Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848) professional papers

Description

Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848) professional papers (MS020) reflect the planning and work of Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848), the Proprietors of Mount Vernon, and the Boston Mill Corporation in developing the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The papers are largely comprised of professional correspondence; legal and real estate documents; and site plans. The collection focuses on the initial 1796 purchase of Copley Pasture in Boston, Massachusetts, from artist John Singleton Copley (1738-1815); the ensuing dispute of the land sale; and the challenges of the Proprietors right of title. Also represented within the collection are architect Charles Bulfinch (1763-1844); artist John Singleton Copley (1738-1815); the Overseers of the Poor; Boston Mayor Josiah Quincy, III (1772-1864); and other individuals involved in the disputed sale of Copley Pasture in Boston, Massachusetts. A small collection of personal papers (i.e., correspondence, deed extracts, genealogical material, photographs, clippings, etc.) belonging to other Otis family members and a small collection of printed material (including newspapers) relating to the political career of Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848) are also included. The collection also contains a substantial amount of oversize and fragile material. The collection is arranged in three series.

Background:
In the 1960s, Historic New England acquired the business papers of Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848) as a donation from Samuel Eliot Morison (1887-1976), great-great-grandson of Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848). The papers formed the bases of the collection: Business Papers of Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848) (now MS020). Initially, the collection was loosely arranged into fifteen folders and stored in a wooden trunk. In 1979, intern Susan Myerson processed the papers and created the original finding aid. The papers consisted of correspondence, financial records, and legal documents (primarily conveyances, indentures, and depositions).

Original arrangement:
Series I. Business Papers of Harrison Gray Otis, 1793-1845, [undated]
[Subseries A.] Correspondence, Incoming, 1812-1840, [undated]
[Subseries B.] Correspondence, Outgoing, 1831-1840, [undated]
[Subseries C.] Correspondence, John Singleton Copley, 1793-1796
[Subseries D.] Financial Papers, 1793-1844 [undated]
[Subseries E.] Legal Papers, ca.1795-1845 [undated]
[Subseries F.] Maps and Drawings, 1769-1835 [undated]
[Subseries G.] Printed Matter, ca.1826-1827 [undated]
[Subseries H.] Miscellaneous Papers (folders 31-33)
Series II. Papers of Harrison Gray (1711-1794), 1756-1783
[Subseries A.] Legal Papers, [1756-1783]
Series III. Papers of Samuel A. Otis (1740-1814), 1768-1791
[Subseries A.] Legal Papers, [1768-1791]
[Subseries B.] Financial Papers, [1771-1772]
Series IV. Papers of William Foster Otis (1801-1858), 1829-1852, [undated]
[Subseries A.] Correspondence, Incoming, [1835-1852, undated]
[Subseries B.] Legal Papers, [1829-1835]
[Subseries C.] Financial Papers, [1847]
Series V. Papers of other persons, 1766-1820
[Subseries A.] Legal Papers, [1766-1820]
Series VI. Papers of Boston and Roxbury Mill Corporation, 1821-1828, 1842
[Subseries A.] Correspondence, Incoming, [1828-1842]
[Subseries B.] Legal Papers, [1825-1828]
[Subseries C.] Other Legal Papers, [1821-1826]
[Series VII. Miscellaneous Papers, 1801-1807, undated]

When fully processed, the collection comprised two file boxes (approx. 0.83 linear ft.). Fragile and oversize materials were placed in the vertical/flat files with the exception of some oversize correspondence and related attachments, which remained in the file boxes. Additionally, one continuous numbering system was applied to all the folders and the additional materials, found during the course of processing, remained unprocessed.

Note: Prior to donating his great-great-grandfather's papers to Historic New England, Samuel Eliot Morison (1887-1976) used the papers to write his biographies on Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848):

·Life and Letters of Harrison Gray Otis Federalist 1765-1848, 1913

·Harrison Gray Otis 1765-1848: The Urbane Federalist, 1969.


Update: 2013-2014
In 2013-2014, through a National Historical Publications and Records Commission grant (Award Number: NAR13-RH-50051-13: "Family Manuscript Collections: Expanding Online Access to New England Heritage Project"), twenty-six Historic New England manuscript collections of family papers were re-evaluated and processed/reprocessed to meet current archival standards and "best practices;" corresponding finding aids were created/updated to be DACS-compliant and converted into electronic Microsoft Word document form; and the finding aids were made accessible/searchable online through the use of the Minisis M2A archival database of the Minisis Collections Management System. The Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848) professional papers (MS020) were part of the grant project.

Since 1979, following the initial processing of the collection and creation of the original finding aid, an index was prepared for the unprocessed portfolio material (site plans and oversize material); subsequent acquisitions/accessions were added to the collection; notations were added to the original finding aid; and an accumulation of unprocessed material remained.

During the 2013-2014 collection reprocessing/updating, the 1979 arrangement scheme was updated; most of the original folder titles were maintained (appropriate headings and folder titles were supplied, as applicable); related folders were combined or rearranged, as applicable; the accumulated unprocessed material (except for the portfolio of site plans and oversize material) was incorporated into the collection; scope and content notes were updated to reflect the changes; and additional research was added to the biographical/historical sketch and genealogy. Preservation issues were identified and basic preservation methods were applied, as applicable; and papers throughout the collection were removed from envelopes (if applicable), unfolded, flattened, and related pages were noted with corresponding information in brackets ([x-1/3], [x-2/3], [x-3/3]. Oversize material was rehoused appropriately (or materials were interleafed within file boxes), as applicable. The collection was rehoused (in acid-free folders and boxes), numbered, labeled, barcoded, and stored accordingly; subsequent accessions were tracked and noted with their corresponding items; missing items were noted; and related collections held by Historic New England and other repositories were researched and noted. The original 1979 paper document finding aid was updated to be DACS-compliant, as applicable; converted into an electronic 2010-2013 Microsoft Word document finding aid (with corresponding paper finding aid); and entered into the collection record in the Minisis M2A online database.

2013 extent of collection (prior to updating):
·3 file boxes (legal-size)= 1.25 linear feet
·Vertical/flat files

*Yale linear footage calculator: approximately 1.25 linear feet (3 file boxes) plus vertical/flat files.

NOTE: Processing/updating the collection and making the finding aid accessible online were made possible through grants from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (Award Number: NAR13-RH-50051-13), the Bedford Family Foundation, and an anonymous donor.