Collection Description

The Samuel May papers consist of correspondence, sermons, diaries, and notebooks spanning most of May's adult years, covering his education at Harvard and ministry at Leicester, Mass. Included are diaries kept while he was at Harvard, 1825-1826; a journal at Brooklyn, Conn., 1830; diaries dated 1831-1835 and 1849-1852; and a nearly complete series of annotated Boston almanacs, 1837-1856 and 1859-1891. The collection also includes school papers, 1826-1829; notes on lectures at Harvard, 1828; book lists, 1830; a theological commonplace-book, 1832; and general commonplace-books, 1876-1882, 1891-1896, and 1898.

By far the greatest portion of May's correspondence consists of letters to Samuel May from Caroline F. Putnam, 1860-1901. As mistress of Holley School in Lottsburgh, Va., Miss Putnam describes her experiences as administrator of a charitable school for children of color. She solicited aid from the Mays at Leicester and from the Concord group, represented by Mrs. Alcott, who regularly sent donations to sustain her work. Her letters describe the problems besetting anti-slavery agents in the Southern states and depict the Southern people and their life. Included are references to reformers Sallie Holley and Abigail Kelly Foster, as well as references to Frederick Douglass and Sen. George Frisbie Hoar about their efforts in 1885 to retain a post office at Lottsburgh. A letter dated 19 Sep. 1894 contains reminiscences of Louisa May Alcott and the Alcott family.

Papers related to May's ministry at Leicester include a large number of manuscript sermons, 1830-1874. His records as a director of the public library describe its proceedings, 1868-1869.