Series V. Harriet Putnam Fowler (1842-1901) Papers contains one folder of correspondence, part of a newspaper article about Harriet's will, and 30 scrapbook volumes relating to genealogy and local history of Danvers and Salem, including family papers, research, photographs, and newspaper clippings, that Harriet donated to the Essex Institute. At the beginning of the series are three indexes to the volumes and a notebook containing a list of books belonging to the library of Harriet P. Fowler. It should be noted that the date(s) listed with the scrapbooks are the date(s) of when the scrapbook was compiled or presented, as noted in the scrapbook; it does not necessarily reflect the date(s) of the materials within the scrapbooks. Manuscripts relating to the Salem Witchcraft trials were removed from the volume "Book of Old and Rare Papers No. I" (box 22), and added to the Salem Witchcraft Trials Records (MSS 401). Photocopies of the manuscripts were placed as surrogates in Fowler's scrapbook.

This series also contains a number of photographs of places, items, and people. Originally part of Fam. Mss. 337, these images appear to have been collected by Harriet as part of her research, as most of them have detailed descriptions, and reference to specific scrapbook volumes. The photographs have been divided into places and things, and gravesites and people; both of which have been organized by the family with which they are associated. If the image is associated with multiple families, it has been organized according to the first family's name that is listed in the description.