Table of ContentsHistorical NoteScope and Content NoteInformation for ResearchersRelated MaterialsSeparations ListAdministrative InformationDescriptionSubject Headings |
Inventory of the Grinnell Family PapersIn the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library
Historical NoteCornelius Grinnell, Jr. (1786-1830) was born in New Bedford to Cornelius and Sylvia (Howland) Grinnell. During his lifetime he was a partner in a New York commission business before moving back to New Bedford to purchase and run a farm dedicated to raising fine merino sheep. For three years he was the New Bedford and Dartmouth representative to the Legislature. Cornelius married Eliza Tallman Russell (1784-1827) in 1808 and had ten children. After his first wife’s death, Cornelius married her sister Mary Russell (1790-1838) in 1828. His eldest son Lawrence (1811-1893) was born in New Bedford. He worked in the counting room of Fish and Grinnell in New York for three years before returning to New Bedford and acted as an agent for several ships. During this time he was also active in the manufacturing and selling of sperm oil and candles. In 1843 his embarked on a fifty year career path in life and fire insurance through the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Lawrence married Rebecca Smith Williams (1814-1893) in 1835 and had five children. His eldest son Lawrence (1811-1893) was born in New Bedford. He worked in the counting room of Fish and Grinnell in New York for three years before returning to New Bedford and acted as an agent for several ships. During this time he was also active in the manufacturing and selling of sperm oil and candles. In 1843 his embarked on a fifty year career path in life and fire insurance through the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Lawrence married Rebecca Smith Williams (1814-1893) in 1835 and had five children. His eldest son Frederick (1836-1905) was born in New Bedford. He was educated at Friends’ Academy in New Bedford before attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York for civil engineering. In 1865 he became the general manager of Jersey City Locomotive Works as well as the superintendent of motive power and machinery for the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. He purchased a controlling interest in the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company (eventually succeeded by the General Fire Extinguisher Company) in 1869. In 1881, Frederick Grinnell patented the automatic sprinkler, an invention that established him as a pioneer in fire safety. He was also an avid yachtsman, winning many races with his schooner Quickstep. He was a longtime resident of Providence, Rhode Island before returning to his birthplace of New Bedford. Frederick married Alice Brayton Almy (1843-1871) in 1865 and had two children. He was married a second time in 1874 to Mary Brayton Page (1851-1915) and had five more children. Russell Grinnell (1875-1948), the eldest son of Frederick and Mary B. (Page) Grinnell, was born in Providence. He graduated from Brown University in 1897, and followed in his father’s footsteps to become president and director of the General Fire Extinguisher Company. He was also a director of the Gorham Manufacturing Company. He served as a representative to the Rhode Island State Senate for two terms. Like his father, Russell Grinnell was an avid and decorated yachtsman. He married Rose Lamb Gifford (1877-1943) in 1900 and had two children. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Content NoteThis collection contains the papers of various members of the Grinnell family spanning over a century (1807-1933) and includes correspondence, legal documents, bills and receipts, newspaper clippings, and other associated materials. The collection begins with the papers of Cornelius Grinnell, Jr. (1786-1830), father to Lawrence, grandfather to Frederick, and great-grandfather to Russell. Included are his personal and business correspondence, legal documents, and bills and receipts. Within the legal documents is a contract granting Cornelius Grinnell Jr. power of attorney for Post and Minturn trading company. Included in bills and receipts is a bill of sale for three-eighths ownership of a ship to prominent New Bedford traders Preserved Fish and Robert Stillman. An oversized folder includes a newspaper clipping discussing local damage in New Bedford caused by an 1815 hurricane, and a mercantile report from 1838 Havana, Cuba. His grandson Frederick Grinnell (1836-1905) is present in the collection with a small collection of associated materials, including a newspaper clipping that mentions his graduation from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and various social invitations. Frederick’s wife Mary Grinnell (1851-1915) has a small series of correspondence, mostly in regards to her husband’s health and her son Russell’s work. A majority of the documents in the Grinnell Family Papers belong to Russell Grinnell (1875-1948) and include his incoming correspondence spanning from 1881 to 1918. The correspondence begins in his childhood, with many letters from his mother and father as well as his grandparents, mostly discussing his school experience and their travels. A great many letters discuss his engagement to Rose Gifford and their wedding. Notably in the collection is a series of letters from the front in France during World War I, where Russell’s brother Lawrence was stationed. These letters discuss life on the front and combat training, including the newly-invented automatic weapons and trench warfare techniques. In addition to correspondence, there are a number of materials related to Russell Grinnell’s time at Brown University, his association with a local country club, and a family newspaper entitled “The Exeter Skunk” typed up by his eldest child, Russell Jr. Rose (Gifford) Grinnell (1877-1943), wife of Russell, is present in the collection with a series of correspondence (1900-1933). The majority of the correspondence is between Rose and her mother discussing family matters, including the wedding and marriage of Rose and Russell, health issues of various relatives, and daily life. Also included in the correspondence is a 1933 letter to Rose from William M. Emery discussing a genealogy search he was conducting for Mrs. Grinnell. Other associated material from Rose Grinnell includes a school report card from Friends Academy, a dance card from 1892, a pedigree chart outlining the Gifford family, and a letter regarding Rose and Russell’s 1900 wedding. Also present in this collection is the correspondence of Job Collins, a Quaker farmer and businessman from Utica, New York with ties to Providence, Rhode Island. Spanning 1842 to 1853, the correspondence includes letters from his cousin, Beriah Collins, regarding their leather business, as well as other personal and business correspondence. The final subgroup contains collected correspondence (dated and undated) from individuals connected to the Grinnell family. A letter dated June 22, 1883 from Goat Island discusses payment of $10 for delivery of a drowned man found off the coast of San Francisco. A letter dated August 22, 1877 provides details of the Ames Manufacturing Company, known for swords and bronze-work. A third letter is written from the front in WWI and is dated January 30, 1918 and February 2, 1918, likely written by Lawrence Grinnell, son of Frederick and brother of Russell. Arrangement of CollectionReturn to the Table of Contents Information for Researchers
Access to Collections Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.
Preferred Citation New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 150, [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: - non-commercial and non-profit study, scholarship, research, or teaching - criticism or commentary - as a NBWM archives preservation or security copy for research use - as a research copy for deposit in another institution
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. Return to the Table of Contents Related MaterialsRelated Items
Mss 50: Grinnell Family Papers
Return to the Table of Contents Separations ListRemoved to Photo Archive 24 photographs Return to the Table of Contents Administrative Information
Provenance Materials in this collection were purchased by the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library in 2016. Accession #2016.41.
Processing Information Processed by: Sara Rose, 2016 Encoded by: Sara Rose, 15 November 2016 Return to the Table of Contents Description
Return to the Table of Contents
Subject Headings Business records--Mass.--New Bedford
Domestic relations--Mass.--New Bedford
Family--Mass.--New Bedford
Family--R.I.--Providence
Fish, Preserved, 1766-1846
Grinnell family
Grinnell, Cornelius Jr., 1786-1830
Grinnell, Lawrence, 1811-1893
Grinnell, Rose Lamb Gifford, 1877-1943
Merchant ships--Mass.--New Bedford
Merchants--Mass.--New Bedford
Merchants--N.Y.--New York City
Merchants--R.I.--Providence
Military weapons--History--20th century
Minturn, Robert Browne, 1805-1866
New Bedford, Mass.--Commerce
Personal correspondence
Providence, R.I.--Commerce
Ship's papers
Shipping--Mass.--New Bedford
Travelers, Women--Mass.--New Bedford
Trench warfare
Whaling--Mass.--New Bedford
World War, 1914-1918
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