Laurenus Clark Seelye Papers, 1820-1995 (bulk 1875-1924) : Scope & Contents of the Collection

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Laurenus Clark Seelye Papers cover 1820 - 1995. The majority of the materials are from 1875 - 1924, when Seelye did most of his work. The bulk of the material is correspondence and written sermons and lectures. Other types of materials represented in this collection include news articles, photographs, manuscripts and published works, notebooks, scrapbooks, journals, and memorabilia.

The correspondence ranges in date from 1860 - 1934, and is divided by family and professional life. The family correspondence is mostly from the 1860s between various members of the family. The professional correspondence is divided into the following sections: Smith College (1872-1934), Non-Smith College (1876-1924), and Employment opportunities (1862-1872). The Smith College correspondence consists of familiar names, including President Marion LeRoy Burton, Harry Norman Gardiner, Arthur L. Gillett, John M. Greene, Mary Augusta Jordan, William H. Lanning, Alice (Lord) Parsons, and Herbert A. Wilder. The correspondence provides a good record of the early days of Smith College, as well as a look at the people after whom Smith College buildings and monuments are named. Names of note in the Non-Smith College correspondence are Andrew Carnegie, President William McKinley, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. The letters in this segment cover everything from money to religion. One weakness of the correspondence is that quite a few of the first names of correspondents are not apparent or are completely unknown.

The series of lectures comprises the largest portion of history in this collection. All of these works were written by Seeleye and give incredible insight into his religious and secular views. The sermons range from 1859-1910 and include the city in which the sermon was given. Speeches are divided into religious, Washington's Birthday, and secular categories. Seeleye's lectures are divided into subject. His lectures on English Literature were given between 1864 - 1875.