Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Rebecca Spring Papers,
- Dates:
- ca. 1830-1900
- Creators:
- Spring, Rebecca.
- Extent:
- 1 linear ft.
- Language:
- English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item] Rebecca Spring Papers, M0541, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Incoming correspondence (ca. 200 letters) from American and European political, religious, and literary figures. Manuscript of Rebecca Spring's memoirs (191 p.), ca. 1900.
- Biographical / historical:
-
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.
- Custodial history:
-
Rebecca's grandson, Herbert Peet Heron, inherited the papers which remained in storage until March, 1990. Purchased, June, 1990.
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- © 1999
- Date Encoded:
- Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, 1999 Oct. 15. Supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Steven Mandeville-Gamble.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
None.
- Terms of access:
-
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.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item] Rebecca Spring Papers, M0541, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
- Location of this collection:
-
Department of Special Collections, Green Library557 Escondido MallStanford, CA 94305-6004, US
- Contact:
- (650) 725-1022