The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

            Creator:          Lyceum of the Town of Winchester                                          

            Title:               Papers

            Dates:             1849-1852                  

            Call No.:         Col.  439

            Acc. No.:         68x68.1-.163

            Quantity:        9 folders (ca. 163 items)

            Location:        34 K 3

 

 

HISTORICAL STATEMENT

           

The Lyceum of the Town of Winchester (Massachusetts) [building] was erected by private enterprise between 1850 and 1852.  Both the Young Men’s Literary Association and the Lyceum of the Town of Winchester Corporation maintained offices in the building and held lectures, debates, and entertainment on the upper floors.  The large hall in the upper stories was also used for concerts and religious services.  The lower part of the building was occupied by stores.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This collection contains bills for land, a drawing of the plot, stock certificates, and a bill for insurance of the Lyceum of the Town of Winchester, Massachusetts.  The bulk of the items, however, relate to the erection of the Lyceum building between 1851 and 1852.  These include items describing the purchases of lumber, windows, painting and plastering, hardware, furniture, plumbing, gas fixtures, masonry, and such miscellaneous items as banisters and chandeliers.  Bills indicate that the cellar was dug in May 1851 and the main contractors for the project were Richardson and Collame.  Stock certificates bear a black and white lithograph of the building by J.H. Bufford Lithographers of Boston.

 

 

ORGANIZATION

 

The collection is organized by subject.  Bills for construction are arranged chronologically.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

           

            Topics

                        Lyceums

                        Public buildings--Design and construction

                        Auditoriums

                        Building fittings

                        Building materials

                        Insurance, Fire

                        Deeds

                        Stock certificates

                        Architectural drawings

                        Invoices

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location:        34 K 3

 

 

Folder 1:          Deeds for land, 1849-1852

 

Folder 2:          Bills for land purchases

 

Folder 3:          Bills for building, January 1851-September 1852

 

Folder 4:          Bills for building, October 1851-December 1851

 

Folder 5:          Bills for building January 1852-March 1852

 

Folder 6:          Bills for building April 1852-December 1852

 

Folder 7:          Drawing of plot of land, including Lyceum building

 

Folder 8:          Fire insurance bills

 

Folder 9:          Stock certificates and miscellaneous