ma124 Town of Amherst Collection, ca. 1828 - present (bulk: 1920 - 1959) Finding aid prepared by Graham Leach-Krouse, Margaret Jessup. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Amherst, MA
© 2003

Amherst College Archives and Special Collections. All rights reserved.

 Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Sarang Gopalakrishnan. 2003-12-03 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 ma124 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Town of Amherst Collection, ca. 1828 - present (bulk: 1920 - 1959) Oct.-Dec. 1989 Margaret Jessup, Intern, Simmons College School of Library and Information Science 2003 June Graham Leach-Krouse 05, Student Encoding Assistant Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

© 2003 Amherst College Archives and Special Collections. All rights reserved.

 Collection Overview Town of Amherst Collection ca. 1828-present 1920-1959 2 records storage boxes, 1 oversize flat box (3 linear ft.) Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Written histories of the town; local government records; records of schools, private organizations, and local businesses; personal papers; souvenirs and programs of community events; maps of the town; and a large number of newspaper clippings. English. Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Town of Amherst Collection contains materials dating from 1828 to the present, with the bulk of the material dated 1920-1959. The materials include: written histories of the town; local government records; records of schools, private organizations, and local businesses; and some personal papers. Also included are souvenirs and programs of community events, maps of the town, and a large number of newspaper clippings.

The most extensive group of records within the collection is "City Planning" (in the Local Government Series), consisting mostly of correspondence, minutes, and reports of the Town Planning Board and the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards (ca. 1920-1927). Town planning reports and maps from other towns have been kept with this group because of their connection to the Federation. (The Amherst Town Planning Board was also a member.)

Also of interest are the Amherst Historical Society records. These include correspondence between Mabel Loomis Todd and a Boston attorney regarding the founding of the Society. A number of photographs of the Strong House Museum, originally included, have been removed to the Photographic Images Collection.

The Histories Series includes three histories of Amherst and the Connecticut Valley, written by Alice M. Walker and printed in 1901 and 1903, as well as an Amherst College class paper that includes several oral histories of town residents.

In the Schools Series are materials relating to specific Amherst schools. The Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution, also known as Mt. Pleasant Institute, is well represented.

 Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into eighteen series:

1. GENERAL (1889-1969) 2. HISTORIES (ca.1860-1972) 3. ANNIVERSARIES (ca.1909-1959) 4. COMMUNITY EVENTS (ca.1875-1959) 5. LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ca.1840-1966) 6. SCHOOLS (ca.1819-1971) 7. BUSINESS ENTERPRISES (ca.1865-1984) 8. ASSOCIATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, ETC. (ca.1853-1986) 9. CHURCHES (ca.1834-1968) 10. BUILDINGS (1917-1938) 11. PERSONS (1844-1956) 12. POPULATION - STATISTICS (1956) 13. GEOLOGY (n.d.) 14. TREES (1892) 15. HURRICANE OF 1938 16. NEWSPAPERS (1845-1972) 17. CLIPPINGS (ca.1903-1969) 18. PHOTOGRAPHS Arrangement of the Collection

Most of the materials have been arranged into series by subject, then alphabetically within each series. Certain materials have been separated into their own series by type, such as Newspapers and Clippings.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

There is no restriction on access to the Town of Amherst Collection for research use.

Requests for permission to publish material from the collection should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections.

History of the Collection

The exact date of accession and other details concerning the origin of this collection are unknown. The material in the collection appears to have been gathered over a period of time and compiled in a general arrangement under the title "Amherst Town Files." The collection originally contained materials relating to other area towns and colleges (not in Amherst), which are now in a separate Town Files Collection. All other materials have been retained with the exception of the Lord Jeffery Inn records, now located in the Buildings and Grounds Collection. All photographs have been cross-referenced and moved to the Photographic Images Collection.

Oct.-Dec. 1989 Margaret Jessup, Intern, Simmons College School of Library and Information Science 2003 June Graham Leach-Krouse 05, Student Encoding Assistant Search Terms Amherst Historical Society, Amherst, Mass. Amherst (Mass.). Planning Board. Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards. City planning--Massachusetts. City planning--Massachusetts--Amherst. Amherst (Mass.)--History--Sources. Walker, Alice M. (Alice Morehouse), 1855-1929. Amherst Historical Society, Amherst, Mass. Amherst (Mass.). Planning Board. Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards. Series 1:GENERAL, 1889-1969

Series 1, GENERAL (1889-1969), contains materials that give an overview or description of the town, though not necessarily from a historical perspective. Included here are tourist brochures, maps of the town, and photographic images such as picture booklets and postcards. (Note: True photographs have been removed to the Photographic Images Collection.) Materials here are arranged alphabetically by type.

 1 1-2c Guidebooks, brochures, etc. 1912-c.1960 1 3 Maps, List of 1969 1 4-5 Maps (See also: Map Case 3, Drawer 11) 1833, 1917-1918, 1953, 1963 1 6-7 Photographic images: "Amherst and Amherst College"booklet 1889-1890 1 8 Photographic images: "Views of Amherst, Mass." - booklet c.1900 1 9 Photographic images - postcards n.d. 1 9A Chronology of Events in the Development of the Town of Amherst, 1927-1974 1975 Series 2: HISTORIES, ca. 1860-1972

Series 2, HISTORIES (ca.1860-1972), contains written histories of Amherst and the Connecticut Valley by Alice M. Walker, printed in 1901 and 1903, as well as materials relating to the town's history (e.g., a chronology of the town). They are arranged alphabetically by type. (See also: Business Enterprises - Heritage Bank, "150 Years...", General - Guidebooks, brochures, etc., Clippings, Newspapers)

 1 10 Amherst College English 25 (Small Town Literature), "Amherst" - class project (includes oral histories) 1972 1 11 Chronology (1727-1898) 1911 1 12 Description of Amherst c.1860-1870 1 13 "Historic Amherst" - booklet n.d. 1 13a "Historical Landmarks Near Amherst" by Fredrick Houk Law n.d. 1 14 Leave the light burning, a history of South Amherst by W.H. Atkins (1871-1952) - flier n.d. 1 14a "The Spring Street Area of Amherst: A Local History Study" by Ed Wilfert; %unitdate%=2007-2008 1 15 Walker, Alice M., Early days in the Connecticut Valley 1901

See also: Churches - North Congregational - The story..., by Alice M. Walker

1 16 Walker, Alice M., Ye Amherst girl of ye olden time 1901 1 17 Walker, Alice M., Through Turkey Pass to Amherst and beyond 1903 Series 3: ANNIVERSARIES, ca. 1909-1959

Series 3, ANNIVERSARIES (ca.1909-1959), contains materials relating to the Bicentennial of Amherst, the Tercentenaries of Amherst and Massachusetts, and Independence Day celebrations. It includes programs, fliers, and correspondence of the planning committees. The material is arranged alphabetically by name of event. (See also: Newspapers - Anniversary editions, Community Events, Clippings - Anniversaries)

 1 18 Bicentennial Celebration -brochures, programs, etc. 1959 1 19 Bicentennial Celebration - correspondence 1958-1959 1 20 Independence Day 1915, 1918 1 21 Tercentenary of Amherst - program 1909 1 22 Tercentenary of Massachusetts Celebration 1930 Series 4: COMMUNITY EVENTS, ca. 1875-1959

Series 4, COMMUNITY EVENTS (ca.1875-1959), includes programs, fliers, and ticket stubs for concerts, lectures, festivals, and Old Home Week activities. These are arranged alphabetically by name of event. (See also: Anniversaries, Clippings - Community Events)

 1 23 A.C.C. 3rd Annual Meet 1897 1 24 Amherst Arts Festival 1943 1 25 "Amherst Christmas Mystery" 1916 1 26 Amherst Community Chest Drive 1954, 1958-1959 1 27 Amherst Community Sing (Fourth of July) 1918 1 28 Columbus Memorial 1892 1 29 Goessman School Concert Series (ticket stub) n.d. 1 30 Old Home Week 1903 1 31 Unsorted - programs, fliers, ticket stubs, etc. 1875, 1891-1892 Series 5: LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ca. 1840-1966

Series 5, LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ca.1840-1966), is divided into several categories, the largest titled "City Planning" Other groups in this series are Town Reports, Elections, Town Employees, Town Relations with Local Colleges (a report), and General Information. The subseries are arranged alphabetically. (See also: Clippings - Local Government)

 1 32 Brochures, pamphlets, etc. 1947-1959 1 33 City Planning - Amherst Water Committee - report 1935 1 34 City Planning - general correspondence 1901, 1906 1 35 City Planning - Real Estate - index to property owners 1963-1964 1 36 City Planning - Real Estate - comparative valuation lists 1963-1964 1 37 City Planning - Town Planning Board - correspondence 1922-1924 1 38 City Planning - Town Planning Board - correspondence ca.1924-1926 1 39 City Planning - Town Planning Board - correspondence 1927 1 40 City Planning - Town Planning Board - minutes of meetings 1915-1924 1 41 City Planning - Town Planning Board - Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards (M.F.P.B.) - publications 1921-1926 1 42 City Planning - Town Planning Board - M.F.P.B. - publications ca.1926 1 43 City Planning - Town Planning Board - M.F.P.B. - publications (Dept. of Public Welfare, Division of House and Town Planning) 1922, 1960 1 44 City Planning - Town Planning Board - M.F.P.B. - other towns - maps

See also: Map Case 3, Drawer 11

1 45 City Planning - Town Planning Board - M.F.P.B. - other towns: Attleboro-Dedham - reports 1922-1966 1 46 City Planning - Town Planning Board - M.F.P.B. - other towns: Framingham-North Adams - reports 1923-1926 1 47 City Planning - Town Planning Board - M.F.P.B. - other towns: Quincy-Winchester - reports 1924-1926 1 48 City Planning - Zoning By-laws - correspondence and reports 1922-1924 1 49 City Planning - Zoning By-laws - correspondence and reports 1926-1927 1 50 City Planning - Zoning By-laws - general information 1958 1 51 City Planning - Zoning By-laws - League of Women Voters - flier n.d. 1 52 Elections - political badges 1840 1 53 Elections 1946-1953 1 54 Town relations with local colleges - report 1959 1 55 Town employees - salaries, by-laws 1954, n.d. 1 56 Town Report 1924 1 57 Town Report (Bicentennial year) 1959 1 58 Town Report 1967 Series 6: SCHOOLS, ca. 1819-1971

Series 6, SCHOOLS (ca.1819-1971), is also divided into categories, including Buildings (plans, correspondence, and reports relating to the construction of new school buildings), Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, individual Schools (including local colleges), and Chinese students. The categories are arranged alphabetically. (See also: Clippings - Schools, Newspapers - Amherst Record 10/7/1970 and Daily Hampshire Gazette n.d. - "Hampshire College Edition" for information on Hampshire College)

 2 1 Amherst-Pelham Regional School District - fliers, brochures 1915, 1953, 1971 2 2 Amherst-Pelham Regional School District - Report of the School Committee 1959 2 3 Amherst-Pelham Regional School District - correspondence re: Grade School 1926 2 4 Buildings - correspondence 1916

See also: Local Government - City Planning, Newspapers - Amherst Record 3/2/27

2 5 Buildings - report, brochure 1944, 1949 2 6 Buildings - map (plan for Amherst Regional High School) n.d. 2 7 Chinese Students in Amherst - correspondence, clippings 1841, 1847, 1903, 1915 2 8 Alcott School - "Statement of Facts" n.d. 2 9 Amherst Academy - "Amherst Academy", by Sarah A. Stackpole (in Thesis Collection) and Memorabilia 1984

See cross-reference in folder

2 10 Amherst Female Seminary - catalogue 1835

See also: Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution

2 11 Amherst Female Seminary excerpt from letter 1835 2 12 Amherst High School - graduation programs 1887, 1891 2 13 Amoena Hall - brochure [1870] 2 14 Andover Theological Seminary - catalogs 1831, 1845 2 15 Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution (also known as Mt. Pleasant Institute and Mt. Pleasant Academy) - catalogs 1828 2 16 Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution - catalogs, etc. 1829-1831 2 17 Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution - brochures, exam schedule 1846-1847, 1857 2 18 Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution - catalogs 1890-1892 2 19 Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution - brochures n.d. 2 20 Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution - correspondence 1831 2 21 Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution - drawings 1827, n.d. 2 22 Mt. Pleasant Classical Institution - articles, excerpts from 1896, 1927, 1958, 1969

See also Clippings - Schools

2 23 Oak Grove - brochure n.d. 2 24 Scripture catechism 1819 2 25 University of Massachusetts (formerly Massachusetts State College) - addresses 1898, 1907

See also: Clippings - Schools Newspapers - Amherst Journal Record 5/12/63

2 26 University of Massachusetts - histories, etc. 1932, 1936 2 27 University of Massachusetts - University of Massachusetts Press - book list 1966-1967 Series 7: BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, ca. 1865-1984

Series 7, BUSINESS ENTERPRISES (ca.1865-1984), contains materials arranged alphabetically by name of business. (Note: Records of the Lord Jeffery Inn have been removed to the Buildings and Grounds Collection.) (See also: Clippings - Business Enterprises)

 2 28 Amherst Savings Bank - brochure 1968 2 29 Amherst & Sunderland Railway Co.

See: Railroads

2 30 Dentist, J.J. Vincent - appointment card ca.1870 2 31 Douglass Funeral Service - brochure n.d. 2 32 Grange Grocery Store - brochure 1927 2 33 Heritage Bank, "150 Years...1834-1984" booklet 1984 2 34 "Industry in Massachusetts" - statistics 1865 2 35 The Geoffery Amherst Bookstore -correspondence, article 1922-1923 2 36 Lord Jeffery Inn/Amherst Inn Co. (removed to Buildings and Grounds Collection) ca.1910-1950 2 37 "The Minds of Hands", by Stephen A. Aron (in Thesis Collection) 1982 2 38 Orr, Samuel K., Druggist & Apothecary - advertisement n.d. 2 39 Railroads (Palmer to Montague) - correspondence n.d. 2 40 Railroads - Amherst & Belchertown R.R. Co. - stockholders' receipts n.d. 2 41 Railroads - Amherst and Sunderland Railway Co. - schedule n.d.

See also: Clippings

2 42 Business advertisements - unsorted n.d. Series 8: ASSOCIATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, ETC., ca. 1853-1986

Series 8, ASSOCIATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, ETC. (ca.1853-1986), is arranged alphabetically by name of association or institution. (See also: Clippings - Associations,...)

 2 43 Amherst Historical Society - correspondence (Mabel Loomis Todd) 1903 2 44 Amherst Historical Society - correspondence 1950-1965 2 45 Amherst Historical Society - n.d. unsorted materials 1929-1959

See also: Clippings

2 46 Amherst Home for Aged Women -report 1928 2 47 Amherst Musical Society - program 1942 2 48 Amherst Human Relations Council, Inc. - newsletter 1969 2 49 "The Amherst Town Band of 1873-1877 and the Amherst Brass Band of 1901", by Benjamin J. Jaffe - paper 1986 2 50 Boys' Club - newsletter 1938 2 51 Boys' Club - list of members n.d.

See also: Clippings

2 52 Glee Club - programs 1888 2 53 Hampshire Agricultural Society - exhibition flier 1853 2 54 Jones Library - unsorted brochures, reports, fliers, postcards 1927-1928

See also: Clippings

2 55 Masons - 110th Anniversary program 1911 2 56 Pioneer Valley Antique Dealers Association - list of members 1959-1960 2 57 Tuesday Club - program 1917-1918 2 58 Wildwood Cemetery - brochure 1904 2 59 Y.M.C.A. - weekly program n.d. 2 59A First Baptist Church Centennial 1932 Series 9: CHURCHES, ca. 1834-1968

Series 9, CHURCHES (ca.1834-1968), is arranged alphabetically by church. (See also: Clippings - Churches)

 2 60 First Congregational Church - 200th Anniversary program 1939 2 61 First Parish Church - "Articles of Faith" 1834, n.d. 2 62 First Parish Church - deed for a pew 1859 2 63 Grace Church - announcements, fliers, etc. 1872, 1939, 1941-1942, n.d.

See also: Clippings

2 64 Grace Church - correspondence 1937-1945 2 65 Grace Church - newsletters, etc. 1945 2 66 Grace Church - "Two Sermons" 1868 2 66A Grace Church - "A Study of the Church's Relationship to the Campuses in the Amherst Area," by Rev. James H. Clark 1970 2 67 Grace Church - weekly calendars 1936-1951 2 68 Hope Church (formerly Zion Chapel) - correspondence 1895-1912

See also: Clippings

2 69 North Congregational Church - 50th Anniversary address 1876

See also: Clippings

2 70 North Congregational Church - The Story of a New England Country Church, by Alice M. Walker 1901 2 71 Second Congregational Church - manual 1924 Series 10: BUILDINGS, 1917-1938

Series 10, BUILDINGS (1917-1938), contains materials are arranged alphabetically by name of building or establishment. This series also includes Amherst Street Lists from 1937 and 1938. (Note: For more information on local business buildings, See BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. For school buildings and churches, See SCHOOLS or CHURCHES.) (See also: Clippings - Buildings)

 2 72 Dana House - photographic image 1917 2 73 Dickinson-Baggs Tavern - article 1928 2 74 Street List 1937 2 75 Street List 1938 Series 11: PERSONS, 1844-1956

Series 11, PERSONS (1844-1956), includes personal papers and other information relating to individuals in Amherst. This series is arranged alphabetically by name. (See also: Clippings - Persons)

 2 76 Baker, Osmyn - letter 1844 2 77 Clark, William S. - "His work lives in trees" - article in Horticulture, pp. 168-171. 1956

See also: Clippings - Trees

2 78 Dickinson, W.A. and John - correspondence 1844-1889 Series 12: POPULATION - STATISTICS, 1956

Series 12, POPULATION - STATISTICS (1956), consists of a town report, showing the growth of the Amherst population between the years 1765 and 1950. (See also: Clippings - Population)

 2 79 Statistics - population growth (1765-1950) 1956 Series 13: GEOLOGY, n.d.

Series 13, GEOLOGY (n.d.), is an anonymous written history of the geology of the area.

 2 80 "Geology of Amherst" - pamphlet n.d. Series 14: TREES, 1892

Series 14, TREES (1892), is a single booklet on notable trees in Amherst. (See also: Clippings - Trees, Persons - Clark, William S.)

 2 81 Amherst trees, by James Ellis Humphrey 1892 Series 15: HURRICANE OF 1938 1938

Series 15, HURRICANE OF 1938, contains a report on the hurricane of 1938 (published by the Western Massachusetts [utilities] Companies) and a pictorial history of damage caused by the hurricane. (See also: Newspapers - Amherst Record Sept. 28, 1938)

 2 82 Flood-Hurricane: September 1938, published by Western Massachusetts Companies - booklet 1938 2 83 In the wake of the hurricane: 1938, Amherst, Ma. - photographic images 1938 2 84 "Amherst Newspapers" - list n.d. Series 16: NEWSPAPERS, 1845-1972

Series 16, NEWSPAPERS (1845-1972), contains souvenir editions of the Amherst Journal Record from the Bicentennial year (1959) and other special editions of local papers. There is also a list of Amherst newspapers that have existed over the years. They are arranged alphabetically, then chronologically. (Note:All newspapers have been removed to Oversized Box O1)

 O1 1 Amherst Journal Record 6/29/51 - 1879 fire 1951 O1 2 Amherst Journal Record 10/15/59 -Bicentennial celebration 1959 O1 3-4 Amherst Journal Record 10/22/59 -10/29/59 - bicentennial souvenir editions 1959 O1 5 Amherst Journal Record 4/11/63 - "special supplement for the House of Walsh" 1963 O1 6 Amherst Journal Record 5/12/63 - Centennial celebration of the University of Massachusetts 1963 O1 7 Amherst Record 3/2/27 - article on school buildings 1927 O1 8 Amherst Record 9/28/38 - Hurricane 1938 O1 9 Amherst Record 10/29/69 - 125th Anniversary edition, pt. 1 1969 O1 10 Amherst Record 11/5/69 - 125th Anniversary edition, pt. 2 1969 O1 11 Amherst Record 10/7/70 - opening of Hampshire College 1970 O1 12 Amherst Record 5/14/1972 - "Town of Amherst Day" (150th Anniversary of Amherst College) 1973 O1 13 Daily Hampshire Gazette - "Hampshire College edition" n.d. O1 14 Hampshire Franklin Express 4/18/1845 1845 O1 15 Northampton Courier 8/5/1858 - "extra" (announcement about telegraph cable recently laid) 1858 O1 16 Springfield Newspapers (Union, Republican, Daily News) 8/25/55 - "Special Flood edition" 1955 O1 17 Springfield Republican 11/28/1873 1873 Series 17: CLIPPINGS, ca. 1903-1969

Series 17, CLIPPINGS (ca.1903-1969), is partially sorted by subject. The clippings are arranged under headings corresponding to the preceding series headings (e.g., clippings about the Bicentennial celebration are filed under CLIPPINGS - ANNIVERSARIES). Unsorted clippings relate mostly to Amherst's history and buildings.

 2 85 General - maps 1967 2 86 Histories - unsorted 2 87 Anniversaries - Bicentennial 1959 2 88 Community Events - Community Chest Drive 1935-1939 2 89 Community Events - film, "Silent Night, Lonely Night" 1968-1969 2 90 Community Events - Old Home Week 1903 2 91 Community Events - Western Mass. Spring Music Festival 1939 2 92 Local Government - City Planning 1958 2 93 Local Government - City Planning - Amherst Water Committee 1937 2 94 Schools 1936, 1966-76 2 95 Schools - Mount Pleasant Classical Institute 1926-1927, 1951, 1965, 1967 2 96 Schools - University of Massachusetts 1940, 1963-67 2 97 Business Enterprises 1962,1964, 1966 2 98 Business Enterprises - Railroad 1944, 1951 2 99 Associations, Institutions, etc. - Amherst Community Concert Association 1941 2 100 Associations, Institutions, etc. - Amherst Historical Society - unsorted 2 101 Associations, Institutions, etc. -Amherst Historical Society Strong House 1916, 1950, 1967- 2 102 Associations, Institutions, etc. - The Boys' Club 1938 2 103 Associations, Institutions, etc. - Jones Library - unsorted 2 104 Associations, Institutions, etc. - Nature Club 1969 2 105 Churches - unsorted 2 106 Churches - Baptist Church 2 107 Churches - Dwight Chapel (Pelham) 2 108 Churches - Grace Church 2 109 Churches - Hope Church (Zion Chapel) 2 110 Churches - North Congregational 2 111 Churches - Second Congregational 2 112 Buildings - unsorted 2 113 Persons - unsorted 2 114 Population - statistics, minorities 1965 2 115 Trees 1955, 1957 2 116 Unsorted Clippings Series 18: PHOTOGRAPHS

Series 18, PHOTOGRAPHS, contains a list of all of the photographs, which have been cross-referenced and removed to the Photographic Images Collection. (For other images of Amherst, see: General - Photographic Images)

 2 117 List of photographs removed