Table of Contents

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Separations List

Administrative Information

Description

Subject Headings

Inventory of the Everett S. Allen Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Biographical Note

Everett Slocum Allen, son of Joseph Chase and Mary Etta Ashton Allen, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1916. His father was a noted author and poet especially on subjects relating to Martha's Vineyard. Everett attended Tisbury High School on Martha's Vineyard and graduated from Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass. He received his bachelor's degree in 1938 from Middlebury College in Vermont. After earning his degree, Allen began his long journalism career with the Standard-Times of New Bedford, Mass., interrupted only by his service in the U. S. Navy during World War II. Allen covered many beats for the Standard-Times beginning with the city waterfront, then as police-fire reporter, assistant city editor, acting city editor, advancing to Sunday editor and assistant to the editor, a position he held from 1950 to 1976. He served as an editorial writer from 1955 and editor of the editorial page from 1975 up until his retirement at the end of 1979. During 1979, Allen received several journalism awards, among them the Editors Award by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. That same year, he was named a fellow of the Academy of New England Journalists. Allen continued his affiliation with the newspaper with his syndicated weekly column "The Present Tense" until his death.

Allen wrote numerous article series during his career covering such topics as the 1957 Communist purge in China, the fishing industry in 1953, McMillan, the Arctic explorer, in 1954 and American-Soviet oceanography in 1958. His deep interests in his topics turned several article series into full length books. Allen authored seven books that were published between 1962 and 1982, most notably: Children of the Light published in 1973 relating to the decline of the New Bedford whaling industry, A Wind to Shake the World in 1976 regarding the 1938 hurricane, Allen's first assignment for the Standard-Times, and Black Ships in 1979 about rumrunners during prohibition along the New England coast.

In 1985, Allen was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree from Southeastern Massachusetts University in North Dartmouth, Mass. Allen married Phyllis Johnson in 1939 and the couple adopted two children. He had resided in Fairhaven, Mass. for many years and died in 1990.

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Scope and Content Note

Materials in this collection reflect the activities of Everett S. Allen as a newspaper reporter and an author along with his involvement in the local community of New Bedford, Mass., between 1925 and 1975. The majority of the material relates to the John L. E. Pell Papers and the Pitcairn Island Relief Expedition Records.

The John L. E. Pell Papers, 1925-1973, consists of correspondence, short stories, clippings, a biographical sketch, and materials on Edward G. Robinson and his wife, Gladys Lloyd Robinson. Pell's correspondence, dating 1925-1958, contains letters from the office of D.W Griffith, Inc., a motion picture producer, actor Edward G. Robinson and his wife Gladys Lloyd Robinson, an artist and from Pell to Everett Allen and others. Pell wrote a short story with Clay Perry entitled The Golden Eldorado of the Americas, Porcupine, ca. 1945 that was published in Esquire. He also wrote A Kid in Little Old New York, a reminiscence of his childhood in New York. Pell asked Allen to help him market this work in 1958. There are also art exhibition catalogs for Gladys Lloyd Robinson's work, 1948-1954 and clippings about both Robinsons, 1933, 1973. Other clippings inlude information on "Down to the Sea in Ships," 1922, for which Pell wrote the original scenario and regarding Pell himself, 1945-1956. There is also a brief biographical sketch on Pell, ca. 1958.

The Pitcairn Island Relief Expedition Records, dating from 1939 to 1940, contain correspondence, minutes of meetings, financial records, crew papers, a sea journal, and clippings. This intended expedition sought to provide medical and dental aid as well as food supplies to the people of Pitcairn Island. Granville P. Lindley had recently been to Pitcairn, noted the conditions there, and felt there was a need to assist the residents. Lindley interested several New Bedford men to assist him in this project including Everett Allen, and a committee was established to raise funds for the expedition. As the World War II had just begun, no commercial vessel was available to ship any goods. The committee had to charter a vessel and outfit her for a voyage. The Schooner Liberty of Portland, Maine, was secured and brought to New Bedford, but it was unfortunately discovered that she was too financially encumbered to be used.

Additonal material in this collection reflect Allen's involvement in community activities or in his job. Records for the Committee of the "Moby Dick" Premiere in 1956, consist of lists of committee members and guests invited to a luncheon as well as a souvenir booklet and clippings about the event. Material on Operation Sail which was a parade of tall ships in New York harbor in 1964 include press releases and articles on the event, including Allen's personal article.

Papers on the Unknown Sailor relate the story of a man who was paralyzed from injuries he received during World War II and brought to a government hospital in Brighton, Mass. He was admitted in 1945 and died there in 1975, without anyone ever knowing his true identity. His story drew national attention and numerous investigations were made to identify him. His funeral service was held at the Seamen's Bethel and his burial was at Rural Cemetery, both in New Bedford. These papers span the years 1974 to 1975 and include his eulogy, as delivered by Allen, a memorial booklet, and clippings about him and his death and funeral.

Additional papers consist of a typescript about Captain James A. Tilton, ca. 1930; a clipping of an artcile by Allen and a later letter regarding the moving of the Charles W. Morgan from Dartmouth to Mystic, 1941, 1975; an invitation to a centennial celebration of the Standard-Times, 1950 and a program commemorating the centennial of a flag raising ceremony at an elementary school which Allen served as master of ceremonies, 1961.

Arrangement of Collection

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Information for Researchers

Access to Collections

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 93, [sub-group, series, sub-series, folder/volume as appropriate], [item]

Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 United States Code 552a) governs the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction if the document does not infringe the privacy rights of an individual, group, or corporation. These specified conditions of authorized use include:

If the researcher later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the researcher is personally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement and agrees to indemnify the New Bedford Whaling Museum from any legal action as a result of the error. Permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document does not indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from the document without permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded.

Permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, sell, or otherwise distribute the item must be obtained separately in writing from the holder of the original copyright (or if the creator is dead, from his/her heirs) as well as from any individual(s), groups, or corporations whose name, image, recorded words, or private information (e.g. employment information) may be reproduced in the source material. The holder of the original copyright is not necessarily the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for "fair use."

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order is judged in violation of copyright or federal or state privacy law. This institution also places restrictions on the use of cameras, photocopiers, and scanners in the research room.

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Separations List

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Administrative Information

Provenance

Materials in this collection were donated to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by Everett S. Allen on 29 November 1984 and 31 December 1985.

Processing Information

Processed by: Judith M. Downey, 19 May 1989

Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 20 April 2012

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Description

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Subject Headings

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Vessel Names

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