Samuel Cooper papers, 1718-1798

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Abstract:
This collection contains the papers of Massachusetts scholar and Congregational minister Samuel Cooper (1725-1783). Includes sermons by Cooper and his father William Cooper (1694-1743), dating from 1718-1783 (strongest for the period 1740-1759) and correspondence, covering international politics in relation to the American colonies (1769-1783), French officers in North America (1778-1783), and the Cooper family affairs.
Extent:
5.2 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Language:
English and French.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Samuel Cooper papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the letters, manuscripts (including sermons, 4 diaries, and 1 poem), and documents. Includes 195 sermons by William Cooper and Samuel Cooper, 1718-1783 (strongest for the period 1740-1759) and correspondence, covering international politics in relation to the American colonies (1769-1783), French officers in North America (1778-1783), and the Cooper family affairs (1759-1798). Some pieces are in French. Among the correspondents are John Adams (3 pieces), Charles Hector d'Estaing (3 pieces), Benjamin Franklin (5 pieces), Gideon Hawley (2 pieces), Anne César de la Luzerne (6 pieces), Charles Gravier de Vergennes (2 pieces). There are two letters (1771, Feb. 25 and 1776, Jan. 8) from Gideon Hawley describing his life among the Indians. There are 177 pieces of Samuel Cooper and 43 pieces of William Cooper.

The John Adams items include two autograph letters signed to Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes, 1779 February 16 and 27 (CO 7, CO 13) and one letterpress copy of a letter to Benjamin Franklin, 1783 September 13 (CO 36), not in Adams' hand.

Some notable items include:

  1. Cooper, Samuel. Letter to the Corporation of Harvard, declining the presidency of the college. [February 10, 1774]
  2. Hawley, Gideon. Two letters to Dr. Cooper, describing his life among the Indians. February 25, 1771 and January 8, 1776
  3. Lee, Arthur. Letter to Dr. Cooper, regarding the mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line. Jan. 18, 1781
  4. Lovell, James. Letter discussing the neutrality of Russia and Denmark and the possible action of Holland; also, Virginia's relinquishment of [UNK]to western territory. February 1, 1781

The diaries cover the periods 1764 January 1 - 1765 February 2; 1769 October 22 - December 31; 1775 April 18 - September 23; and 1775 April 19 - May 17, 1776. The 1769 diary was published in New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 55 (1901), pp. 145-149, and the 1775-1776 diary was published in The American Historical Review, vol. 6 (Jan. 1901), pp. 301-341.

Biographical / historical:

Samuel Cooper (1724-1784), scholar and Congregational minister, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Following in the footsteps of his father, William Cooper, he was educated for the ministry and was graduated from Harvard in 1743. In the same year, before his ordination took place, he was called to be assistant pastor of the Brattle Street Church in Boston. Four years later he became sole incumbent and remained in the same pastorate to the end of his life.

For many years Dr. Cooper was a member of the Corporation of Harvard College. He was an ardent patriot, and took an active part in the politics of his day. He numbered among his most intimate friends many famous Americans, and all of the distinguished Frenchmen who visited Boston during the course of the war.

Acquisition information:

Chiefly purchased from Marvin C. Taylor, 1926.

Diary and miscellaneous account (1775, Apr. 18 -- Sept 23 ) Purchased from Mary O'Neal, Nov. 1, 2010.

Custodial history:

Diary and miscellaneous account (1775, Apr. 18 -- Sept 23) was held on deposit at The Massachusetts Historical Society until 1999.

Processing information:

This finding aid was updated in 2022 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project with enhanced description of the presidential material present.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

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]. Samuel Cooper 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
Website