The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Horace F. Phinney

Title: Papers

Dates: 1869-1894

Call No.: Col. 381

Acc. No.: 95x115

Quantity: 175 items

Location: 34 L 1

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Horace F. Phinney was the son of Arthur S. Phinney and Deborah Phinney of Centreville, Barnstable County (Cape Cod), Massachusetts. Both his father and his uncle, Eli, were ship captains; his father lost his life at sea sometime between 1871 and 1875. As a young man, Phinney moved to Boston to work for Nicholson, Frost, & Co., importers and dealers in crockery, china, and glassware, where he remained possibly 20 years or more. While at Nicholson, Frost, & Co., Phinney filled several orders from Bearse & Phinney, grocers of Centreville, MA and Phinney & Crosby’s, both of which were possibly owned by cousins. He married Edith Crowell sometime between 1874-1876 and later had at least one child.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection of papers consists primarily of approximately 175 manuscript letters to and from various family members including his mother, father, brother Alton, wife Edith (Crowell) Phinney, and cousin Herbert Crosby. Most letters contain family and personal news, although one letter from Horace to his mother mentions Phinney’s relationship with his employers. Of particular interest are the business letters to Phinney from various retail merchants requesting specific pieces of glassware, china, and crockery in stock at Nicholson, Frost, & Co. Prices of the items are often mentioned in the correspondence.

ORGANIZATION

The letters are arranged by correspondent.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from Carmen Valentino, Philadelphia, Pa.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Phinney, Arthur S. [as subject and as author]

Topics:

Nicholson, Frost, & Co.

Business records - Massachusetts.

Porcelain - Prices.

Glassware – Prices.

Pottery - Prices.

Wholesale trade.

Letters.

Commercial correspondence.

Massachusetts - Social life and customs.

Wholesalers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 34 L 1

Folder 1: Miscellaneous

Postcards, receipts for firewood and clothing, a newspaper clipping, a playbill, envelopes, a price list for tin boxes, among others.

Folder 2: Letters from merchants ordering goods

Items mentioned include tumblers, mason jars, jelly jars, lantern chimneys, cake plates, glass dishes, china, tea sets, and vases. Merchants are primarily from Centreville, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Folder 3: Letters from various people, 1869-1894

Approximately twenty letters with envelopes, mostly from friends.

Folder 4: Letters from Herbert Crosby and a land agent

Letters from cousin Herbert Crosby, 1871-1875 who lived in Minnesota and three letters from a land agent in Florida concerning property owned by Phinney during the 1880s.

Folder 5: Letters from brother Alton, 1872-1875

Nine letters written by younger brother Alton while Phinney was in Boston and Alton was in Centreville, MA. Alton later joined his brother in Boston.

Folder 6: Letters from Arthur S. Phinney (father), 1870-1875

Letters contain personal and family news.

Folders 7-8: Letters from Deborah Phinney (mother)

2 folders of letters dating 1870-1877. Approximately 40 letters total concerning family matters and personal news.

Folder 9: Letters to Deborah Phinney from son Horace, 1871-1883

Letters contain personal news, but one letter mentions Phinney’s relationship with his employers. Several places and events in Boston are also mentioned.

Folder 10: Letters to Deborah Phinney from niece Susie, 1871-1874

Five letters containing mostly family news. One letter gives a description of Sherborne, MA, apparently the place of Susie’s residence.

Folder 11: Letters to Deborah Phinney from son Alton, 1879-1880

Primarily family news. Written while Alton was working in Boston.

Folder 12: Letters to Deborah Phinney from various people, 1874-1879

Letters are from various family members including her sister, cousin, nephew, and from friends. News of the death of her brother is noted in one letter.

Folder 13: Letters from Edith Crowell Phinney 1873-1876

Letters written during the courtship of Horace and Edith while he was in Boston and she was in W. Yarmouth, MA.

Folder 14: Letters to Edith Crowell Phinney from Horace Phinney, 1872-1879

Letters concern courtship, marriage, and family matters. Some letters describe places and events n Boston.

Folder 15: Letters to Edith Crowell Phinney from her mother, 1872-1879

Family news is mentioned.

Folder 16: Letters to Edith Crowell Phinney, ca. 1871

Various friends and family detail personal news.

Folder 17: Letters to Edith Crowell Phinney from her cousin Florence, 1876-1879

Letters detail visits from family and friends.