COLLECTION GUIDES

1882-1968

Offsite Storage Inventory

Restrictions on Access

The Herter family papers are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

Note: This collection is PARTIALLY PROCESSED.


Collection Summary

Abstract

This collection consists of family correspondence, scrapbooks (including one for Mary C. P. Herter's artwork as a child), and photograph albums of American artists Albert and Adele McGinnis Herter; their son Christian A. Herter, congressman, Massachusetts governor, and U.S. secretary of state; and his wife Mary C. (Pratt) Herter. Other family members and close friends included in the collection are Everit A. Herter, Caroline Keck Herter Bridge, Bessie McGinnis Van Vorst, and Lithgow Osborne. The collection also includes diaries of Mary C. P. Herter, including some kept as a child, and a typed transcript of the WWI diary of Everit A. Herter, sergeant in Company A, 40th Engineers, camouflage.

Acquisition Information

This collection was a gift of E. Miles Herter, 1981.

Restrictions on Access

The Herter family papers are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

Note: This collection is PARTIALLY PROCESSED.

Other Formats

The Albert and Adele M. Herter papers (formerly Boxes 1-16) are available on microfilm, 4 reels, from the Archives of American Art (Smithsonian Institution), AAA MF 2543-2546.

Summary Description of the Collection

Carton 1SH 15FF

Adele McGinnis Herter, correspondence, undated, 1882-1903

Carton 2SH 15FG $

Adele McGinnis Herter, correspondence, 1904-1911

Carton 3SH 15FH /

Adele McGinnis Herter, correspondence, 1912-1917

Carton 4SH 15FI +

Adele McGinnis Herter, correspondence, 1918

Carton 4SH 15FI +

Letters on the death of Everit A. Herter, 1918

Carton 4SH 15FI +

Adele McGinnis Herter, correspondence, 1919-1924

Carton 5SH 15FJ %

Adele McGinnis Herter, correspondence, 1925-1926

Carton 5SH 15FJ %

Adele McGinnis Herter, miscellaneous, undated, 1907-1927

Carton 5SH 15FJ %

Everit A. Herter, World War I diary, typed transcript, 18 Jan.-9 June 1918

Carton 5SH 15FJ %

Lydia Herter, school writings

Carton 5SH 15FJ %

Lydia Herter, printed matter

Carton 5SH 15FJ %

Lydia Herter, miscellaneous papers, 1895-1901

Includes bills, address book, blank postcards; Christian A. Herter childhood health record; etc.

Carton 6SH 15FK 0

Miscellaneous papers, 1911-1914

Carton 6SH 15FK 0

Issues of Harvard Lampoon

Carton 6SH 15FK 0

Family photographs

Carton 6SH 15FK 0

Printed matter

Carton 6SH 15FK 0

Christian A. Herter, correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated, 1889-1917

Carton 7SH 15FL 1

Christian A. Herter, correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1918-1921

Carton 7SH 15FL 1

Letters on the death of Everit A. Herter, 1918

Carton 8SH 15FM 2

Christian A. Herter, correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1922-1958

Carton 9SH 15FN 3

Christian A. Herter, correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1959-1964

Carton 9SH 15FN 3

Katharine B. Titus, letterbook, 1894-1896

Carton 9SH 15FN 3

Mary C. Pratt, sewing samples, miscellaneous school papers, Red Cross certificates, birth certificate, passport

Carton 10SH 15FP 5

Miscellaneous papers

Includes documents on the Paris Peace Conference, diplomatic service, American Relief Administration (1922). Also includes printed matter, genealogy notes, stamps, currency, undated writings, etc.

Carton 11SH 15FQ 6

Mary C. Pratt, diary of a journey abroad to England and Scotland, 26 July-30 Aug. 1911

Carton 11SH 15FQ 6

Mary C. Pratt, line-a-day diary, 1913-1917

Carton 11SH 15FQ 6

Mary C. Pratt, diary of a trip to California, Canada, Cleveland, New York, 10 June-? Aug. 1905: diary, Yellowstone Park, 1907

Carton 11SH 15FQ 6

Mary C. Pratt, diary of a trip out west, 3-6 Aug. 1908

Carton 11SH 15FQ 6

Mary C. Pratt, address book, ca. 1915-1920

Carton 11SH 15FQ 6

Mary C. Pratt, dance booklet, Yale junior prom, 1915

Carton 11SH 15FQ 6

Mary C. (Pratt) Herter, bride's book [gift list], 1917

Carton 12SH 15FR 7

Christian A. Herter, scrapbook, "Voting record," 1943-1944

Carton 12SH 15FR 7

Christian A. Herter, scrapbook, "Roll call voting record," Nov.-Dec. 1944, 1945

Carton 12SH 15FR 7

Christian A. Herter, roll call voting records, 1943-1952

Carton 12SH 15FR 7

Christian A. Herter, scrapbook, Congress, 1947 (see Oversize)

Carton 12SH 15FR 7

Christian A. Herter, scrapbook, "Republican victory dinner in honor of his excellency Christian A. Herter...," 13 Jan. 1953

Carton 12SH 15FR 7

Christian A. Herter, scrapbook, "John Foster Dulles Memorial Stamp Ceremony," 1960

Carton 13SH 15FS 8

Christian A. Herter, military notebook, 21 May-9 July 1917

Carton 13SH 15FS 8

Christian A. Herter, official engagements diaries, undersecretary of state, 1957-1959

Carton 13SH 15FS 8

Christian A. Herter, memorandum book: "Books Read," 1954-1960

Carton 13SH 15FS 8

Christian A. Herter, Christmas card address book, ca. 1950s

Carton 13SH 15FS 8

Christian A. Herter, "Library List and Books Loaned," 1947-1962

Carton 13SH 15FS 8

Christian A. Herter, degrees and honors

Carton 13SH 15FS 8

Map of Malta

Reel-to-reel caseSH 17UL I

Recording of the dedication of the Christian A. Herter professorship chair in International Relations at Brandeis University, 27 April 1968

Reel-to-reel caseSH 17US P

Recording of the dedication of the Christian A. Herter professorship chair in International Relations at Brandeis University, 27 April 1968

OS Box 1

Christian A. Herter, oversize diplomas and honors; scrapbook, Congress, 1947

Stored ONSITE at Ms. N-1393 (oversize).

Photographs Removed from the Collection

The following photograph albums were removed to the Christian A. Herter photographs, MHS Photo Archives:

1-5. Volumes I-V, photograph albums documenting his term as governor of Massachusetts, 1953-1956.

6. Untitled. Pictures numbered, not labeled. Christian Herter in Europe, probably ca. 1960.

7. "Happy Days with the 102nd Wing." Index to photographs at beginning of volume.

8. "Christian Herter in Berlin." Newspaper clippings and photographs documenting his 1959 visit to Berlin.

9. "Reception to the public - Washington's birthday - Hall of Flags." 22 Feb. 1955. Pictures not labeled.

10. "The Under Secretary of State and Mrs. Christian A. Herter." Photographs of Korea and Japan, labeled on the backs.

Preferred Citation

Herter family papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Herter family--Genealogy.
Herter, Adele McGinnis, 1869-1946.
Herter, Albert, 1871-1950.
Herter, Christian Archibald, 1895-1966.
Herter, Everit Albert, 1894-1918.
Herter, Mary Caroline Pratt, 1895-1980.
Bridge, Caroline Keck Herter.
Osborne, Lithgow, 1892-1980.
Van Vorst, John, Mrs., 1873-1928.

Organizations:

United States. Army. Engineer Battalion, 40th (1917-1918).
Massachusetts. Governor (1953-1957 : Herter).
United States. Dept. of State.

Subjects:

Artists--United States.
Cabinet officers--United States.
Children.
Diplomats--United States.
Legislators--United States.
Women artists.
World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives.
Family history--1850-1899.
Family history--1900-1949.
Scrapbooks--ca. 1900.
Scrapbooks--1943-1953.
Massachusetts--Politics and government--1951-
United States--Foreign relations--20th century.
United States--Politics and government--20th century.