Inventory of the Nicoll Family Papers, 1801-1933

Processed by Olga Tsapina; machine-readable finding aid created by Xiuzhi Zhou

Manuscripts Department

The Huntington Library

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2203

Fax: (626) 449-5720

Email: lgarcia@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554

Inventory of the Nicoll Family Papers, 1801-1933

The Huntington Library

San Marino, California

Contact Information

Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: lgarcia@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554

Processed by:: Olga Tsapina
Date Completed:: May 14, 1999
Encoded by:: Xiuzhi Zhou

Descriptive Summary

Title: Nicoll Family Papers,

Date (inclusive): 1801-1933

Creator: Nicoll Family

Extent: 3 boxes

Repository: The Huntington Library

San Marino, California 91108

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Provenance

The collection was donated to the Library by Barbara Lee Van Holt in July, 1998.

Access

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information please go to following URL .

Publication Rights

In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials, researchers must obtain formal permission from the office of the Library Director. In most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical property rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary rights. In some instances, the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate curator for further information.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Nicoll Family Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Biographical Note

The Nicoll family was a prominent family of New Haven Con., related, by marriage, to the families of Deall, Bishop, Lynde, Law and Palmers.

The founder of the Nicoll family was Matthias Nicolls (1626-1687), a noted jurist, who came to America in 1663 and became the provincial secretary of New York. The first generations of the Nicolls lived in New York.

In 1778, John Nicoll (1756-1831) married Jane Deall of Brunswick, Long Island. On April 30, 1784, the couple moved to New Haven, Conn. with their children Elizabeth Deall and Augustus. Their second son Charles was born in New Haven in 1797.

Elizabeth Deall married John Hart Lynde, and, after his death, became the third wife of Abraham Bishop (1763-1844), a noted politician and educator. Charles Nicoll married Caroline Bishop, daughter of Abraham Bishop and his second wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) Law. In 1828 Abraham Bishop built for the newlywed couple the house at 13 Elm St. New Haven, Con. Charles and Caroline Bishop Nicoll had five children - Elizabeth Law Nicoll (1829-1909), John (1831-1909), Charles Edward (1838-1916), Cornelia Bishop (1835-1904), and Caroline Bishop (1837-1866). Cornelia Bishop and Caroline Bishop attended the Young Ladies' Collegiate Institute in New Haven. Caroline died in 1866, reportedly of smallpox. Cornelia Bishop Nicoll and Elizabeth Law were not married.

Charles Edward Nicoll married Mary Ann Palmer (1842-1880). The Palmer family of New Haven Conn. was founded by Francis Richard Palmer (1777-1853), the only son of Lord Joseph Palmer of Lambert in Surrey, England. As he married "beneath" his social station, Francis Richard Palmer was disinherited, the money going back to the Crown. His friend, an aristocrat, came to his rescue and made him "Master of Hounds" of his estate in England. Following the death of Francis Richard Palmer, his widow, nJe Henrietta Sophia Smart, came to New York with her eight children. Her son Francis Richard Palmer (1809-1895) married Martha Louise Doolittle (1818-1880) of New Haven. The Palmers had three daughters - Mary Ann, Elizabeth, and Eleanore. Elizabeth Palmer became a teacher. Mary Ann's first marriage to Wesley J. Randall ended in divorce in March 1861; her son from this marriage, Francis Palmer Randall, later took the last name of his stepfather.

In the early 1870's Charles Edward and Mary Ann Nicoll moved to Minneapolis, Min. They had had five surviving children -- John Edward (1867-1908), Edward Bishop (1868-1962), Caroline Louisa (1781-1936), Charles Joseph (1876-1919), and Mary Elizabeth (b. 1878). After Mary Ann Palmer Nicoll, died in 1880, Mary Elizabeth (Mary) and Caroline Louisa (Carrie) were in care of their aunt, Elizabeth Law Nicoll. Caroline Louisa Nicoll married Francis Bland of Wobrun, Mass. in 1912. Charles Joseph and his wife Della Victoria Welchel lived in Napa and San Francisco, but in 1901 had to move north, due to lack of job and a "labor fight" in San Francisco. In 1909, Charles Edward Nicoll moved to California.

Edward Bishop Nicoll moved to California in the 1880's. In 1889-1923 he was Vice-President and treasurer of Carl Entenmann Jewelry Co. in Los Angeles, and in 1923 opened a sole retail jewelry business. In 1899 he married Emma Matilda Walter, "a native of Germany;" the couple had one daughter, Florence Edna (b. 1912). He was ex-sergeant of Signal Corps 1st Brigade of National Guards, an active member of the Turnverein Germania, and president of Pasadena Glen Improvement Association.

Scope and Content

The collection numbers 119 pieces of letters and manuscripts and 150 pieces of photographs and ephemera. It has been fully cataloged and available for research.

Letters, manuscripts, documents, photographs, and ephemera. Family and business correspondence of John Nicoll, Charles Nicoll, Charles Edward Nicoll and Edward Bishop Nicoll. The Nicoll family papers depict the evolution of the home and family life throughout the nineteenth century, details of the business activities, maintaining a home, child rearing, and leisure, especially thought and activities of married women.

The collections contains a note signed by Samuel Bishop, the collector of the port of New Haven. He appointed his son, Abraham Bishop, an ardent supporter of Jefferson, a deputy collector. In 1801 President Jefferson removed the Federalist collector of the port and assigned the place to Samuel Bishop. As his father was in feeble health, it was generally considered that the appointment was in effect that of Abraham himself, a reward for political services.

The letters of John Nicoll contain his business correspondence, and the letters to his son, Charles Nicoll, who was attending Middlebury college in Vermont, and later worked in New York. His business correspondence contains a letter from John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), in which the famous financier inquires after certain transactions with John Nicoll and John Ebbits, husband of John Nicoll's niece Sarah Nicoll Woodland (b. 1774).

The letters of Charles Nicoll to his wife describe construction works on canals in Montague and Greenfield, Mass., where he worked in the 1830-40's. In his letter of Feb. 27, 1858, William Law wrote to Charles Nicoll: "Kansas affairs seem to get deeper and deeper... Gov. Walker has been bought and thus forfeited any claim to honour and honesty ... I look however for better times -- in Missouri they are coming up to the help of free soil and Freedom - in Russia they have taken a good stand and they speak out like honest men for freedom."

Letters written by Mary Ann Palmer Nicoll to her relatives and friends in New Haven - Martha Loiusa Doolittle Palmer, sisters Eleanore and Elizabeth Palmer, and others, contain family news, description of domestic and social life, and also poems written by Mary Ann Palmer Nicoll.

The papers of Edward B. Nicoll include his business and private correspondence, and the journal of the automobile trip that he undertook with his wife in August of 1909 from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The letters of Charles Edward Nicoll of 1909-1911 contain reflections on aging, comparisons between the life in the Midwest and California..

The collection also includes the family scrapbook and photographs of Los Angeles and Long Beach in 1910-30's. Among the photographs are pictures of the aftermath of the earthquakes in San Francisco April 13, 1906 and Long Beach in March 3, 1933, and the costumed balls staged by the Los Angeles Turnverein in 1920's.

Ephemera include a Catalogue of the Instructors and Pupils in the Young Ladies' Collegiate Institute New Haven, Con. During the Year Ending August, 1849. (New Haven, William H. Stanley, Printer, 1849), and issue of The Mother's Assistant and Fireside Miscellany (Boston, C. Stone & Co.,) 1855, Vol. X, No. 4., an issue of American Friend, a newspaper published in Marietta, OH (Nov. 19, 1819), and a membership card to an "Aloha Beach Club".

Additional Related Information

A copy of the genealogical chart of the Nicoll family is available at the library. The original is the property of Barbara Van Holt.
A data base containing records for all items, with full subject indexing is available for consultation at the Department of Manuscripts.

Letters (Astor - Nicoll, Cornelia Bishop). 1801-1911 HM 59300-HM 59360, 59400.

Physical Description: 62 folders

Box 1

HM 59300 Astor, John Jacob, 1763-1848.

To John Nicoll 1824, Sept. 24

HM 59301 Bartlett Music Co., The

Bill of sale 1905, Jan. 30

HM 59302 Bishop, Samuel, 1723-1803

To Abraham Bishop 1801, June 16

HM 59303 Bristol, Noyce

To Charles Nicoll 1858, Mar. 1

HM 59304 Busti, Paul

To John Nicoll 1808, June 22

HM 59307 California - Department of Engineering - Motor Vehicle Division

Driver's license of Edward B. Nicoll 1914

HM 59305Oversized folder California - Los Angeles Co.

Marriage license of Edward B. Nicoll and Emma Matilda Walter Nicoll 1899, July 8

HM 59306 California - National Guards - 1st Brigade

Special Order No. 19 1890, May 31

HM 59308 Deall, Caroline Ramsey, 1795-1828

To Charles Nicoll 1825, May 12

HM 59309 Deall, Caroline Ramsey, 1795-1828

To Charles Nicoll 1827, Nov. 8

HM 59310 Deall, Ethelinda Latting, b. 1767

To Charles and Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1831, Nov. 20.

HM 59311 Deall, Ethelinda Latting, b. 1767

To Charles Nicoll 1851, Apr. 9.

HM 59312 Durrie, William

To Edward B. Nicoll 1873, Oct. 31

HM 59313 Entenmann and Borst, Jewelers

To Edward B. Nicoll 1899, Sept. 1

HM 59314 Everit, Mary Talman Lawrence, 1828-1909

To Charles Nicoll 1864, Feb. 28

HM 59315 Foster, John M.

To Charles Nicoll 1858, Aug. 25

HM 59316 Foster, Minerva B.

To Charles Nicoll 1858, Aug. 4

HM 59317 Foster, Minerva B.

To Charles Nicoll 1858, Aug.

HM 59318 Foster, Pierrepont B.

To Ira Merwin 1844, Aug. 10

HM 59319 Law, William

To Charles Nicoll 1858, Feb. 27

HM 59320 Leon T. Shetter Automobiles

Receipts and guarantee 1909, May 22-23

HM 59321 Lynde, John Hart, b. 1803

To Charles Nicoll 1858, Aug. 27

HM 59322 Morton, Amos

To Charles Nicoll 1815, May 5

HM 59323 Murray, Amelia J.

To Caroline Nicoll 1823, July 14

HM 59324 Nicoll, Augustus, 1759-1831

To John Nicoll 1817, Feb. 17

HM 59325 Nicoll, Augustus, 1759-1831

To John Nicoll 1820, May 21

HM 59326 Nicoll, Augustus, 1759-1831

To John Nicoll 1820, Aug. 24

HM 59327 Nicoll, Augustus, 1759-1831

To John Nicoll 1820, Aug. 25

HM 59328 Nicoll, Augustus, 1759-1831

To John Nicoll 1821, Jan. 12

HM 59329 Nicoll, Augustus, 1759-1831

To John Nicoll 1821, May 24

HM 59330 Nicoll, Caroline Bishop, 1804-1864

To Charles Nicoll 1841, Aug. 12

HM 59331 Nicoll, Caroline Bishop, 1804-1864

To Charles Nicoll 1841, Sept. 22

HM 59332 Nicoll, Caroline Bishop, 1804-1864

To Charles Nicoll 1842, Mar. 2

HM 59333 Nicoll, Caroline Bishop, 1804-1864

To Charles Nicoll 1842, Mar. 25

HM 59334 Nicoll, Caroline Bishop, 1804-1864

To Charles Nicoll 1847, Aug. 24

HM 59335 Nicoll, Caroline Bishop, 1837-1866

To Charles Edward Nicoll Not after 1866

HM 59336 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Jane Deall Nicoll 1811, July 29

HM 59337 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To John Nicoll 1811, Aug. 11

HM 59338 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Jane Deall Nicoll 1811, Aug. 6

HM 59339 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To John Nicoll !81(?), July 20

HM 59340 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Jane Deall Nicoll 181(?), Sep. 12

HM 59341 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1830, June 7

HM 59342 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1831, Jan. 5

HM 59343 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1831, Mar. 21

HM 59344 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1833, Apr. 2

HM 59345 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1833, Apr. 25

HM 59346 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1839, Oct. 2

HM 59347 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1844, Jan. 12

HM 59348 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1844, Aug. 10

HM 59349 Nicoll, Charles, 1797-1831

To Caroline Bishop Nicoll 1844, Aug. 14

HM 59350 Nicoll, Charles Edward, Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer

To "Dear Sisters" 1866, Nov. 23-27.

HM 59351 Nicoll, Charles Edward, 1838-1916

Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer

To Cornelia Bishop Nicoll and Elizabeth Law Nicoll 1867, Sept. 13

HM 59352 Nicoll, Charles Edward, 1838-1916

Nicoll Mary Ann Palmer

To Eleanore Palmer 1874, Feb. 6

HM 59353 Nicoll, Charles Edward, 1838-1916

To Elizabeth Palmer 187(?), Apr. 3

HM 59354 Nicoll, Charles Edward, 1838-1916

To Cornelia Bishop Nicoll 1904, Mar. 7

HM 59355 Nicoll, Charles Edward, 1838-1916

To Edward Bishop Nicoll 1905, Aug. 27

HM 59356 Nicoll, Charles Edward, 1838-1916

To "Dear Sister" 1906, Apr. 16

HM 59357 Nicoll, Charles Edward, 1838-1916

To Edward B. Nicoll 1909, Aug. 29

HM 59358 Nicoll, Charles Edward, 1838-1916

To Edward B. Nicoll 1911, Oct. 18

HM 59359 Nicoll, Charles Edward, 1838-1916

To Edward B. Nicoll 1913, Aug. 1

HM 59360 Nicoll, Charles Josef, 1875-1919

To Edward B. Nicoll 1901, Aug. 6

HM 59400 To Cornelia Bishop Nicoll 18(?)

Papers (Nicoll, Edward- Winslow) 1812-1932 HM59361 -HM59414

Physical Description: 53 folders

Box 2

HM 59361 Nicoll, Edward, 1790-1820

To Jane Deall Nicoll 1812, Jan. 4

HM 59362 Nicoll, Edward A.

To Charles Nicoll 1832, May 9

HM 59363 Nicoll, Edward Bishop, 1868-1962

To Fred Walter 1909, Aug. 23 - Sept. 13

HM 59364 Nicoll, Edward Bishop, 1868-1962

Journal of the automobile trip. 1909, Aug. 23 - Sept. 13

HM 59365 Nicoll, Edward Bishop, 1868-1962

To Fred Walter 1916, Aug. 31

HM 59366 Nicoll, Emma Matilda Walter

To Edward Bishop Nicoll 1921, Mar. 14

HM 59374 Nicoll, John, 1756-1831

To Charles Nicoll 1816, Feb. 19

HM 59373 Nicoll, John, 1756-1831

To Charles Nicoll 1816, Apr. 23

HM 59372 Nicoll, John, 1756-1831

To Charles Nicoll 1817, Mar. 18

HM 59371 Nicoll, John, 1756-1831

To Charles Nicoll 1819, June 4

HM 59370 Nicoll, John, 1756-1831

To Charles Nicoll 1819, June 11

HM 59369 Nicoll, John, 1756-1831

To Charles Nicoll 1819, July 7

HM 59367 Nicoll, John, 1756-1831

To Charles Nicoll 1827, Aug. 4

HM 59368 Nicoll, John, 1756-1831

Shepherd, Jennette

To Charles Nicoll 1828, Mar. 24

HM 59375 Nicoll, John, 1831-1904

To Edward B. Nicoll 1904, Nov. 29

HM 59384 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

A Story for All Both Large and Small 1854

HM 59379 Nicoll, Mary Ann Plamer, 1842-1880

Poems 185(?)-6(?)

HM 59399 To Mary Ann Palmer Nicoll: A Valentine. Not after 1861

HM 59380 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

My Party in the Country 1858, Mar. 4

HM 59385 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To "Dear Sister" 1869, Aug. 19

HM 59378 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To "Doughnutty Ann" 1873, Mar. 25

HM 59377 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Eleanore Palmer 1873, Aug. 5

HM 59387 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Martha Loiuse Doolittle 1873, Oct. 19

HM 59376 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Eleanor Palmer 1874, Jan. 25

HM 59388 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Eleanor Palmer 1874, Feb. 22

HM 59389 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Eleanor Palmer 1874, Aug. 7

HM 59383 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To "Doughnutty Ann" 1875, Aug. 15

HM 59390 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Cornelia Bishop Nicoll 1877, Jan. 14

HM 59391 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Elizabeth and Eleanor Palmer 1877, June 24.

HM 59392 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To "Old Doughnutty Ann" 1879, Aug. 24

HM 59394 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Eleanor Palmer 187(?), Jan. 26

HM 59395 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Eleanor Palmer 187(?), Jan.

HM 59386 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Eleanor Palmer 187(?), Apr. 8

HM 59393 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Elizabeth and Eleanor Palmer 187(?), Sept. 23

HM 59381 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Eleanor Palmer 187(?)

HM 59382 Nicoll, Mary Ann Palmer, 1842-1880

To Louise Doolittle Palmer 187(?)

HM 59398 Nicoll, Matthias, 1758-1830

To "Dear Nicoll" 1825, Apr. 25

HM 59397 Nicoll, Matthias, 1758-1830

To "Dear Nicoll" 1827, Mar. 9

HM 59396 Nicoll, Matthias, 1758-1830

To "Dear Nicoll" 1827, Apr. 20

HM 59401 Palmer, Elizabeth, b. 1855

To Mary Elizabeth Nicoll 1932, May 22

HM 59405 Shepherd, Jennette

To John Nicoll 1826, Apr. 30

HM 59406 Shepherd, Jennette

To John Nicoll 1826, May 7

HM 59403 Shepherd, Jennette

To John Nicoll 1830, May 18

HM 59404 Shepherd, Jennette

To John Nicoll 1830, July 30

HM 59408 Shepherd, Jennette

To Charles Nicoll 1855, July 27

HM 59407 Shepherd, Jennette

To Charles Nicoll 1855, Nov. 1

HM 59409 Shepherd, Thomas

To John Nicoll 1829, Dec. 24

HM 59410 Smith, Alfred

To Charles (?) Nicoll 1827, Dec. 30

HM 59402 Springs, Elizabeth

To Charles Nicoll 1862, Aug. 6

HM 59411 Walters, E.L.

To Edward Bishop Nicoll 1912, Jan. 14

HM 59412 Wetmore, R.B.

To Charles Nicoll 1853, Dec. 31

HM 59413 Winslow, Bell

To Charles (?) Nicoll 18(?)

HM 59414 To the Children's Friends 18(?)

Photographs and ephemera. 1860's - 1930's HM 59415, 59417-59422.

Physical Description: 5 folders and scrapbook in oversized box.

Box 3

Family scrapbook (HM 59417)

Photographs: Nicoll family (34 pieces, HM 59420), the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 (72 pieces, HM 59421) and the Long Beach earthquake of 1933 (23 pieces, HM 59418); an albumen print entitled "Los Angeles Shools, 1890" picturing an students and teachers of an integrated school (HM 59419); masquerades staged by American Turners of Los Angeles (7 pieces, HM 59422).

Ephemera (HM 59415): Nicoll coat of arms; printed "Catalogue oif the Instructors and Pupils in the Young Laides Collegiate Institute, New Haven, Conn., During the Year Ending August, 1849. (New Haven, 1849), an issue of the magazine "The Mother's Assistant and Fireside Miscellany" (vol. X, No. 4, October, 1855, Boston); membership card of Aloha Beach Club issued to Edward B. Nicoll; a part of the newspaper "American Friend" (Marrietta, OH Nov. 19, 1819).