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:          Jaques, George, 1816-1872.                           

Title:               Diary and memoranda

Dates:             1840-1846, 1852-1856

Call No.:         Doc. 372

Acc. No.:         78x284.1-.2

Quantity:        2 volumes

Location:        31 D

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

George Jaques was a horticulturist.  Born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, in 1816, he attended Leicester Academy and Drury's school in Pawtuxet, Rhode Island.  He graduated from Brown University in 1836.  For a few years after college, he taught at schools in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and Nottaway County, Virginia, and attempted to pursue a law career.  Jaques eventually settled in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he continued teaching and also established a nursery specializing in fruit and ornamental trees.  He soon became active in the local horticultural society, preparing its Transactions in 1849 and serving as an officer.  As his career continued, Jaques became a frequent contributor to horticultural journals.  Active in the community, Jacques belonged to a temperance society and served on school committees.  In 1871, he was elected treasurer of the Worcester City Hospital.  Upon his death in 1872, his estate was left to the hospital.  Jaques was a Unitarian.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Diary entries document Jaques' activities when the material was written.  They also record his reflections on earlier phases of his life.  In the first volume (December 18, 1840 to January 29, 1846), he reviewed the progress of his education and wrote about topics that would claim his attention later in life.  He noted that he pursued studies of classics, played the flute, and read a considerable amount of literature.  In 1843, he described himself using Orson S. Fowler's ideas about phrenology.  Jaques believed he was inclined to underrate himself, had a nervous temperament, was sensitive, prone to sickness, refined, delicate, and eager.  Several days later he wondered if he should not lead a life of celibacy and remarked that he wished his father had; Jaques never married.  Jaques also provided his opinions on the legal profession and his efforts with the Washington Temperance Society.

 

The second volume of Jaques' diary begins on January 20, 1852 and ends on September 24, 1856.  Many of the pages are devoted to describing the legal details of property transfers.  His reading habits changed, reflecting his growing curiosity in architecture and travel.  By 1854, Jaques was losing interest in his nursery, but he remained active in the profession.  In January 1856, he started preparing for a trip to Europe.  Upon returning home, he recorded his impressions, comparing Europe to the United States.  In general, he found Americans to be lagging behind Europeans.               

 

 

ORGANIZATION

 

Entries are in chronological order.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

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

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from N. David Scotti.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Single men - Diaries.

            Horticulture.

            Landscape architecture.

            Nurseries (Horticulture)

            Nursery growers - Massachusetts - Worcester.

            Education, Higher.

            Temperance - Societies, etc.

            Phrenology.

            Europe - Description and travel.

            Diaries.

           

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 31 D

 

Name, occupation, and object indexes:
Index to Doc. 372 (acc. 78x284.1-.2)

 

Agassiz, Prof. .2- 105

Aldrich, T. P.  .2-  116

Alexander, Sarah  .1- 10

Allen, Chas. F.  .2- 114

Allen, E.  .2- 77

Allen, Ethan  .2- 130

Allen's Hotel  .2- 130

Allen's New Hotel  .2- 96

American House  .2- 9

Andover Academy  .2- 10

Association of the Supply of Teachers  .1- 43, 45

 

Barre & Gardner R. R. Stock  .2- 87

 

Bliss .2- 150

Breck .1- 106

Briggs .2- 152, 154

Briggs Farm .2- 154

 

Carpenter .2- 2

Carter, I.  .2- 98

Cemetery of Wilmington .2- 98

Chamberlin  .1- 103

Chamberlin, Caroline .1- 103

Chamberlin, H. .1- 103

Chandler Street .2- 145

Chapman, Henry .1- 72

Charles I of England .1- 3

Christ .1- 3

Colton .2- 18, 41, 42, 43

Columbus (ship) .1- 9

Crane, John .1- 10

Cushing (of Landers & Cushing) .2- 103

 

Daniels, F. H. .1- 2

Dewey (of Harringtons & Dewey) .2- 8

Dickinson .2- 124, 125, 126

Downing & Co. .1- 104, 76

Downing, [Andrew Jackson]  .1- 103; .2- 1

"Downing's Fruits" .1- 82

Drury's School .1- 3

 

Ethan Allen House (or Allen's Hotel) .2- 130

Eaton, E. .1- 103

Eastern Pearl St. House .1- 77

Estabrook School .1- 98

 

"Farmer and Ledger" .1- 107

Fisher, W. A. .2- 95

Flagg, E. .1- [no page number given]

 

Goodrich, J. W. .1- 60

Grout, Misses .1- 4

 

Harringtons & Dewey .2- 8

Hartwell's Nursery .1- 76

Hill .2- 124

Hill, Gov. .1- 6

Hill, Isaac .1- 106

Horgan, Honora  .2- 147, 159

Horticulturalist  .2- 2

Howland’s Book Store  .1-  49

Hutchinson [bookbinder] .2- 112

 

Jackson, E. .1- 103

Jacob, E. .1- 103

Jaques, Abiel .1- 65

Jaques, Henry .1- 10

Jaques, Mary .2- 117

Jaques, Susan Crane .1- 65

Jaques Nursery .1- 80

Jefferson .1- 5

Journal of Agriculture  .2-  2

 

Keith, Sarah (Mrs.) .2- 132

Kenrick, Wm., Nursery .1- 76

King's Nursery (formerly Wilcomb & King) .1- 76

 

Landers & Cushing .2- 130

Leg, Society of M. L. School .1- 2

Leicester Academy .1- 3

London Builder  .2-  2

 

Mann's Report .1-  2

Massachusetts Horticultural Society .2- 133

Meeting House, Old .2- 98

Milbury School .1-  [no page number given]

 

Navy Ap. School .1- 9

N.E. Farmer  .1-  106

New England Farmer  .2-  2

Niagara Falls  .2-  44, 45

Northbridge .1- 3

 

Old Meeting House  .2- 98

Old South Church .1- 41

 

Parsons Nursery .1- 76

Pierce, G.  .2- 20, 21, 77

Prince, Wm. R., & Co.  .1- 76

 

Rawson .1- 103

Reid, Wm., Nursery  .1- 76

Rice, Jonas   .2-  7, 8

Riley, Christopher  .2-  145, 153

Rivalet School  .1-  3

Roe, Lockwood, & Son  .2- 172, 177

 

Salsbury  .1-  103

 

Terry, Rachel  .1-  10

Thayer, Eli  .2-  19, 20, 25, 27, 92, 114

Thompson, Daniel  .1-  8

Tisdale, Rachel  .1-  10

Tremont Temple  .1-  77

Warren, J.L.L.F., Nursery  .1-  76

Washington  .1-  5

Washington, [George]  .1-  104

Wayland’s Philosophy  .1-  2

West, Dr.  .1-  4

West Point  .2-  45

Wilcomb & King  .1- 76

Wilcomb, John, Nursery  .1- 76

Williams, Mrs.  .1-  4

Wilmington Cemetery  .2- 98

Winters Nursery  .1- 76

Wood, Obadiah  .2-  61

Worcester County Horticultural Society  .1-  75

 

 

Occupations

 

Bookbinding  .2-  112

Bookseller  .2-  177

 

Carpenter  .1-  10

Clergyman  .1-  47

 

Distillery  .2-  109

Drawing  .2-  4

 

Farmer  .1-  100

 

Hotel  .2-  [no page number given]

 

Lawyer  .1-  [no page number given]

 

Miller  .1-  8

Museum  .2-  86

Musician  .1- [no page number given]

 

Painting  .2-  134, 136, 15

 

School  .1- [no page number given]

Schoolmaster  .1- [no page number given]

Spinning  .2-  144

Surveying  .1-  99

Surveyor  .2-  24

Weaving  .2- 144

 

 

Objects mentioned

 

Backgammon  .1-  47

 

Chair, rustic  .2-  13

Chequers  .1-  47

Chess  .1-  47

Coat of arms  .2-  141

 

Emblems  .2 – 3

 

Flageolette  .1- [no page number given]

Flute  .1- [no page number given]

 

Watch  .2-  29

Window blinds  .2-  3