Springvale, Maine, 1894; Hartford, 1894; Boston, 1895, about selling pottery

Folder 29: Correspondence: Harvey, Oscar J. (.104)

Wilkes-Barre, Penn., 1905, about Harvey’s history of the Wyoming Valley area

Folder 30: Correspondence: Haywood, Marshall DeLancey (.105)

Raleigh, NC, 1904, about Terry’s questions about Raleigh library label

Folder 31: Correspondence: Hooker, Frank H. (or N.) (.106-.108a)

New Haven, Conn., 1894, about buying china

Folder 32: Correspondence: Hulbert, Wm. E. (.109)

Middletown, 1886, about old furniture

Folder 33: Correspondence: Ives, Geo. F. (.110)

Danbury, Conn., 1895, about selling china

Folder 34: Correspondence: Johnson, G.(?) B. (.111)

Easthampton, 1886, about old furniture

Folder 35: Correspondence: Kearney [or Kearny], J. L. (.112)

Perth Amboy, NJ, 1892, Thomas Peterson does not wish to sell his Spode china

Folder 36: Correspondence: Kirby, Thomas E., & Co. (.113)

Auctioneer, New York, 1883, bill of sale for Chinese porcelains

Folder 37: Correspondence: Lawrence, H. F. (.114-.138)

Dealer in antiques, Salem, Mass., 1890-1893, correspondence and bills of sale for old china

Folder 38: Correspondence: Leete, Eva B. (.139-.140)

Guilford, Conn., 1894, about selling china

Folder 39: Correspondence: Libbie, Charles F. (.141)

Auctioneer, Boston, 1893, encloses clipping about Copley painting

Folder 40: Correspondence: Loper, S. Ward, curator, Museum of Wesleyan University (.142)

Middletown, Conn., 1895, about selling a Bunker Hill dish

Folder 41: Correspondence: Lyon, Irving W. (.143-.144)

[includes “Notes on Delft ware and faience of Delft, and more particularly the ‘Terry Delft Plaque’”]

Folder 42: Correspondence: McClure, Edward L. and Mary E. (.145-.151)

Brockton, Mass., 18931895, 1903, about selling and exchanging china

Folder 43: Correspondence: Meares, Thos. D. (.152)

Wilmington, NC, 1903, about Gov. Iredell’s library

Folder 44: Correspondence: Meggat, W. C. (.153-.156)

Seed grower, Wethersfield, Conn., 1894, about selling and shipping china

Folder 45: Correspondence: Emma R. Ball, Committee on Relics Investigation, Mount Vernon (.157)

Richmond, 1912, letter to Mr. Washington, about death of Mr. Terry and intended sell of Washington tables and other relics – needs to have them authenticated

Folder 46: Correspondence: Nagy, Stephen K. (.158)

Antiques and curios dealer, Philadelphia, 1918, letter to O.C. Hill, requesting prices for historical china

Folder 47: Correspondence: Neal, Mrs. J. B. (.159)

Easton, Penn., 1899, seeking to buy or exchange antique china

Folder 48: Correspondence: Norris, Chas. E. and Bessie Plumer (160-.166)

Epping, NH, 1899-1901, about purchase of old books and manuscripts

Folder 49: notice of auction sale of antiques and relics of General J. Francis Pargoud, to be sold in Stony Creek, [Conn.], 1908, sale posted by Mortimer H. Camp, administrator, New Britain, Conn. (.167)

Folder 50: Correspondence: Parks, Mrs. C. R. (.168)

Boston, no year, wishes to sell a picture called “Triumph of Neptune”

Folder 51: Correspondence: Plumer, Emily J. (.169-.174)

Lexington, Mass., and Epping [NH], 1899-1901, offering manuscripts and books

Folder 52: Correspondence: Pond, C. H. (.175)

Antiques dealer, New York, 1897, offering a loving cup

Folder 53: Correspondence: Poole, C. C. (.176)

Rockland, Mass., [year cut off], price of two blue plates

Folder 54: Correspondence: Powers, Lee L. (.177-.183)

Antiques dealer, Boston, 1893-1895, about purchase of old china; two letters include sketches of pieces for sale; also an advertising postcard from Powers; one letter from Henry Pollard, manager for Powers

Folder 55: Correspondence: Richards, H. J. (.184-.188)

Troy and Lansingburg, NY, 1893, about old china; includes a photo labeled “historical pitcher of the War of 1812-1814, …, used at reception given General Lafayette, September 18, 1824, at Troy, N.Y.,” with description, the pitcher was made by Enoch Wood & Sons of Burslem, England

Folder 56: Correspondence: Russell, John S. (.189)

Grocer, Hartford, Conn., 1894, about Hartford and other plates

Folder 57: Correspondence: Salley, A. S., Jr., secretary, Historical Commission of South Carolina (.190)

Columbia, S.C., 1912, mostly about the forger S. Millington Miller

Folder 58: Correspondence: Satterlee, Bela B. (.191-.193)

Plymouth, Conn., 1892-1894, offering to sell him clocks that once belonged to his family; also offering some documents for sale

Folder 59: Correspondence: Saunders, W. O. (.194-.195)

Antique dealer, Hartford, Conn., 1894, offering a plate for sale; also a bill for various pieces of china, which bill is on the back of a form printed by Saunders asking various questions about clocks (what kind of wood, is the case inlaid, are the works brass, etc.)

Folder 60: Correspondence: Searle, Conrad O. (.196)

St. Paul, Minn., no year, offering plate for exchange

Folder 61: Correspondence: Shippee, Joseph K. (.197)

New Boston, Conn., 1895, will try to find any plates for which Terry is searching

Folder 62: Correspondence: Snow(?), Mrs. Francis J. [surname might start with J] (.198)

Greenfield, Mass., no year, offering plate with view of Chillicothe, Ohio

Folder 63: Correspondence: Stanton, John A. (.199-.200)

Clinton, Conn., 1894-1895, about not having leisure at present to pursue ceramics

Folder 64: Correspondence: Stickney, W. J. (.201-.230)

Antiques dealer and manufacturer of furniture, counters, wood mantels, etc., Salem, Mass., 1891-1895, about sale of ceramics and other antiques; one letter includes sketch of a mug with man’s face being offered for sale

Folder 65: Correspondence: Stokes, Anson Phelps (.282-.282b)

Yale University, New Haven, Conn., 1911-1912, refers to bookplate collecting; hopes Terry will continue to give to Yale; one letter to executors of Terry estate

Folder 66: Correspondence: Stroud(?), E. B. (.283)

Clifton Springs, NY, 1892, not able to fulfill Terry’s request for platter

Folder 67: Correspondence: Tennessee State Library, Miss Bright, ass’t. (.232)

Nashville, 1903, about President Polk’s library

Folder 68: Correspondence: Terry, James (.233)

Mount Pleasant House, NH, 1900, to Arthur H. Chase, requesting return of Mrs. Plumer’s letter, with note from K.G.T. saying letter is enclosed;

Letterhead has view of “the Great Peaks of the White Hills” [i.e. White Mountains]

Folder 69: Correspondence: Tilton, M.E. (.234-.259)

Newburyport, Mass., 1890-1891 and no year; about pitchers; one letter includes a sketch

Folder 70: Correspondence: Townsend, Amy (.260)

New York City, 1912, letter sent to Mr. Washington asking about a General Washington table which he sold to Mr. Terry

Folder 71: Correspondence: Trowbridge, Rutherford (.261-.262)

New Haven, Conn., 1904-1905, about a church

Folder 72: Correspondence: True, A. (.263-.267a)

Antiques dealer, New York City, 1893-1894, offering china for sale; includes an advertising flier for A. True’s business, exhibition and private sale of antiques

Folder 73: Correspondence: Trumbull, G. (.268-.269)

Hartford, 1878-1879, about china

Folder 74: Correspondence: Turner, Frank C. (.270)

Norwich, Conn., 1900, offering china for sale

Folder 75: Correspondence: Van Deusen, R. T. (.271-.274)

Antique dealer, Stuyvesant, NY, 1894, explains where he gets his wares, offers china, includes sketch of one item

Folder 76: Correspondence: Warner, Charles S. (.275-.275a)

Auctioneer, Hartford, Conn., 1878, letter to Jane Thornton(?), Yorkshire, England, requesting genealogical information about family of Sarah Brooks, to go along with a note about an ewer and basin which once belonged to the said Sarah Brooks

Folder 77: Correspondence: Wells, W. S. (.276-.277)

New Haven, Conn., 1908, about compiling a list of New Haven residents who served during the American Revolution

Folder 78: Correspondence: Welton, A. M.(?) (.278)

Plymouth, Conn., 1886, about selling Terry a set of chairs, includes the history of the chairs

Folder 79: Correspondence: Wheeler, M. E. (.279-.280)

Antiques and paintings dealer, New York City, 1895, about selling tortoise shell plates

Folder 80: Correspondence: Wile, William C. (.281)

Editor, The Prescription and New England Medical Monthly, Danbury, Conn., 1894, about selling an antique four poster bedstead

Folder 81: 3 catalogs/lists:

“A Descriptive Catalogue of a portion of the contents of my Colonial Dining Hall at my House, no 78 Wethersfield Avenue, comprising Historical Furniture, Silver, Prints, Portraits, and Historical China,” compiled by James Terry, 1905, handwritten, 50 pages. (.283)

“A Descriptive Catalogue of the Terry Collection loaned The Mattatuck Historical Society by Miss Mira E. Terry, 1916,” with items numbered 1-233, and possibly items 250-299 were also part of the loan, appears to be entirely ceramic items: porcelain, pottery, and china (.284)

A typed list of china, broadsides, engravings, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson articles (including furniture), etc. (2 copies of most pages) (.285)

Folder 82: photographs, miscellaneous notes, etc.:

.288 note by James Terry about piece of Crouch or Elizabethan ware in his collection, a salt glaze stoneware plate which once belonged to his great-great-grandfather

.289 a page from a history of the Wyoming area of Pennsylvania (probably the book mentioned in acc. .104, above), including the transcription of a document owned by James Terry

.290 notes about plate from Wm. Harry Edwards

.291 sketch of the design on a plate, a view of Abraham sacrificing Isaac, dated 1636

.292 notes about designs

.293 photo of a Sheraton or Hepplewhite chair, and a note on the back about who has been making reproductions of it [photo is in two pieces]

.294-.297 photo (four copies): two large jugs, one small pitcher, one coffee cup; one of the jugs has a view of the Defense of Stonington, 1814, the other shows a ship

.298 photo of silver coffee pot

.299-.300 photo (2 copies) of Oriental porcelain, number key on back

.301-.304 4 photos of Oriental porcelain and other wares, number key on back of each

.305 note about president of Hobart College

.306 newspaper clipping about Jefferson china donated to White House collection by Jefferson Coolidge of Boston, from The Sun, October 21, 1906

.307 pages 7-8 of the Waterbury American for June 22, 1909

Name index:

Aldrich, Walter .1

Ball, Edna R. .157

Barber, Edwin A. .2-.64

Beardsley, P. F. .65

Bensusan, T. .66

Bolles, Ellen M. .69, .70, .71

Bolles, John (Mrs.) .67, .68

Brock, A. .72-.74

Burrage, Clarence V. .75

Bushnell, Jane Finch .76, .77

Chase, Arthur H. .233

Chase, S. M. .78

Clark, Henry F. .79, .80

Clark, W. 14. .81

Conklin, Wm. T. .82

The Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences .83

Connecticut Historical Society, .84

Cutler, B. W. .108

Doolittle, M. C. .85

Doughty, C. H. .86, .87

Farrar, Isaac B., .287a-b

Foley, P. K. .88

Frey, S. L. .89

Fuller, Jno. N. .90, .91

Gilbert, Jno. Jay .92, .93

Griggs, Stephen A. .94

Griswold, Ellen W. .95

Griswold, J. Welles (Mrs.) .95

Hagen, Ernest F. .96, .97

Halsey, R. T. H. .98

Hansel, Sloan & Co. .99

Hart, E. G. .100,.101,.102

Hart, Edward G., .103

Harvey, Oscar J., .104

Haywood, Marshall DeLancey .105

Hills O.C. .158

Hodgdon, Frank W. .171

Hooker & Co., Henry .108a

Hooker, Frank B. .106,.107,.108

Hulbert, Wm E..119

Ives, Ceo. P..110

Johnson, C. B. .111

Kearny, J. S. .112

Kirby & Co., Thomas E. .113

Lawrence, H. F. .114-.138

Leete, Eva, .139-,140

Libbie, C. F. .141

Loper, S. Ward .1.42

Lyon, Irving W. .143, .144

McClure, Edward L. .145-.150

McClure, Mary E. .151

Meares, Thos. D. .152

Meggat, William .153-.156

Mount Vernon .157

Nagy, Stephen K. .158

Neal, J.B. (Mrs.) .159

Norris, Bessie Plumer .161-.166

Norris, Chas. E. .160

Norris Chas. E. (Mrs.) .162

Pargoud, J. Francis .167

Parks, C. R. (Mrs.) .168

Plumer, E. J. .172, .173, .174

Plumer, Emily .169

Plumer, Emily J. .170, .171

Pond, C. H. .175

Poole, C. C. .176

Powers, Lee L. .177-.188

Richards, H. J. .184-.188

Robertson, R. Austin .113

Rogers, A. A. (Mrs.) .99

Russell, John S. .189

Salley, A. S. (Jr.) .190

Satterlee, Bela B. .191-.193

Saunders, W. 0. .194, .196

Searle, Conrad O. .196

Seymour, Geo. O. .82

Shippee, Joseph K. .197

Snow, Francis J. (Mrs.) .198

Stanton, John A. .199, .200

Stickney, W. J. .201-.230

Stokes, Anson Phelps .282

Stroud, E. P. .231

Tennessee State Library .232

Terry, James .233

Thornton, Jane .275

Tilton, M. E. .234-.259

Tilton, Mary Elizabeth .249

Townsend, Amy .260

Trowbridge, Rutherford .261, .262

Trowbridge, Thomas R. .82

Turner, Frank C., .270

True, A., .263-.267

Trumbull G., .268-.269

Van Deusen, R. T., .271-.274

Warner, Charles S., .275

Washington, George, .260

Wells, W. S., .276, .277

Welton, A. W., .278

Wheeler, M. E., .279,.280

Wile, William C., .281

Yale University, .282