RIAMCO

Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online

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Eli Whitney Blake (1867-1902) papers (Ms. 2008.031)

Brown University Library

Box A, John Hay Library
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
Fax: 401-863-2093
email: hay@brown.edu

Inventory

Series 1. Personal correspondence
Box 1, Folder 1-11
This series consists primarily of personal letters from Eli Whitney Blake to Sophia Atwater and Stephen Atwater and their letters to Blake. Many of the letters written by Blake are illustrated with humorous drawings and political cartoons. Some contain quotations written in Greek or Latin. One of the letters from Sophia to Blake is written in German. Another has the date 1903 written in pencil above the salutation. Since Blake passed away in 1902 this is probably not the year the letter was written. Also included in this series are Blake’s letters to Sophia’s father, Richard M. Atwater, Sr., and to her sisters Elizabeth and Marjorie Atwater.

Some of the folders include letters that are not dated or are incomplete. A few letters have either the initials “SMA” or a year written in pencil at the top of the first page. The envelopes in this series are arranged by date and are addressed to Sophia Atwater and Richard M. Atwater, Sr.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 Blake, Eli W. to Atwater, Elizabeth and Atwater, Marjorie
1898 Jan 12-1900 May 15
Box 1, Folder 2 Blake, Eli W. to Atwater, Richard J., Sr.
1891 May 27-1901 Oct 21
Box 1, Folder 3 Blake, Eli W. to Atwater, Sophia
1890 Nov 17-1897 Sep 17
Box 1, Folder 4 Blake, Eli W. to Atwater, Sophia
1898 Jan 28-1901 Nov 6
Box 1, Folder 5 Blake, Eli W. to Atwater, Stephen
1892 Jan 11-1899 Sep 25
Box 1, Folder 6 Blake, Eli W. to unknown addressee
1898 or 1899
Box 1, Folder 7 Blake, Eli W. to unknown addressee
undated
Box 1, Folder 8 Atwater, Sophia to Blake, Eli W. (1 of 2)
undated
Box 1, Folder 9 Atwater, Sophia to Blake, Eli W. (2 of 2)
undated
Box 1, Folder 10 Atwater, Stephen to Blake, Eli W.
undated
Box 1, Folder 11 Envelopes
1893 Dec 5-1899 Aug 23

Series 2. Drawings and poems
Box 1, Folder 12
This series contains several drawings and poems by Eli W. Blake. Some of the poems are illustrated.

Series 3. Photograph
Box 1, Folder 13
This series contains one mounted portrait photograph of Eli W. Blake taken in New York City. It is signed on the back by Blake.

Series 4. Letter regarding the collection
Box 1, Folder 14
This series consists of one letter from Sylvia M. Boethe, a family member, to the editors of the American Heritage Publishing Company, asking if they would be interested in publishing an article about Blake’s letters.