Scope and Contents

Folder 1 contains a set of nine early letters plus one poem. Includes letters written by Clara P. Black’s aunts Clarissa Fowler (1802-1873) and Rebecca P. Fowler (1804-1841), great uncle John Fowler (1778- ), and Putnam relatives.

Scope and Contents The largest set of 19 letters are those written to Clara P. Black’s cousin Clarence Fowler (1838-1893), many while he was a seminary student in Canton, New York from 1860-1863. Clara’s letters describe her life as a student at Bradford Female Seminary (Bradford Academy) in Bradford, Massachusetts, and, after 1858, her life at home in Danversport, Massachusetts. Aretas Sanborn (1834- ), a paymaster’s clerk in the Union Army 1862-1863 and Clara’s future husband, added political commentary to...

Scope and Contents

Another set of 13 letters spans the years 1854-1865. Most were written by Clara P. Black (Clara Black Sanborn after her marriage to Aretas Sanborn in 1864) to her aunts or her baby sister Maria (b. 1854). They contain excellent descriptions of Clara’s experiences such as a spring day at Bradford Academy, a vacation trip to east Florida, or the New York stores at Christmas time.

Scope and Contents

Finally, four letters were written to Clara Black Sanborn from 1880-1887 from friends or family while traveling in Ireland, Scotland, England, or southern California.