Overview of the Collection
Access
Administrative Information
Related Materials in the Huntington Library
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Indexing: Subjects
Overview of the Collection
Title: Samuel Frank Dexter Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1862-1907
Bulk dates: 1901-1902
Collection Number: mssHM 65822-65938
Creator:
Dexter, Samuel Frank, 1847-1906.
Extent: 138 pieces in 4 boxes.
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains papers of Samuel Frank Dexter (1847-1906) of Rhode Island,
chiefly consisting of the almost daily letters that Dexter wrote to his children during
a 1901 trip with his wife to California, which describe in minute detail their experiences and observations of various
parts of California. Also included is a diary that Dexter, a noted naturalist and authority on ornithology, kept during a
trip to
Sequoia National Park (Calif.) in
1902.
Language: English.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
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]. Samuel Frank Dexter Papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Provenance
Gifts of Donna Adams, 1986-1995.
Related Materials in the Huntington Library
Removed or Separated Material
Four items (HM 65939-65940) that were originally with the Dexter Papers, which
pertain to Helen Pratt (died 1965) and her grandfather James Steele (born 1808),
have been transferred and assembled together with HM 58067 in a tan envelope:
Biographical Note
Samuel Frank Dexter (1847-1906), or Frank as his friends and family knew him, was
born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on September 3, 1847. He was the grandson of
Nathaniel Gregory Balch Dexter, who founded the knitting cotton business in the
United States and established the Dexter Yarn Company in 1820. As such Dexter went
into the family business and in 1880 after the company had incorporated, he became
its secretary and general manager. He married Anna Fannie Wheaton in 1872 and
subsequently had three children, Nathaniel Wheaton Dexter or “Wheatie,” Anthony
Hamilton Dexter, and Fannie Wheaton Dexter. By 1900, Dexter had sold out his
interests in the company and retired from the active business life. Dexter and his
family moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1902, where he would spend the remainder
of his life until his death in 1906.
Scope and Content
Letters, diaries, essays, and other papers of Samuel Frank Dexter. The large portion
of the collection consists of the letters that Dexter wrote to his children during
the 1901 trip to California. Before moving to Los Angeles in 1902, Dexter and his
wife took a trip to California in 1901 leaving their children in Pawtucket, Rhode
Island. An expansive and consistent writer, his almost daily letters home to his
children describe in minute detail their experiences and observations of various
parts of California such as Alameda County, Bakersfield, Kern County, La Jolla, Long
Beach, Los Angeles, Mount Lowe, Pasadena, Redlands, Riverside, San Bernardino, San
Diego, San Francisco, San Gabriel, San Pedro, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz County, and
Santa Monica. Other places of interest that Dexter wrote about to his children
include the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art, descriptions of the California coast, and
accounts of a trip taken in North Mexico. He also wrote frequently along their
railroad trip to California, describing such places as Arizona, Colorado, Illinois,
and Iowa.
A noted naturalist and authority on ornithology, Samuel Frank Dexter and his friend
Anthony (Gideon Anthony) Hamilton traveled to Sequoia National Park (Calif.) in
1902. Included in this collection is the diary that Dexter kept during their
excursion.
Other correspondence came from Mattie J. Chase, who along with her family, lived in
Vienna, Austria and wrote to her sister Anna Fannie Dexter detailing their life
there.
In addition to being a prolific letter writer, Dexter wrote a couple of essays that
describe and illuminate life in Charleston, South Carolina and Rhode Island.
Arrangement
The collection is organized in the following manner:
- 1. Letters (correspondence) – Arranged alphabetically by author (Box 1)
- 2. Letters (correspondence), diary, and other manuscript materials –
Letters are arranged alphabetically by author, with manuscript materials
placed thereafter by genre (Box 2)
- 3. Photographs – Arranged by genre (Box 3)
- 4. Research notes, transcripts, ephemera, and misc. materials – Arranged
by genre (Box 4)
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Dexter, Samuel Frank --
Archives.
Hamilton, Anthony
(Gideon Anthony)
Mark Hopkins Institute
of Art.
Coasts -- California, Southern --
Description and travel.
Ornithologists -- California.
Alameda County (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
Arizona -- Description
and travel.
Bakersfield (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
California --
Description and travel.
Charleston (S.C.) --
Description and travel.
Charleston (S.C.) --
Social life and customs.
Colorado --
Description and travel.
Illinois --
Description and travel.
Iowa -- Description
and travel.
Kern County (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
La Jolla (San Diego,
Calif.) -- Description and travel.
Long Beach (Calif.) --
Description and travel.
Los Angeles (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
Lowe, Mount (Los
Angeles County, Calif.)
Mexico, North --
Description and travel.
Pasadena (Calif.) --
Description and travel.
Redlands (Calif.) --
Description and travel.
Rhode Island --
Description and travel.
Rhode Island -- Social
life and customs.
Riverside (Calif.) --
Description and travel.
San Bernardino
(Calif.) -- Description and travel.
San Diego (Calif.) --
Description and travel.
San Francisco (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
San Gabriel (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
San Pedro (Los
Angeles, Calif.) -- Description and travel.
Santa Barbara (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
Santa Cruz County
(Calif.) -- Description and travel.
Santa Monica (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
Sequoia National Park
(Calif.)
Vienna (Austria) --
Description and travel.
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) -- California.
Diaries -- California -- 20th century.
Photographs.
Personal papers -- California -- 20th
century.
Family papers -- United States.
Additional Contributors
Dexter, Anthony Hamilton.
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton.
Dexter, Nathaniel Wheaton.
Chase, Mattie, J. Wheaton.
Indexing: Subjects
Mark Hopkins Institute of Art
- 1901, Apr. 15. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65876.
Coasts – California, Southern
- 1901, Feb. 18. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65856.
Ornithology
- 1902, Aug. 20. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to “Dear Fannie &
Children.” HM 65890.
Alameda County (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Apr. 22. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65879.
Arizona – Description and travel
- 1901, Jan. 23. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65840.
Bakersfield (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Mar. 22-25. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65869.
California – Description and travel
- pre-1906. [Samuel Frank Dexter], Essay on California. HM 65901.
Charleston (S.C.) – Description and travel
- 1873. [Samuel Frank Dexter], “Excursion to Charleston, S.C.” HM 65900.
Charleston (S.C.) – Social life and customs
- 1873. [Samuel Frank Dexter], “Excursion to Charleston, S.C.” HM 65900.
Colorado – Description and travel
- 1901, Jan. 23. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65840.
Illinois – Description and travel
- 1901, Jan. 21-22. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65839.
Iowa – Description and travel
- 1901, Jan. 21-22. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65839.
Kern County (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Mar. 21. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65867.
La Jolla (San Diego, Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Feb. 14. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 658543
Long Beach (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Mar. 7. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton Dexter,
Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65863.
Los Angeles (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Feb. 19-20. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65857.
- 1901, Feb. 21-23. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65858.
- 1901, Feb. 24. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65859.
- 1901, Feb. 28-Mar. 1. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65861.
- 1901, Mar. 3-4. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65862.
Lowe, Mount (Los Angeles County, Calif.)
- 1901, Mar. 8-10. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65854.
Mexico, North – Description and travel
- 1901, Jan. 30. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65848.
Pasadena (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Feb. 19-20. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65857.
- 1901, Feb. 21-23. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65858.
Redlands (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Jan. 25. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65842.
- 1901, Jan. 25. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65844.
Rhode Island – Description and travel
- pre-1906. [Samuel Frank Dexter], Reminiscences of Rhode Island. HM 65902.
Rhode Island – Social life and customs
- pre-1906. [Samuel Frank Dexter], Reminiscences of Rhode Island. HM 65902.
Riverside (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Jan. 25. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65844.
San Bernardino (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Jan. 24. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65841.
San Diego (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Jan. 27. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65845.
- 1901, Jan. 28. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65846.
- 1901, Jan. 29. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65847.
- 1901, Feb. 1. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton Dexter,
Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65849.
- 1901, Feb. 3. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton Dexter,
Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65850.
- 1901, Feb. 5. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton Dexter,
Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65851.
- 1901, Feb. 7. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton Dexter,
Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65852.
- 1901, Feb. 10. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65853.
- 1901, Feb. 14. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65854.
San Francisco (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Apr. 11. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65875. 1902,
Sept. 22. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to “Wheatie & Terry.” HM 65893.
San Gabriel (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Mar. 7. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton Dexter,
Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65863.
San Pedro (Los Angeles, Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Mar. 7. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton Dexter,
Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65863.
Santa Barbara (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Mar. 13. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65866.
- 1901, Mar. 21. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM
65867.
- 1901, Mar. 26-29. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65870.
Santa Cruz County (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Apr. 22. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65879.
Santa Monica (Calif.) – Description and travel
- 1901, Feb. 25. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to [Nathaniel Wheaton
Dexter, Fannie Wheaton Dexter, and Anthony Hamilton Dexter]. HM 65860.
Sequoia National Park (Calif.)
- 1902, Aug. 18. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to “Dear Fannie &
Children.” HM 65888.
- 1902, Aug. 20. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to “Dear Fannie &
Children.” HM 65890.
- 1902, Aug. 21. [Samuel Frank Dexter], letter to “Dear Fannie &
Children.” HM 65891.
- [1902], July 18-Aug. 13. [Samuel Frank Dexter], Diary of trip to Sequoia
National Park. HM 65899.
Vienna (Austria) – Description and travel
- 1876, Oct. 29. Mattie J. Chase, letter to [Anna] Fannie [Dexter]. HM
65823.