Box 1

Scope and Contents Letters of Mary Jane Quinby Field to sister Phebe Quinby Mekeel, 1830-1850; Uriah Field, 1839; Mary Mekeel Griffin, 1848. Letters express concern and interest in her sister’s family, health issues, travel and other family news. Some letters are in fragile or fragmented condition. Some highlights include: Field, Mary Jane to Phebe Mekeel. Tarry Town [NY], 1832 11/7. [were in New York which seemed healthy, hardly revealing recent suffering and desolation; hopes Phebe has gotten assistance with...

Scope and Contents All three letters are dated Nine Partners (Poughkeepsie, NY) Mekeel?, Anna] to [Arthur [Mekeel]. Nine Partners Boarding School, [spring 1849]. [refers to Arthur’s sickness; mentions people at the school and her studies and whether she will return to work there Mekeel?, Anna to Mary Mekeel. Nine Partners, 1848 8/13. [mentions people and practices at the school] Mekeel?, Anna to Arthur Mekeel?. Nine Partners, 1849 2/27. Sarah Smiley has decided to teach at the school; pay for different...

Scope and Contents Letters of Arthur Mekeel, 1846-1850 and n.d. Some letters are co-authored by other members of the Mekeel family. Letters offer a good view of daily life, all written from New York, a few from Brooklyn on health,including his own), clothing, exercise, activities, opinions, business, and a good deal about family. Mekeel, Arthur, Isaac and Mary to Jacob Mekeel. Somers, 1846 11/16. [Isaac (father) says he has not purchased any cattle or sheep, nor butchered any hogs, the price of which are low]...

Scope and Contents Letters inform of family members, health, attending Meeting, traveling and visiting Vernon, 1835 10/4. [discussion includes various family members moving west and on farming] Auburn [NY], ? 4/12. [a suggestion that he start a school and villagers would pay $120 per year] Flushing, 1843 8/5. [trouble in the Meeting when John Word posed his query] Ledyard, 1847 1/1. [his daughter attends school taught by a former student at Nine Partners School; Meeting turmoil has no reason, and John Wilbur...

Scope and Contents Letters are primarily to his son, Arthur, and refer to health issues, food and products, farming and bringing to market and sending to son (such as turkeys, pigs, cows etc.), family members and others of their acquaintance; occasionally written from Providence Friends School to Phebe Quinby Mekeel, his wife. Somers, [1845]. [while Phebe is visiting her sister Hannah Haviland, he attends Yearly Meeting; also in note from Mary to Phebe, mentions Isaiah’s death the previous year] To Cousin....

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To Brother. 1842 7/3. [school has been open 5 weeks, with 16 boarders and day students, with more girls than boys, discusses courses of study and other aspects of the school] To Parents. Hector, 1844 6/31. [reports on steamboat travel beginning at Troy, NY]

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Mekeel, I.D. to Isaac [Mekeel]. 1849 3/12. [re paying off mortgage] Mekeel, Jesse to Jacob Mekeel. Providence, 1848 12/3. [Lindley Hoag visiting their Meeting; mentions superintendents of the Providence Friends School and that teaching honorable behavior leads to good scholars and more information about the school]

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To Arthur Mekeel. Providence, 1847 1/6. [Isaac has entered the school and is well; subjects of study and food served] To Arthur and Mary Mekeel. Somers, 1849 1/10. [heard lecture on phonography preparatory to course on that subject] To Parents. New York, 1851 11/13. [commerce relating to poultry; many relatives visiting each other]

Scope and Contents Some letters written with Hester, his first wife, some with Anna, his second wife. All are directed to Isaac and Phebe Mekeel. Issues often address attending Monthly and Yearly Meeting and business. Hector, 1824 4/20. [regarding the house in which Isaac Purdy could be residing; many business issues regarding family members; understands that the Troy and Albany markets were very much glutted] [1830 3/21] [refers to growing lump in mother’s breast; death of Elias Hicks noted in newspaper and...

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Letters are all directed to family members and discuss illnesses and some cures and other family information, including attending Meeting and painting the house. To Arthur. N.d. [father misses him more than anyone; suggests he come home to visit from school and that he must be sick of it; concern for his health]