Guide to the Thacher family Papers, 1782-1914
Thacher Family Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
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The collection centers around two members of the Thacher family, Stephen (1774-1859), an Overseer of Bowdoin College from 1821-27, and his son Peter (1810-94), a member of Bowdoin's Class of 1831.
Stephen, until 1818 a merchant in Kennebunk, Maine, held public office as Judge of Probate for York County (1807-18), postmaster of Kennebunk (1810-18) and, following a move to Lubec, Maine, U.S. Collector of Customs for the town (1818-30). He lived in retirement in Lubec until his death.
Peter, a lawyer, studied under his uncle, William Pitt Preble and in the Portland firm of Fessenden and Deblois. Admitted to the bar in 1836, he practiced in Machias (1836-54) and Rockland, Maine (1854-71), and Boston (1871-92). In 1842, he became Commissioner of the U.S. Circuit Court of Maine, and served as Register in Bankruptcy for the Fifth Congressional District (1867-71). Other members of the Thacher family, including Peter's siblings and children are also represented in the collection.
Correspondence, chiefly between Stephen Thacher and his son Peter,together with exchanges with other family members, members of the Bowdoin community, or other acquaintances. Correspondents from the Bowdoin community include various professors and overseers, including Prof. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Class of 1825), as well as Bowdoin graduates ranging in class year from 1810s to 1840s. The correspondence is followed by some manuscript and typescript notes, and an edited draft of the text of the Packard-Cleaveland History of Bowdoin College prepared by Peter Thacher.
Correspondence, 1782-1819
Correspondence, 1821-1825
Correspondence, 1826 Jan-Jun
Correspondence, 1826 Jul-Dec
Correspondence, 1827 Jan-May
Correspondence, 1827 Jun-Dec
Correspondence, 1828 Jun-Dec
Correspondence, 1829
Correspondence, 1830
Correspondence, 1831 Feb-Mar
Correspondence, 1831 Jul-Dec
Correspondence, 1832 Jun-1833 Sep
Correspondence, 1833 Oct-1834 Nov
Correspondence, 1835-1836
Correspondence, 1837-1838
Correspondence, 1839-1840
Correspondence, 1841 Jan-Jul
Correspondence, 1841 Aug-Nov
Correspondence, 1842 Jan-1843 May
Correspondence, 1843 Aug-1844 Dec
Correspondence, 1845
Correspondence, 1846-1851
Correspondence, 1852-1854
Correspondence, 1855-1858
Correspondence, 1859-1860
Correspondence, 1861
Correspondence, 1862-1866
Correspondence, 1867-1870
Correspondence, 1871-1877
Correspondence, 1880-1886
Correspondence, 1887-1914
Copies of letters sent by Peter Thatcher, 1829-1837
Revisions to Packard-Cleaveland History of Bowdoin College
Manuscript and Printed Ephemera