Guide to the Joseph Williamson Papers, 1818-1902 (bulk 1828-1902)
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Joseph Williamson Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
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Joseph Williamson, a lawyer, historian, and bibliographer, was born in Belfast, Maine, on October 5, 1820, to Joseph and Caroline Cross Williamson. After being graduated from Bowdoin College in 1849, Williamson was admitted to the Maine bar in 1852 and returned to Belfast, where he maintained an active legal career. In 1853 Williamson was appointed a judge of the municipal court of Belfast, a postion he held until 1860. In addition to his legal practice, Williamson also conducted historical and bibliographic research and authored several books, including A Bibliography of the State of Maine and A History of Belfast, Maine, to 1825. Joseph Williamson died in Belfast on December 4, 1902, survived by three children.
Correspondence to and from Williamson, with the bulk consisting of letters from Williamson to George T. Little, Bowdoin College professor and librarian; newspaper clippings about Williamson; a list of launches in the ports of Belfast and Bangor; drafts and corrected versions of Williamson's books; and material related to Bowdoin College, including a diary kept while Williamson was a student.
Two volumes of scrapbooks, "commencement clippings" compiled by Joseph Williamson are available in the Bowdoin Archives.
A volume of letters written by Joseph Williamson and other family members now held by the Belfast Free Library, Belfast, Me. is also available.
Correspondence to and from Williamson, with the bulk consisting of letters from Williamson to George T. Little, Bowdoin College professor and librarian. Miscellaneous material includes newspaper clippings about Williamson, 1887-1914, n.d., and a list of launches in the ports of Belfast, Bangor, etc., 1840-1843.
Arranged chronologically.
Alphabetical correspondence list (view online)
Correspondence: 1818-1824
Correspondence: 1825-1831
Correspondence: 1836-1837
Correspondence: 1847-1849
Correspondence: 1866
Correspondence: 1869
Correspondence: 1882-1883
Correspondence: 1884
Correspondence: 1885-1886
Correspondence: 1887
Correspondence: 1888
Correspondence: 1889, April-May
Correspondence: 1889, June-July
Correspondence: 1890
Correspondence: 1891, June-July
Correspondence: 1891, October-December
Correspondence: 1892
Correspondence: 1893, February-July
Correspondence: 1893, September-November
Correspondence: 1894, January-February
Correspondence: 1894, March-August
Correspondence: 1895
Correspondence: 1896
Correspondence: 1902
Correspondence: 1907 (Frances W. Pierce, sister)
Clippings, 1887-1914, n.d.
List of Launches in the Port of Belfast, Bangor, etc. 1840-1843
An 1894 prospectus for "Historical and Biographical Papers, Original and Edited, Vol. II, 1887-1893" and annotated copies of and corrections for Williamson's "History of Maine."
Vol. 3 contains Appendix no. 4 from William D. Williamson's The history of the state of Maine (Hallowell: Glazier, Masters & Smith, 1839) (vol. 1, p. 661-696), with added letterpress division t.p. title: Appendix and index to the history of Maine, vol. I & II / by W.D. Williamson. Following the printed text are the author's holograph "Notes, corrections, additions, & remarks as to the History of Maine" (76 p.)
Arranged chronologically.
Prospectus: "Historical and Biographical Papers, Original and Edited, Vol.II. 1887-1893." 1894
"A Bibliography of the State of Maine from the earliest period to 1891," 1896 (ts. copy with mss. notes)
Williamson, William Durkee (1779-1846) - Appendix and Index to the History of Maine, Volume 1 & 2, bound with Joseph Williamson's ms. "Notes, corrections, additions, & remarks as to the History of Maine," n.d.
Williamson's diary while at Bowdoin as well as his Bowdoin tuition bills. Also includes Williamson's contribution to the "Necrology of Bowdoin College" and his corrections to "The History of Bowdoin College."
Arranged chronologically.
Diary, 1845-1848
College Bills, 1845-1846
Contributions for the "Necrology of Bowdoin College," 1886-1890
Corrections for "The History of Bowdoin College"