CARRIE BENHAM PAPERS Creator: Carrie Benham Dates: 1864; 1905-1980 Quantity: 1.0 linear foot (2 manuscript boxes) Acquisition: Accession #: 1994.8 ; Donated by: Carrie Benham Identification: A89 ; Archive Collection #89 Citation: [Document Title]. The Carrie Benham Collection, [Box #, Folder #, Item #], Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives, Gloucester, MA. Copyright: Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be addressed to the Librarian/Archivist. Language: English Finding Aid: Patricia Wellenkamp, February, 2020. Biographical Note Carrie Benham, was born Caroline Elizabeth Cook on September 28, 1906 to George A. and Elizabeth (Butler) Cook in Gloucester, MA. She graduated from Gloucester High School in 1924 where she participated in many literary and musical clubs and activities. She attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and intended to be a professional pianist. Instead, she worked briefly for the Gloucester School Department as an administrative assistant and substitute teacher and then for almost forty years, at the Cape Ann Historical Association as a volunteer, clerk, assistant curator, curator and membership chairman. She retired as curator in October 1980. Carrie Benham Papers – A89 – page 2 She married Gloucester native James Bernard Benham (b.1900), in 1927. He was the owner/manager of the Redeo Store in Gloucester and an avid collector of 19th and 20th century photographs of Gloucester. They had a son, James B. Benham Jr. in 1933, who served in Korea and died in 1999. She, with Martin Horgan and Gaspar Lafita, published the “Photographic History of Gloucester” in three volumes. The photos were taken from the collection of James B. Benham and the personal archives of other residents. Volume I was published in 1976, Volume II, which focused primarily on Main Street, was published in 1977, and Volume III was published in 1978. Carrie Benham was very active in local organizations: she was a member of Gloucester’s first Historical Commission, and according to her obituary in the Gloucester Daily Times, dated August 2, 1993, she was “past president of the West Gloucester Parent Teacher’s Association, the M.S.P.C.C., the Visiting Nurse Association of North Shore Inc. and the Gloucester Women’s Club. She was a lecturer of the West Gloucester Grange, a member of the Advisory Council Extension Service at Essex Agricultural School, a former superintendent of the Home Arts Display at the Topsfield Fair and she inaugurated the Arts and Crafts division for the 4-H Club and fair.” In 1965, she, with co-authors Myrtle L. Cameron and Mildred K. Finn, produced for the Gloucester Public Schools, “A History of Gloucester for Children” with illustrations by Dewey T. White from original drawings by her husband James B. Benham. This consisted of 89 mimeographed pages including appendixes of suggested activities and a bibliography of Gloucester history publications. She researched and lectured on Gloucester history and for at least four years starting in 1973, she taught the History of Gloucester adult education class at Gloucester High School. According to the Gloucester Daily News dated January 4, 1973, “Working in conjunction with author Joseph E. Garland, Mrs. Benham plans to cover the specific neighborhoods of the students and general history of the last 350 years.” At the time of her retirement, Carrie Benham lived at 599 Essex Avenue in West Gloucester, MA. She died at age 86 in 1993 at her home. She is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery along with her son and her husband who predeceased her in 1960. Scope and Content of the Collection This collection consists primarily of original and photocopied newspaper articles and pamphlets about Gloucester history collected by Carrie Benham. Also included are materials related to Cape Ann History (primarily Gloucester) and New England History. In addition, there are newspaper articles and ephemera connected to Carrie Benham’s time at C.A.H.S., her Gloucester history adult education class, and newspaper articles about Carrie Benham’s, Martin Horgan and Gaspar Lafata’s “Photographic History of Gloucester” Volumes I, II and III. Carrie Benham Papers – A89 – page 3 Series Description I – Materials related to Carrie Benham; her relationship to the Cape Ann Historical Association, her Gloucester History adult education class, and her books. II – Materials about Cape Ann Maritime History and Cape Ann Early History III – Pamphlets and newspaper articles about New England historical and cultural sites and Boston history IV – Materials about Gloucester history, institutions, fishing industry and businesses Container List Box 1 Series I FF1 Carrie Benham and the Cape Ann Historical Association 1-1 Copy of G.D.T. article dated June 1, 1962 about Gloucester History lecture given by Carrie Benham to the Gloucester College Women’s Club in Magnolia 1-2 Packet of materials from the New England Conference - American Association of Museums, Salem, MA Sept 30 & Oct 1, 1966 including manila envelope and: 1-3 registration form 1-4 Schedule, 1-5 Name badge, 1-6 Essex Institute Library brochure, 1-7 Peabody Museum Circular of Information brochure (two copies), 1-8 Historic Salem brochure 1-9 Copy of G.D.T article dated October 3, 1980 title “A Cheer for Carrie Benham” on the occasion of her retirement as curator of the C.A.H.A. 1-10 Unsigned handwritten poem dedicated to Carrie Benham on the occasion of her retirement, in envelope sent from 10-A Dock Sq. Rockport, MA postmarked Oct 6, 1980 FF2 Carrie Benham's Gloucester History Adult Education Class 2-1 Copy of G.D.T article about Gloucester Adult Education Program History of Gloucester “Working in conjunction with author Joseph E. Garland, Mrs. Benham plans to cover the specific neighborhoods of the students and general history of the last 350 years” 2-2 Copy of G.D.T. announcement of Gloucester Adult Education Class History of Gloucester starting Monday, Jan. 8 Carrie Benham Papers – A89 – page 4 2-3 Copy of G.D.T dated January clipping of classes enrolling January 15 and announcing “History of Gloucester” class is full 2-4 Copy of G.D.T. clipping dated January 22, 1973 of photo with description of Carrie Benham’s history of Gloucester class in the Gloucester High School Library 2-5 Copy of G.D.T. undated titled ”Local history: 80 students complete adult education course.” 2-6 Handwritten class sign in sheet dated 9/28/76 2-7 Blank attendance sheet 2-8 Adult Education memo from Gilbert A. Lane, Director, subject: Attendance or high school students 2-9 Registration Tally Sheet for History of Gloucester class 2-10 Adult Education Class memo form Gilbert A. Lane, Director of Adult Education 2-11 Adult Education memo from Leo Amero, Director of Adult Education 2-12 A 3” x 6” envelope labeled “References for lecture on fishing” with 45 paper slips; most of them with notations of book titles, some with page numbers 2- 13 Two handwritten 3” x 5” notes titled “Peter Duncan - Merchant” 2-14 Handwritten note about 1651 Declaration of Peace 2-15 Handwritten notes about 17th Century Gloucester History 2-16 Worksheet with underlinings, of 100 Regional Words dealing with the fishing industry and related industries 2-17 Five typewritten pages with handwritten annotations, entitled “Gloucester History” 2-18 Map of Gloucester, hand drawn in colored pencil 2-19 Four copies, one with markings, of map of “Dogtown 1650-1815, Our Deserted Village Showing Location of Cellers and Proximity to Church and Mills” 2-20 Four copies, one with annotations, “Key to Unlocking the Secrets of Dogtown Map. 2-21 One copy of map entitled “Ancient Geographic Locations” numbered with key 2-22 Four copies of map, one with annotations, “Early Gloucester Industries numbered with key 2-23 Three copies of map entitled “Gloucester’s Early Churches” with dates and Parishes 2-24 One copy of map entitled “The Green and West Parish” 2-25 Four copies, one with markings, of map entitled “First Map of Gloucester Harbor 1606” 2-26 Three copies of map entitled “Major Public Highways Laid Out 1642- 1735” 2-27 Three copies entitled “Sandy Bay to Lobster Cove” Carrie Benham Papers – A89 – page 5 2-28 Three copies of map entitled “Wars on Cape Ann” with dates and marked “Supplement to Mrs. Caroline Benham’s Course ‘Gloucester History’ prepared by J.C. Reilly, 1973” FF3 Carrie Benham’s Three ring notebook, 10” x 7” with 45 handwritten pages on primarily Gloucester history from “year @ 1000” through the downturn of the Quarry Industry after WW I FF4 Articles regarding Carrie Benham’s books 4-1 Clipping from G.D.T. dated Dec. 9, 1977, “Second photo book sure to please nostalgia lovers” about Vol. II of the “Photographic History of Gloucester” 4-2 Copy of Clipping from G.D.T. described in 4-1 4-3 Copy of undated letter to the editor from G.D.T. on the “Photographic History of Gloucester volumes I and II written by Jean Favalora, 55 Hilltop Road 4-4 Copy of undated letter to the editor from G.D.T regarding Bill Cahill’s review of volume II of the “Photographic History of Gloucester” written by Joe Garland, Eastern Point Boulevard FF5 Carrie Benham miscellaneous ephemera 5-1 Photograph, 3 1/2” x 5”, of “Welcome, City of Gloucester” sign 5-2 Photograph, 3 1/2 x 5”, of Moons of Gloucester gas station 5-3 card, 4” x 2 1/4” signed “Mrs. James Benham” and dated August 13, 1954 certifying that she attended the “first annual tour of Dogtown, Gloucester, MA” 5-4 Handwritten note entitled “List of Books for Eugene & Nancy to choose from” 5-5 Seven reproductions dated 1954, of Confederate States of American paper money 5-7 Joke photo postcard marked “Happy New Year” and inscribed on the back, “do you remember this one? your fond nephew Jim” 5-8 Pamphlet, 32 pages, operating instructions for the Perfex Forty -Four 35mm Candid Camera 5-9 Program from the King’s Chapel, Boston, 11/8/64 5-10 Yankee magazine, July 1983, w/article marked “Samuel Thatcher, Yarmouthport, MA” 5-11 Telephone Almanac for 1960 New England Telephone and Telegraph Company 5-12 Life in America by A.