COLLECTION GUIDES

ca. 1941-1978

Guide to the Collection

Restrictions on Access

The Walter Muir Whitehill 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.


Collection Summary

Creator: Whitehill, Walter Muir, 1905-1978
Title: Walter Muir Whitehill papers
Dates: ca. 1941-1978
Physical Description: 74 record cartons
Call Number: OFFSITE STORAGE
Catalog Record:

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Repository:
Massachusetts Historical Society
1154 Boylston StreetBoston, MA 02215library@masshist.org

Abstract

This collection includes the papers of Walter Muir Whitehill, historian, author, and librarian of the Boston Athenaeum.

Collection Description

This collection consists of the papers of Walter Muir Whitehill, historian, author, and librarian of the Boston Athenaeum. Institutional files relate primarily to historical organizations (including the Mass. Historical Society and files for each agency described in Whitehill's "Independent Historical Societies"), libraries, and the publication of his numerous works. Unprocessed additions include Whitehill's journal (1959-1967, 1970, 1976-1977); transcribed diary of Edith L. Coolidge (1906-1955); and notes and correspondence with Admiral Ernest J. King.

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Arrangement

The papers of Walter Muir Whitehill (1905-1978) consist of papers organized according to his own arrangement (in two alphabetical sequences: institutional and individual files), as well as unprocessed additions. The collection is largely unprocessed and remains in its original folders.

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Processing Information

Portions of this collection are UNPROCESSED.

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Acquisition Information

Gift of Jane Coolidge Whitehill, 1979. With additions from Jane Whitehill Rotch, 1997, 2012, 2013. Additions from the Boston Athenaeum, March 2016.

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Restrictions on Access

The Walter Muir Whitehill 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.

Summary Description of the Collection

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Materials Removed from the Collection

Photographs from this collection have been removed to the Walter Muir Whitehill family photographs (Photo. Coll. 250).

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Preferred Citation

Walter Muir Whitehill papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

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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:

Coolidge, Edith L.
King, Ernest Joseph, 1878-1956.

Organizations:

Boston Athenaeum.
Massachusetts Historical Society.

Subjects:

Authors, American.
Historians.
Historical museums.
History publishing.
History--Societies, etc.
Librarians--Massachusetts--Boston.

Revised 22 Jan. 2025

Encoded by Aimee Primeaux, Nov. 2004

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