Table of Contents

Historical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Separations List

Administrative Information

Description

Subject Headings

Inventory of the Dawes Family Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Historical Note

Members of the Dawes family of Duxbury, Massachusetts, were chiefly involved with shipping and mercantile activities between 1821-1844. Most notable among these individuals was Josephus Dawes (1820-ca. 1910), a son of Abraham Dawes (1787-ca. 1867), who acted as a captain of several vessels involved in foreign and domestic trade and owned an interest in several others. He served as captain aboard the Valetta (Bark) in the 1860s, engaging in trade along the coast of China. He also was master of the Annie W. Weston (Bark) from the time of her first voyage in 1866 until 1871, trading at Philadelphia, Pa.; San Francisco, Calif.; and Great Britain. Two of Josephus' brothers, Allen (1821-ca. 1871) and James H. (1826-1905) also served as captains aboard merchant ships out of Duxbury, Mass., between 1865-1885.

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Scope and Content Note

Papers in this collection concentrate on the business activities of Josephus Dawes from 1862-1879. His papers include masters' and crew members' accounts; account books; ship building, outfitting and repair records; legal documents; bills and receipts; and business correspondence) including a letter book from owners of the Valetta (Bark), 1862-1865. These are supplemented by personal papers consisting of tax receipts, 1841-1910, and an autobiographical sketch, ca. 1910.

Also represented by materials in this collection are other Dawes family members and relatives by marriage. Abraham Dawes' papers, 1840-1868, include personal account books which contain accounts relating to other family members and to the settlement of his estate; legal documents; and tax receipts. Papers of Sally Freeman Dawes (d. 1877); Eunice Dawes Tanner (b. 1848); James H. Dawes; and Edward W. Winsor (fl. 1869) consist of letters written to Josephus Dawes in 1869. Papers for another son of Josephus Dawes, Frank H. Dawes (ca. 1852-1937) encompass tax receipts for 1881 through 1937 and journals kept on board merchant ships, 1873-1883, which have been removed to the logbook collection. Frank H. Dawes' son, Robert A. Dawes (fl. 1911) and grandson, Robert A. Dawes Jr. (fl. 1943), are represented by correspondence and military order books reflecting their service in the U.S Navy from 1911-1937 and 1943-1944, respectively.

Materials in the Dawes collection have been organized into sub-groups representing the papers of the individual family members. These sub-groups have been chronologically listed in the inventory by each person's date of birth. The papers, organized into series by type of document, are arranged in chronological order except for correspondence, which is first divided by year, then alphabetically arranged by the name of the writer.

Arrangement of Collection

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Information for Researchers

Access to the Collection

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 20 [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

These materials were presented to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society in May 1980 as part of the International Marine Archives collection.

Processing Information

Processed by: Judith Downey, ca. 1982

Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 11 July 2011; box list appended by Mark Procknik, 14 February 2012

Funds for processing this collection were provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Description

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Subject Headings

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Vessel Names

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