1863-1982
Guide to the Collection
Abstract
This collection consists of the personal and family papers of Muriel Gurdon (Saltonstall) Lewis, including correspondence, travel notes, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, scrapbooks, diaries, and other records. There are some scattered items of family members Peter C. and Sarah L. Brooks, George Lewis, Eleanor (Brooks) Saltonstall, and Leverett Saltonstall.
Biographical Sketches
Peter Chardon Brooks (1831-1920)
The son of Gorham Brooks (1795-1855) and Ellen (Shepherd) (1809-1884), born at Watertown (now Belmont), Mass., 8 May 1831. He prepared for college under Samuel Eliot and was admitted to Harvard in Aug. 1848, graduating in 1852. He devoted himself largely to agriculture, forestry, and art, and he was a trustee for valuable estates. He also traveled extensively. He lived for many years on Arlington Street in Boston, then on Bay State Road. The family had a large summer estate, "Point of Rocks," at West Medford. Peter Chardon Brooks married Sarah Lawrence (1845-1915), daughter of Amos Adams Lawrence (1814-1886) and Sarah Elizabeth (Appleton) (1822-1891). Sarah (Lawrence) Brooks was an amateur and prolific photographer. She had six siblings, among whom was William Lawrence (1850-1941), who was elected a Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Massachusetts in 1893. Sarah Lawrence and Peter Chardon Brooks had two children: Eleanor (b. 1867) and Lawrence (b. 1868).
Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall (1867-1961)
The daughter of Sarah Lawrence (1845-1915) and Peter Chardon Brooks. She married in 1891 Richard Middlecott Saltonstall (1859-1922), a descendant of Sir Richard Saltonstall (1586-1661). The couple had four children: Leverett (1892-1979), Eleanor "Nora" (1894-1919), Muriel Gurdon (1896-1990), and Richard (1897-1979). Leverett Saltonstall grew up to become a senator and governor of Massachusetts. Nora Saltonstall served overseas for about a year during World War I. Upon her return, she went to the western U.S. on a camping trip and contracted typhoid fever, dying in late July 1919.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis (1896-1990)
The third child of Eleanor (Brooks) and Richard Middlecott Saltonstall (1859-1922), she was an avid horsewoman and yachtswoman. She married in 1926 George Lewis (1887-1952), a graduate of Harvard and also an avid horseman. They made their home in Sherborn, Mass. The couple had two children: Eleanor Saltonstall (b. 1928) and George (b. 1931). Eleanor Saltonstall Lewis married Levin H. Campbell (b. 1927).
Collection Description
The collection consists of miscellaneous personal and family papers (1863-1978), newspaper clippings and printed ephemera (1907-1982), scrapbooks, and diaries and records (1866-1945) of Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis and other family members, including her mother Eleanor (Brooks) Saltonstall and her grandparents Peter Chardon Brooks and Sarah (Lawrence) Brooks. The collection is housed in five manuscript boxes, three cased volumes, and one oversize box.
Acquisition Information
Deposited by Eleanor Campbell in Feb. 1993; gift of Eleanor Campbell in Sep. 2000. Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall diary (1921) given by Eleanor Campbell, Nov. 2013.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Expand allI. Miscellaneous personal and family papers, 1863-1978
Contains items of correspondence, notes, invitations, materials connected with family events, memorabilia, and travel materials of Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, her mother Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, and a few early items related to her grandparents Peter Chardon Brooks and Sarah L. Brooks, George Lewis's father, and an 1863 land transfer in Sherborn.
Notes, poetry, greeting card, prayer, travel itinerary, undated
Deed, Horatio Mason to Mary Ann Adams, land in Sherborn, 1863
Papers, 1870-1912
Sarah Lawrence Brooks, dinner guest lists, 1870; Mrs. Gorham Brooks, memorial service, 1884; George Lewis I wedding invitation, 1884; West Medford annual work list, 1908; Sarah Lawrence Brooks to Mr. and Mrs. Cobb, 1912.
Papers, 1913-1914
Notes on Arboretum, 1913; Sewing Circle pamphlet, 1913; Sarah Lawrence Brooks will, 1914.
Papers, 1915-1919
Letters to Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall and Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, 1915; George Lewis II diploma from military instruction camp, Plattsburg, 1916; correspondence of Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall and Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis with sundry persons, 1919.
Papers, 1921-1922
Richard Saltonstall wedding invitation, 1921; Julie Z. Brunnen to Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, 1922; Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis journal entry, 1922.
Papers, 1923
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis travel notes, 1923; "Class Distinction" essay by Katharine Sherwood, 1923; Joseph McKim to Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, 1923.
Papers, 1924-1925
Lord North to Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, 1924; James R. Woods Detective Agency reports to Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall re: Miss Holman, 1924; "Adventures of a Nora Saltonstall Scholarship Girl in France," essay by Frances B. Allen, 1925; two letters in French to unknown.
Papers, 1923-1926
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis wedding lists, 1923; Lord North to Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, 1926.
Papers, 1927-1928
Dedication of memorial to Arthur T. Bradlee, 1927; letters to Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, 1928.
Papers, 1929
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis notes and correspondence re: building house in Sherborn, 1929.
Papers, 1930-1931
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis notes and correspondence re: building house in Sherborn, 1930; horse pamphlets, 1931; correspondence of Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall re: paintings, 1931.
Papers, 1933-1934
Christmas poem, 1933; Mary B. Forbes poem, "America," 1934.
Papers, 1941
Correspondence re: family silver at Chestnut Hill house, 1940; Eleanor Lewis recital program, 1941; William Lawrence Memorial Fund brochure, 1941; Windsor School assembly program, 1941; Alice W. Saltonstall photomechanical, 1941.
Papers, 1942-1943
Polly Saltonstall wedding invitation, 1942; Tufts commencement, 1943; Charles River School graduation play, 1943; First Church in Chestnut Hill items, 1943.
Papers, 1944-1945
Jean Bemis to Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, 1944; First Church items, 1944; Leverett Saltonstall to Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, 1944; "Three Great Waterfalls," essay by George Lewis III, 1945; Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis Red Cross certificate, 1945.
Papers, 1946-1948
Winsor School play, 1946; Leverett Saltonstall to Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, 1946; Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall will, 1946; Bill Hunter to Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, 1946; Mass. Horticultural Society awards to Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, 1947; Leverett Saltonstall gift to Harvard, 1948; Joseph D. Leland to George Lewis, 1948.
Papers, 1950-1952
Susan Saltonstall dance, 1950; First Church program, 1951; Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis medical correspondence, 1951; George Lewis memorial bookplate, 1952.
Papers, 1952
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, trip to France and Portugal: itineraries, travel notes, bills and receipts, ephemera, 1952.
Papers, 1953-1955
Point-to-point meeting, 1953; Henry E. Bothfeld death, 1953; information re: paintings, 1955.
Papers, 1961-1968
First Church, 1961; Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis class notes, 1961; Winsor School ephemera, 1961; Union Boat Club, 1963; Katherine Noonan letter, 1963; death of Lord Cranworth, 1964; Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis medical correspondence, 1965-1968.
Papers, 1970-1971
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis medical correspondence, 1970; Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis reminiscences, 1971; Elizabeth Saltonstall exhibit, 1971.
Papers, 1978
John Walsh to Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis re: Monet painting, 1978.
II. Eleanor (Brooks) Saltonstall travel papers, 1896-1930
Travel notes, itineraries, calling cards, bills, correspondence, and ephemera of Eleanor (Brooks) Saltonstall from trips to Europe (1896), Italy (1906), South America (1925), Ireland (1928 and 1929), and Italy and France (1930).
1896-1926
Itineraries and travel notes from trips to Europe (1896), Italy (1906), South America (1925), and Italy and France (1930).
1928-1929
Itineraries, calling cards, bills, correspondence, notes, greeting cards, and ephemera concerning trips to Ireland in 1928 and 1929.
III. Papers related to the death of Eleanor (Brooks) Saltonstall, 1961
Materials on the death of Eleanor (Brooks) Saltonstall in 1961, including newspaper announcements and a typescript of her memorial service.
IV. Newspaper clippings and miscellaneous printed matter, 1907-1982
The newspaper clippings (1907-1982) are arranged chronologically and include many clippings related to the political career of Leverett Saltonstall (1892-1979), brother of Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis. There are also clippings concerning other family members, friends, and society events. Other printed matter includes a folder of items related to Leverett Saltonstall, 1930s-1960s, and a folder of campaign literature for Levin H. Campbell, 1966.
Newspaper clippings, chronological order, 1907-1982
Levin H. Campbell printed campaign literature, 1966
Leverett Saltonstall printed matter, 1930s-1960s
Miscellaneous printed matter
V. Volumes, 1866-1945
The volumes (1866-1945) were kept primarily by Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis and include address books, scrapbooks, Christmas lists, wedding lists, and diaries. The scrapbooks date from 1914 and 1915, and both contain mementos of social activities, including invitations, notes, guest lists, and calling cards. Her diaries include a travel diary for a voyage in 1913 to Italy; a three-year line-a-day diary for 1913-1915, which also includes the voyage to Italy; a diary kept during a trip in France to the places her sister Nora had worked during World War I (1921); a cruise diary (1922) for a three-day cruise off the Maine coast; a volume of travel notes for voyages to Great Britain in 1923 and 1924; and line-a-day diaries for 1943-1945. The series also contains a bound passport (1866) and a bound manuscript genealogy of Peter Chardon Brooks; a commonplace book of Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall (1874-1879); a shared book of writings, "Rainy Day Magazine" (ca. 1908), of Eleanor "Nora" Saltonstall and Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis; a "logbook" travel diary of Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall on a voyage to South America (1925); and a history notebook (1920) of Richard Saltonstall. Three oversize scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings and other printed matter about Leverett Saltonstall, 1934-1939.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, address book, undated
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, address book, undated
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, address book, undated
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, address book, undated
Peter Chardon Brooks, passport, 1866
Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, commonplace book, 1874-1879
Peter Chardon Brooks, "Brooks Genealogies," [1885]
Bound manuscript genealogy of the Brooks family.
Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, "Wedding List," Sep. 1891
Name/address book for wedding invitations.
Eleanor "Nora" Saltonstall and Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, "Rainy Day Magazine," ca. 1908
Writings by the girls with clipped illustrations glued in.
George Lewis II, address book, 1913?
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, school notebook, 1913
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, travel diary, 28 Oct.-11 Nov. 1913
Travel from N.Y. in the S.S. Cincinnati for Naples, with photographs and postcards glued in. Arrival at Madeira on Nov. 5, Gibraltar on Nov. 7, and Naples on Nov. 10. Ends on Nov. 11 while still in Naples.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, diary, 1 Jan. 1913-31 May 1915
Some gaps. Entries 28 Oct. 1913-9 June 1914 describe a voyage to Italy (see also vol. 11) and include travel in Italy, France, the Hague, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, and return in S.S. Caronia, arrival in Boston on June 9.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, scrapbook, 1914
Mementos from social activities, including invitations, notes, guest lists, and calling cards.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, scrapbook, 1915
Mementos from social activities, including invitations, notes, guest lists, and calling cards.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, Christmas lists, 1919-1924
Lists of gifts given and received.
Richard Saltonstall, history notebook, [1920]
Looseleaf notebook with notes on history lessons.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, address book, 1920
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, diary, 6 Jan.-Apr. 1921
Diary of an automobile trip in France to the places Nora Saltonstall had worked during World War I, lists of expenses, itinerary, and other memoranda.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, diary, 6-9 July 1922
Record of a cruise from North Haven to Buck's Harbor, Maine, in yawl Fish Hawk. Includes photographs (not part of Photo. Coll. 33).
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, travel notes, 1923, 1924
Notes on voyage 12 May-17 Aug. 1923 in S.S. Majestic to England and Scotland, and return in S.S. Aquitania, with lists of people met and places visited, but no diary entries. Notes on voyage 21 June-28 July 1924 in S.S. Homeric to Wales and England. Diary entries for July 7, 8, 10, 12, 16-28. Date of return not noted.
Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, Log Book, 24 Jan.-29 Mar. 1925
Printed logbook completed in manuscript, "Cruise Round South America." Includes printed geography information on South America. She traveled from N.Y. to Havana, Columbia, Panama Canal, Peru, Chile, Straits of Magellan, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Trinidad, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and return to N.Y.
Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, travel diary, 23 Jan.-29 Mar. 1925
Daily entries covering the same voyage as above (vol. 20), in a smaller diary format.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, Christmas lists, 1925-1931
Lists of gifts given and received.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, wedding list, 1926
Address book for wedding invitations.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, wedding lists, 1926
Two-volume index of wedding guest list.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, diary, 1943
Line-a-day diary. Weather, daily activities, charitable work, news of children and relatives.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, diary, 1944
Line-a-day diary. Weather, daily activities, charitable work, news of children and relatives.
Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis, diary, 1945
Line-a-day diary. Weather, daily activities, charitable work, news of children and relatives.
Leverett Saltonstall, newspaper clippings and other printed matter, 1934-1938
Leverett Saltonstall, newspaper clippings and other printed matter, Oct. 1938-Jan. 1939
Leverett Saltonstall, newspaper clippings and other printed matter, Jan.-Feb. 1939
VI. Oversize materials
Town of Sherborn, Plan of Town Forest Land, 1950; blueprints; drawings of cars; certificates to Muriel Gurdon Saltonstall Lewis and Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall, for crossing the Arctic Circle (1968) and the equator (1925); printed proclamations of Leverett Saltonstall; fragment of 1866 map of Sherborn; map of Dover riding and walking trails, 1965; watercolor of St. Peter's in Rome.
Preferred Citation
Saltonstall-Brooks-Lewis family papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Photographs Removed from the Collection
Photographs from this collection have been removed to the Saltonstall-Brooks-Lewis family photographs, ca. 1840-1946. Photo. Coll. 33.
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.