1851-1904
Guide to the Collection
Restrictions on Access
Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below). Black and white microfilm is also available for use in the library, P-767.
Abstract
This collection consists of 5 document boxes of volumes and loose items created by Charles Edward French.
Biographical Sketch
Charles Edward French (1837-1904), son of John Allen French and Lucy Perkins (Spear) French, was a Boston broker, hardware merchant, and drug merchant.
Collection Description
This collection consists of the diaries of Charles Edward French, 1851-1904 (with gaps). Entries include French's descriptions of family activities, school attendance at the Adams School in East Boston, work at the hardware store of George H. Gray and Company early in his career, his ownership of a hardware store and brokerage firm, work selling drugs including opium, sexual attractions to others, views on local politics and the Civil War, autograph collecting, his father John French's interest in preserving public gardens, his own interest in preserving the Boston Common and other public gardens and cemeteries, and the weather.
Also included in the collection are cash accounts (1858-1861 and 1864-1866), reminiscences of his childhood, poetry, and estate papers (1905-1907).
Acquisition Information
Gift of Charles Stratton French, Sep. 1923.
Restrictions on Access
Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below). Black and white microfilm is also available for use in the library, P-767.
Other Formats
The collection is also available as color digital facsimiles and on microfilm, P-787, 6 reels.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Diary, 1 Feb.-21 Sep. 1851
Diary, 22 Sep. 1851-31 July 1852
Diary, 1 Aug. 1852-9 Sep. 1855
Diary, 10 Sep. 1855-27 Apr. 1857
Diary, 7 May 1857-24 Apr. 1859
Diary, 22 May 1859-30 Sep. 1864
Diary, 1 Oct. 1864-11 Jan. 1866
Diary, 12 Jan. 1866-31 Oct. 1867
Diary, 1 Nov. 1867-28 Mar. 1870
Diary, 29 Mar. 1870-31 Mar. 1872
Diary, 1 Apr. 1872-20 Nov. 1874
Diary, 21 Nov. 1874-1 July 1877
Diary, 10 July 1877-23 Mar. 1883
Diary, 24 Mar. 1883-8 June 1887
Diary, 9 June 1887-4 June 1892
Diary, 5 June 1892-12 Nov. 1897
Diary, 13 Nov. 1897-2 July 1901
Diary, 3 July 1901-26 Nov. 1904
"Prior diary of early reminiscences/ Early Memories/ Autobiography of Charles E. French from 1837 to 1851 at which latter date my diary was commenced"
"Verses and sentiments composed by C. E. French/ Begun 1887-"
"C. E. F. Poems and sentiments," 1897
"Original Verses/ written by Charles E. French - ('Cephus')" and cash accounts, 5 Jan. 1864-5 Jan. 1866
"Excerpts/ Nuggets from the poets - Vol. 2/ Begun Mch - 1894/ selected by C. E. French"
There is no apparent vol. 1 of excerpts in this collection.
Cash account book, 1 Jan. 1858-1 Jan. 1861
Loose papers relating to the estate of C. E. French, 1905-1907
Preferred Citation
Charles Edward French diaries, 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.
Organizations:
Subjects:
Items Removed from the Collection
French's autograph collection was removed from this collection to the Charles Edward French autograph collection, 1337-1897.