Gilbert L. Streeter Papers, 1845-1905, undated
-
Not requestable
Scope and Content Note
The Gilbert L. Streeter papers are a collection of Streeter's business and personal papers, including correspondence dealing with the Salem Lyceum. The majority of the Salem Lyceum papers (Folder 1), 1845-1855, contain acceptances or refusals from scholars to speak at the Lyceum lectures. Well-known correspondents include A.B. Alcott, 6/9/1849; R.W. Emerson, 6/11/1849; E. Everett, 8/24/1850; Wm. L. Garrison, 11/28/1850; H. Greely, 9/26/1850, 10/12/1852; O.W. Holmes, 8/20/1852, 11/18/1852; T. Mann, 8/18/1852; W. Phillips, 10/25/1852; S.E. Sewall, 8/14/1850; C. Sumner, 6/5/1849; and G. Ticknor, 10/12/1849. The folders of sermons and lectures (Folders 2 and 3) contain lectures written by Streeter and religious sermons which may have been written by his father, Barzillai Streeter. Of interest are lecture notes discussing the history of the newspaper in Salem and the benefits of separating the sexes in institutions of higher education. Streeter's correspondence (Folder 4), 1851-1897, includes letters from friends and business associates. Also included in the folder are financial accounts and various autographs, one of which is from Daniel Webster.
Rebecca Ives correspondence (Folder 5), 1851-1854, contains letters from Gilbert L. Streeter and other friends and relatives. Miscellaneous papers (Folder 6), 1855-1869, contain poetry written by both Gilbert L. Streeter and Rebecca Streeter. Also included are miscellaneous poems and notes taken on the book of poetry From Homes of the New World which contains poetry by John Greenleaf Whittier, William Lloyd Garrison, James Russell Lowell, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and George Cheevers. Their poems discuss such issues as abolitionism, slavery, capital punishment, and nature. Of interest is a written compliment by L.N. Fowler discussing Streeter's fine moral and intellectual faculties.
Dates
- Creation: 1845-1905, undated
Creator
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Biographical Sketch
Gilbert L. Streeter was cashier of the First National Bank and editor of the Salem Observer. Born on April 30, 1823 in Salem, Massachusetts, he was the son of Barzillai Streeter, minister of the Universalist Church, and Sarah Lewis Streeter.
Streeter went to Salem English High School and upon leaving, learned the trade of a watchmaker through Edmund Currier. He then turned to journalism and became editor of the Essex County Freeman. Next, Streeter formed a partnership with his father-in-law John Ives in a book and seed store. In approximately 1859, Streeter became a teller at the First National Bank and by 1893 had worked his way up to cashier of the bank. Continuing his work in journalism, he took the position of editor at the Salem Observer, and upon leaving that post he continued to contribute to the local press.
An antiquarian student, Streeter wrote a great deal for the Essex Institute Historical Collections and was elected a member on July 18, 1849. He was secretary of the Plummer Farm School, treasurer of the Essex Agricultural Society, and a trustee and treasurer to the Salem Lyceum.
Streeter married Rebecca Ives and had four children, Gilbert S., Mrs. Charles H. Parker, Mary E., and Rebecca I. He died in Salem on July 10, 1901.
Extent
0.25 linear feet (1 box; 1 envelope)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Gilbert L. Streeter papers are a collection of Streeter's business and personal papers, including correspondence dealing with the Salem Lyceum.
Physical Location
Phillips Library Stacks
Provenance
The Gilbert L. Streeter papers are a reorganization and integration of one box. Lyceum correspondence was purchased in 1950; 17 letters to Streeter were donated in 1953 by Joan Boudreau of the Cotting-Smith Assembly House in Salem (acc #92036); the remainder of the collection is from an unknown source.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Lisa Petrucci, January 1984. Updated by Catherine Robertson, January 2015.
Subject
- Alcott, Amos Bronson, 1799-1888 (Person)
- Beecher, Henry Ward, 1813-1887 (Person)
- Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882 (Person)
- Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 (Person)
- Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879 (Person)
- Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 (Person)
- Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894 (Person)
- Mann, Thomas, 1746 or 1747-1822 (Person)
- Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884 (Person)
- Sewall, Samuel E. (Samuel Edmund), 1799-1888 (Person)
- Streeter, Barzillai (Person)
- Streeter, Rebecca Ives, b. 1835 (Person)
- Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874 (Person)
- Ticknor, George, 1791-1871 (Person)
- Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852 (Person)
- Winthrop, Robert C. (Robert Charles), 1809-1894 (Person)
- Salem Lyceum (Salem, Mass.) (Organization)
- Title
- GILBERT L. STREETER PAPERS, 1845-1905
- Author
- Processed by: Lisa Petrucci; Updated by: Catherine Robertson; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Processing and conservation for this collection were funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the Phillips Library Repository