RELATING TO HENRY DAVID THOREAU
1849-1949
(Bulk 1890-1903)
Vault A45, Hosmer, Unit 1a
EXTENT: 1.5 linear feet; 1 record carton
ORGANIZATION: One series.
BIOGRAPHY: Alfred Winslow Hosmer (1851-1903) was a lifelong resident of Concord, Massachusetts and a member of one of Concord's oldest families. He made his living as a clerk and later owner of a dry goods store, but also as a photographer. Hosmer was one of Concord's most accomplished early photographers. His images capture the people, houses, institutions, and landscape of the town, including many locations associated with Thoreau. Hosmer's intimate knowledge of Concord's people and landscapes and his association with Thoreau, which included collecting Thoreauviana, allowed him to develop an in-depth knowledge of the man and his work. As a result, Hosmer formed a collaborative relationship with Dr. Samuel A. Jones, a Thoreau scholar, and Henry S. Salt, a Thoreau biographer. Also included among those working to create an awareness of the life and work of Thoreau were Daniel Ricketson, H.G.O. Blake, A.H. Japp and Franklin Benjamin Sanborn. Because Hosmer was in Concord and Jones was in Michigan, Jones maintained contact with Concord through Hosmer, also relying on Hosmer’s native knowledge to enrich his understanding of Thoreau and Thoreau’s Concord. Hosmer spent untold hours walking in Thoreau’s footsteps and photographing the places discussed in Thoreau’s writings. His grangerized additions to Salt's revised edition of the Life of Henry David Thoreau (1896) were vital in advancing Thoreau scholarship. The book is in the collection of the Concord Free Public Library.
SCOPE AND CONTENT: Collection includes letters to Alfred Winslow Hosmer that reflect his knowledge of and interest in the life and work of Henry David Thoreau, particularly his efforts to illuminate the Thoreau’s work and establish his reputation as an author, naturalist, and philosopher. Those whose letters are contained in the collection include Henry S. Salt, Abba and Louisa May Alcott, John Burroughs, E.R. Hoar, and Walton Ricketson. A large portion of the collection contains the letters of Dr. Samuel L. Jones, who worked closely with Hosmer in their mutual desire to see Thoreau recognized.
ACQUISITION: Alfred Winslow Hosmer Thoreau collection presented by Herbert Buttrick Hosmer, 1949.
PUBLICATIONS BASED ON USE OF DESCRIBED MATERIALS: Oehlschlaeger, Fritz and Hendrick, George, eds. Toward the Making of Thoreau's Reputation (Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 1979)
NOTES/COMMENTS: Letters contained in this collection were formerly found in Thoreau Collection Letter Files 3 and 4 (old inventory).
PROCESSED BY: L.P.W. with the assistance of Betty Aschaffenburg, 2001; finding aid by C. Manoli-Skocay, January 2003.
Container List
FOLDER 1.
H.G.O. Blake to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 2.
A to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 3.
B to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 4.
C to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 5.
D to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 6.
E to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 7.
F to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 8.
G to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 9.
Hs to Alfred W. Hosmer (I)
FOLDER 10.
H to Alfred W. Hosmer (II)
FOLDER 11.
J to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 12.
K to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 13.
L to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 14.
M to Alfred W. Homser
FOLDER 15.
O to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 16.
P to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 17.
Rs to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 18.
S to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 19.
V to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 20.
W to Alfred W. Hosmer
FOLDER 21.
H.D. Thoreau to George and Cousin (copies)
FOLDER 22.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 15 July 1890-28 February 1891
FOLDER 23.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 1 March 1891-28 June 1891
FOLDER 24.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 4 July 1891-30 November 1891
FOLDER 25.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 4 January 1892-10 September 1892
FOLDER 26.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 5 October 1892-10 July 1893
FOLDER 27.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 23 July 1893-9 February 1894
FOLDER 28.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 8 March 1894-26 July 1894
FOLDER 29.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 4 August 1894-17 February 1895
FOLDER 30.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer -3 March 1895-24 October 1895
FOLDER 31.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 9 November 1895-13 December 1896
FOLDER 32.
Samuel A Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 3 January 1896-9 June 1897
FOLDER 33.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer -12 July 1897-28 February 1898
FOLDER 34.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer -1 March 1898-4 August 1898
FOLDER 35.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 6 August 1898-18 December 1899
FOLDER 36.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 7 January 1900-25 December 1901
FOLDER 37.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer -1 January 1902-7 July 1902
FOLDER 38.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer -12 July 1902-21 December 1902
FOLDER 39.
Samuel A. Jones to Alfred W. Hosmer - 9 January 1903-30 April 1903
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