Overview
Arthur Lincoln was born on February 16, 1842 in Hingham, Massachusetts and died on December 11, 1902 in Boston. He received his Harvard AB in 1863, his LLB in 1865, and his AM in 1866. This collection is comprised of two diaries written by Arthur Lincoln, beginning January 1, 1861 during Lincoln’s sophomore year at Harvard and ending in 1880. Entries describe events associated with school, his family, social activities, travel, and major events of the Civil War. A typescript family tree, compiled sometime after 1978, is also included.
Dates
- Creation: 1861-1880, after 1978
Access
Open for research.
Copyright
Copying of fragile materials may be limited.
Extent
0.5 cubic feet (1 flat box)This collection is comprised of two diaries written by Arthur Lincoln and a typescript family tree of Lincoln's descendants. Entries in the first volume of Lincoln's diary begin January 1, 1861 during Lincoln’s sophomore year at Harvard and end November 4, 1862 during his senior year, mostly describing academic and family events, social activities, and the events of the Civil War. Entries in the second volume begin January 1, 1864 while Lincoln is enrolled at Harvard Law School. While the second volume describes Lincoln’s completion of his education at Harvard and mentions the Civil War, it primarily focuses on social activities, travel, and family events. Entries become less frequent in 1868, with limited entries from 1871 until the final entry on July 3, 1880.
Biographical Note
Arthur Lincoln was born on February 16, 1842 to Solomon and Mehitable Lincoln in Hingham, Massachusetts. He received his Harvard AB in 1863, his LLB in 1865, and his AM in 1866. Lincoln was elected secretary for the Harvard Class of 1863 and acted as a proctor in the College while attending Harvard Law School in 1864-1865. On December 17, 1883, he married Serafina Loring; they had one daughter.
After passing the bar exam, Lincoln entered the office of Lothrop & Bishop in Boston in 1866, where he practiced law until the firm dissolved in 1879. He then opened his own legal office in Boston. Lincoln was active in the community in Boston and in his hometown of Hingham, serving as director of the Bunker Hill Monument Association, trustee of the Massachusetts State Library, and president of the Hingham Public Library, among many other associations. Lincoln served as a director of the Alumni Association of Harvard College from 1872 until 1882 when he became its secretary. He was also a member of the executive committee on the Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the College and was elected as an Overseer of Harvard College in 1901. Lincoln attended every Harvard commencement and meeting of his class from graduation in 1863 until his death on December 11, 1902 in Boston.
Arrangement
The collection is comprised of three items:
- Arthur Lincoln diary, January 1, 1861-November 4, 1862
- Arthur Lincoln diary, January 1, 1864-July 3, 1880
- Lincoln family tree, after 1978
Acquisition information
The Arthur Lincoln diaries (accession #14895) were purchased by Harvard University on September 9, 2003 from William Friend of Friendship Antiques.
Inventory update
This document last updated 2020 September 14.
Processing Information
The collection was processed in March 2014. Processing involved reviewing Arthur Lincoln's diaries and creating this finding aid.
This finding aid was created by Natalie Johnson in March 2014.
- Title
- Lincoln, Arthur, 1842-1902. Arthur Lincoln diaries, 1861-1880, after 1978 : an inventory
- Author
- Harvard University Archives
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua16014
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