Shorey Family Papers, 1873-1905

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Summary

Title:
Shorey family papers
Dates:
1873-1905
Creators:
Shorey (Family : 1873-1905)
Abstract:
The Shorey family correspondence consists primarily of letters to and from Louisa Dunham Shorey of Belfast, Maine, dating from 1873-1905.
Extent:
1.25 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Shorey family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Shorey family correspondence consists primarily of letters to and from Louisa Dunham Shorey, of Belfast, Maine and her children, dating from 1873-1905. The letters document a close-knit family who kept in touch across the continent, with numerous letters exchanged between Maine and various locations in Montana and Saugatuck, Michigan. The letters from her sons in Montana relate the difficulties of life on the booming Montana frontier, with details of sheep farming, wild weather, the high cost of goods, and farming on the plains. Raymond's wife, Carrie, provides a more family-centric glimpse of the hardships faced out in the Montana territory. The letters written closer to home by residents of Maine and Massachusetts frequently mention the spiritualism movement, especially among Shorey's female acquaintances. Included are references to Temple Heights, a spiritualist summer camp on Penobscot Bay, Maine, and correspondence from the American College of Sciences in Philadelphia, acknowledging Shorey's order for a course of instruction on personal magnetism and hypnotism. Other correspondents include Shorey's sister, grandchildren, and various other family members. Included in the collection are financial records, manuscripts, and printed ephemera.

Biographical / historical:

Louisa Dunham Shorey (1837-1907) of Belfast, Maine was married to Wellington Shorey (1831-1903), a farmer. The couple had seven children: Raymond, Robert, John D., and James W., who all settled in the Montana Territory as well as Jennie, Emma, and Charles, who remained in Maine. Raymond was a farmer who settled in Roberts, Montana, southwest of Billings. Robert (variously Bert or B.G.) purchased a ranch, worked successfully as a sheep rancher, and eventually rose to prominence as a businessman in Billings. John D. worked in White Sulphur Springs as a contractor, builder, and, occasionally, in the mines as an operator. James worked as a farmer and stockman in Richland County. Jennie married a farmer, Emma was a spinster, and Charles was a farmer.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from McBride Rare Books, January 2019 and July 2019.
Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Gina C Giang
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2019-10-09 08:04:30 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Shorey family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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