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Jesse Appleton collection

 Collection
Identifier: M005

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Scope and Contents

The collection consists of letters, sermons, lectures, notes and other papers, as well as images. Appleton corresponded with several church and political notables including Charles Coffin, Martin L. Hurlbut, William Jenks, Thomas L. Winthrop and Samuel Worcester. Frequent correspondents (10 or more letters) include Sarah Bowdoin, widow of James Bowdoin III; Joseph Lathrop; Benjamin Vaughan and Samuel S. Wilde. For related Jesse Appleton material, see the Jesse Appleton Administrative Records.

Dates

  • Creation: 1788-1837, undated
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1800 - 1819

Creator

Biographical/Historical Note

Jesse Appleton, a Congregationalist minister, became Bowdoin's second president in 1807, serving in that office until his death, probably from tuberculosis, in 1819. His appointment came after ten years of service to a Hampton, New Hampshire parish. A 1792 graduate of Dartmouth College, Appleton was an experienced teacher and orator; his Bowdoin College addresses were collected and printed in 1820.

Appleton married Elizabeth Means, they had three daughters and two sons who survived infancy. Their daughter, Jane, became the wife of Franklin Pierce (Bowdoin 1824), fourteenth president of the United States. Their daughter, Frances, was the first wife of Alpheus Spring Packard, Bowdoin graduate, professor and librarian.

Extent

2.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection consists of letters, sermons, lectures, notes and other papers, as well as images.

Title
Guide to the Jesse Appleton Collection
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine 04011 Repository

Contact:
3000 College Station
Brunswick Maine 04011 USA
(207) 725-3288