The Peter Foulger Museum — An Interim Report

T h e P e t er F o u l g e r Mu se u m — A n Int e r im R ep o rt

IN ITS fourth year of full operation, the Peter Foulger Museum may be said to have become an important part of the Nantucket Historical Association, both as an exhibitor of historical materials and as a research center. The dedication of the staff has never been more evident, and the regular functions of the Museum have continued along familiar and satisfactory lines. Mrs. Clara Block continues to serve as custodian of the second floor, while Mrs. Elizabeth Worth, for so many years receptionist at Fair Street and in the early years at the Peter Foulger, serves in that capacity on weekends. Joseph F. Sylvia is completing his second year as a full-time custodian, and Mrs. John A. Stackpole has been the regular receptionist for the first three days of each week during the summer months.

In her second year as Librarian at the Museum's headquarters, Mrs. Louise Hussey has found the transition from the Whaling Museum has worked smoothly, with the transfer of the invaluable logbooks and journals, account books and microfilms, as well as the books and pamphlets, being accomplished without incident. The importance of the Library has become more fully recognized as its use increases, but the 1975 year has brought cut as never before its potential. This has been occasioned by the introduction of an under-graduate course in Nantucket History and Culture, under the auspices of the University of Massachusetts-Boston with the vital co-operation of the Nantucket Historical Association and the Coffin School.

Early in January, Professor Barry Phillips arrived from Boston to make arrangements for the housing of twelve students from the University of Massachusetts who comprised this first class. They were joined by sixteen Nantucket residents, completing a class of twenty-eight. The course was divided into two sections, the first being a study of Nantucket History, with Edouard A. Stackpole as the lecturer, and the second being devoted to the natural environment, under the direction of Wesley Tiffney, of the University of Massachusetts' Quaise Station. Classes convened each morning at 9:00 o'clock, at the Coffin School, the first hour with Mr. Stackpole and the second with Mr. Tiffney.

Over a period of three months the students worked on their theses at the Peter Foulger Library. Miss Susan Griffin, who had been engaged to prepare a check-list of our manuscript collection, proved to be invaluable in assisting the researchers.

With the arrival of spring, the Environmental Studies Program, involving visiting school groups from the mainland, found Historian Stackpole presenting regular weekly lectures at the Museum, as well as conducting walking tours with these groups. Among mainland schools represented were the Rocky Hill School, Connecticut; the Fay School, Southboro, Massachusetts; Moses Brown School, Lincoln School, Wheeler School, and the Providence Country Day School-all from Rhode Island. In addition, there were several school groups coming to the Island in the early summer, including those from New Canaan, Conn., Windsor School, Boston, Massachusetts, Renbrook School, Hartford, Conn., and an interesting group from Nashville, Tennessee, and from Falmouth, Cape Cod.

The most unusual visitation was that of students from the Rhode Island School For the Deaf, while the largest ever to arrive on the island was a delegation numbering 538 which came on a day's excursion from the Barnstable school district. This latter occasion found Administrator Leroy True and Historian Stackpole meeting the boat, and leading the students to the Atheneum Library where their glee club sang a few songs. The feature of the visit was in conducting the entire delegation on a tour up Main Street, through Centre to Broad Street, thence to the Museums.

These programs of study on Nantucket and its environment, carried on under the direction of the Environmental Studies leadership have now been conducted over a period of five years, and the Nantucket Historical Association and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation have co-operated fully in them. During the spring and fall months under the supervision of teachers selected by the schools involved, the students are housed at the Youth Hostel in Surfside. In 1974, the Coffin School Trustees voted to become the sponsor for the Environmental Studies Program, with Renny A. Stackpole, who originated the idea, serving as the Co-ordinator. James Lentowski, Secretary of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, is the Co-chairman, as well as one of the active guides, while Wesley Tiffney and Clinton Andrews, at the Quaise Marine Station, of the University of Massachusetts, are also closely affiliated as participants.

THE PETER FOULGER MUSEUM 19

The Nantucket Schools also have become a part in these group visitations at the Peter Foulger and the Whaling Museum. Some seventyeight 8th Grade students visited this spring, under Mr. Sullivan, and a few days later High School students, with Mrs. Henry R. Terry and Charles Pearl, as leaders, enjoyed visits. On another occasion two bus loads of Nantucket School pupils were guided through the Old Jail and the Old Mill, and also visited the Oldest House, where Mrs. Kenneth Baird, the Chairman of the Dwelling, was the hostess.

The pattern of correspondence continues along the lines of historical questions, many from professional writers as well as from universities and other historical societies. Some interesting exchanges concern the editing of the Frederick Douglass Papers, at Yale University, with contribution from Nantucket, as well as information passed along to the editors of the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Permission to use photographic copies of some of our paintings have been granted to writers and editors of the American Heritage, the National Geographic and the Cape Cod Compass, as well as to several students who are preparing doctoral thesis.

Letters requesting genealogical information regularly appear, and both Mrs. Worth and Mrs. Hussey, as well as the Director, have provided such material. Each summer, our Library is busy with a variety of researchers, and now the winter months are also the time when a number of writers come to Nantucket and find our facilities available to them. Two young graduates of the Harvard Graduate Schools have completed two excellent cartographic studies of Nantucket, and have found the Peter Foulger Collections of vital importance. Students at the Nantucket Institute for Historical Preservation, now in its fourth year, under the direction, of Dr. Blair Reeves, regularly utilize the Association's Library at the Peter Foulger Museum.

For the first time in our Association's history a check list and inventory of our extensive collection of photographs and photographic plates has been conducted. The services of Drur Kahn, over a period of several months, have been utilized, so that the assortment of glass negatives, regular photographs, and prints could be segregated and placed in their respective categories. The scenes of Nantucket streets and people of the 1880-1900 period are especially valuable, and their historic significance will increase as the years pass. Studies are being made of the old views by John McCalley, of Studio 13, and William C. Spring, and many owners of Nantucket's old homes have requested permission to copy photographs of the

house originally taken by Henry S. Wyer and Harry Piatt.

Over a period of years, Miss Helen L. Winslow, of Nantucket, has devoted many hours each summer to a study of the Nantucket whaling logbooks. One of her important contributions has been the preparation of a printed form, whereby a student may follow a research index and fill out certain features from the logbook entries. Through this method the logbook may be more properly read and pertinent entries noted, so that the completed form becomes a comprehensive and important summary of the log's contents. Miss Winslow's continued interest in our Library is very much appreciated.

Work on the inventory of the shipping papers of the whaling firm of Charles and Henry Coffin of Nantucket has continued, although not steadily, as the work has been carried on by individual undergraduate students who have volunteered for this task. Following two young ladies from Bradford College and Boston University-Miss Gerster and Miss Keesham-the work was carried on by Misses Jane Cobb and Kimberly Long. In this regard, the students are working at our Library as a part of their college semesters, and with the approval of their faculty advisors.

Two young college men have spent several weeks of research in the Library during March and April. From Princeton University, Andrew Carroll has been working on his master's thesis, his topic being Nantucket's development as a summer resort in this century; Thomas Cowherd has been working on Nantucket whaling statistics for his master's thesis from the University of Pennsylvania. From the University of Virginia, Miss Sharon Mayes found our Library and Research Room useful in March as she worked on her thesis—Nantucket Folk Lore—utilizing not only our books and manuscripts but our group of tape recordings and records. Early in May, Peter Thomas in his writing of Captain Paul Cuffee's biography, appreciated the use of our microfilm reader. Miss Jean Dissen, of William Smith College, in New York, has also made inquiry as to our genealogical records.

Facilities at the Peter Foulger Museum are so arranged as to provide that necessary privacy so important to the researcher. Now that the Library formerly at the Whaling Museum has been added to the shelves of the Peter Foulger, the Nantucket Historical Association Library is becoming more and more important. One of the essential needs is catloguing our book and manuscript collections, and the addition of some locked cases for our rare books now kept in the vault.

THE PETER FOULGER MUSEUM

21

During the year a number of accessions were received, among which was a "first proof" print of Jon Stobart's painting of Nantucket harbor in 1835, given by Mr. Stobart and Harry Carpenter; a Chinese Fan and two pieces of Chinese carving, brought home to Nantucket by Captain Eliakim Gardner in 1807, are loans from a descendant of Captain Gardner, now retired and residing in his Nantucket home—Franklin Folger Webster; a large ship's figurehead, excellently carved—the High-lander— presented by Robert M. Waggaman, who has also added the gift of a large painting by Elizabeth R. Coffin, titled "Grandmother's Garret;" two old Nantucket rush-seat chairs have been presented by Miss Esther Gibbs; while our Library has been enriched by a definitive book on the famous marine artist, J. E. Buttersworth, by Rudolf Schaefer, made possible through the interest of Mr. and Mrs. James Brown.

One of the outstanding exhibits was made possible by the Trustees of the Coffin School, who placed on loan the portrait of Elizabeth R. Coffin by Thomas Eakins and the self-portrait by Miss Coffin. These have been hung in the second floor exhibit room, close to other paintings by Miss Coffin. Our collection of portraits has been improved by having several restored, notably Captain Timothy Folger, Captain Isaiah Folger and Captain and Mrs. Uriah Coffin. Two pastel portraits of Captain Nathaniel Coffin (18th century) have been presented by Union Lodge, F. & A. M., important additions to our displays.

In June a special exhibit featuring the paintings of Leroy Neiman, especially created for the Artists' Limited Edition of Moby-Dick, was opened and continued over a period of five weeks. Both the artist and the publisher of this special edition of Melville's classic were on hand for the opening of the exhibit, following a reception at the Jared Coffin House. Steven J. Abramson, publisher of the special edition, unveiled the exhibit, and responded to the invitation to introduce the artist who illustrated the book. Mr. Neiman spoke on the challenge of Moby-Dick, and of his interpretation of the classic. The Association's Historian, Edouard A. Stackpole, concluded the brief ceremony with a commentary on Melville's tributes to Nantucket as they appear in his monumental work. At the reception in the Eben Allen Room of the Jared Coffin House several photographs were taken in which the Association's President, Leroy H. True, and members of the Council who had accepted invitations to be present, appeared with Messrs. Abramson and Neiman. After leaving Nantucket the exhibit went to Sag Harbor, New York, also a whaling town; thence to Chicago, and so on to Japan.

This special edition of Moby-Dick is unusual for its size (11 x 14 in.) and quality of typography and unusual interpretative illustration by Mr. Neiman. Jacques-Ives Costeau, famous explorer, wrote the preface. It was fitting, indeed, to have a copy for our Library—the gift of an interested member, Mr. Henry Pfeiffer, whose summer home is at 12 Lily Street.

The second floor of the Museum has been utilized for a series of lectures over a period of months. "The Best of Scrimshaw" was the title of Mrs. Barbara Johnson's talk, well attended by an appreciative group of members and visitors. "One Hundred Years on Nantucket" was presented by Historian Stackpole, using the stereoptican slides of the i 870-1920 period. This was repeated during the summer of 1975, as was his talk."The Changing Waterfront," in which views of the old wharves and the present scene were shown. Another lecture illustrated by color slides was titled "Nantucket Reflections," and this was also well attended.

This has been a very fortunate year in regard to acquisition of Nantucket whaleship logbooks. From Gilbert Verney, for many years a member of our Association, we have received two manuscript Journals, that of the ship Constitution, Captain Obed Bunker, 1847-1851, and the ships Weymouth, Capatin Moses Harris, 1826-1831, and the ship Maria, 1831-1833, the latter two in the same volume—being Journals kept by Charles C. Morton. The Weymouth Journal complements the portions of the Logbook of the ship on the same voyage, which was given us last year by Mrs. William West, after having been found between the floor boards of the Centre Street house owned by Mrs. West, originally the home of Captain Harris.

Another welcome addition to our maritime collections was the Logbook of the whaleship Nantucket, Captain George W. Gardner, 18411845, a ship built on Brant Point. It was presented by Richard Gerould, of Cambridge, Mass., a descendant of the Russell family of Nantucket.

In July, a group of visitors representing the descendants of the Riddell family came to the Island, bringing with them a veritable treasure trove. Led by Mrs. Miller Gay (Jane Riddell Gay), the gifts they presented our Association consisted of four logbooks, three of which contained two voyages each-this representing sever voyages. The earliest was of the ship London, of London, England, 1794-1799, the journals having been kept by Captain Charles Gardner, of Nantucket, who was the Mate on the first voyage and the Master on the second. In another of the logbooks was

THE PETER FOULGER MUSEUM

23

recorded the voyages of the English whaleships T h a m e s and L e v i a t h a n , with Captain Gardner in command. Another logbook contained the voyages of the ship Constitution, Captain Obed Bunker, of Nantucket, and the Levant, of Westport—both kept by Isaac Riddell, of Nantucket. The seventh voyage was recorded in the logbook of the ship Clarkson, of Nantucket, kept by William Riddell, 1841.

The increased use of the facilities of the Peter Foulger Library involve the use of manuscript as well as the printed material. Our priceless Quaker Records, logbooks, genealogical listings, and related materials have been microfilmed, so that they may be more readily available. This puts a new emphasis on the work of the Librarian and the Director, especially with the use of manuscripts by professional people and students. Thus, the Nantucket Historical Association has increased its services to a marked degree. Valuable information has been supplied the academic world of the universities, the book world of the professional writers, the undergraduate world of the student, and the private world of the genealogist. Besides the visitor and his natural queries concerning Nantucket history, the Museum has aided producers of television programs, including the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation-Nippon Hoso Kyokai-who came to Nantucket for a special program.

The Association's Library at the Peter Foulger Museum is open the year-'round, and has become a headquarters for the services mentioned in part above. It has already established itself, and as the years go on will increase in value not only to the Association but to the community as well.