Elizabeth Waite Papers, 1779-1792, undated
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Not requestable
Scope and Content Note
The Elizabeth Waite Papers consists of letters written by Eliza to Susan Kittredge and other young female acquaintances. Also included is correspondence of other young women, presumably all included in the circle of the young ladies frequented by Eliza and Susan. Although many of the letters are undated, most were written between 1789 and 1791 when Eliza Waite was in her late teens and early twenties. From the contents of the letters it may be assumed that her friends were also young, single women of about the same age. Many of Eliza Waite's letters appear to be drafts, as in some cases there are several versions of one letter with many changes and deletions. Included in the collection is a bound notebook belonging to Eliza Waite containing copied excerpts of poems and other writings.
Dates
- Creation: 1779-1792, undated
Creator
- Waite, Elizabeth, 1769-1792 (Person)
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Biographical Sketches
Elizabeth (Eliza) Waite was born on January 4, 1769, the eldest daughter of Aaron Waite and Elizabeth (nee Call) Waite of Salem, Massachusetts. Aaron Waite was a leather merchant, partner in the company of Peirce and Waite. At the time these letters were written, Eliza had four younger siblings: Deborah (born 1771), Lydia (born 1775), Aaron (born 1781), and Harriet (born 1790). Eliza died unmarried at the age of 23, on October 9, 1792.
Susan (Sukey) Kittredge, Eliza's close friend and primary correspondent in this collection, was the daughter of Thomas Kittredge, a prominent Andover physician and Susanna (nee Osgood) Kittredge. The family was apparently wealthy and prominent in the area. The years of Susan's birth and death are not readily available. The Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts lists Susan as one of the daughters of Thomas Kittredge, but notes simply that she "died young." The Andover Vital Records lists the death of one "Susanna (Sukey) Kittredge, "a single woman, in 1829.
Extent
0.25 linear feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Elizabeth Waite Papers consists of letters written by Eliza to Susan Kittredge and other young female acquaintances.
Physical Location
Phillips Library Stacks
Provenance
The bound notebook of Eliza Waite containing proverbs, poetry, and literary quotations was donated in 1963 by an unknown source. The collection of letters was a gift from Lawrence W. Jenkins.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Frances Malamy, March 2002. Updated by Nicholas Long, April 2015.
Subject
- Kittredge, Susan, d. 1829 (Person)
- Title
- ELIZABETH WAITE PAPERS, 1779-1792
- Author
- Processed by: Frances Malamy; Updated by: Nicholas Long; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Phillips Library Repository