Perry Collection (MSS 676) Manuscripts & Folklife Archives Western Kentucky University, Mssfa@Wku.Edu

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9-13-2019 Perry Collection (MSS 676) Manuscripts & Folklife Archives Western Kentucky University, [email protected]

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Manuscripts & Folklife Archives Department of Library Special Collections Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY 42101-1092

Descriptive Inventory

MSS 676 PERRY Collection

7 boxes. 37 folders. 223 items. 1828-1923. Originals, photocopies, photographs.

1970.36.3

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Gideon Babcock Perry, the son of George Hazard Perry and Abigail (Chesebrough) Perry, was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island on 12 October 1800. He was a cousin of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (1785-1819), the “Hero of Lake Erie” during the War of 1812, and Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858), also a distinguished naval officer during the War of 1812 and the Mexican American War. Gideon B. Perry received his theological training at Hamilton College, New York, and a medical degree from Jefferson College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Perry held pastorates in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In 1837, he removed to the West and ministered in Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Mississippi. In 1867, he became rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He left the post in 1872, and died in Hopkinsville on 30 September 1879. In 1823, Gideon B. Perry married Abigail “Abby” Brown Stewart (1805-1887), a native of Brookfield, New York. They had four children: Henry Gideon Perry (1832-1899); Oliver Hazard Perry (1841-1873); Emily Bailey Perry (1844-1923); and Willis Gaylord Perry (1845-1901); in addition, they raised a foster daughter, Maria Efnor (1831-1920). Henry Gideon Perry, the son of Gideon Babcock Perry and Abby Perry, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 27 May 1832 and educated at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio. He left the practice of law to enter the Episcopal ministry. Among his numerous postings around the country were service in Mississippi (where he was a chaplain with Federal forces during the Civil War), and in California, where he edited The Pacific Churchman. In 1868, he moved to churches in Illinois and at the time of his death on 16 January 1899 was priest at the Cathedral SS. Peter and Paul in Chicago. Both Perry and his father were Masons. Oliver Hazard Perry, the son of Gideon Babcock Perry and Abby Perry, was born in Alton, Illinois, on 26 February 1841. He graduated from Kenyon College and received a medical degree from the University of Louisville. He served as assistant physician at the Western Lunatic Asylum in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and died on 17 February 1873. Emily Bailey Perry, the daughter of Gideon Babcock Perry and Abby Perry, was born in East Akron, Ohio on 25 February 1844. She was educated in Ohio and in Mississippi, where she resided during the Civil War. Emily never married, professing a devotion to her family over all prospects of matrimony. In Hopkinsville, she was known for her social, cultural and charitable activities, raising money, for example, for the public school library by organizing plays

MSS 676 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University

2 and entertainments. She was a devoted keeper of scrapbooks documenting her interest in public figures, history, music, poetry, and women and men who distinguished themselves in culture, science and the arts. Emily Perry died in Hopkinsville on 8 October 1923. Willis Gaylord Perry, the son of Gideon Babcock Perry and Abby Perry, was born in Oneida, New York on 22 December 1845. He was educated in Mississippi, Ohio and Michigan, and resided with his father in Natchez, Mississippi and in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He worked as a drugstore clerk at firms in Hopkinsville and then in Tennessee. Returning to Hopkinsville, he became a partner in the city’s first ice factory, opened in 1883. After retiring, he resided at the family home in Hopkinsville, and died there on 27 February 1901.

COLLECTION NOTE

This collection consists of papers of the Perry family, principally of Gideon Babcock Perry, his son Henry Gideon Perry, and daughter Emily Bailey Perry. An inventory is in Box 1, Folder 1. Included is a small amount of correspondence and numerous photographs, particularly of Henry G. Perry and individuals with whom he may have been acquainted in the course of his far-flung ministries. The photographs have been removed from two albums in which they were originally kept, and placed in folders (Folders 16-22). Lists of all photographs in the order in which they appeared in the albums are in Folders 15 and 22. The remainder of the collection consists mostly of scrapbooks kept by Henry and Emily containing printed matter and newspaper clippings on topics of general interest, but also including some records of their family and activities. Box 1 contains Perry family letters, papers and photographs. An 1873 letter to Reverend Gideon B. Perry (Folder 1) appears to refer a legal claim involving his maternal grandfather and related legislation in Congress. Folder 2 contains the minute book of Grace Episcopal Church, Cleveland, Ohio, where Gideon B. Perry officiated, and St. James Church, also in Cleveland, a congregation that he subsequently organized as rector. Folder 4 contains the lengthy record, hand-copied by Emily Perry, of Gideon B. Perry vs. Churchwardens and Vestry of Grace Church, Hopkinsville, a case heard in Christian (County, Kentucky) Circuit Court, together with Emily’s explanatory letter to brother Henry. In the petition, Reverend Perry claims that he was wrongfully discharged from his position as rector in 1872. Folder 5 contains correspondence and papers of Henry G. Perry, including a partial 1849 letter to a cousin in New London, Connecticut; a pledge co-signed with a fellow Kenyon College student to abstain from alcohol; a composition in French written during his time in Natchez, Mississippi; and two letters in French to sister Emily. Other papers of Henry G. Perry include clippings of his published poetry and pastoral and Masonic activities (Folder 6); a portion of the Kenyon (College) Reveille of December 1855 with a Perry poem (Folder 7); writings and programs relating to Freemasonry (Folder 8); and miscellaneous programs, blank marriage and baptismal certificates, and other printed matter relating to Perry’s Chicago churches (Folder 9). Folder 10 contains letters to Emily Perry, including two letters from Hopkinsville merchant and National Guardsman Erskine B. Bassett written during his World War I service, and a letter from a forlorn admirer returning letters and keepsakes to mark an end to their relationship. Folder 11 contains biographical clippings about Emily and a report on her hosting of a musical reception. Folder 12 contains a letter of Willis G. Perry regarding his ownership of property in Georgia and other financial matters, and a legal notice published by Willis regarding his ice factory business. Miscellaneous

MSS 676 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University

3 letters and papers (Folder 13) appear mostly to belong to Emily Perry and include rough notes on the 1873 incorporation of the Christian County Library; wedding invitations; a 1918 letter from a friend describing the wealth of the Osage Indians of Oklahoma; and Maria Efnor’s certificate of membership in the Jefferson Davis Home Association. Photographs include an unidentified image, likely Gideon B. Perry (Folder 16) as well as photographs of Abby Perry (Folder 18), Henry G. Perry (Folder 17), Emily Perry (Folder 19) and Willis G. Perry (Folder 20). Additional photographs (Folder 21) include Chicago clergymen and other likely associates and friends of Henry G. Perry, and numerous individuals—clergy, naval officers, and ladies—with whom he was probably acquainted, especially during his posting in California in the late 1860s (Folder 22). Box 2 contains scrapbooks and memo books of Henry G. Perry: a general scrapbook of clippings, mostly poetry and anecdotes, for 1847-1848 (Folder 1); a preprinted manual allowing its owner to index memorable items from his reading (Folder 2); a scrapbook of Perry’s published poems (Folder 3); and a scrapbook of clippings and programs relating mostly to Perry’s pastoral work in Illinois (Folder 4). Box 3 relates to Willis G. Perry and Emily Perry. An account book (Folder 1) appears to document ice sales by Willis G. Perry’s Hopkinsville ice factory. Folder 2 contains the record book of the United Volunteers Musical and Literary Society, referred to as the “United Volunteers” or the “United Volunteer Combination.” The organization was founded in 1882 by Emily Perry and a group of Hopkinsville citizens for “Mental, Social, Musical and Literary Culture, and the accomplishment of good.” Under Emily’s management, the United Volunteers produced many musical and dramatic programs to raise funds for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a public school library at Hopkinsville. The scrapbook contains meeting minutes as well as local newspaper clippings reporting on its various benefit concerts and entertainment events. Also included are clippings documenting the progress of the Hopkinsville public schools. Box 4 contains Emily Perry’s scrapbook of clippings covering a wide variety of topics such as politicians, authors, royalty, business tycoons and other public figures, accomplished women, music and songs, obituaries, historical retrospectives, poems and anecdotes. Box 5 contains Emily Perry’s scrapbook of clippings of a type similar to those in Box 4. This scrapbook also includes a small amount of family correspondence, such as letters from members of her mother’s family, the Stewarts; a letter to her father Gideon B. Perry with a theological question; a letter to her mother Abby from the woman for whom Emily was named; and a letter to Emily from brother Oliver Hazard Perry as he was preparing to graduate from medical school. Box 6 contains Emily Perry’s scrapbook of clippings of a type similar to those in Boxes 4 and 5. Included are many articles about American colleges and universities. Box 7 contains six of Emily Perry’s scrapbooks. Two are devoted specifically to clippings about the Mormon Church (Folder 1) and Native Americans, especially Cherokees (Folder 2). The remainder consists of a scrapbook of clippings about Kentucky people and topics, including Hopkinsville (Folder 3); two scrapbooks with clippings about the Civil War (Folders 4 and 5); and a scrapbook with clippings of general interest (Folder 6).

MSS 676 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University

SHELF LIST

BOX 1 Perry Collection 1845-1922 208 items

Folder 1 Inventory; genealogical notes; separation sheet 3 items

Folder 2 Gideon Babcock Perry – Letter to; obituary 1873-1879 2 items

Folder 3 Minute book of Grace Episcopal Church and 1845-1858 1 item St. James Church, Cleveland, Ohio

Folder 4 G. B. Perry vs. Church Wardens and Vestry of 1876 2 items Grace Church, Hopkinsville, Kentucky – Copy of pleadings in Christian Circuit Court and associated letter of Emily Perry

Folder 5 Henry Gideon Perry – Correspondence and papers 1849-1895 11 items

Folder 6 Henry Gideon Perry – Clippings (biographical and 1854-1898 13 items writings)

Folder 7 Henry Gideon Perry – Kenyon (College) Reveille 1855 1 item

Folder 8 Henry Gideon Perry – Masonic material 1880-1892 5 items

Folder 9 Henry Gideon Perry – Miscellaneous printed 1869-1883, 13 items matter regarding his churches n.d.

Folder 10 Emily Bailey Perry – Correspondence and papers 1893-1921 11 items

Folder 11 Emily Bailey Perry – Biographical clippings 1906-1913 3 items

Folder 12 Willis Gaylord Perry – Letter; newspaper notice 1881, n.d. 2 items

Folder 13 Perry family – Miscellaneous letters and papers 1846-1922 20 items

Folder 14 Miscellaneous clippings 1905-1916 2 items

Folder 15 List of photographs in Folders 16-21 n.d. 1 item

Folder 16 Gideon Babcock Perry(?) – Photograph n.d. 1 item

Folder 17 Henry Gideon Perry – Photographs 1867-1891 17 items

Folder 18 Abigail “Abby” Perry – Photograph 1886 1 item

MSS 676 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University

Folder 19 Emily Bailey Perry – Photographs 1888-1893 2 items

Folder 20 Willis Gaylord Perry – Photograph 1893 1 item

Folder 21 Miscellaneous photographs 1868-1895 12 items

Folder 22 Miscellaneous photographs and list 1863-1871 84 items

BOX 2 Perry Collection 1847-1898 4 items

Folder 1 Scrapbook of Henry G. Perry 1847-1848 1 item

Folder 2 Book of Henry G. Perry, Index Rerum: Or Index 1853 1 item of Subjects; Intended as a Manual to Aid the Student and Professional Man

Folder 3 Scrapbook of Henry G. Perry with his published 1853-1898 1 item poetry and some personal financial accounts

Folder 4 Scrapbook of Henry G. Perry relating to pastoral 1869-1880 1 item work in Illinois

BOX 3 Perry Collection 1882-1921 2 items

Folder 1 Account book, probably of Willis G. Perry for 1883-1885 1 item ice deliveries

Folder 2 Record book of Emily B. Perry for the United 1882-1921 1 item Volunteers Musical and Literary Society, and associated clippings

BOX 4 Perry Collection 1868-1899 1 item

Folder 1 Scrapbook of Emily Perry 1868-1899 1 item

BOX 5 Perry Collection 1828-1913 1 item

Folder 1 Scrapbook of Emily Perry 1828-1913 1 item

MSS 676 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University

BOX 6 Perry Collection 1854-1897 1 item

Folder 1 Scrapbook of Emily Perry 1854-1897 1 item

BOX 7 Perry Collection 1865-1923 6 items

Folder 1 Scrapbook of Emily Perry – Mormon Church 1877-1906 1 item

Folder 2 Scrapbook of Emily Perry – Cherokee Indians 1889-1923 1 item

Folder 3 Scrapbook of Emily Perry – Kentucky topics 1867-1922 1 item

Folder 4 Scrapbook of Emily Perry – Civil War 1882-1900 1 item

Folder 5 Scrapbook of Emily Perry – Civil War 1865-1899 1 item

Folder 6 Scrapbook of Emily Perry 1876-1895 1 item

BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

MSS PERRY Collection 1828-1923 676 Letters, papers, photographs and scrapbooks of the Perry family, principally Gideon Babcock Perry, rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Hopkinsville, Kentucky and his children, Reverend Henry G. Perry, Chicago, Illinois, and Emily B. Perry, Hopkinsville. 7 boxes. 37 folders. 223 items. Originals, photocopies, photographs. 1970.36.3

SUBJECT ANALYTICS

Banks and banking – Hopkinsville – Relating to B1,F13 Bassett, Erskine Birch, 1867-1945 B1,F10 Beauchamp, Frances Emiline, 1857-1923 – Relating to B6,F1,p.114 Beauchamp-Sharp tragedy – Relating to B7,F3,pp.46-47 Bethel Female College – Hopkinsville – Relating to B1,F13 Buckner, Simon Bolivar, 1823-1914 – Relating to B5,F1,pp.43-44 Cabaniss, James Young, 1862-1939 B1,F13 Campbell family – Relating to B5,F1,p.89 Castleman, Alice Barbee, 1877-1949 – Relating to B6,F1,p.168 Chesebrough, Amos, 1708-1770 – Relating to B1,F2

MSS 676 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University

Churches – Chicago, Illinois – Cathedral SS. Peter and Paul – Relating to B1,F9; B2,F4 Churches – Christian County – Grace Episcopal Church – Relating to B1,F4 Churches – Cleveland, Ohio – Grace Episcopal Church B1,F3 Churches – Cleveland, Ohio – St. James Church B1,F3 Civil War, 1861-1865 – Poetry B7,F4,5 Civil War, 1861-1865 – Prisoners and prisons – Virginia – Libby Prison – Relating to B7,F5,pp.17-18 Civil War, 1861-1865 – Relating to B7,F4,5 Civil War, 1861-1865 – Songs – Relating to B4,F1,pp.2-6,8; B7,F5,p.25 Clay, Henry, 1777-1852 – Relating to B2,F1,pp.53,78; B6,F1,p.108; B7,F3,pp.55,82,86-89 Clubs – Hopkinsville – United Volunteers Musical and Literary Society B3,F2 Contracts – Labor, 1867 B1,F13 Courthouses – Christian County, 1864 – Photograph B7,F3,p.109 Courtship B1,F10 Davis, Jefferson Finis, 1808-1889 – Relating to B1,F13 Dickman, Franklin Joseph, 1828-1908 B1,F5 Dietrich, Charles H. – Relating to B3,F2,pp.1,54 Efnor, Maria, 1831-1920 – Relating to B1,F13 Elections and election campaigns, 1891 – Relating to B7,F3,p.138 Episcopal Church – Christian County – Relating to B1,F4,13 Episcopal Church – Illinois – Relating to B1,F9; B2,F4 Episcopal Church – Ohio – Relating to B1,F3 Fires – Hopkinsville, 1882 B4,F1,p.113 Freemasonry – Relating to B1,F8; B2,F4,p.46; B2,F4b; B5,F1,p.117; B7,F3,pp.95-96; B7,F6,p.9 Graves, John Otho, 1846-1902 B3,F2,p.131 Graves, John Otho, 1846-1902 – Relating to B3,F2,p.131 Howell, Robert E., d. 1908 – Relating to B3,F2,p.53 Ice industry – Hopkinsville, 1883-1885 B1,F12; B3,F1 Indians – Cherokee – Relating to B7,F2 Indians – Oklahoma, 1891-1918 – Relating to B1,F13; B5,F1,p.109 Influenza, 1919 B1,F10 Invitations – Wedding, 1906,1922 B1,F13 Johnston, Albert Sidney, 1803-1862 – Relating to B7,F5,pp.10-12 Jones, Horatio Gates, 1822-1893 B5,F1,p.56 Kendig, Abby Elizabeth (Gates), 1838-1902 B1,F5 Kendig, Abby Elizabeth (Gates), 1838-1902 – Photograph B1,F21 Kenyon College – Gambier, Ohio – Relating to B1,F7; B5,F1,pp.166-169,171; B6,F1,pp.21-32 Language and languages – French B1,F5,13 Libraries – Christian County, 1873-1912 B1,F13; B3,F2; B7,F3,p.95 Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 – Relating to B4,F1,pp.10,84,93,133,250; B6,F1,pp.76,84, 113,122,195,196 Lind, Johanna Maria “Jennie,” 1820-1887 – Relating to B4,F1,pp.142,143;B7,F3,p.114 McCartney, Livingstone – Relating to B3,F2,p.2 Menus, 1868 B4,F1,p.128 Mormons and Mormonism – Relating to B7,F1

MSS 676 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University

Mourning stationery B1,F10 Music and musical affairs – Hopkinsville, 1822-1897 B1,F10,11; B3,F2; B7,F3,pp.15-16,95 New Berlin Academy – New Berlin, New York – Relating to B1,F13; B2,F1,pp.82-83 Palmer, Bertha Matilde (Honoré), 1849-1918 – Relating to B5,F1,p.160 Parsons, Usher, 1788-1868 – Relating to B1,F5 Perry, Abigail Brown (Stewart), 1805-1887 – Letters to B5,F1,pp.56,58 Perry, Abigail Brown (Stewart), 1805-1887 – Photographs B1,F18; B5,F1,p.4 Perry, Abigail Brown (Stewart), 1805-1887 – Relating to B5,F1,p.6; B6,F1,p.7 Perry, Agnes E. – Photograph B1,F21 Perry, Christopher Raymond, 1761-1818 – Relating to B5,F1,p.46 Perry, Emily Bailey, 1844-1923 – Correspondence B1,F4,5,10,13; B3,F2,p.131; B5,F1,p.58; B7,F3,pp.7,47 Perry, Emily Bailey, 1844-1923 – Photographs B1,F19 Perry, Emily Bailey, 1844-1923 – Relating to B1,F11; B3,F2; B4,F1; B5,F1,pp.4-5 Perry, Gideon Babcock, 1800-1879 – Correspondence B1,F2; B5,F1,pp.40,41,58 Perry, Gideon Babcock, 1800-1879 – Photographs B1,F16; B5,F1,p.3 Perry, Gideon Babcock, 1800-1879 – Relating to B1,F2,4; B2,F4,pp.29,32; B5,F1,pp.6-8; B6,F1,p.7 Perry, Henry Gideon, 1832-1899 – Correspondence B1,F4,5,7; B5,F1,p.55 Perry, Henry Gideon, 1832-1899 – Photographs B1,F17 Perry, Henry Gideon, 1832-1899 – Relating to B1,F5-9; B2; B3,F2,p.96; B5,F1,p.5; B6,F1,pp.3-4,7,42,108,114,170; B7,F6,pp.12,19,20 Perry, Howard Rand, 1868-1945 – Relating to B1,F14 Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1785-1819 – Relating to B5,F1,pp.1,2,17-23,165; B7,F6,pp.3-4 Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1841-1873 B5,F1,p.58 Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1841-1873 – Relating to B5,F1,p.15 Perry, Sarah S. (Rodgers), 1831-1901 – Letter to B1,F5 Perry, Willis Gaylord, 1845-1901 B1,F12 Perry, Willis Gaylord, 1845-1901 – Photograph B1,F20 Perry, Willis Gaylord, 1845-1901 – Relating to B1,F12; B3,F1,F2,p.97; B5,F1,p.15 Pioneer life – Fayette County, 1782 B7,F3,p.79 Poetry B1,F6,7; B2,F1,3; B4; B5; B6; B7,F4,6 Preston family – Relating to B5,F1,p.89 Rives, Hallie Erminie, 1874-1956 – Relating to B1,F13 Rodgers, Christopher Raymond Perry, 1819-1892 – Relating to B6,F1,p.7 Rodman, James, 1829-1902 – Relating to B7,F3,p.51 Schools – Christian County, 1882-1921 – Relating to B3,F2 Social life and customs – Christian County, 1882-1897 B3,F2 Songs – Relating to B4,F1,pp.2-12,14,56,62; B6,F1,p.176 Stewart family – Relating to B5,F1,p.40 Temperance, 1851 – Relating to B1,F5 Thurston, Benjamin Babcock, 1804-1886 B1,F2 Trabue, Elizabeth Withrow (McPherson), 1897-1984 – Relating to B1,F13 Universities and colleges – 19th century – Relating to B6 Valentines B1,F13 Western Lunatic Asylum – Hopkinsville – Relating to B7,F3,pp.23-25,51

MSS 676 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University

Women – Status, 1800s B4,F1,pp.170-171,229; B6,F1,p.138 Women’s suffrage – Relating to B4,F1,p.163 World War I, 1914-1918 – Comments about, 1918 B1,F13 World War I, 1914-1918 – France, 1918 B1,F10 World War I, 1914-1918 – Military life, 1918 B1,F10 Yandell, Enid, 1869-1934 – Relating to B7,F3,p.74

Niedermeier/Jeffrey 09/13/2019

MSS 676 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University