Hopedale Community Collection, 1821-1938 MFM
476
The Hopedale Community was organized in Mendon, Massachusetts, in
1841 with an ordained Universalist minister, Adin Ballou, as
its most noted organizer. It thrived for a time, but due to moral
and economic lapse it eventually merged with the Hopedale Parish.
This collection contains three groups of materials. The
manuscripts (1821-1918) contain minutes of meetings, financial
records,
marriages and funerals, a map, and photographs. Nine serials
(1831-1860) are represented, including complete copies of some.
The
printed matter (1823-1938) includes books, pamphlets, tracts, and
broadsides by, about, and printed by Hopedale Community. There
are over 40 titles by Adin Ballou including a 415-page history of
Hopedale on reel 3 and a 1154-page history and biographical
register
of Milford, Massachusetts, on reel 5.
Oneida Community Books, Pamphlets and Serials
1834-1972 MFM
478
The Oneida Community was established by John Humphrey Noyes
(1811-1886) as a communal organization in Oneida, N.Y. The
manufacture of steel animal traps, sale of silk thread,
fruit-preserving, and later the silverware business, provided
income. In this
collection four reels contain books and pamphlets printed by or for
the Oneida Community and eleven reels are the serials published
by the Community. The printed guide gives a history of the
Community and a detailed reel list.
Shaker Collection of the Western Reserve Historical
Society MFE 1563
and MFM 475
Shakerism, which had its beginning in America with the arrival from
England in 1774 of its leader, Mother Ann Lee, flowered in the
nineteenth century. Wallace H. Cathcart, president of the Western
Reserve Historical Society, collected books, broadsides, archives
of the various communities, manuscripts of individual members,
inspirational drawings, and photographs relating to this religious
communal society to form a collection of national preeminence. In
addition to the Shaker principles of communal property, celibacy,
and separation from the world, the materials touch on all aspects
of the Shaker way of life from poetry to recipes and technical
skills.
The manuscripts (including archives, inspirational drawings, and
photographs) are reproduced on MFM 475; the monographs,
periodicals (The Manifesto and The Day-Star), and
broadsides are reproduced on MFE 1563.
Thomas Lake Harris and the Brotherhood of the New Life;
Books, Pamphlets, Serials
and Manuscripts 1854-1942 MFM 480
Thomas Lake Harris (1823-1906) was a mystic, poet, and founder of
several utopian communities including the Brotherhood of New
Life in Brocton, N.Y. and Fountain Grove at Santa Rosa, California.
The communities had large vineyards and helped support
themselves by the sale of wine. In California Harris also had a
printing press from which poured copies of his poetry and writings.
This collection contains printed books, pamphlets, and serials by
and about Harris; manuscripts; correspondence; subject files; and
photographs. The originals are at the Horrmann Library of Wagner
College and the Rare Books and Manuscripts of Columbia
University Libraries.
