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Joseph W. Blaine Family Papers (MSS 1079)

Rhode Island Historical Society

121 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Tel: 401-273-8107
Fax: 401-751-7930
email: reference@rihs.org

Inventory

Subgroup 1. Alexander MacLellan Papers
Alexander MacLellan (1856-1939) was born at Lanarkshire, Scotland on December 24 1856, the son of Duncan and Janet (Inglis) McLellan. He became a skilled gardener in his native land, and emigrated to the United States in 1882. Within the year, he settled in Newport, R.I., where he initially worked at the estate known as The Breakers. He came to serve as head gardener at a variety of Newport estates, including Grey Craig and Stoneacre (where the garden was designed by nationally known landscape architect Frederic Law Olmsted). He also worked as an independent horticulture contractor. In 1913, he established a nursery in Middletown, R.I. which he operated in addition to his other interests. He was a founder and president of the Newport Horticultural Society, and a prolific poet.

Circa 1890, Alexander changed his name from McLellan to MacLellan. One of his brothers who emigrated to the United States also followed this spelling, while another one continued to use McLellan. Alexander's first son, who died in 1889, was recorded in the death records as Duncan McLellan.

MacLellan married Mary Davies (1853-1934) and had five children: Rowena (1886-1965), who married Joseph W. Blaine Sr.; Duncan (1888-1889); Janet, who never married (1889-1959); Alexander Davies (1891-1955); and Gladys (1894-1921). He was a member of United Congregational Church in Newport. He resided at 33 Webster Street (10/1900- ?), and then at 87 John Street in Newport through his death on December 31, 1939.

Series 1. Alexander MacLellan Diaries
MacLellan kept a traditional diary from 1878 to 1902. His "diaries" from 1916 through 1939 were kept almost at random in memorandum books. Because the entries are not chronological, they are not strictly diaries, but the entries are diary-like in nature. MacLellan's grandson J.W. Blaine Jr. compiled cross-references to many of these volumes, showing which months can be found on which pages.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 Diary
Contents Note: 2 volumes.
1878 Jan 01-1878 Dec 31, 1879 Jan 01-1879 Nov 10
Box 1, Folder 2 Diary
Contents Note: 2 volumes.
1880 Jan 01-1880 Jul 29, 1880 Jul 30-1881 Nov 11
Box 1, Folder 3 Diary
Contents Note: One entry, 2 volumes.
1881 Dec 07, 1882 Jan 01-1882 Apr 24
Box 1, Folder 3a Diary
Contents Note: 2 volumes.
1882 Apr 25-1884 Feb 25, 1884 Jan 01-1885 Sep 24
Box 1, Folder 4 Diary
Contents Note: 2 volumes.
1885 Sep 25-1888 Oct 12, 1888 Oct 13-1890 Dec 31
Box 1, Folder 5 Diary
1891 Jan 01-1894 Apr 11
Box 1, Folder 6 Diary
1894 Apr 12-1898 Oct 17
Box 1, Folder 7 Diary
1898 Oct 18-1900 Nov 21, 1934 Dec 17-1936 Jun 16
Box 1, Folder 8 Diary
Contents Note: In memorandum book dated 1898-1902
1901 May 23-1902 May 17
Box 1, Folder 9 Diary
Contents Note: In memorandum book dated 1916-1918
1916 Feb 23-1919 Apr 19
Box 1, Folder 10 Diary
Contents Note: Loose pages from memorandum book
1917 Dec 28-1919 Sep 26, 1924 Nov 08
Box 1, Folder 11 Diary
Contents Note: On back cover of lost memorandum book
1925 Jul 06-1925 Jul 28
Box 1, Folder 12 Diary
1926-1928, 1938-1939- Dec 28
Box 1, Folder 13 Diary
1928 Jan-1931 Jan 19, 1938 Sep 21-1938 Sep 23
Box 1, Folder 14 Diary
1931 Jan-1934 Dec
Box 1, Folder 15 Diary
Contents Note: In memorandum book / ledger dated 1915
1936 Sep 15-1939 Nov 29
Box 1, Folder 16 Ledger / memorandum book
1933-1934
Box 1, Folder 17 Notes on diaries by Joseph W. Blaine Jr.
1967

Series 2. Alexander MacLellan poetry
MacLellan was a prolific amateur poet, and was published frequently in Newport newspapers and in horticultural publications. In 1967, his grandson made extensive preparations to publish an anthology of these poems. Although the book was apparently never published, the files have been preserved. The files in this series consist mostly of MacLellan's original drafts, interspersed with Blaine's notes and memoranda.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 1 Numbered list of poems compiled by Joseph W. Blaine Jr.
1967
Box 2, Folder 2 Poems #1 - #20
Box 2, Folder 3 Poems #21 - #40
Box 2, Folder 4 Poems #41 - #60
Box 2, Folder 5 Poems #61 - #80
Box 2, Folder 6 Poems #81 - #100
Box 2, Folder 7 Poems #101 - #120
Box 2, Folder 8 Poems #121 - #140
Box 2, Folder 9 Poems #141 - #160
Box 2, Folder 10 Poems #161 - #180
Box 2, Folder 11 Poems #181 - #200
Box 2, Folder 12 Poems #201 - #220
Box 2, Folder 13 Poems #221 - #240
Box 2, Folder 14 Poems #241 - #261
Box 2, Folder 15 Poems #262 - #286
Box 2, Folder 16 Poems, unnumbered
Box 2, Folder 17 Notebooks, 1914-1928; 1913-1936 (with nursery inventory, 1931-1933)
Box 2, Folder 18 Transcriptions by J.W. Blaine Jr.
1969
Box 2, Folder 19 Notes on poems by J.W. Blaine Jr.
1967-1973

Series 3. Alexander MacLellan miscellaneous

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 20 Account book
1901-1902
Box 2, Folder 21 Biographical notes by J.W. Blaine Jr.
1967
Box 2, Folder 22 Correspondence
1885-1939
Box 2, Folder 23 Deeds, etc
Box 2, Folder 23a Duncan MacLellan burial
1889
Box 2, Folder 23b Gladys MacLellan estate papers
1921
Box 2, Folder 24 Indexes from lost ledgers
1902-1925
Box 2, Folder 25 Inventory of Renfrew Ave. garden
1931
Box 2, Folder 26 Lawsuit vs. landlord George Vernon & Co.
1934-1940
Box 2, Folder 27 Papers found in family bible
Contents Note: Some undated.
1886-1907
Box 2, Folder 29 Richard Gardener notes
Contents Note: ca. 1939
1939
Box 2, Folder 29 Y.M.C.A. membership committee memorandum book
1892-1895
Box 2, Folder 30 Miscellaneous
1879-1967

Subgroup 2. Blaine Family Papers
Joseph W. Blaine Sr. (1875-1953) was the son of Edwin Carlos Blaine (1840-1904) and Sarah Penelope Sophia (Carry) Blaine (1849-1879). When he was nineteen, his father Edwin remarried to Jennie Eliza Blaine (1864-1951). Joseph worked in his father's jewelry shop in Newport, and after his father's death in 1904 he operated the shop under the name "Estate of Edwin C. Blaine" until 1952. He married Signe Adina Hallborg (1881-1912) in 1909. They had one daughter, Constance Baldwin Blaine (1912-1992). Signe died three weeks after the birth of Constance, presumably due to complications from the birth. In 1918, Blaine remarried to Rowena MacLellan, a 1909 graduate of Rhode Island Normal School who taught in the Newport school system until her marriage. Joseph and Rowena had one son, Joseph W. Blaine Jr. (1920-1986). The family lived in a rented apartment at 3 Fowler Street in Newport until they were evicted in 1948. After that point they purchased a house at 51 Friendship Street. Joseph W. Blaine Sr. died March 16, 1953, and his widow Rowena resided at 51 Friendship St. until moving to a nursing home in late 1964. She died in April of 1965.

Contents:

2.5 linear feet of miscellaneous, diaries, correspondence and other papers of Joseph W. Blaine, Signe (Hallborg) Blaine, Rowena (MacLellan) Blaine and other relatives. The diaries written by Rowena (MacLellan) Blaine cover nearly every year of her life from age 19 to her death at age 79.

Series 1. Joseph W. Blaine

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 31 Address books
Contents Note: Tentative, 1920's -1940's
1920-1940
Box 2, Folder 32 Alpha Musical Club
Contents Note: Constitution, minutes, dues, 1898-1899; dues, 1903-1904
1898-1899, 1903-1904
Box 2, Folder 33 Correspondence from Blaine, Irving E.
Contents Note: Some undated.
1918-1947
Box 2, Folder 34 Correspondence from Blaine, Joseph W. Jr. (formal loan agreement)
1948
Box 2, Folder 35 Correspondence from Blumenkranz, Emil (aka Henry H. Wright)
1912-1948
Box 2, Folder 36 Correspondence from Burdick, Edwin S.
1922-1923
Box 2, Folder 37 Correspondence from Burdick, William
1903-1923, 1935
Box 2, Folder 38 Correspondence to [Chaloux?], John
1892
Box 2, Folder 39 Correspondence from Cobb, Emily Frances (Blaine)
1952, 1963
Box 2, Folder 40 Correspondence from Hallborg, Henry E.
1943
Box 2, Folder 41 Correspondence from Pitman, William S.
1906-1954
Box 2, Folder 42 Correspondence from various
Contents Note: Some undated.
1894-1963
Box 2, Folder 43 Household inventory
Contents Note: c. 1910
1910
Box 2, Folder 44 Membership cards
1942-1948
Box 2, Folder 45 Newspaper clippings
1918, 1953
Box 2, Folder 46 Receipts
1904-1940
Box 2, Folder 47 Second Baptist Church of Newport
Contents Note: Junior Brotherhood accounts, 1913-1916; mailing list, 1914
1913-1916, 1914
Box 2, Folder 48 Writings
Contents Note: "Merlin" and "The Story of the Book", undated.
Box 2, Folder 49 Writings
Contents Note: Mineralogy, c. 1893
1893
Box 2, Folder 50 Writings
Contents Note: Progress of Applied Chemistry During the Present Century
1893
Box 2, Folder 51 Writings
Contents Note: School papers, some undated.
1892-1893

Series 2. Rowena (MacLellan) Blaine

Container Description Date
Box 3, Folder 1 Correspondence from Blaine, Constance
1948, 1950
Box 3, Folder 2 Correspondence from Blaine, Hope (Woodmansee)
1923-1945
Box 3, Folder 3 Correspondence from Blaine, Irving E.
1917, 1950-1953
Box 3, Folder 4 Correspondence from various
Contents Note: Some undated.
1913-1962
Box 13, Folder 1 Diaries
1905-1909, 1914-1915
Box 13, Folder 2 Diaries
1913-1927
Box 13, Folder 3 Diaries
1928-1942
Box 13, Folder 4 Diaries
1943-1957
Box 12, Folder 17 Diaries
1958-1965
Box 3, Folder 5 Estate inventory - prepared by JWB Jr.
1965
Box 3, Folder 6 Household account book
1930-1944
Box 3, Folder 7 Memoranda books
1910-1964
Box 11, Volume 1 Memoranda and account book
1919-1961
Box 3, Volume 8 Memoranda book
Contents Note: c.1938-1949, includes index by JWB, Jr.
1938-1949
Box 3, Volume 9 Memoranda book
Contents Note: Includes index by JWB, Jr.
1949-1955
Box 3, Volume 10 Memoranda book
Contents Note: Includes index by JWB, Jr.
1896-1897, 1955-1964
Box 3, Folder 11 Newspaper clippings
Contents Note: Undated.
1910-1956
Box 3, Folder 12 Power of attorney for Joseph W. Blaine
1952
Box 3, Folder 13 Receipts
1938-1955, 1964
Oversize folder. School certificate
1901
Box 3, Folder 14 School certificates and report cards
1898-1909, 1913
Box 3, Folder 15 School papers
1897-1906

Series 3. Joseph W. and Rowena (MacLellan) Blaine
Letters from son Joseph W. Blaine Jr. to his parents, jointly. Some letters are also addressed to Janet MacLellan. These letters are filled with every detail of Joseph Jr.'s daily life, and also document his unique perspective as an eccentric recluse. In his letter dated 10/13/1948, he wrote "You know why I want to be alone? I'm a nut & I like to do nutty things, but I don't enjoy having people know I'm a nut. Except you folks, of course, and that's because we're the same kind of nuts... I want to be a nut on my own property and let the rest of the world go its merry and so-called sane way." In a 1/29/1955 letter he discusses why he's never had a telephone. On 6/11/1956, he wrote about his purchase of a television: "Help HELP HELP I am the captive of a one-eyed monster! Yes, three weeks ago I bought a factory reject TV set. and I've done nothing since, except stare at it."

Container Description Date
Box 3, Folder 16 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass.
1938 Sep-1939 Jun
Box 3, Folder 17 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass.
1939 Sep-1939 Dec
Box 3, Folder 18 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass.
1940 Jan-1940 Jun
Box 3, Folder 19 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass.
1940 Sep-1940 Dec
Box 3, Folder 20 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass.
1941 Jan-1941 Jun
Box 3, Folder 21 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass.
1941 Sep-1941 Dec
Box 3, Folder 22 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass.
1942 Jan-1942 Apr
Box 3, Folder 23 Bridgeport, Conn.
1942 May-1942 Aug
Box 3, Folder 24 Schenectady, N.Y.
1942 Aug-1942 Jul
Box 3, Folder 25 Schenectady, N.Y. and West Lynn, Mass.
1943 Jan-1943 May
Box 3, Folder 26 Schenectady, N.Y.
1943 May-1943 Aug
Box 3, Folder 27 Schenectady, N.Y.
1943 Sep-1943 Dec
Box 3, Folder 28 Schenectady, N.Y.
1944 Jan-1944 Jun
Box 3, Folder 29 Schenectady, N.Y.and Boston, Mass.
1944 Jul-1944 Dec
Box 3, Folder 30 Schenectady, N.Y.
1945 Jan-1945 Jun
Box 3, Folder 31 Schenectady, N.Y.
1945 Jul-1945 Dec
Box 3, Folder 32 Schenectady and Syracuse, N.Y.
1946 Jan-1946 Jun
Box 3, Folder 33 Syracuse, N.Y.
1946 Jul-1946 Dec
Box 3, Folder 34 Syracuse, N.Y.
1947 Jan-1947 Jun
Box 3, Folder 35 Syracuse, N.Y.
1947 Jul-1947 Dec
Box 3, Folder 36 Syracuse and Liverpool, N.Y.
1948
Box 4, Folder 1 Liverpool, N.Y.
1949
Box 4, Folder 2 Liverpool, N.Y.
1950
Box 4, Folder 3 Liverpool, N.Y.
1951
Box 4, Folder 4 Liverpool, N.Y.
1952
Box 4, Folder 5 Liverpool, N.Y.
1953
Box 4, Folder 6 Liverpool, N.Y.
1954
Box 4, Folder 7 Liverpool, N.Y.
1955
Box 4, Folder 8 Liverpool, N.Y.
1956-1958
Box 4, Folder 9 Liverpool, N.Y.
1959-1960
Box 4, Folder 10 Liverpool, N.Y.
1961-1962
Box 4, Folder 11 Liverpool, N.Y.
1963
Box 4, Folder 12 Liverpool, N.Y.
1964
Box 4, Folder 13 Liverpool, N.Y.
1965

Series 4. Extended family
Constance Baldwin Blaine

Container Description Date
Box 4, Folder 13a
Contents Note: Address book undated. Bible Picture Attendance Record, undated; Yet Another Day: A Prayer for Every Day of the Year, 1905
1905
Box 4, Folder 14 Signe Adina (Hallborg) Blaine
Contents Note: Diaries
1897-1903, 1910-1912
Box 4, Folder 15 Signe Adina (Hallborg) Blaine
Contents Note: Papers and correspondence
1897-1910
Box 4, Folder 16 Signe Adina (Hallborg) Blaine
Contents Note: Practice School teacher reports
1901-1903
Box 4, Folder 17 Marion Emeline (Blaine) Birkholz
Contents Note: Correspondence from Hope (Woodmansee) Blaine
1958
Box 4, Folder 18 Emily Frances (Blaine) Cobb
Contents Note: School papers, some undated.
1895-1896
Box 4, Folder 19 Henry E. Hallborg
Contents Note: Papers
1901, 1936, 1941
Box 4, Folder 19a Gladys MacLellan
Contents Note: School report card
1909-1910
Box 4, Folder 20 Jeanette (or Janet) MacLellan
Contents Note: Correspondence and papers
1925-1959

Series 5. Family material

Container Description Date
Box 4, Folder 21 Birth announcements sent to Blaine family
1911-1952
Box 4, Folder 22 Birthday books
Contents Note: Undated.
Box 4, Folder 23 Blaine family correspondence, Typescript by J.W. Blaine Jr.
1906-1963, 1973
Box 4, Folder 24 Deeds
1930-1948
Box 4, Folder 25 Formal announcements and invitations sent to MacLellan and Blaine families
1896-1915
Box 4, Folder 26 Formal announcements and invitations sent to MacLellan and Blaine families
1916-1962
Box 3, Folder 6 Household accounts - Blaine family
1930-1944
Box 4, Folder 27 Newspaper clippings - Blaine family
Contents Note: Some undated.
1951
Box 4, Folder 28 Newspaper clippings - MacLellan family
1921-1959
Box 4, Folder 29 Newspaper clippings - Ward family
1943-1946
Box 4, Folder 30 Newspaper clippings - Whitmarsh family
1934-1958
Box 4, Folder 31 Newspaper clippings - Woodmansee family
Contents Note: Some undated.
1943, 1955

Subgroup 3. Estate of E.C. Blaine Records
The jewelry store on Thames Street in Newport, RI was opened circa 1865 by Harley Willie Pray. Edwin C. Blaine took over the business from the original owners in 1873 and ran it until his death in 1904. According to Edwin's will, the business was to be operated for the benefit of the family. Jennie E. Blaine, Edwin's second wife, received a percentage of the profits from the store for the remainder of her life. His son, Joseph W. Blaine, took over management of the business and operated it under the name "Estate of E.C. Blaine." The name of the business was changed to "Edwin C. Blaine, Inc." in 1933. Emily Francis (Blaine) Cobb was the clerk for a time. The business was sold outside the family in 1952, but continued to be operated as Blaine Jewelers for many years.

Contents: 3 linear feet of financial and sales records from the jewelry store, 1904-1953

Container Description Date
Box 4, Folder 32 Account book
1904-1906
Box 4, Folder 33 Account book
1939-1951
Box 4, Folder 34 Account book
1904-1945
Box 4, Folder 35 Bank statements
1940-1945
Box 4, Folder 36 Bank statements
1946-1949, 1952, 1953 Aug
Box 4, Folder 37 Bill carbons
1946-1952
Box 5, Folder 1 Check book stubs
1950 Jun 23-1953 Jul 27
Box 5, Folder 2 Correspondence
Contents Note: Some undated.
1916, 1932-1952
Box 5, Folder 3 Correspondence - Newport Trophy
1930
Box 5, Folder 4 Correspondence - sale of business
1952
Box 3, Folder 6 Daily to-do list
1912 Feb-1912 Nov
Box 11, Volume 2 Day book
1905 Oct 27-1906 Apr 20
Box 11, Volume 3 Day book
1906 Apr 21-1906 Oct 06
Box 11, Volume 4 Day book
1906 Oct 08-1907 Mar 12
Box 11, Volume 5 Day book
1907 Mar 13-1907 Aug 27
Box 11, Volume 6 Day book
1907 Aug 28-1908 Jan 25
Box 5, Folder 5 Day book sheets
1950
Box 5, Folder 6 Day book sheets
1950
Box 5, Folder 7 Day book sheets
1951
Box 5, Folder 8 Day book sheets
1951
Box 5, Folder 9 Day book sheets
1952
Box 5, Folder 10 Day book sheets
1952-1953 Jul
Box 5, Folder 11 Finished business sheets
1952 Mar-1952 Sep
Box 5, Folder 12 Insurance
1949-1950
Box 5, Folder 13 Inventory
1904-1950
Box 5, Folder 14 Inventory
1906-1907
Box 5, Folder 15 Inventory
1908
Box 5, Folder 16 Inventory
1909
Box 11, Volume 7 Inventory
1911-1951
Box 5, Folder 17 Invoices, A-K
1948-1951
Box 5, Folder 18 Invoices, L-Z
1948-1951
Box 5, Folder 19 Invoices
1952
Box 5, Folder 20 Invoices
1952-1953
Box 5, Folder 21 Loan application with Newport Trust Co.
1934-1935
Box 5, Folder 22 Merchandise purchased
1949-1950
Box 5, Folder 13 Monthly sales
1907-1908
Box 5, Folder 23 Office of Price Stabilization
1951-1952
Box 6, Folder 1 Payroll books
1937-1946
Box 6, Folder 2 Payroll books
1946-1951
Box 6, Folder 3 Profit distribution
1926
Box 6, Folder 4 Rhode Island Unemployment Compensation Board
1939-1951
Box 11, Volume 7 Stock Register
1911-1951
Box 5, Folder 15 Supplier accounts
1905
Box 6, Folder 5 Taxes - Federal
1933-1940
Box 6, Folder 6 Taxes - Federal
1941-1945
Box 6, Folder 7 Taxes - Federal
1946-1953
Box 6, Folder 8 Taxes - Rhode Island sales and use
1948-1951
Box 6, Folder 9 Wedding book
1927-1933

Subgroup 4. Joseph W. Blaine Jr. Papers
Joseph William Blaine Jr. (1920-1986) was born in Newport, the only son of Joseph W. and Rowena (MacLellan) Blaine. He had a half-sister, Constance B. Blaine (1912-1992), through his father's first marriage. He was known to his family as Bill, although he used Joe or Joseph in later life. Joseph graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1942. He then worked for twenty-three years as an electrical engineer at several General Electric facilities: Bridgeport, Conn. from May to August of 1942; Schenectady, N.Y. for most of the period from 1942 to 1946; a brief stint at West Lynn, Mass. from March to May 1943; a stint at a Massachusetts Institute of Technology laboratory from August through December of 1944; and finally in Liverpool near Syracuse, N.Y. from May 1946 onward. There he worked as a test engineer in the company's Heavy Military Electronic Equipment Department. Upon the death of his mother in April of 1965, he retired early and returned to Newport, where he moved into his late parents' house at 51 Friendship Street. He became an avid researcher of Newport history, and an active member of the Newport Historical Society. One major project which was never published was a compilation of the poems of his grandfather Alexander MacLellan.

Blaine lived a life of extreme frugality. Much of his diet reportedly consisted of peanut butter, bread and canned soup, which he would warm using the motor on his television. Many of his historical notes were written on the backs of soup labels. On October 20, 1986, he fell from a ladder while cleaning his gutters, and died from the resulting injuries. He left an estate valued at $124,649 in addition to his house. These assets were put into a trust, with the income to benefit his half-sister and Patricia A. Walsh, a former employee of the Newport Historical Society. Ms. Walsh, who had little more than a friendly passing acquaintance with Blaine, was also left a life tenancy of the house.

Series 1. Joseph W. Blaine Jr. personal papers. 1 linear foot.
The large majority of these papers are letters from Blaine's parents and sister Constance. The letters from 1938 to June 1942 were mostly sent by his parents while he was attending college, and the 1942-1944 letters were sent by his parents while he worked at a variety of General Electric plants during wartime. From 1958 to 1964, the majority of the letters are from his widowed mother. See subgroup 2, Series 3 for Blaine's letters back to his parents. Most of the letters from 1965 to 1980 are from his sister Constance. These later letters are frequently accompanied by Blaine's draft responses, and are marked by Constance's increasing interest in the Evangelical Free Church. In the final surviving exchange between the two dated December 1980, he calls her gifts of Christian tracts "junk mail," and she responds, "unless you repent this grave and blasphemous sin ... you have nothing to look forward to in hell."

Joseph W. Blaine Jr. kept very detailed diaries from the age of 14 to the day of his death at the age of 66. During his youth he does not write everyday but as he gets older the diaries become more detailed with descriptions of nearly everything he does. There are two sets of diaries. The first set records his daily activities and thoughts. The second set is one continuous diary (1943-1974) which is devoted to his observations regarding women who have caught his attention. Of note also are his very detailed records on his health in the file titled Medical records and notes.

Container Description Date
Box 6, Folder 10 Correspondence
Contents Note: Also an early undated.
1927-1934
Box 6, Folder 11 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Worcester, Mass.
1938 Dec-1939 Jun
Box 6, Folder 12 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Worcester, Mass.
1939 Sep-1939 Dec
Box 6, Folder 13 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Worcester, Mass.
1940 Jan-1940 Mar
Box 6, Folder 14 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Worcester, Mass.
1940 Apr-1940 Aug
Box 6, Folder 15 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Worcester, Mass.
1940 Sep-1940 Dec
Box 6, Folder 16 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Worcester, Mass.
1941 Jan-1941 Jun
Box 6, Folder 17 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Worcester, Mass.
1941 Sep-1941 Dec
Box 6, Folder 18 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Worcester, Mass.
1942 Jan-1942 Apr
Box 6, Folder 19 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Bridgeport, Conn.
1942 May-1942 Aug
Box 6, Folder 20 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Schenectady, N.Y.
1942 Aug-1942 Dec
Box 6, Folder 21 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Schenectady, and West Lynn, MA.
1943 Jan-1943 Jun
Box 6, Folder 22 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Schenectady, N.Y.
1943 Jul-1943 Dec
Box 6, Folder 23 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Schenectady, N.Y
1944 Jan-1944 Jun
Box 6, Folder 24 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Schenectady, and Boston, Mass.
1944 Jul-1944 Dec
Box 6, Folder 25 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Liverpool, N.Y.
1945-1949
Box 6, Folder 26 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Liverpool, N.Y.
1950-1952, 1957
Box 6, Folder 27 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Liverpool, N.Y.
1958 Dec-1959
Box 6, Folder 28 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Liverpool, N.Y.
1960
Box 6, Folder 29 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Liverpool, N.Y.
1961
Box 6, Folder 30 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Liverpool, N.Y.
1962
Box 6, Folder 31 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Liverpool, N.Y.
1963
Box 6, Folder 32 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Liverpool, N.Y.
1964
Box 6, Folder 33 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Newport, R.I.
1965
Box 6, Folder 34 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Newport, R.I.
1966-1970
Box 6, Folder 35 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Newport, R.I.
1971-1975
Box 6, Folder 36 Correspondence
Contents Note: Rec'd in Newport, R.I.
1976-1981
Box 6, Folder 37 Correspondence
Contents Note: Undated
Box 6, Folder 38 Baby show certificate
1922
Box 6, Folder 39 Civil Service applications and papers
1940-1942
Box 6, Folder 40 Desk calendar
1942 May
Box 12, Folder 1 Diaries
1934-1938, 1940 Mar
Box 12, Folder 2 Diaries
1965 Jul-1966 Dec 21
Box 12, Folder 3 Diaries
1966 Dec 22-1968 Sep 21
Box 12, Folder 4 Diaries
1968 Sep 22-1970 May 13
Box 12, Folder 5 Diaries
1970 May 13-1972 May 12
Box 12, Folder 6 Diaries
1972 May 12-1974 Sep 18
Box 12, Folder 7 Diaries
1974 Sep 18-1977 Sep 16
Box 12, Folder 8 Diaries
1977 Sep 16-1980 Aug 23
Box 12, Folder 9 Diaries
1980 Aug 24-1983 Jun 23
Box 12, Folder 10 Diaries
1983 Jun 23-1986 Feb 21
Box 12, Folder 11 Diaries
1986 Feb 21-1986 Oct 20
Box 12, Folder 12 Diaries - romantic interests
1943 Jun-1945 Aug 08
Box 12, Folder 13 Diaries - romantic interests
1945 Aug 08-1947 May 06
Box 12, Folder 14 Diary - romantic interests
1947 May 11-1974 Apr 19
Box 6, Folder 41 Driving log
1959-1965
Box 6, Folder 42 Expense book
1956-1984
Box 6, Folder 43 Expense book
1984-1986
Box 6, Folder 44 Family cemetery plots
1966
Box 6, Folder 45 General Electric papers
1942-1944
Box 7, Folder 1 Hospitalization of mother
1964
Box 7, Folder 2 House notes - 51 Friendship Street
1965-1966
Box 7, Folder 3 Humor, mostly undated
Box 7, Folder 4 Income book
1971-1986
Box 12, Folder 15 Medical records and notes
1934-1984
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: "Adventures of Daring Dan McStew: A Serial Story" (one page)
1948-1986
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Notes on father Joseph W. Blaine Sr.
1949
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: List of library books borrowed
1965-1972
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Inventory of children's clothes
1967
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Hair-cutting machine concept paper
1967
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Reminiscences of the Edward P. Dunn family from 1928 to 1938
1968
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Reminiscences of crab phobia as youth
1968
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: "The Big Hurricane - September 21, 1938 - As I Recall It Today" (3 pages)
1970
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Memories of German measles or scarlet fever circa 1931, written 1970
1970
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Justification of indexing
1971
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Reminiscences of 1940s General Electric office memoranda
1972
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Reminiscences of father's musical talents
1975
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Notes on suspicious activity kept as an observant citizen (5 items)
1977-1980
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Invitation to 110th anniversary of Blaine Jewelers
1978
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: "Women as a Class are Crazy," undated
Box 7, Folder 5 Memoranda
Contents Note: Magazine subscriptions
1962
Box 12, Folder 16 Newport Police Department and City offices
Contents Note: Notes and correspondence
1967-1981
Box 7, Folder 6 Patricia A. Walsh memoranda
1984-1986
Box 7, Folder 7 Ration books
1942, 1943
Box 7, Folder 8 Viking Hotel
1960-1962
Box 7, Folder 9 Worcester Polytechnic Institute memorabilia
1938-1943

Series 2. Joseph W. Blaine Jr. historical notes. 2.5 linear feet
Dates generally refer to when Blaine did his research, and not to the period covered.

Container Description Date
Box 7, Folder 10 Ann Street Pier
1980
Box 7, Folder 11 Applegate family
1982
Box 7, Folder 12 Atlas of Early Newport
Contents Note: "Records of Island of R.I." transcript
1976
Box 7, Folder 13 Atlas of Early Newport - Sketches
1976
Box 7, Folder 14 Atlas of Early Newport - Notes
1975-1986
Box 7, Folder 15 Bannister family
1983
Box 7, Folder 16 Bay Voyage Hotel
1974
Box 7, Folder 17 Benedict Arnold will, 1678 (typescript) with notes
1976
Box 7, Folder 18 Braman Cemetery
1981-1982
Box 7, Folder 19 Brenton family card file
Contents Note: Undated.
Box 7, Folder 20 Brenton Neck / William Brenton
1980-1985
Box 7, Folder 21 Chapin extracts
1976
Box 7, Folder 22 City Bell Tower
1983
Box 7, Folder 23 "Colony House Clock" (typescript)
1975
Box 7, Folder 24 Correspondence, historical
1969-1985
Box 7, Folder 25 Correspondence with R.I. State Archives
1976-1984
Box 7, Folder 26 Diary of George H. Richardson, (typescript)
1868-1899
Box 7, Folder 27 Diary of George H. Richardson, (typescript), 1986
1901-1916
Box 7, Folder 28 Direct Tax, 1
Contents Note: Newport, Schedules D & E (indexed typescript), 1980
1798
Box 7, Folder 29 "Early Coggeshall Real Estate in Newport" (typescript with notes), 1982
1982
Box 7, Folder 30 Elton Manuel deed collection notes
1979
Box 7, Folder 31 "The Exchange and the Exchange Tavern, 1690-1718" (typescript), 1975
1690-1718
Box 7, Folder 32 Gale of 1815 newspaper article from Rhode Island Republican (typescript)
Box 7, Folder 33 "The Geology of the Tract Known as Paradise, Near Newport," by T. Nelson Dale, 1983 (typescript copy)
Box 7, Folder 34 George Goulding
1982
Box 7, Folder 35 Hope Street Market
1972
Box 7, Folder 36 Hummell-Langley family
1983
Box 7, Folder 37 "I Ran Rum," original newspaper clippings
1934
Box 7, Folder 38 "I Ran Rum" notes
1972
Box 7, Folder 39 "I Remember 3 Fowler Avenue & Vicinity,"
Box 7, Folder 40 International Berkeley Society membership list
1985
Box 7, Folder 41 Island Cemetery Company
1983
Box 7, Folder 42 Jackson map transcription project
1980-1982
Box 7, Folder 43 John Howland letter (typescript from Newport HS)
1836 Aug 18
Box 7, Folder 44 Letters to the Newport Daily News
1963-1981
Box 7, Folder 45 MacLellan family
1968-1981
Box 7, Folder 46 A Memo about the Early Wharves of Newport, RI," (with 1986 suppl.)
1983
Box 7, Folder 47 Middletown - Bliss Mine
1985
Box 7, Folder 48 Middletown 1808 tax list (indexed typescript)
1986
Box 7, Folder 49 "More on Verrazano" (typescript), author unknown, circa 1985
1985
Box 7, Folder 50 Mumford map of Newport, (notes, 1980)
1712-1713
Box 7, Folder 51 "New England Steamship Company - Possible Employees, 1931" (typescript)
1931
Box 7, Folder 52 Newport and Middletown property records index and notes
1976
Box 7, Folder 53 Newport church listing, (typescript from Newport HS)
1845
Box 7, Folder 54 Newport City Hall plat book table of contents
1980
Box 7, Folder 55 Newport fires - notes
1970
Box 7, Folder 56 Newport Historical Society notes and observations
1966-1975
Box 7, Folder 57 Newport Historical Society notes and observations
1976-1986
Box 7, Folder 57a Newport Hospital Block - bounded by Friendship, Hope, Broadway, Powel,
1967-1983
Box 7, Folder 58 Newport house lots, - Notes and correspondence, 1982-1984
1639-1640
Box 7, Folder 59 Newport in 1806-15 Per Oliver Read" (typescript and notes), 1978
1806-1815
Box 7, Folder 60 Newport Jewish Cemetery
1985
Box 7, Folder 61 Newport Land Evidence, Volume 1 - Index (typescript), 1984
1780-1783
Box 7, Folder 62 Newport land evidence - R.I. Colonial Records notes
1981-1982
Box 7, Folder 63 Newport land records - Notes
1975-1986
Box 7, Folder 64 Newport place names
1973-1986
Box 7, Folder 65 Newport police - Staff and emergency codes
1978-1985
Box 7, Folder 66 Newport police station
1982-1985
Box 8, Folder 1 Newport rights of way/wharves - Coastal Resources Mgt. Council
1983-1986
Box 8, Folder 2 Newport school lands / Newtown
1984
Box 8, Folder 3 Newport streets - "A Capsule History of Newport Streets" (typescript)
1983
Box 8, Folder 4 Newport streets - "Downtown Newport 1770-1800-1849: Thomas Hornsby vs. the Old Goat" (indexed typescript of two newspaper articles)
1978
Box 8, Folder 5 Newport streets index
1975
Box 8, Folder 6 Newport streets - "List of Streets & Wharves, 1712 to 1965" (typescript)
1973
Box 8, Folder 7 Newport streets - Notes
1971-1973
Box 8, Folder 8 Newport streets - Notes
1974-1975
Box 8, Folder 9 Newport streets - Notes
1976-1985
Box 8, Folder 10 Newport streets - "The Streets of Newport" by Benjamin B. Howland, 1892 (indexed typescript)
1972
Box 8, Folder 11 Newport tax list, (indexed typescript)
1815
Box 8, Folder 12 Newport Town Meeting notes
1979-1986
Box 8, Folder 13 Newport Tories
1977-1979
Box 8, Folder 14 Newport 1982 voter list, ward 2
1982
Box 8, Folder 15 Notes - Frances, The Falconer's Daughter by Elizabeth Nicholson White
1981
Box 8, Folder 16 Old City Cemetery index
1986
Box 8, Folder 17 Old Stone Mill
1968-1982
Box 8, Folder 18 Old Stone Mill
1979-1986
Box 8, Folder 19 Old Stone Mill - Clippings
1936-1983
Box 8, Folder 20 Old Stone Mill - Magnetic calculations
1948-1949
Box 8, Folder 21 Oliver Hazard Perry
1980
Box 8, Folder 22 Paul M. Mumford notes
1969-1970
Box 8, Folder 23 Pelham family
1972
Box 8, Folder 24 Perpetual calendar, 1400-2700 (with Easter and Ash Wednesday)
1975
Box 8, Folder 25 Peter Easton's first windmill
1983
Box 8, Folder 26 "Postmasters of Newport, 1712-1968" (typescript)
1979
Box 8, Folder 27 Pray family and jewelry store
1968-1977
Box 8, Folder 28 "Preliminary Early History of the John Mawdsley House" (typescript)
1986
Box 8, Folder 29 Price's Neck
1976
Box 8, Folder 30 "Public Notary Records, Volume 8" (typescript index)
1985
Box 8, Folder 31 "The Quakers and Easton's Point" (typescript and notes)
1980-1982
Box 8, Folder 32 Real Estate Owners per 1876 Newport Atlas" (typescript)
Contents Note: Undated
Box 8, Folder 33 Records of the Colony of Rhode Island, (photocopy of original)
1638-1644
Box 8, Folder 34 Research log
1970 Jan-1970 Jun
Box 8, Folder 35 Research log
1970 Jul-1970 Dec
Box 8, Folder 36 Research log
1971-1980
Box 8, Folder 37 Research tips
1977-1984
Box 8, Folder 38 "Reservoirs / The Fountain Lot on Holland Street" (typescript)
1983
Box 8, Folder 39 "Rhode Island Colonial Records - Extracts re Freemen" (typescript)
1979
Box 8, Folder 40 Rhode Island Colony Records notes
1982
Box 8, Folder 41 Rhode Island Court Records, 1647-1670 - first name index (typescript)
1985
Box 8, Folder 42 Rhode Island Freemen, 1655 and 1656" (typescript with index)
1956
Box 9, Folder 1 Rhode Island Land Evidence, Vol. I - Abstracts and sketches
1976-1980
Box 9, Folder 2 Rhode Island Land Evidence, Vol. II & III - Abstracts and sketches
1976-1979
Box 9, Folder 3 Rhode Island Republican (newspaper)
1969
Box 9, Folder 4 Ringham - Bowdish - Almy families
1981-1984
Box 9, Folder 5 Robert Jeoffries notes
1983
Box 9, Folder 6 Robert LeBlanc correspondence re Bauer/Bogelin family
1985-1986
Box 9, Folder 7 "John David Sullivan Family, 1889-1957"
1982
Box 9, Folder 8 Terrill-Thorndike-Bourne family
1982-1985
Box 9, Folder 9 246 Thames - Blaine employees
1970-1971
Box 9, Folder 10 246 Thames - Burglary report
1937
Box 9, Folder 11 246 Thames - Clock notes
1965-1973
Box 9, Folder 12 246 Thames - Directory research on 1856-1897 neighbors
1966-1971
Box 9, Folder 13 246 Thames - Directory research - relatives, occupants, employees
1968-1971
Box 9, Folder 14 246 Thames - Draft history
1970-1971
Box 9, Folder 15 246 Thames - Historic District Commission letter
1969
Box 9, Folder 16 246 Thames - Map and deed notes
1966-1971
Box 10, Folder 1 246 Thames - "Preliminary History, 240-246 Thames Street" (typescript)
1976
Box 10, Folder 2 246 Thames - "References to Mill & Thames, Arranged Chronologically,"
1970
Box 10, Folder 3 246 Thames - Survey of photographs
1967-1970
Box 10, Folder 4 246 Thames - Surveying notes
1969-1970
Box 10, Folder 5 246 Thames - "254 Thames Street, Newport" (typescript)
1978
Box 10, Folder 6 246 Thames - Miscellaneous notes
1964-1973
Box 10, Folder 7 Topsail Street, Newport
1975
Box 10, Folder 8 Trinity Church records, 1861-1882 - Notes toward index
1983
Box 10, Folder 9 Wanton - Lyman - Hazard House / Ebenezer Gray
1985-1986
Box 10, Folder 10 Weaver Family,
1969-1971