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William P. Jones (1831-1886) Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 36/1

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The papers in this series are as varied as the career of their creator. Spanning the years 1860 to about 1890, they document Jones' experiences as an educator, lecturer, journalist, and poet. While they illustrate many phases of his life, the papers contain little personal correspondence and scanty biographical information. Perhaps most revealing are two ledger volumes of Jones' poetry and essays, and a scrapbook.

The papers are arranged in chronological order based on Jones' career, beginning with biographical information. Many of the individual items in the papers had been identified or annotated by Jones. One folder contains Lydia Jones Trowbridge's correspondence with J. Seymour Currey of the Evanston Historical Society, William A. Dyche of Northwestern, and the Library of Congress. These letters show Trowbridge's efforts to see her father's poems published and his contribution to Northwestern recognized, as well as her continuing work on the projected biography of her father.

Three letters, from John Dempster, Henry Bannister of the Garrett Biblical Institute, and Bishop Matthew Simpson, commend Jones's efforts to initiate a Ladies Educational Aid Fund. Bannister's letter is addressed to E.O. Haven, who was later to become president of Northwestern University.

Folders of materials relating to phases of Jones' career in China contain appointment letters and a few examples of official transactions.

Jones's participation on the Committee for an American College in China is documented by records including U.S. government publications, giving the historical background of the Chinese Indemnity Fund; correspondence among members of the Committee, including Morse, Seward, and Cooper; and bills presented to the U.S. Congress in both manuscript and printed form.

Records of Jones's ventures into education journalism for Chicago newspapers include correspondence, memoranda of plans for future educational departments, and newspaper clippings.

Jones's writings include draft and published lectures on China, and draft and published versions of his essays, articles, and poetry. Some of the manuscript notes and drafts are accompanied by typed transcriptions, usually prepared by Lydia Trowbridge. Jones's “A Plea for the Better Education of Women” is represented by a draft (Box 1 Folder 18) and by a more polished version in the ledger entitled “A Few Miscellaneous Writings” (Box 2 Folder 2). The writings in the two ledger volumes appear to be final versions, probably not in Jones's hand, although there is some pencil annotation.

A final folder contains two pamphlets, not written by Jones, describing trips within China. One of these, Notes of an Excursion from Canton up the West River into the Province of Kwang-Si, is heavily annotated in pencil, probably by Jones.

One dropfront box holds two scrapbooks, one filled with clippings and ephemera describing Jones' life and career, and the other a commonplace book containing clippings of interest to Jones. The first scrapbook, which may have been prepared by someone other than Jones, serves as a documentary biography and a record of Jones' published writings. It includes clippings reporting on the Northwestern Female College and the Evanston College for Ladies, on Jones' China lectures, and on other events in his life; announcements and programs relating to the Northwestern Female College; and copies of those poems published in newspapers. The commonplace-book clippings, dating from 1860 to 1885 and consisting mostly of poems and inspirational articles, range from a paragraph to several columns in length.

Large documents include a passport signed by William H. Seward, a Letter Patent signed by the King of Portugal acknowledging Jones' appointment at as Consul at Macao (with a later typed English translation), and Jones' appointment as vice consul at Amoy.

With one or two exceptions, the materials in this series are in excellent condition.

Dates

  • 1857-1932

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Boxes 1-2 of this collection are stored off-site and require two business days advance notice for retrieval. This collection is stored off-site and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is stored at a remote campus location and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.

Extent

4.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The papers in this series are as varied as the career of their creator. Spanning the years 1860 to about 1890, they document Jones' experiences as an educator, lecturer, journalist, and poet. While they illustrate many phases of his life, the papers contain little personal correspondence and scanty biographical information. Perhaps most revealing are two ledger volumes of Jones' poetry and essays, and a scrapbook.

Arrangement Note

The papers are arranged in chronological order based on Jones' career, beginning with biographical information.

Method of Acquisition

The William P. Jones Papers were a part of Accession # 99-60, donated to the University Archives by the Evanston Historical Society in March, 1999. The Evanston Historical Society had received the papers from Lydia Hayes Jones Trowbridge in 1946. Biographical information and a few letters (Box 1, Folders 3 and 7) were transferred to this series from the University Archives' Biographical Files.

Separated Materials

One folder of correspondence between Lydia Trowbridge and E.C. Clark of the Evanston Historical Society was separated and transferred to Lydia Trowbridge's file in the University Archives' Alumni Biographical Files, Series 51/2, Box 4.

Processing Information

Janet C. Olson, April 1999.

Title
Guide to the William P. Jones (1831-1886) Papers
Author
Janet C. Olson
Date
01/04/1999
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Library Details

Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository

Contact:
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635