Guide to the Francis Family correspondence, 1875-1887
John Hay Library, Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu
Published in 2013
Collection Overview
| Title: | Francis Family correspondence |
| Date range: | 1875-1887 |
| Creator: | Francis, George Blinn and Francis, Henry Newton (b.1853) |
| Extent: | 0.25 Linear feet (1 folder) |
| Abstract: | Correspondence from George Blinn Francis and Henry Newton Francis to their family members in West Hartford, CT. Both George and Henry worked as civil engineers on reservoir projects in Rhode Island during the entire time period of this correspondence, 1875-1882. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | John Hay Library, Special Collections |
| Collection number: | MS.2013.009 |
Scope & content
This collection contains correspondence from George Blinn Francis and Henry Newton Francis to their family members in West Hartford, CT. Both George and Henry worked as civil engineers on reservoir projects in Rhode Island during the entire time period of this correspondence, 1875-1882. Henry worked on the Fruit Hill Reservoir in North Providence, RI and George worked on the Sockanoset Reservoir and a reservoir in Pettanoset. They both worked for Samuel Merrill Gray who was the Engineer for the City of Providence during at least part of that time.The content of the correspondence is primarily family news and pleas for them to write. Information about the work on the reservoirs is limited but they do discuss how many men are working, their desires for pay raises, and Henry provides a sketch of the hut built for the engineers at Fruit Hill Reservoir.
George's letter dated February 6, 1881 describes skating on Narragansett Bay during a cold snap. Henry provides a lot of details about work on his home - putting down carpets, painting, wall-papering, cleaning, installing a new stove, and purchasing new furniture.
Access Points
Subject Topics- Civil engineering--United States--1851-1900
- Engineers--United States--1851-1900
- Middle class--19th century--Family relationships
- Reservoirs
Arrangement
The letters are arranged alphabetically by writer and then chronologically.
Biographical Note
George Blinn Francis (born circa 1851) and Henry Newton Francis (born 1853) were born in West Hartford, CT to Blinn Francis and Lucy Hart Francis. Their siblings were Jennie, Julia Francis Butler (b. 1849), Laura Hart Francis (b.1850), and Hattie. George married Florence Green in 1881 or 1882. Henry married Emily J. Pettis in 1878 and Julia married Henry C. Butler in 1880.Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested. |
| Use of the materials: | Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them. |
| Preferred citation: | Francis Family correspondence, Ms.2013.009, Brown University Library. |
| Contact information: | John Hay Library, Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | This collection was purchased by the Brown University Library in 2006. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Karen Eberhart. |
| Encoding: | This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-08-09 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
Inventory
George Blinn Francis
| Container | Description | Date |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to sisters Julia Francis and Laura Francis, Pettaconsett, Cranston, RI Contents Note: Working on Sockanosset Reservoir. |
1875 January 17 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to Family, Pettaconsett, Cranston, RI Contents Note: He is in charge of work in Pettaconsett during absence of Mr. Schneider. |
1875 March 11 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to sister Laura Francis, Pettaconsett, Cranston, RI Contents Note: Complains about not getting enough letters from family, got a pay raise, and wishes he could work with brother Henry. |
1875 May 10 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to sister Laura Francis, Pettaconsett, Cranston, RI Contents Note: Traveling home for Thanksgiving. |
1875 November 8 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to sisters Julia Francis and Laura Francis, Pettaconsett, Cranston, RI Contents Note: Mr. Schneider encourages him to go to Philadelphia to attend Centennial, saw brother Henry who had been on a cod fishing excursion and was seasick, Julia must read book “Missionary Patriots” as he knows several of the people described in it. |
1876 September 15 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to Family, Pettaconsett, Cranston, RI Contents Note: Trip by Julia and Laura to Philadelphia, will probably lose his job soon as there is a new board of water commissioners and they want to reduce expenses, he can always do farming as a job. |
1876 November 7 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to sister Laura Francis, Providence, RI Contents Note: Please write. |
1877 July 2 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to Family, Providence, RI Contents Note: Trip to Martha’s Vineyard. |
1877 August 15 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to Family, Providence, RI Contents Note: He and Henry living together, visit of Henry Butler and tour of reservoirs, invites Laura to visit Providence. |
1877 October 23 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to Family, Providence, RI Contents Note: Julia’s marriage to Henry Butler on March 31, working for Mr. Samuel M. Gray in City Engineers office, repairs to Pettaconset. |
1880 April 4 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to Family, Providence, RI Contents Note: Very cold weather which froze Narragansett Bay, he skated on the bay to Gaspee Point and back to Pawtuxet. |
1881 February 6 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to Family, Poughkeepsie, NY Contents Note: Jennie left her husband Niles and her family, George got married to Florence Green and they have just arrived in Poughkeepsie, NY. |
1882 April 16 |
| Folder 1 | George Blinn Francis to Family, Poughkeepsie, NY Contents Note: Plans for Henry’s new house were enclosed, George works on designing masonry for bridges along a railway line in New York. |
1882 May 14 |
Henry Newton Francis
| Container | Description | Date |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to sister Julia Francis, Providence, RI Contents Note: General news and comments on newspaper clippings enclosed. |
1877 July 6 |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to Family, Providence, RI Contents Note: Reports on honeymoon trip to New York City. |
1878 September 15 |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to Family, Providence, RI Contents Note: Reports on moving into and setting up their new abode in Providence with a long description of the coal-fired stove they purchased. |
1878 October 27 |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to sister Laura Francis, Providence, RI Contents Note: More news on settling into new abode including a sketch of the floorplan. |
1878 December 9 |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to sister Laura Francis, Providence, RI Contents Note: Trips to Buttonwoods Beach, RI and Putnam, CT. |
1879 August 2 |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to Family, Providence, RI Contents Note: Plans for a railroad crossing in Hartford, CT; 3 men drowned in Providence harbor; comments ob presidential candidates. |
1880 February 20 |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to Family, Providence, RI Contents Note: Home renovations, presidential campaign, and politics. |
1880 November 14 |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to Family, Providence, RI Contents Note: Thanking family for his visit and the chickens. |
1880 December 20 |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to sister Laura Francis, Providence, RI Contents Note: Wants to get some grape vines. |
1881 October 16 |
| Folder 1 | Henry Newton Francis to Family, Engineer Headquarters, Fruit Hill Reservoir, North Providence, RI Contents Note: Work on Fruit Hill Reservoir and sketch of work hut for the engineers. |
1887 October 14 |
Jennie Francis
| Container | Description | Date |
| Folder 1 | Jennie to sister Laura Francis, Lyme, CT, 1879 September Contents Note: News of the children. |
1879 September |