Arranged chronologically.

Unrestricted

The Lyman Beecher material consists of correspondence written to his son Edward Beecher from Jan.-Dec. 1826 while Edward was at Yale College. In his letters he often gives family news, discusses his health and dispenses advice regarding Edward's future career as a minister. The collection also contains a letter from 1829 written to Zilpah Grant Banister arguing that she should unite with his daughter Catharine Beecher in an educational endeavor in Hartford.

Arranged chronologically.

Unrestricted

The Catharine E. Beecher material dates from 1822-1878 and consists of correspondence by her and a manuscript sketch of her life by an unknown author. Her correspondence dates from 1822-1860 and mainly consists of letters to her brother Edward Beecher, Mary Lyon, and Zilpah Grant Banister. In her letters to her brother, 1822-1828, she frequently gives advice regarding his career as a minister and his religious views. In a letter dated March 26, 1825 she also expresses her desire that he have "a 'cronie dear' of your sex and not look to ours alone." Her letters to Edward, which also contain letters to her brother George in two instances, illustrate her sentiment, expressed in a letter dated April 25, 1826, that "the interest of brothers and sisters in each others employment and concerns should not be suffered to decay, by neglecting" letter writing. The topic she discusses most often in her letters is the Hartford Female Seminary. In a letter dated June 1, 1826 she discusses the religious state of the school and in a letter dated August 23, 1828 she bemoans the lack of proper textbooks available: "there is not a single book upon earth made as it ought to be and one of the best things in the millennium will be schoolbooks that will not tire the patience of Job to read them." In two letters dated March 8 and April 25, 1826 she mentions the need to find "a young man of colour who is pious to be educated for a physician" for the colony of Liberia. Her letters to Lyon and Banister discuss her writings, the publication of her textbooks, objections to Lyon's plan to open Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, the need for more teachers, and her ideas on women's education. Of note is the letter written to Banister circa 1849 from the Northampton Water Cure run by David Ruggles urging Banister to come see Dr. Ruggles. A broadside describing the establishment forms the first page of this letter. The Catharine E. Beecher material also includes photocopies of a letter written to Mary Lyon in 1843 and of a manuscript stating the need for more teachers. The originals of these documents can be found in the Henry Barnard Collection, Fales Library, New York University.

Arranged chronologically.

Unrestricted

The William Beecher material consists of a letter dated July 8, 1827 to his brother Edward Beecher in which he discusses his future plans, and a copy of a memorial article from June 1889 which provides some biographical information about him.

Arranged chronologically.

Unrestricted

The material relating to Katherine Edes Beecher, wife of William Beecher, consists of a letter written in 1839 to Zilpah Grant Banister requesting her help in finding a suitable head for an unnamed seminary.

Arranged chronologically.

Unrestricted

The Edward Beecher material consists of correspondence, 1826-1836, and sermons, circa 1870. The bulk of the letters are written to his father, Lyman Beecher, but also include a letter written to his maternal grandmother, Roxana Foote. In these letters he discusses his job as a tutor at Yale College, family news, various professional opportunities or job offers received from churches and colleges, and his physical, mental and spiritual health. In a letter dated December 4, 1826 he requests that his father preach the sermon at his upcoming ordination service. The collection also includes handwritten copies of four of his sermons and fragments of two others, circa 1870. Topics of the sermons include "Is dancing a proper amusement for Christians?", "Has more evil than good been accomplished by fictitious writing?", "Suffering not necessarily an evil," and women's suffrage. The material also includes an undated letter written by Anna Jones to her sister, Edward's wife Isabella Jones Beecher.

Arranged chronologically.

Unrestricted

The Mary Beecher material consists of two letters written to her brother Edward Beecher dated February and April 5, 1826. Her first letter discusses her struggles with the Christian life, which she says "tho' a life of trial and conflict is also one of great happiness." She also discusses the family's upcoming move from Litchfield, Connecticut, a place she describes with great fondness. Her second letter is written from Hartford, Connecticut and discusses her sister Catharine's school there, the Hartford Female Seminary. She describes the school's new building (rent was $65) and also discusses her spiritual life.

Arranged chronologically.

Unrestricted

The Henry Ward Beecher material consists of three memorial items dating from 1887-1903. The collection includes a copy of the program for the Henry Ward Beecher Memorial dated March 8, 1903. It also includes a copy of "The Boyhood of Henry Ward Beecher," printed on July 19, 1887 at the request of friends. The volume contains descriptions of Beecher's formative years and includes some of Beecher's own recollections. The collection also includes a memorial volume compiled by the Plymouth Church in 1887 which documents the death and funeral of Henry Ward Beecher. This volume contains a formal photograph.

Arranged chronologically.

Unrestricted

The Charles Beecher material consists of a letter written to Charles' nephew Frederick W. Beecher (son of his brother Edward Beecher) by Charles and his wife Sarah Coffin Beecher dated November 20, 1894. In it she writes of fond family memories and intimates some change in Frederick's parents Edward and Isabella Beecher (perhaps sickness - both died in 1895). Charles writes of the book Frederick sent him, which he is reading "with interest". The collection also includes a pamphlet dated May 1, 1900 containing the address given at Charles Beecher's funeral service.

Arranged chronologically.

Unrestricted

The Thomas Kinnicut Beecher material consists of correspondence written to his brother Edward Beecher and Beecher's son Frederick W. Beecher. In a letter dated November 22, 1845 Thomas writes to Edward for his father Lyman, who was recovering from an illness. The letter discusses a recent article written by Edward, entitled "Organic Sins," and Lyman's misgivings about that phrase. His letter to his nephew Frederick is dated May 20, 1865. In it he consoles his nephew on a recent loss (probably the death of his child from diphtheria), and mentions that "Grandpa [Lyman] Beecher buried his Freddie," referring to the 1820 death of Lyman's son Frederick. His letter also mentions his grief at the death of President Abraham Lincoln.

Unrestricted

The Frederick W. Beecher material consists of a letter dated June 9, 1865, written by Richard Henry Stoddard sympathizing with Frederick on the recent loss of his young son. The letter is accompanied by a copy of a poem written by Stoddard's wife, Elizabeth Drew Barrett Stoddard, published in "Harper's Magazine," written after the death of their infant son circa 1861. The material also contains notes taken on sermons and lectures by his father, Edward Beecher, and others, dated 1858-1859.