William Hathaway Forbes student themes and passport
Overview
William Hathaway Forbes (1840-1897), businessman, was a member of the Forbes family, a wealthy extended family prominent in New England. The collection primarily consists of twelve student themes written by Forbes, dated 1858 to 1859, on subjects including history, politics, language, philosophy, literature, and religion. It also contains Forbes's passport from the Department of State.
Dates
- Creation: 1858-1859, 1890
Creator
- Forbes, William Hathaway, 1840-1897 (Person)
Researcher Access
The collection is open for research.
Extent
.19 cubic feet (1 flat box)The collection primarily consists of twelve student themes written by Harvard undergraduate William Hathaway Forbes, dated 1858 to 1859, on subjects including history, politics, language, philosophy, literature, and religion. It also contains a passport from the Department of State granting Forbes permission to travel freely, dated 1890. The passport is printed on a very large folded sheet of stiff paper, with a large watermark made up of the words United States and an eagle. It lists various identifying features of the carrier and is signed by the Secretary of State James Gillespie Blaine.
Biographical note on William Hathaway Forbes
William Hathaway Forbes (1840-1897), businessman, was a member of the Forbes family, a wealthy extended family prominent in New England. He attended Harvard College beginning in 1857 but was expelled in 1860 due to his involvement with Harvard’s secret "Med. Fac." Society. He served in the First Massachusetts Cavalry during the Civil War. In 1870, Forbes went on to complete his degree, receiving an AB from Harvard in 1872. In March 1879, Forbes was named president of the American Bell Telephone Company. He married Edith Emerson (1841-1929), the daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson, in 1865; the couple had eight children. Forbes died in 1897.
Arrangement
The collection was arranged in chronological order by the archivist.
Acquisition
Gift of Beatrice F. Manz, received August 29, 2019; Accession 2020.066.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Olivia Mandica-Hart in February 2022. Processing included physical re-housing and the creation of this finding aid.
Creator
- Forbes, William Hathaway, 1840-1897 (Person)
- Title
- Forbes, William Hathaway, 1840-1897. William Hathaway Forbes student themes and passport, 1858-1859, 1890 : an inventory
- Author
- Harvard University Archives
- Date
- February 23, 2022
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- eng
- EAD ID
- hua12022
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
Pusey Library
Harvard Yard
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
(617) 495-2461
archives_reference@harvard.edu