Cate Family Papers, 1831-1917

Title:

Cate Family Papers, 1831-1917

Creator:

Cate Family
Cate, Moses
Cate, Mary Ann
Cate, George Herbert
Morrison, John, Dr.
Read, Sheridan P.

Creator Role:

Author

Accession / Call Number:

1981.110

Object ID:

1981.110

Date:

1831-1917

Physical Description:

2 boxes

Scope and Content:

Moses T. Cate's correspondence concerns his music teaching. There are two letters from Lowell Mason and two printed items from the Boston Academy of Music. His correspondence includes love letters to his future wife, Mary Ann. There are a few letters to him during the time he was away during the Civil War. One from his twelve year old son, one from his brother, one from Charles H. Hill, and one from Martha Curtise with some political content. His Civil War letters are full of religious and "philosophical" ramblings. He mentions the prices of goods in Virginia, a diphtheria death, loneliness and seldom seeing "white women." He gives advice to his wife and son on the farm and speculates on when he will be able to get home. There are letters in 1871 to his three sons, Edward, Arthur, and George. Mary Ann Morrison's 1836 diary as well as the remaining four are filled with daily activities such as making applesauce, quilting, washing, weaving, spinning, sewing, rug making, and attending religious meetings. On June 11, 1840, Mary Ann describes her wedding day. Mary Ann Morrison's correspondence includes topics such as spinning and carding (February 18th), health, and farming activites. She describes a meal "tapioca and fried beef steak", raised bread, pumpkin and apple pie, drying apples, making cheeses, trips to Winnipisseogue[sic.] Lake and mountains near Dartmouth and in Vermont. Mary Ann frequently writes to her sister Ada regarding family matters. George H. Cate wrote and received letters from his brother while he was in school. They write about health, school, teachers, and teaching. George writes from Germany and mentions Lois Read who is there studying music. There are love letters to Lois from Italy, Germany, Egypt, and France in 1881. There are letters regarding his looking for a parish in Michigan in 1888. Lois Cate's folder contains cards for parlor concerts and piano recitals by her in 1889. She played piano while Reverand George Cate lectured on Chopin as shown in her news clipping. Lois writes to George from Germany. There are two long letters from sister Anne G.N. Read in London in 1912 and 1913, she realtes details of the death of Sheridan P. Read, Lois's brother, and the ill health of their son, JOhn. Sheridan P. Read started as a publsher in Wolfborough, NH publishing his own work of Read's HUB Code. He writes of problems with publication and details why the cost of living in Wolfborough is very expensive. He has constant health problems. Most of the letters are written on proof sheets for his code. John Morrison writes Joshua Varney in 1831 about a medical course in Hanover and seeing Dr. Mussey operate. His manuscript notes of Dartmouth College lectures on chemistry, anatomy, and surgery are in box 2, folder 1. The remaining letters are to his daughter Mary Ann about her schooling and family health and activities and his medical practice. Her sister adds a note in the letter May 18, 1837 about an Irish famiily of boarders, thirty six members in shanties in their pasture. Jane Betsy Morrison has a diary covering the period from November 1836 to June 1838. She writes of singing school, the housework, the weather, visits, funerals, and religion.

Subjects:

Medicine New Hampshire. , Music Instruction and study. , Travel-Europe , Women Diaries. , Irish United States.

Locations:

Wolfeboro, NH
Hanover, NH
London, England

People:

Cate Family , Cate, Moses , Cate, George Herbert , Cate, Mary Ann , Morrison, John, Dr. , Read, Sheridan P.

Organizations:

Morrison family

Credit Line:

Gift of Lucia Cate, April 1981.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Sub-Collection

Finding Aid Link:

RS24916_1981.110_Cate_Family_Papers.pdf