Elbridge T. Gerry papers, 1856-1912

Elbridge T. Gerry papers, 1856-1912

Summary Information

Abstract

This collection contains the papers, consisting primarily of correspondence, of Elbridege T. Gerry (1837-1927), 1857 graduate of Columbuia College and later famous as a lawyer and philanthropist. There are also documents concerning Columbia College Class of 1857, college notebooks, memorabilia, and manuscript copies of Gerry's essays and orations.

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#0481
Bib ID:
4078804 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Gerry, Elbridge T. (Elbridge Thomas), 1837-1927
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
2.5 linear feet (5 manuscript boxes)
Language(s):
English .
Access:
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

The following boxes are located off-site: 4-5. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Summary

As secretary of the Columbia College Class of 1857, Gerry carried on a detailed correspondence with many of its members. The bulk of the Gerry Papers are these carefully preserved letters, many of which are of a personal, intimate nature, and documents concerning the activities of the class as a whole. Of special interest are letters from Right Rev. Daniel S. Tuttle and manuscript copies of several of Gerry's own essays and orations. Also, some of Gerry's Columbia College notebooks and memorabilia of Gerry's student days.

Arrangement

Cataloged and Arranged.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

The following boxes are located off-site: 4-5. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Elbridge T. Gerry papers; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number--M-59.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 06/--/89.

Revision Description

2012-06-27 xml document created by Judith Zupnick.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

2023-07-20 Added Columbia College notebook descriptions.

Biographical / Historical

Lawyer, philanthropist. Gerry was an 1857 graduate of Columbia College. He founded the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and was chairman of the legislative committee that abolished hanging in favor of the electric chair as capital punishment in New York State. He also worked with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and was chairman for the New York City commission for the insane.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Name
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Columbia College (New York, N.Y.) -- Alumni and alumnae
Columbia University -- Students
New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Tuttle, Daniel Sylvester, 1837-1923
Place
New York (N.Y.) -- Social conditions
New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs
New York (State) -- Social conditions
Subject
Animal welfare
Capital punishment -- New York (State)
Child abuse -- Societies, etc
Lawyers
Mentally ill -- New York (State) -- New York
Philanthropists
Social problems -- New York (State)

Series I: Cataloged Documents


Box 1

Correspondence - Columbia College, class of, 1857


Box 1

Various Committee Reports, Treasurer's Report - Columbia College, class of, 1857


Box 1

Translation of Homer's Iliad


Box 1

List of translations


Box 1

Essays


Box 1

Columbia College, Class of 1857 - miscellaneous envelopes with names and notes, 1857


Box 1

Schiller, William Tell. Translation by Professor Schmidt - MISSING

Series II: Cataloged Correspondence


Box 2

Benedict, W. de L.


Box 2

Boardman, William S.


Box 2

Brower, J.H.


Box 2

Davies, Henry E.


Box 2

Fairchild, Charles A.


Box 2

Francis, S.M.


Box 2

Funsten, Reverend J.B.


Box 2

Gerry, Elbridge


Box 2

Goetze, Frederick


Box 2

Griffeths, Catherine Louise


Box 2

Griffin, George Butler


Box 2

Haven, George G.


Box 2

Herrick, J.B.


Box 2

Jackson, Oliver P.


Box 2

Ludlow, E.L.


Box 2

MacDonald, Wilson


Box 2

Mason, Erskime


Box 2

Massett, B.W. Carey


Box 2

Massett, W. Carey


Box 2

Maury, Mytton


Box 2

Nott, Henry B.


Box 2

Packwood, Richard T.


Box 2

Parkman, John


Box 2

Parkman, Theodore


Box 2

Redmond, Goold


Box 2

Russell, Charles


Box 2

Sears, Charles E.


Box 2

Slipper, James H.


Box 2

Sloan, William S.


Box 2

Smedberg, W. Renwick


Box 2

Smith, Edgar P.


Box 2

Steel, Alfred H.


Box 2

Tailer, James T.


Box 3

Talbot, William R.


Box 3

Tombo, Rudolf


Box 3

Tuttle, Daniel S.


Box 3

Ward, Charles


Box 3

Wheeler, Everett P.


Box 3

Winslow, William B.

Series III: Columbia College notebooks


Box 4

Columbia College notebooks

Notebooks include translations of Caesar, Xenophon, Aristotle, Cicero's "De Officiis", Juvenal, Homer's Odyssey, Demosthenes, Aristophanes, Tacitus, Lucan's Pharsalia, Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, Ancient Geography Questions by Prof. Drysler, Vergil's Eclogues, Aeschylus's Prometheus Bound, Horace, Euripides, Terence, Cicero's De Natura Deorum, and Plato. There is also a bound copy of the Philolexian Society's Constitution and By-laws and the Columbia College's Catalogues, 1853-1857, with memorabilia attached (programs, tickets, Class of 1857 ribbon, and photographs of Prof. Anthon and Prof. McVickar.


Box 5

Columbia College notebooks

Notebooks on Xenophon's Memorabilia (translated from Prof. Anthon's edition, corrected by Prof. Drisler, 1853); Roman Antiquities; Ancient Geography; Vergil's Eclogues; Homer's Odyssey Book XVII, translated by Prof. Drisler, 1854; German Cotillion; Horace; Logic and English Literature; History of Philosophy; History with Prof. McVickar; Chemistry.