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Guide to the Rebecca Spring Papers,
ca. 1830-1900
Special Collections M0541
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Table of contents
Title: Rebecca Spring Papers,
Date (inclusive): ca. 1830-1900
Collection number: Special Collections M0541
Creator:
Spring, Rebecca.
Extent:
1 linear ft.
Repository:
Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.
Language:
English.
None.
Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain
permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections.
Rebecca's grandson, Herbert Peet Heron, inherited the papers which remained in storage until March, 1990. Purchased, June,
1990.
[Identification of item] Rebecca Spring Papers, M0541, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford,
Calif.
Daughter of Arnold Buffum, Rebecca (1811-1911) married Marcus Spring (1810-1874) in approximately 1840. She a Quaker, he a
philanthropic New York businessman, both became intensely involved in liberal political and social affairs and were part of
the abolitionist, feminist, and transcendentalist movements. They were long-time friends of Fredrika Bremer, Lydia Maria Child,
Margaret Fuller, and Elizabeth Palmer Peabody. Rebecca worked hard but unsuccessfully for abolitionist John Brown's acquittal,
then later for the commuting of his sentence. Marcus Spring was active in cooperative societies and instrumental in the founding
of two communities based on the teachings of Charles Fourier - The North American Phalanx and The Raritan Bay Union - the
latter which was located on his estate in Eagleswood, New Jersey. In the late 1850s Spring founded the Eagleswood Military
Academy. After Marcus' death, Rebecca continued their work in liberal political and social causes for another 25 years. In
the late 1890s, she moved to southern California to live with her daughter, Jeanie Peet, where she became involved with many
of the local artists and writers.
Incoming correspondence (ca. 200 letters) from American and European political, religious, and literary figures. Manuscript
of Rebecca Spring's memoirs (191 p.), ca. 1900.