Vault A45, Keyes, Unit 3
EXTENT: 1.5 linear feet (4 containers)
ORGANIZATION: Four series: I. John Shepard Keyes family (Martha Lawrence Prescott; Prescott and Alice Reynolds Keyes), 1834-1925; II. Simon Brown and Ann Caroline French Brown, 1843-1897; III. George Keyes family (George and Mary E. Brown Keyes; George S. and Alice Brown Keyes), 1859-1931; IV. Financial papers (accounts, bills, receipts, etc.) of George Keyes and children (George S., Grace, Marion), 1876-1899.
BIOGRAPHY: The Keyes family of Concord, Massachusetts was descended from Westford storekeeper Joseph Keyes (1746-1823). John Keyes (1787-1844), son of Joseph and his second wife Sarah Boyden Keyes, moved to Concord in 1811. John Keyes was a lawyer, and served as Postmaster, Middlesex County Treasurer, Massachusetts Representative and Senator. He was the first in a line of prominent Concord citizens. John Keyes married Ann Stow Shepard in 1815. Their children included John Shepard (1821-1910) and George (1832-1893). John Shepard Keyes was a lawyer and served as a Massachusetts Senator, Sheriff of Middlesex County, U. S. Marshal, and District Court Judge. He married Martha Lawrence Prescott in 1844. Their children were: Annie S. (1847-1928; Mrs. Edward Waldo Emerson); Florence (1851-1877; Mrs. Charles Walcott); Prescott (1858-1943), who married Alice Reynolds (daughter of Grindall) in 1881; and Alicia M. Keyes (1855-1924). George Keyes, (son of John, brother of John Shepard) married Mary E. Brown (1831-1886) in 1854. She was the daughter of New England Farmer editor Simon Brown (1802-1873) and Ann Caroline French Brown (1808-1898; sister of Judge Henry Flagg French and aunt of Daniel Chester French). The children of George and Mary Keyes included: Marion Brown Keyes (born 1860); Grace B. Keyes (born 1866); and George Shepard (1869-1942), who was married to Alice M. Brown (1879-1963). Both John S. Keyes and George S. Keyes were members of the Emerson Statue Committee (1896-1914).
Concord, Massachusetts appointed a committee at Town Meeting in 1896 "to erect some at some suitable place in Concord, a statue of Ralph Waldo Emerson . . . to act . . . in concert with other persons and to take such action as . . . expedient to carry this purpose to a successful result. This committee, however, is not empowered to incur any expenses or liability on behalf of the town." Committee members appointed in 1896 to raise funds and make arrangements included George A. King; John S. Keyes; Samuel Hoar; T. Quincy Brown; and Edward J. Bartlett. In 1905, Samuel Hoar having died and T. Quincy Brown having resigned, Charles Francis Adams, 2nd, and Woodward Hudson filled their vacancies; Moorfield Storey, Henry Lee Higginson, Charles Francis Adams, 2nd, and George S. Keyes. (George A. King chaired the Committee throughout its existence.) Sculptor Daniel Chester French carved a seated marble figure of Emerson, which was placed in the Concord Free Public Library. Unveiling ceremonies (presided over by Henry Lee Higginson) took place on May 23, 1914. A summary of the committee's activities was included in the 1914/1915 annual municipal report.
SCOPE AND CONTENT: Papers, 1834-1932, of or relating primarily to three generations of the Keyes-Brown families, including John Shepard Keyes family (Martha Lawrence Prescott; Prescott and Alice Reynolds Keyes); (Simon Brown and Ann Caroline French Brown); George Keyes family (George and Mary E. Brown Keyes; George S. and Alice Brown Keyes); Grace and Marion Keyes.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:
Series I. John Shepard Keyes family (Martha Lawrence Prescott; Prescott and Alice Reynolds Keyes), 1834-1925: includes Martha Lawrence Prescott's diary, 1834-1836; Prescott Keyes papers (dated items: 1918, 1919) including letters and a manuscript; Alice Reynolds' scrapbooks, Volume I: 1877-[1886], Volume II: 1880-1925. Scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings (Concord-related and other), obituaries, and drawings. Subjects include Henry David Thoreau, Daniel Chester French, Ralph Waldo Emerson's funeral, the Lexington Pageant, 1925.
Series II. Simon Brown and Ann Caroline French Brown, (1843-1897): includes newspaper clippings (pieces by S. Brown), manuscripts, two photographs of A.C.F. Brown, ephemera.
Series III. George Keyes family (George and Mary E. Brown Keyes; George S. and Alice Brown Keyes), 1859-1931: includes George Keyes letters to wife and father-in law and records of Emerson Statue Committee. The Emerson Statue Committee subseries contains correspondence from D. C. French, 1910-1931; vote at Town Meeting, 1896 (typed transcript) and vote at 1905 meeting of the committee; correspondence relating to fundraising, 1905-1909 and 1910, 1914 (chronologically arranged); D. C. French correspondence (primarily with George A. King), 1896-1910; printed ephemera related to the committee and its work, 1906-1914; items relating to the unveiling of the statue in 1914; financials, 1910-1914.
Series IV. Financial papers of George Keyes and children (George S., Grace, Marion), 1876-1899: includes financial information (accounts, bills, and receipts) of George Keyes and his children George S., Grace, and Marion. Many Concord and some Boston businesses and individuals are represented.
SOURCE OF ACQUISITION: Martha Lawrence Prescott's diary was presented as a gift from Amelia F. Emerson, Raymond Emerson, and the heirs of Edward W. Forbes, April 3, 1972. The Emerson Statue Committee papers were a gift of the Keyes family. TLS, Charles W. Eliot, Cambridge Mass. to Mr. George L. [i.e. S.] Keyes, 1914 May 20; purchased from Mark Stirling, Up-Country Letters, S. Lake Tahoe, CA., 2010 May 14.
ASSOCIATED MATERIALS: Simon Brown papers (some or all of the scrapbooks) are located in Special Collections, Concord Free Public Library.
PROCESSED BY: LPW, 1996. Finding aid prepared by C. Manoli-Skocay, July 2002; rev. Dec. 2003; rev. Dec. 30 2010.
Container List
Series I. John Shepard Keyes Family, 1834-1932
Box 1, Folder 1:
Martha Lawrence Prescott (later Mrs. John Shepard Keyes) diary, 1834-1836
Box 1, Folder 2:
Prescott Keyes (son John Shepard Keyes) and Alice Reynolds Keyes (Mrs. Prescott) papers (dated items: 1918, 1919):
ALS, Annie S. Emerson to Prescott Keyes, Tryon, N. C., [n.d.]
ALS, Annie S. Emerson to Prescott Keyes, Concord, Mass., Nov. 26 [no year]
ALS, Alicia M. Keyes to Prescott Keyes, 1918 Feb. 9
ALS, Alicia M. Keyes to Prescott Keyes, 1919 Feb. 3
Ms. “Sketch of the life of Miss Eliza Munroe,” by Alice Reynolds Keyes
Box 1, Unfoldered:
Alice Reynolds scrapbooks, Volume I. 1877-[1886]; Volume II: 1880-1932
Series II. Simon Brown and Ann Caroline French Brown
(parents of Mary E. Brown Keyes—Mrs. George), 1843-1897
Box 2, Folder 1:
Simon Brown Papers, 1843-1871:
Newspaper clippings (pieces by S. Brown), 1851-1870
Mss: Birds— Their Habits and Value in Agriculture (written for Concord Farmers’ Club; 1871 Nov. 23)
Power of Intelligent Labor (undated)
Misc. items, 1843-1850, and undated (incl. ms. fragments, blank U. S. House of Representatives check, invitation to Festival of St. John the Evangelist at Mount Vernon, N. H. Masonic lodge)
Box 2, Folder 2:
Simon Brown and Ann Caroline French Brown (parents of Mary E. Brown Keyes—Mrs. George), 1843-1897: photographs of A.C.F. Brown (two in middle age, one—1897—in old age)
Series III: George Keyes family
(George and Mary E. Brown Keyes; George S. and Alice Brown Keyes), 1859-1931;
Ralph Waldo Emerson Statue Committee, 1898-1914
Box 3, Folder 1:
George Keyes and Mary E. Brown Keyes papers, 1859-1865:
ALS, George Keyes to Mary, Concord, 1859 Dec. 18
ALS, George Keyes to “Dear Folk at home,” Washington, 1866 Jan 1
ALS, Simon Brown to George, Concord, 1865, Dec. 19
ALS, Simon Brown to “Dear Folks,” Concord, 1865 Dec. 27
Box 3, Folder 2:
Correspondence from D. C. French, 1910-1931
Box 3, Folder 3:
Committee on the Emerson Statue: vote at Town Meeting, 1896 (typed transcript) and vote at 1905 meeting of the committee
Box 3, Folder 4:
Committee on the Emerson Statue: correspondence relating to fundraising, 1905-1909 (chronologically arranged)
Box 3, Folder 5:
Committee on the Emerson Statue: correspondence related to fundraising, 1910, 1914 (chronologically arranged)
Box 3, Folder 6:
Committee on the Emerson Statue: D. C. French correspondence (primarily with George A. King), 1896-1910 (12 items)
Box 3, Folder 7:
Committee on the Emerson Statue: printed ephemera, 1906-1914 (fundraising circulars; invitation to unveiling)
Box 3, Folder 7a:
TLS, Charles W. Eliot, Cambridge Mass. to Mr. George L. [i.e. S.] Keyes, 1914 May 20, in response to invitation to the Emerson Statue unveiling at the Concord Free Public Library.
Box 3, Folder 8:
Committee on the Emerson Statue: Financial, 1910-1914
Series IV. Financial papers (accounts, bills, receipts, etc.) of George Keyes and
children (George S., Grace, Marion), 1876-1899
Box 4, Folder 1:
Acton (Mass.), 1889-1895
Box 4, Folder 2:
A. B. Black, 1889-1890
Box 4, Folder 3:
Boston & Maine Railroad, 1890-1895
Box 4, Folder 4:
A. F. Bowman, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 5:
E. M. Briggs, 1890-1893
Box 4, Folder 6:
Richard Briggs Co., 1889-1896
Box 4, Folder 7:
George Brooks, 1887-1893
Box 4, Folder 8:
Benj. W. Brown, 1890-1893
Box 4, Folder 9:
Charles E. Brown, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 10:
Edith A. Buck, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 11:
Buttrick, Harriette (and Geo.), 1890-1895, and undated
Box 4, Folder 12:
Buttrick, Wm. A. 1889-1893
Box 4, Folder 13:
J. F. Cabot & Brother, 1893-1894
Box 4, Folder 14:
J. W. Carter, 1890-1892
Box 4, Folder 15:
Concord (Mass.), 1889-1897
Box 4, Folder 16:
G. B. Cunningham, 1890-1891
Box 4, Folder 17:
N. A. Davis, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 18:
Joseph Derby, 1876-1892
Box 4, Folder 19:
Nathan Derby, 1890-1891
Box 4, Folder 20:
First Parish Church in Concord, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 21:
Fitzpatrick & White, 1889-1890
Box 4, Folder 22:
Philip Flavin, {1885?}–1896, and undated
Box 4, Folder 23:
23 J. C. Friend, 1889-1893
Box 4, Folder 24:
F. R. Garfield, 1896
Box 4, Folder 25:
G. W. Garfield, 1890-1892
Box 4, Folder 26:
M. B. Garfield, 1890
Box 4, Folder 27:
N. D. Gross, 1890-1892
Box 4, Folder 28:
A. Harrington (Concord Wagon Works), 1891-1892
Box 4, Folder 29:
F. J. Hastings & Co. (Concord Elevator), 1889-1893, and undated
Box 4, Folder 30:
M. L. Hatch, 1889-1899
Box 4, Folder 31:
Geo. H. Hopkins, 1889-1893
Box 4, Folder 32:
D. B. Hosmer, 1892-1896
Box 4, Folder 33:
G. W. Hunt, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 34:
C. H. Hurd, 1890-1891
Box 4, Folder 35:
Ingalls & West, 1889-1890
Box 4, Folder 36:
William A. Kandal, 1891-1895
Box 4, Folder 37:
(Mrs.) Howard Leopold, 1890-1892
Box 4, Folder 38:
W. L. MacDonald, 1893-1896
Box 4, Folder 39:
H. S. Macomber & Co., 1893-1896
Box 4, Folder 40:
Mark Mara, 1889-1896
Box 4, Folder 41:
Marlboro Steam Laundry, 1894-1896
Box 4, Folder 42:
E. D. Martell, 1890
Box 4, Folder 43:
T. Mason & Co., 1889-1896
Box 4, Folder 44:
J. C. McIntyre, 1890 and undated
Box 4, Folder 45:
McManus Bros., 1896
Box 4, Folder 46:
P. McWalter, 1889-1891
Box 4, Folder 47:
Thomas E. Mosely & Co., 1890-1893
Box 4, Folder 48:
J. D. Murray, 1896
Box 4, Folder 49:
Frank Pierce, 1891-1893
Box 4, Folder 50:
S. S. Pierce & Co., 1894-1895
Box 4, Folder 51:
H. S. Richardson, 1895-1896
Box 4, Folder 52:
Mrs. Ryan (undated)
Box 4, Folder 53:
Joseph A. Smith, 1894-1896
Box 4, Folder 54:
Taylor’s Concord and Boston Express, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 55:
George E. Titcomb, 1888-1896
Box 4, Folder 56:
Fred A. Tower, 1890
Box 4, Folder 57:
G. W. and C. H. Towle, 1891-1893; Towle & Kent, 1895-1896
Box 4, Folder 58:
E. L. Tuttle, 1892-1896
Box 4, Folder 59:
Horace Tuttle, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 60:
U. S. Post Office, Concord (Wm. Buttrick, Postmaster), 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 61:
Edward Varley, 1896, and undated
Box 4, Folder 62:
Walcott, Garfield & Holden, 1890-1892; Walcott & Holden, 1895
Box 4, Folder 63:
H. L. Whitcomb, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 64:
P. W. White, 1890-1896
Box 4, Folder 65:
D. Whiting & Sons, 1890-1893
Box 4, Folder 66:
James B. Wood, 1889-1896
Box 4, Folder 67:
Miscellaneous creditors, A-W (inclusive dates of bills, receipts, etc.: 1881-1896)
Box 4, Folder 68:
Cancelled checks, 1895-1896, and checkbook (Marion B. Keyes)
Not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the Curator of the William Munroe Special Collections, Concord Free Public Library, Concord, Mass.
c2003-c2010 Concord Free Public Library, Concord, Mass.
Mounted 21st May 2003. rcwh.
rev. 30th Dec. 2010.