Guide to the Vassar Family Papers, 1804-1891
Table of Contents
- Collection Summary
- Biographical Note
- Scope and Content Note
- Subject Headings
- Related Material
- Administrative Information
- Access and Use
- Encoding Information
- Container List
Collection Summary
| Repository: | Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries |
|---|---|
| Creator: | Vassar family |
| Title: | Vassar Family Papers |
| Dates: | 1804-1891 |
| Quantity: | 1 cubic ft (3 boxes) |
| Abstract: | Deeds, mortgages, bonds, insurance papers, agreements, wills, complaints, letters, accounts, cancelled checks, leases, and other items concerning estate and business matters of George Booth, James Booth, Charles Vassar, James Vassar, John Guy Vassar, and Matthew Vassar, Jr. |
| Forms of Materials: | Property records, financial records, legal documents and correspondence |
Biographical Note
The founder of Vassar College was Matthew Vassar. He was born to James and Ann Vassar on 29 April 1792 in East Dereham, Norfolk. He had eight siblings, including sisters Sophia, Maria, Jemima and Kezia; and brothers John Guy, Charles and James. John Guy Vassar had two sons: John Guy Vassar, Jr. and Matthew Vassar, Jr.
Matthew's sister, Maria, married George Booth. Their daughter was Lydia Booth, who was instrumental in Matthew's decision to found a college for women.
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Chronology
| 29 Dec 1789 | John Guy Vassar born in East Dereham, Norfolk, England, to James and Ann Vassar |
| 29 Apr 1792 | Matthew Vassar born |
| 1796 | James and Ann Vassar moved their family to the United States |
| 1797 | James and Ann purchased a farm in Dutchess County |
| 10 Jan 1797 | Charles Vassar born |
| 1801 | James and Ann sold the farm and moved to Poughkeepsie to start a brewery |
| 22 Nov 1801 | James Vassar, Jr. born |
| 10 May 1811 | The brewery burned to the ground, uninsured |
| 11 May 1811 | John Guy Vassar died examining the debris |
| 1811 | In his grief, James Vassar abandoned Poughkeepsie, and Matthew started a new brewery called M. Vassar and Co. |
| 1832 | John Guy Vassar, Jr. and Matthew Vassar, Jr. (John Guy Vassar's sons), became partners in the brewery |
| 1853 | Death of James Vassar, Jr. |
| 1861 | Vassar College founded |
| 16 Sep 1861 | Death of Charles Vassar |
| 26 Sep 1865 | Vassar College opened |
| 23 June 1868 | Death of Matthew Vassar |
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Scope and Content Note
Deeds, mortgages, bonds, insurance papers, agreements, wills, complaints, letters, accounts, cancelled checks, leases, and other items concerning estate and business matters of George Booth, James Booth, Charles Vassar, James Vassar, John Guy Vassar, and Matthew Vassar, Jr. George Booth
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Access and Use
Access
This collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library without any additional restrictions.
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Related Material
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Subject Headings
Names:
- Booth, George, ca. 1768-1833.
- Booth, James.
- Vassar, Charles.
- Vassar, James.
- Vassar, John Guy, 1811-1888.
- Vassar, Matthew, 1792-1868.
Subjects:
- Baptists--New York (State)--Poughkeepsie.
- Decedents' estates--New York (State)--Dutchess County.
- Family--New York (State)--Poughkeepsie.
- Real property--New York (State)--Dutchess County.
- Women's colleges--New York (State)--Poughkeepsie.
Places:
- Dutchess County (N.Y.)--Commerce.
- Poughkeepsie (N.Y.)--Religious life and customs.
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Encoding Information
Encoded by Elizabeth Clarke, February 2007.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Vassar Family Papers, Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries.
Processing Information
Original processing date unknown. Last updated January 2007 by Laura Finkel.
Acquisition Information
Gift of various donors.
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Container List
| Folder 1.1 | Booth, George, 1802-1822 |
| Folder 3.1 | Booth, George, 1804-1814 (8 items) |
| Folder 3.2 | Booth, James, 1815, 1820, 1835 (3 items) |
| Folder 2.11 | Vassar, Charles G. |
| Folder 2.1 | Vassar, Helen H. - autograph |
| Folder 1.2 | Vassar, James - "Indexed" bonds, deeds, leases and mortgages, 1797-1812 |
| Folder 1.3 | Vassar, James - "Indexed" bonds, deeds, leases and mortgages, 1813-1831 |
| Folder 3.3 | Vassar, James - "Indexed" bonds, deeds, leases and mortgages, 1804-1817 (23 items) |
| Folder 1.4 | Vassar, James - Miscellaneous statements and notes, ca. 1807-1852 |
| Folder 1.5 | Vassar, Jessie, 1911 |
| Folder 1.6 | Vassar, John Guy - Estate, ca. 1889-1891 |
| Folder 1.7 | Vassar, John Guy - Estate |
| Folder 1.8 | Vassar, John Guy - Estate |
| Folder 2.2 | Vassar, Matthew - Raymond biography and William Kelly letter, 1868 |
| Folder 2.3 | Vassar, Matthew Jr. - Notes from diary taken by James M. Taylor |
| Folder 2.4 | Vassar, Matthew Jr. - Correspondence regarding "Mr. Lyon's Will," 1876-1879 |
| Folder 2.5 | Vassar, Matthew Jr. - Miscellaneous, ca. 1861-1889 |
| Folder 2.6 | Vassar, Matthew Jr. - Unidentified letter [from the Booth collection?], 4 Nov 1846 |
| Folder 2.7 | Nestell property, 1835-1836 |
| Folder 3.4 | Nestell property, 1825 |
| Folder 2.8 | Poughkeepsie hotels, 1935, n.d. |
| Folder 2.9 | Real Estate, Chemung County, N.Y., 1857 |
| Folder 2.10 | Bonds, mortgages, and miscellaneous legal documents, 1812-1839 |
| Folder 3.5 | Bonds, mortgages, and miscellaneous legal documents, 1808-1839 (11 items) |