Collection Guide
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Holley (Henry Whitcomb) Collection
mssHolley
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Henry Whitcomb Holley Collection
Identifier/Call Number: mssHolley
Physical Description:
4 Linear Feet
(in 4 cartons)
(36 items in 1 envelope and 26 volumes )
Date (inclusive): 1847-1896
Abstract: This collection chiefly contains
letterpress books of correspondence mainly related to the professional life of Minnesota
railroad employee, land developer, and poet Henry Whitcomb Holley (1828-1897), including
real estate transactions, mining claims, railroad construction/development, business
enterprises, and his literary career on the side.
Language of Material: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department.
For more information, contact Reader Services.
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.
[Identification of item]. Henry Whitcomb Holley Collection, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Purchased from Grahame Hardy, July 1953.
1. There are many pages that have been cut or removed from the volumes.
2. Many of the volumes, particularly the poetry volumes, contain loose materials.
3. There is an index in each letterpress book with a listing of the recipients.
4. The subject index does not exhaust every instance where the subject is mentioned,
particularly within the letterpress books.
Henry Whitcomb Holley (1828-1897) was born in Pierrepont Manor, New York, May 5, 1828, the
son of David and Betsey (Randall) Holley. He graduated from Norwich University, Vermont, in
1849. From 1849-1856, he was a contracting engineer for railroads in Ohio, Indiana, and
Wisconsin. Holley came to Minnesota in 1856 and settled in Chatfield. He was editor of the
Chatfield Republican (1856-1861); a state senator
(1859-1861); and receiver of the U.S. Land Office at Winnebago City (1861-1869). He began
his engineering career with the Southern Minnesota Railroad in 1865, became chief engineer
of construction, and was also the company's general manager and superintendent.
Other interests of Holley included: the Root River State Bank, of which he was one of the
organizers, and land and real estate in Faribault County. Holley was also one of the
organizers of the Root River State Bank and was in land and real estate in Faribault County.
He also published a number of volumes of poetry.
Holley married Eliza Jane Christie in 1855. The children born to the couple were Maud,
Kate, Elizabeth, Mabel, and Henry. Holley died in Everett, Washington, in 1897.
This collection contains 26 volumes and 10 items of correspondence. The letterpress books,
which are extremely fragile, mainly comprises correspondence relating to Henry Whitcomb
Holley's professional work concerning real estate transactions, mining claims, railroad
construction/development, business enterprises, and his literary career on the side.
Correspondence mainly concerns letters to his wife, Eliza Christie Holley, and letters from
his friend, William Windom.
The volumes are arranged by type then chronologically. The correspondence is arranged
alphabetically.
Alcohol Law and legislation – United States.
- Subject in Ogle, J.C. 1 letter to E.J. Holley, A.L.S. (6 p.), (1887, Aug. 2), Owatonna (Minn.). HM 79993.
American literature – 19th century – Anecdotes, facetiae, satire, etc.
- Subject in Poems: written for The Politicians, 2nd Edition: [draft], [undated]. HM 79981.
American newspapers – Sections, columns, etc.
- Subject in Scrapbooks: Columns, poems, etc. written for the Superior Times (1896). HM 79984.
Business enterprises.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1892, Mar. 19 – 1892, Nov. 29), Spokane (Wa.). HM 79969.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1893, July 6 – 1894, Aug. 29), (Wa.). HM 79970.
Mining claims.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1892, Mar. 19 – 1892, Nov. 29), Spokane (Wa.). HM 79969.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1895, Mar. 25 – 1896, Feb. 22), Everett (Wa.). HM 79972.
Political satire, American – 19th century.
- Subject in Scrapbooks: Columns, poems, etc. written for the Superior Times (1896). HM 79984.
Politics and culture – United States – Periodicals.
- Subject in Scrapbooks: Columns, poems, etc. written for the Superior Times (1896). HM 79984.
Politics and Literature – United States – History – 19th century.
- Subject in Scrapbooks: Letters, poems, and clippings (1881 – 1886). HM 79983.
- Subject in Scrapbooks: Columns, poems, etc. written for the Superior Times (1896). HM 79984.
Prohibitionists – United States.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1889, Feb 27 – 1890, June 30). HM 79966.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1891, Aug. 8 – 1891, Nov. 1), Winnebago City (Minn.). Note: Letter book begins on August 8, 1891. HM 79967.
Railroads – Design and construction.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1889, Feb 27 – 1890, June 30). HM 79966.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1892, Mar. 19 – 1892, Nov. 29), Spokane (Wa.). HM 79969.
Railroads – Mexico – Planning.
- Subject in Scrapbooks: Letters, poems, and clippings, (1881 – 1886). HM 79983.
Real estate development.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1891, Oct. 6 – 1892, Mar. 14). Note: First part of the letter book contains poems and essays. HM 79968.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1892, Mar. 19 – 1892, Nov. 29), Spokane (Wa.). HM 79969.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1893, July 6 – 1894, Aug. 29), (Wa.). HM 79970.
Real estate transactions.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1893, July 6 – 1894, Aug. 29), (Wa.). HM 79970.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1894, Feb. 23 – 1894, Aug. 29), Everett (Wa.). HM 79971.
Satires – United States – 19th century.
- Subject in Scrapbooks: Columns, poems, etc. written for the Superior Times (1896). HM 79984.
Temperance – United States
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1889, Feb 27 – 1890, June 30). HM 79965.
- Subject in Holley, H. W. (Henry Whitcomb), 1828-1897 to A-Z (1891, Oct. 6– 1892, Mar. 14). Note: First part of the letter book contains poems and essays. HM 79968.
- Subject in Ogle, J.C. 1 letter to E.J. Holley, A.L.S. (6 p.), (1887, Aug. 2), Owatonna (Minn.). HM 79993.
United States – Politics and government – Caricatures and cartoons.
- Subject in Poems: written for The Politicians, 2nd Edition: [draft]. HM 79981.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Alcohol Law and legislation -- United States
American literature -- 19th century -- Anecdotes, facetiae, satire,
etc.
American newspapers -- Sections, columns, etc.
Business enterprises
Land titles -- Minnesota
Mining claims
Political satire, American -- 19th century
Politics and culture -- United States -- Periodicals
Politics and literature -- United States -- 19th century
Prohibitionists -- United States
Railroads -- Design and construction
Railroads -- Mexico -- Planning
Railroad land grants -- Minnesota
Real property -- Minnesota
Real estate development
Real estate transactions
Satires -- United States -- 19th century
Sections, columns, etc. American newspapers -- Wisconsin
Temperance -- United States
Delavan (Wis.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
Marias Pass (Mont.) -- Description and travel
Minnesota -- Politics and government
Minnesota -- Social conditions
United States -- Politics and government -- Caricatures and
cartoons.
Winnebago City (Minn.)
Correspondence -- United States -- 19th century
Letterpress copybooks -- United States -- 19th century
Poems -- United States -- 19th century
Scrapbooks -- United States -- 19th century