Manuscripts Collection
Frances L. (Haynes) James was born in East Livermore, Maine on June 25, 1853. In the late 1850s she moved to St. Paul where her mother, Harriet, had taken a job after the death of Frances' father, Francis Greenleaf Haynes. She worked as an artist in the St. Paul area, painting miniatures. She compiled and edited the correspondence found in the volumes included in this collection. In 1874 she married Henry Clay James and they had seven children: Margaret, Cornelia, Helen, Ethel, Henry Jr., Frances, and Linda. Her date of death is not known.
Francis Greenleaf Haynes was born in New England on July 29, 1823. In September 1852 he married Harriet Wing Williams and together they had three children: Frances, Helen, and Francis, Jr. who died at age one. Haynes worked as an artist, painting portraits. He worked in Augusta and East Livermore, Maine, as well as Manchester, New Hampshire. He died October 3, 1858 at age 35. Harriet moved to St. Paul, where she worked in the school district for 25 years, as teacher and assistant principal, until 1885. She died in 1899 at the age of 71.
These documents are organized into the following sections:
William A. Benitt Papers are in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections. Paintings by Fances H. James and Francis G. Haynes are in the Minnesota Historical Society art collection.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should
Accession number: 12,546; 12,878; 15,803; 15,877
Processed by: Jeffrey Desannoy, July 2003
Additions by: David B. Peterson, August 2012
Catalog ID number: 001733829
Five volumes of letters, edited by Frances L. James, describe the family's life in Maine, and in Newport and St. Paul, Minnesota, between the years 1849 and 1924. They are illustrated with watercolors by Frances L. James. Also included are a photograph album and a folder of miscellaneous correspondence and other material.
Transcribed letters compiled by Frances James, and illustrated with family photographs and Frances' watercolors. Most are from Francis to Harriet Williams ("Hattie") during their two-year courtship. There are several letters from Francis to Helen Neil, a relative of his mother who introduced Francis and Harriet. Many of the letters contain expressions of Francis' love for Harriet, their relationship, and his intentions. Some letters mention his travels around New England and some of the portraits he was commissioned to paint. Pages that had been tucked into the volume are included in the correspondence folder, as is a lock of hair from the book.
Letters include detailed
information about the author and recipient of each letter, the most common
being Harriet (Williams) Haynes, Frances (Haynes) James, and Helen (Haynes)
Jaynes. The children most often mentioned are Margaret James, Cornelia James,
and Henry James, Jr. The letters detail family
outings and events, and describe the personalities of the various family
members. They mention illnesses in the family, as well as Cornelia's
departure for college at Radcliffe in 1895. The second volume includes a table of contents
that covers both volumes and a 12-page play called
Frances James created these books and illustrated them with family photographs, sketches, and watercolors. The edited, handwritten letters mention the James' children, their accomplishments at school, and their travels. Events include the high school graduations of Frances and Henry in June 1903 and June 1905, respectively. Many letters mention Henry James, Jr. and his interest in clothes and girls. Many of the sketches commemorate family events, the most common of which in the summer was relaxing next to the Mississippi River. Photographs feature family members and Frances' home. Also noted are events such as World War I. The books includes a few newspaper clippings, as well as a few notes in the margins questioning what other family events took place at the same time.
Compiled by Frances James. Illustrated with family photographs, sketches, and watercolors. The writings focus on family events, health, travels, deaths, births, children's activities, and the weather. Many pages are devoted to information about the grandchildren born to Henry and Helen. Most of the letters came from Helen and her mother. Some of the text seems to be from the diaries of Frances (Haynes) James. Each year ends with letters about the Christmas celebration. The pages devoted to 1910 are about the birth and infancy of Clifford, and letters mention the medical care given to him. Helen mentions her work with a baby welfare committee in St. Paul. The first volume includes a large Sommers family photograph. In the letters Helen refers to Henry as Harry. Early letters date from the engagement and from the honeymoon to Bermuda and New York City.
Photographs of various James family members, including Henry Clay James, Harriet (Williams) Haynes, Nancy (Lamprey) James, Frances (Haynes) James, Margaret James, Cornelia James, Helen James, Henry C. James, Jr., Linda James, Ethel Jaynes, Helen Neil (Haynes) Jaynes, and Reuben L. James.
A folder of handwritten notes made by Lucy A. Williams, which were
included in the first volume of
Files include a small Waters family genealogy booklet; family photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and genealogical notes; a pedigree chart showing the Haynes family's connection to Abraham Lincoln; and anonymous handwritten notes on several different family lines that settled in New England, tracing them back to the seventeenth century. An envelope contains a pedigree chart depicting Henry C. James' connection to Daniel Webster, the chart showing family lines dating back to 1596.
Handwritten pedigree charts, two of which depict ancestors of
Frances (Haynes) James dating back to 640 A.D.; another shows
ancestors of Henry Clay James. Included as well are two photocopies of a January 17, 1960
Autobiographical account accompanied by an explanatory letter (November 1, 1984) from William L. West.
Bound compilation of printed and manuscript documents and photographs, including
Includes manuscript text, photographs, and newspaper clippings.
Includes portraits of Amalie Stern Sommers and George Sommers, Sr.
Includes watercolors, drawings, clippings, and transcripts of poetry; removed from binder.