ARCHIVE.
Early 19th-Century Education for Girls
[Education] (Putnam, Hannah and Betsey) Fowler, Clarissa Page, Rebecca Putnam, Sally Page, Eliza Page. Manuscript material for the Putnam school in Danvers, Massachusetts. 1815-1829.
An archive of material illustrating the stories of two sets of sisters: Hannah and Betsey Putnam, who ran a school for girls in Danvers, Massachusetts, and the Fowler sisters – Clarissa Page (b. 14 April 1802), Rebecca Putnam (b. 9 July 1804), Sally Page (b. 25 June 1815), and Eliza Page (b. 20 April 1818) – who received training there.
A collection of wonderfully ornate penmanship exercises of calligraphic poetry executed by four young Fowlers from ages 10 to 13, under the supervision of the Putnams (Hannah, Sept. 23, 1783-22 May 1855, and Betsey, Nov. 11, 1785-7 April 1847), well known Danvers teachers whose school was the 2nd District School, Danvers, Mass. According to The Historical Collections of the Danvers Historical Society, vol. 8 (Danvers: 1920), these daughters of Dr. James Phillips Putnam were considered “famous schoolteachers.” A number of the poems are dedicated to Hannah or Betsey, or to both.
Present are the following:
approximately 178 pages of original calligraphic manuscript poetry penmanship exercises, much of it with ornamental borders, and ornamental head and tailpieces.
original watercolors, 1840-1841
a mourning pencil drawing
a selection of early 19th-century clothes handmade by the Fowler sisters
The artwork includes the following:
1. Black and white pieces (framed)
(a) a rendering of John Cotton’s “Ode on the New Year” (11 1⁄2 x 10”), “affectionately presented” by Clarissa to Betsey, April 14, 1815
(b) two beautiful transcribed poems on one sheet (8 3⁄4 x 10 1⁄2”), [William Cowper’s] Sunset and Sunrise, and an anonymous Memory, by Rebecca, age 11.
(c) a folio memorial to George Washington (15 1⁄2 x 13”) by 13 year-old Clarissa in 1815. At the top is the legend “He is crowned with glory,” underneath which is an oval depicting a cannon and American flag, with the legend “Washington is Dead.” Five lines of large ornate text about Washington from birth to resigning from the Army within decorative border of Ionic columns, with one initial at top of each column; four lines of unattributed verse within the columns, which is unintentionally ironic, as it is the final stanza of Isaac Watts’ “An Epitaph on King William the Third. Of Glorious Memory, who Died March 8th 1701,” taken from his Horae lyrica: “Glory with all her lamps shall burn,/ And watch the Warriors sleeping Clay,/ Till the last trumpet rouze his Urn/ To aid the Triumphs of the day.”
2. Pencil drawing
A large matted mourning pencil drawing (10 ¾ x 11”) by E. S. Hood “To the Memory of Rebecca P[utnam (Fowler)] Eveleth who departed this life Sept. 29th 1841, aged 37 yrs..” Rebecca died 16 days after giving birth to her son Aaron Smith Eveleth who was born on 13 Sept. 1841. Rebecca’s husband Aaron Eveleth (married 3 Dec. 1835) stands next to her monument in top hat and mourning clothes looking forlorn under the weeping willow tree. He holds a little girl in his left arm, and his son Samuel F. Eveleth (b. 8 Oct. 1837) stands to his right. Framed.
3. Watercolors (framed)
A brilliantly colored mourning watercolor (11 x 15”) “In Memory of Mary S. Eveleth who died June 26th 1840 Aged 6 months. Of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” A more recent note on the back says this was painted by Rebecca Fowler Eveleth. Mary Smith Eveleth, baby daughter of Rebecca Putnam Fowler Eveleth, was born 17 Dec. 1837. Framed.
A brilliantly colored oval watercolor of a pastoral farm scene (9 ¾ x 11 ½”), likely by Clarissa. It depicts a large house and barn, as well as out-buildings, surrounded by trees. A shepherd minds his flock of sheep at water’s edge while a woman looks on at the left. Framed.
Watercolor (12 ½ x 17”), also brilliantly colored, docketed on the verso as by Clari
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