Guide to the John Calvin Dodge Papers, 1781-1932, undated
No restrictions.
Cite as: John Calvin Dodge Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.
John Calvin Dodge, son of Isaac and Rachel (Ring) Dodge, was born on November 6, 1810, in Newcastle, Maine. The youngest of eight children, he was graduated from Bowdoin in 1834, taking high rank in his class. He was not permitted to participate in active exercise with his classmates, however, due to an illness falsely diagnosed as an "organic disease of the heart."
After graduation Dodge taught school in Eastport, Maine (1834-1836), after which he relocated to Andover, Massachusetts, to work as a civil engineer for the Boston and Maine Railroad. In 1837, he entered the office of the Honorable Peleg Sprague, judge of U.S. District Court, and studied law.
Dodge opened his first law office in Nobleboro, Maine (1839-1842), later returning to Massachusetts to practice in Boston (1842-1885). His specialty was representing shipmasters, and he came to rank among the foremost admiralty lawyers in the country. Dodge was also active in the municipal affairs of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was prominent in the formation of the Freedom Soil Party. He returned to the Whig Party, however, when the Freedom Soil Party coalesced with the Democratic Party.
Dodge served in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1857 and in the State Senate in 1862, and he joined the Cambridge Reserve Guards during the Civil War. Dodge received an LL.D. from Bowdoin in 1875, and was a member of the Board of Overseers from 1872-1888.
He married Lucy Sherman of Edgecomb, Maine, on May 15, 1843. They had three sons: Frederic, William Walter, and Edward Sherman; all became members of the law firm of John C. Dodge & Sons of Boston. John Calvin Dodge died on July 17, 1890, at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Legal papers and documents concerning the maritime cases handled by John Calvin Dodge and his sons, as well as biographical and family material. The legal materials include correspondence, dockets, case files, and ships papers. Biographical materials include John C. Dodge's journal (1850-1866) with entries (starting July 4, 1863) that mention the Civil War; his autobiography; and letters, family pictures, and ephemera.
Information concerning maritime cases handled by John Calvin Dodge and his sons, as well as legal correspondence, and ships papers. Bills of lading, certificates of survey, protests, and other documents are included.
Arranged by material type, then chronologically.
No restrictions.
1842 Jul - 1846 Mar
1846 Apr - 1854 May
1854 Jun - 1907 Mar, n.d.
1854-1885, n.d., letters from Richard H. Dana, Jr. and son
1896, letters from Louis D. Brandeis
1842-1872
1866-1879
1871-1888
1885-1932
Ephemera - miscellaneous, 1787-1886, n.d.
1858-1911, n.d., Chronological list of cases and alphabetical list of vessels
1858 Mar, Guille et al. v. "Zone"
1860, Guille et al. v. Ship Zone
1860 May, Delano & Als v. Guille Bros
1861 Nov 5, Blanchard v. Equitable Safety Marine and Fire Insurance Co. (Imeary "Sunbeam" v. "Borodino")
1862 Aug 23, "La Manche"
1862 Nov 19, U.S. v. "David E. Wolfe"
1871 Apr 20, Bridge et al. ("Merrimac") v. "Aleppo"
1879, Hamilton v. Shoe and Leather Insurance Co. ("Messenger")
1879, "Hercules"
1881, The "Ralph M. Hayward"
1883 Mar 8, Johnson ("G. M. Porter") v. "Alfred Brabrook"
1883 Sep 13, Winslow et. al. ("Arthur C. Wade") v. "City of Columbus"
1884 Jan 14, Higgins et. al. ("Mary Matheson" v. "Kanawha"
1885 Apr 2, The Boston Ice Co. of Aspinwall and Panama v. U.S.
1886 Feb 3, Chase ("D. M. Anthony") v. "Leander V. Beebe"
1886 Feb 4, Wiley ("Lucy Graham") v. "Mabel L. Phillips"
1886 Apr 20, "Waddell v. U.S."
1887 Jun 22, "Hattie Baker" and "Lancaster"
1888 Feb 1, U.S. v. Perry et. al.
1888 Apr 10, Emery et. al. ("Lygonia") v. Lombard
1888 Apr 17, U.S. v. Mayo
1888 Apr 22, Wonson et. al. ("Carltar") v. "Veteran"
1888 Oct, Young et. al. v. "S. S. Stroma"
1888 Oct 10, Stewart ("Rabboni") v. "Nellie E. Rumball"
1888 Dec 20, Kelley ("Charles E. Moody") v. "Tonawanda"
1909 Apr 9, Luckenbach ("West Point") v. "William Sprague," "Vesta," and "Everett"
1910 Sep 30, Lehigh Valley Transportation Co. ("Bloomsbury") v. "Powow" and "Hazel Dell"
1910 Dec 14, Consolidated Coal Co. ("Piedmont") v. "General E. S. Greeley"
1911 Jul 16, "Nevis" and "S. S. Herman Winter"
1911 Aug 7, Mendez et. al. ("Eleazer Boynton") v. "Camden"
n.d., Ingersoll ("Lookout") v. "Eva L. Ferris"
n.d., U.S. v. "Hancock"
1841-1899, Bills and receipts
1850-1880, Bills of sale, mortgages
1850-1898, Charter parties
1854-1898, Bills of lading
1855-1860, Master and seamen agreements
1865-1888, Libels, protests
1869-1882, Certificates of survey, enrollments, fisheries license
John Calvin Dodge's handwritten autobiography and its typed transcription, as well as his "Daily Records" from 1850-1866 noting personal activities and news of the day, particularly concerning the Civil War (from July 4, 1863). There is correspondence between Dodge and his brothers, letters from Dodge to his family from Europe, and daguerreotypes of the Dodge family. Other family material includes papers concerning the probate of Isaac Dodge's estate, and sermons dating from 1781.
Arranged alphabetically by material type.
No restrictions.
"Autobiography of John C. Dodge," handwritten, ca. 1880
"Autobiography of John C. Dodge," typed transcription of ca. 1880 handwritten volume
"Daily Records" of John C. Dodge (JCD), 1850 Jan 1 - 1866 Nov 8
Frederic Dodge as a youth - 3 views (daguerreotypes), n.d.
JCD's office in Boston (albumen print), ca. 1880
JCD with Lucy Sherman Dodge and sons - 3 views (daguerreotypes), 1854, n.d.
John Thomas Miller (daguerreotype), n.d.
Unidentified adult [Lucy S. Dodge?] - 2 views (daguerreotypes), n.d.
Unidentified children [JCD's sons?] - 4 views (daguerreotypes), n.d.
Letters between JCD and his brothers, 1828-1857
Letters from JCD to his family from Europe, 1870
Obituaries and biographical information, 1832-1891, n.d.
Probate of Isaac Dodge's estate, 1850s, 1874
Sermons - handwritten booklet, author unidentified, 1781-1795, n.d.