Overview
Arthur Lincoln was a loyal Harvard College and Harvard Law School alumnus who attended every Harvard commencement and meeting of his class from graduation in 1863 until his death in 1902. 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. These five scrapbooks begin in 1859 during his freshman year at Harvard. The first scrapbook contains some clippings dated as early as 1855 and includes photographs of classmates who died in the Civil War. The other four volumes primarily contain newspaper clippings documenting notable events affecting Harvard University and members of the Class of 1863 during college and after graduation.
Dates
- Creation: 1855-1902.
Researcher Access
Open for research.
Extent
3 cubic feet (7 flat boxes)This collection is comprised of five scrapbooks compiled by Lincoln as secretary for the Harvard College Class of 1863. The scrapbooks begin during Lincoln’s freshman year at Harvard in 1859, although a few materials are dated as early as 1855. The volumes end in 1902.
The first volume, following the Class of 1863 from freshman to senior year, contains lecture and recitation schedules, final examinations, lists of class members, songs for the Harvard College Classes of 1861-1863, posters for events and club meetings, Lincoln’s certificates of admission and matriculation, correspondence, and photographs and obituaries of deceased classmates. Of particular note are menus, admission tickets to dances and other festivities, wax seals, pressed flowers, and photographs of African American gymnasium instructor Aaron Molyneaux Hewlett and Harvard President James Walker.
The other four volumes primarily contain newspaper clippings documenting events at Harvard or involving members of the Class of 1863. The second volume contains clippings from 1859-1863, while the class was attending Harvard; the third volume covers 1863-1870; the fourth volume, 1870-1898; and the fifth volume, 1893-1902. Clippings were received from publications throughout Massachusetts and a few other regions in the United States, suggesting that classmates sent in articles for Lincoln to add to the scrapbooks. Clippings follow the Class of 1863 and document athletic events, student riots, dedications of new buildings and statues, Overseers’ meetings, Class Days, and commencements. Also included are materials regarding the research and travel of Harvard professors, controversial events such as new College policies and political developments, wedding announcements, and deaths of students and alumni.
Biographical Note
Arthur Lincoln was a loyal Harvard College and Harvard Law School alumnus who attended every Harvard commencement and meeting of his class from graduation in 1863 until his death in 1902. 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.
Arthur Lincoln was born on February 16, 1842 to Solomon and Mehitable Lincoln in Hingham, Massachusetts. On December 17, 1883, he married Serafina Loring; they had one daughter.
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. 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 died in Boston on December 11, 1902.
Acquisition information
The Arthur Lincoln scrapbooks were given to Harvard University on May 27, 1920, by Mrs. Arthur Lincoln.
Online access
One of the scrapbooks in this collection has been digitized and is available online.
Inventory update
This document last updated 2020 September 14.
Processing Information
The collection was processed in March 2014. Processing involved reviewing Arthur Lincoln's scrapbooks and creating this finding aid.
This finding aid was created by Natalie Johnson in April 2014.
- Title
- Lincoln, Arthur, 1842-1902. Arthur Lincoln scrapbooks, 1855-1902: an inventory
- Author
- Harvard University Archives
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua17014
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