Manuscript Collections

Orson Leroy Reynolds Correspondence

The collection consists of 21 lettersfrom Orson Leroy Reynolds to his wife, Phoebe, in Bombay, NY. The letters were written between September 20, 1864 and June 29, 1865.

Owen D. Young Collection

The Young collection documents five decades of national and international business and political history, including the post World War I reparation period which saw Young as the key figure in the Dawes Plan of 1924 and the Young Plan of 1929 with its provisions for the still existing Bank of International Settlements.

Parish-Rosseel Collection

The Parish-Rosseel collection, numbering approximately 1600 items, (38 linear feet) includes correspondence, financial papers, legal documents, prints, photos, maps, and memoranda. Covering more than a century, the collection extends from 1807, with the correspondence of the first Parishes and Rosseels in America, to the present, with the correspondence of the living descendents of both of the families. The bulk of the material falls within the period 1807
to 1816.

Parrish Wells (James)

This collection consists of Well's research materials and manuscript copies of his books and stories. Included are photocopies of excerpts from diaries of the period, magazine articles, a scrapbook which contains his story "Putnam Rangers" and his correspondence with publishers, libraries and newspapers.

Paul Jamieson Papers

This collection consists of files and correspondence with the Nature Conservatory, Adirondack Conservancy Committee; complete manuscripts and correspondence related to Jamieson's writings; documentation on waterways in the Adirondacks; and numerous files on environmental concerns with the Adirondack Park Agency (APA), and Citizens to Save the Adirondack Park (CSAP).

Philip Harnden Papers Collection

Philip Harnden, a community activist and passionate gardener, was a founding member of two organizations whose papers are part of this collection. Alternatives to War and North Country Gardener, and the founder of North Country Garden School.

Photographs at St. Lawrence University

Over 1,000 photographs and photographic portfolios, all from the Gallery's Permanent Collection, and featuring some of the most important images from the mid- to late 20th-century.

Poetry Broadsides Collection

A broadside is a large single-sided printed sheet of paper or vellum.  James Sullivan defines poetry broadsides in his book On the Walls and in the Streets: American Poetry Broadsides from the 1960s this way:

[broadside printing] took poetry out from between closed covers resting on shelves, out of the armchair under the reading lamp, out from those quiet moments of private contemplation that have become the canonical setting for poetry, and into public places. Handed out at meetings, rallies, and street corners, posted on walls and bulletin boards, even framed to be hung in a living room or gallery or carried around all day folded in a wallet, a poem became a material sign to be touched and seen, engaging the senses rather than, as is conventional, passing transparently through them on the literary intellect.

Potsdam Real Estate Logbook

Logbook containing accounts, maps, and newspaper clippings for lots sold in Potsdam, N.Y. by W. M. Hitchcock. Also included is Trustee book for school district no. 6, 1842-1892.

Preston King/Simeon Smith Papers

The Preston King/Simeon Smith Papers consist of over 600 items and includes correspondence, business papers, receipts and legal papers relating to the two men.

Prism Newsletter Records

North Country Prism is a Canton-based organization advocating for the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community in Northern New York.  This collection consists primarily of files of source material for articles written for the Prism newsletter between 1992 and 1998.

Pryce Lewis Collection

This collection, numbering approximately 200 items, contains primary documents, correspondence, photographs, and news clippings concerning the career of Pryce Lewis, an employee of Pinkerton's Detective Agency during and after the Civil War. In addition, it contains publication and research materials written by Dr. Harriet Schoen about Pryce Lewis.

Rachel Pierce-Blanchard Collection

Rachel Pierce-Blanchard was the eldest of the eight children of Foscott Harris, founder of Harrisville, NY. Siblings include Sally, Roxana, Austin, Jane, James, and Russet (all mentioned in letters). She had two children of her own, Charles O. Pierce and Helen Bones.

Richard Ellsworth Canton Coll.

Eclectic collection consists of photographs, newspaper clippings, texts of radio talks, business ledgers, organization minutes on the history of Canton, N.Y.

Robert D. Graham HALCO Shipping Corporation Research Files

Robert DeMont Graham was a 1961 graduate of St. Lawrence University.  In 1954 and 1955, he spent two summers working aboard the Halco Corporation freighter Eastcliffe Hall, sparking a lifelong interest in shipping. In 1976, thanks in part to an association with the Augsbury family, owners of Halco Corporation, Bob was engaged to write a 50th anniversary brochure for Halco.  This successful project led to an invitation to write a longer, more comprehensive history of the shipping company.  Halco Corporation failed in the late 1980s and Graham’s book project was shelved, but a desire to finish what he had started resulted in an unpublished manuscript, HALCO: The Odyssey of a Canadian-American Maritime Enterprise.

Robert G. Cottrell WWI Correspondence

This collection contains detailed letters written by Robert Cottrell during his military service in World War I. The letters contain detailed descriptions of battles he fought in, such as the battle of the Marne.

Robert G. Haldeman Jr. Paddle and Oar Book Collection Files

While the majority of Mr. Haldeman’s gift consists of approximately 85 books related to canoeing, the accompanying files contain magazine and newsletter articles, catalog advertisements, newspaper articles and detailed records of purchases made to supplement the book collection.

Robert Gilmore Papers

This collection features the correspondence and ephemera of Robert Gilmore. The letters communicate his army life during the Civil War and his recovery after he was wounded.

Robert H. Van Slyke World War II Diary

The collection consists of photocopies of diary entries made by Lt. Robert H. Van Slyke describing events related to each of the 41 bombing missions his squadron made between November 19, 1944 and April 22, 1945 in the German theater.

Robert J. Williams Watertown Daily Times Scrapbooks

The collection contains two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings representing various events and happenings that Mr. Williams wrote about between 1944 and 1955.

Robert McEwen Papers

This unprocessed collection consists of the papers of McEwen while in the House of Representatives from 1964 through 1980. Included is information on Fort Drum, 1980 Winter Olympics, Vietnam War, St. Lawrence Seaway, abortion, agriculture, and the different committees he served on.

Rockwell Kent Collection

This collection consists of correspondence, prints, books, and some ephemera. The bulk of the correspondence is from RK to his second wife, Frances, which dates mostly from their separation through his death.

The second series of letters is from RK to Kendall Lee Milestone (1903-1978), Frances’s sister, who was married to Lewis “Millie” Milestone (1895-1980) a Hollywood motion picture director. She owned the neighboring farm to Asgaard Farm in Au Sable Forks, NY. Much of RK’s correspondence with Kendall concerns the operation and management of the two farms as well as potential Hollywood business opportunities for Kent .

Rockwell Kent Collection, 1914-1971

The Rockwell Kent collections at St Lawrence University consist of over 100 pieces of correspondence, 15 original prints, dozens of books as well as drawings and ephemera.

Rodee Family Papers

The collection consists of 19th century student writings and orations, grange talks, diaries, a family history, correspondence, genealogical material, subject files and photos related to the Rodee family.

Roy Collection of African Textiles

The collection includes images of art and ceremonial objects, as well as documentation of their social context, use, and manufacture whether performances employing masks, or techniques used in producing pottery, iron, leather, weaving.

Rudyard Kipling Scrapbook

Scrapbook of newspaper and magazine clippings by and about Rudyard Kipling assembled by Nathan Ford Giffin, St. Lawrence University class of 1895. Also contains 1 letter (tls) from Kipling.

Russell Family Papers

The collection consists mainly of correspondence of John L. Russell and Mary S. Wead during their courtship years. Also included are photographs, several newspapers, and newspaper clippings that contain information about the Harry K. Thaw trial, the extortion, the disappearance of Hartridge's wife, and the attempts made by her family to find her, as well as several other clippings about members of the Russell family.

Russell Scrapbook

Scrapbook kept by Hugh Kelly about events and people of Russell, St. Lawrence County, N.Y. between 1881 and 1963.

S. L. Clark & Son Records

The collection consists hundreds of letters, invoices, memos and other correspondence between various suppliers and S.L. Clark & Son between 1896 and 1900.

Save the River Records

This collection documents the activities of Save The River, from its founding in 1978 to present, although some of the earliest years have gaps.

Save the River Records

This collection documents the activities of Save The River, from its founding in 1978 to present, although some of the earliest years have gaps. The original order of the records is uncertain, reflecting the early evolution of the organization. The collection has been arranged into series in consultation with the current administration of Save The River.

Seedcorn, Inc. Records

Seedcorn was established in 1991 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization “dedicated to public education and community empowerment”. Until it’s dissolution in 2015, Seedcorn provided organizational assistance and other support to fellow North Country non-profits concerned with social justice, peace and environmental sustainability.

Seymour Siegel Papers

The collection consists of the collected writings of Seymour Siegel arranged by subject included are such subjects as abortion, divorce, euthanasia, Judaism, religion, Sh'ma, Vietnam to name a few.

Silas Wright Collection

The papers in this collection consist of letters and documents written by Silas Wright between 1816 and 1847, and a few letters written by Wright's family and friends after his death in 1847. The letters are of both a personal and a business nature and include documents signed by Silas Wright Jr. and his father Silas Wright, Sr., of Weybridge, Vermont.

SLU Geology Department Lantern Slides

This collection consists of over 350 lantern slides, most of which are photographs of various geological features from around the world, and illustrations of prehistoric animals and plants. Approximately 100 of the slides are of photos of North Country, New York State, and Northeastern regional geological features.

SLU's Yearbook: The Gridiron

St Lawrence University’s yearbook archive is now available online.

Sol Feinstone Collection

The collection consists of autographs of various people throughout the world, a collection of correspondence and documents of Robert Walpole, collection of Shakespeare related materials, manuscripts signed by noteworthy persons (George Washington, Charles Dickens, Albert Einstein, Washington Irving and others). Also included are materials (lectures, pamphlets and books) by Feinstone, writings of family members, photographs, and copies of lectures on freedom by noted scholars.

Solomon Barrett Jr. Collection

The collection consists of newspaper and magazine articles on Solomon Barrett, two copies of his book Principles of English Grammar, and a manuscript subscription book he used when selling his work in New York State and Canada. The correspondence all relates to genealogical information on the Barrett family.

Southworth Family Correspondence

The collection consists of letters of the family covering a period from 1833 to 1902. Also included are newspaper clippings (1916-1968)-one of interest is "Little Stories of Canton Families", various obituaries and legal documents, family tree and a Universalist Church Directory dated 1898.

Spencer St. Lawrence Seaway Expansion Research Files

This partially-processed collection consists of Richard Spencer’s personal research files on the U.S. and Canadian Seaway agencies’ winter navigation and other expansion proposals.