Parson Smith family papers

Description

The Parson Smith family papers (MS032) reflect the personal, social, and professional life and work of Peter Thatcher Smith (1731-1826) and his descendants who resided at the Parson Smith Homestead in South Windham, Maine. The majority of the collection focuses on the Anderson, Goodell, and Parker families with a small representation of papers from the Barker, Berry, and Smith families (all associated with the original owner through descent or marriage). Also contained within the papers is sizable collection of photographic materials, printed materials, and school related papers. The collection is arranged in seven series.

Background:
In 1953, Historic New England acquired the Parson Smith Homestead in South Windham, Maine, through the bequest of Louisa Anderson (Goodell) Parker (1871-1952). The papers within the house at the time of purchase formed the bases of the collection: Parson Smith papers (now MS032).

Update: 2013-2014
In 2013-2014, through a National Historical Publications and Records Commission grant (Award Number: NAR13-RH-50051-13: 'Family Manuscript Collections: Expanding Online Access to New England Heritage Project"), twenty-six Historic New England manuscript collections of family papers were re-evaluated and processed/reprocessed to meet current archival standards and "best practices;" corresponding finding aids were created/updated to be DACS-compliant and converted into electronic Microsoft Word document form; and the finding aids were made accessible/searchable online through the use of the Minisis M2A archival database of the Minisis Collections Management System. The Parson Smith family papers (MS006) were part of the grant project.

Prior to the 2013-2014 collection processing, the Parson Smith papers (now MS032) comprised fourteen legal-size file boxes (approx. 5.84 linear ft.) and additional loose material. Materials within the fourteen boxes were loosely arranged in three series: Series I, papers of family members arranged chronologically by family groups; Series II, graphic and printed materials (non-family member specific) with no discernable arrangement; and Series III, photographic material arranged chronologically by family groups and then by record type. A file box of unprocessed material and three bound volumes also comprised the collection. Folders within the boxes were arranged according to family group only; not by individuals.

During processing, the original family groupings were maintained and the collection was arranged alphabetically by family name, creating six series; one additional series for non-family member specific materials (including the photographic material) was also created. Most of the original folder titles were maintained (appropriate headings and folder titles were supplied, as applicable); related folders were combined or rearranged, as applicable; the accumulated unprocessed material (one file box and three volumes) was incorporated into the collection; and brief research was engaged to create a biographical/ historical sketch and genealogy. Preservation issues were identified and basic preservation methods were applied, as applicable; papers throughout the collection were removed from envelopes (if applicable), unfolded, flattened, and related pages were noted with corresponding information in brackets ([x-1/3], [x-2/3], [x-3/3]; and oversize materials were interleafed within file boxes, as applicable. The collection was rehoused (in acid-free folders and boxes), numbered, labeled, barcoded, and stored accordingly; subsequent accessions were tracked and noted with their corresponding items; restrictions were noted; and related collections held by Historic New England and other repositories were researched and noted. A DACS-compliant, electronic 2010-2013 Microsoft Word document finding aid was created (with corresponding paper finding aid) and entered into the collection record in the Minisis M2A online database.

NOTE: Processing/updating the collection and making the finding aid accessible online were made possible through grants from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (Award Number: NAR13-RH-50051-13), the Bedford Family Foundation, and an anonymous donor.