Main content
Butler Family Papers
Notifications
Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
William Allen Butler (1825-1902) was an American lawyer and satirical poet.
Biography of Benjamin Franklin Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler was a lawyer and politician in New York. Born in Columbia County, New York, in 1795, Butler was admitted to the Albany bar in 1817 and became district attorney of Albany County in 1821. He was a member of the New York state legislature from 1827 to 1833 before becoming involved in politics on the federal level. He was U.S. attorney general from 1833 to 1838 and U.S. secretary of war from 1836 to 1837. Butler died in 1858 after a distinguished career.
The collection contains the papers of three generations of Butlers: Benjamin Franklin Butler (1795-1858); William Allen Butler (1825-1902); William Allen Butler (1853-1923) and Howard Russell Butler (1856-1934), both members of the Class of 1876; Charles Henry Butler (1859-1940); Mary Russell Marshall Butler (l827-1919); Harriet Allen Butler (1861-1914); and Mary Marshall Butler (1857- ). The papers reflect the many legal, political, and educational interests of the family, as well as the members' busy domestic lives.
The papers of William Allen Butler include his satirical poetry, stories, essays, speeches, plays, and the manuscript of Letters to my Grandchildren: A Retrospect of Three-Quarters of a Century, later edited by his daughter, Harriet Allen Butler, and published in 1911 as A Retrospect of Forty Years, 1825-1865. (The manuscript for this later edition is also included.) Among William Allen Butler's papers are correspondence, journals, scrapbooks, diplomas, photographs, memorials, and a genealogy of the Butler family.
The collection also includes an extensive correspondence between Benjamin Franklin Butler and Martin Van Buren, as well as correspondence between Benjamin Franklin Butler, John Duer, and J. C. Spencer during the years when they worked together on the revision of the New York State statutes. Others represented in the correspondence include Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, James Buchanan, Salmon P. Chase, and Roger B. Taney.
Publications: A Retrospect of Forty Years, 1825-1865 (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911)
Gift of Henry N. Paul.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed in 1998. Finding aid written in 1998.
No appraisal information is available.
People
- Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin) (1818-1893)
- Butler, Harriet Allen (1861-1914)
- Butler, Mary Marshall (1857)
- Butler, Mary Russell Marshall (1827-1919)
Organization
Subject
- Fathers and sons -- United States -- 19th century
- Law -- United States -- History -- 19th century
- Statutes -- New York (State). -- 19th century
Place
Occupation
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Date
- 1998
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
Consists of the works, correspondence, documents, and memorabilia of Benjamin Franklin Butler. Also includes copies of correspondence with Martin Van Buren, from 1811-1860.
This series is arranged into five subseries: Works, Correspondence, Documents, Memorabilia and Miscellaneous Materials, and Martin Van Buren Letters - Copies.
Physical Description7 boxes
Consists of manuscripts for works of Benjamin Franklin Butler, including an Epitaph and Sonnet in memory of Harriet Allen Butler and an eulogy and poem for Andrew Jackson.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folderCopy
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the correspondence of Benjamin Franklin Butler with individuals such as James Buchanan, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and Levi Woodbury, as well as others.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description4 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folderFace copies
1 folder
1 folder
Correspondence from Benjamin Franklin Butler and Harriet Allen Butler to Mrs. Butler's Sister, (Mrs. Nathan Chamberlin).
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folderCopy
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
3 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of personal and professional documents, including documents related to the "Sommers Case."
Arranged by genre of material
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of memorials for Benjamin Franklin Butler as well as printed matter and miscellaneous material.
Arranged by genre of material.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of checklists and photocopies of correspondence with Martin Van Buren, ranging from 1811-1860.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the journals, works, correspondence, photographs, and printed matter of William Allen Butler.
This series is arranged into eleven subseries: Journals, Works, Correspondence, Scrapbooks: Butler Family Album, Photographs, Memorials, Genealogy, Memorabilia and Miscellaneous Material, Printed Material, Works of Other People, and Correspondence of Other People.
Physical Description28 boxes
Consists of Journals for Butler's European Tour in 1846-1847 as well as miscellaneous journals ranging from 1838-1895.
Arranged by subject of journal.
Physical Description3 boxes
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of manuscripts for poems, plays, stories, essays, and speeches of William Allen Butler. "Also includes Letters to My Grandchildren: A Retrospect of Three-Quarters of a Century (Vols. 1-3)."
Arranged by genre of material.
Physical Description7 boxes
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the correspondence of William Allen Butler, primarily to family members, but also includes correspondence with the Van Buren family and correspondence regarding the European Tour.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description4 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Mother: Harriet Allen Butler; sisters: Harriet Allen Butler, Mary Howard Butler, Margaret Baker Butler; father: Benjamin Franklin Butler.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folderCopies
Consists of scrapbooks of the Butler family, including clippings, invitations, announcements, and poems.
Arranged by subject of scrapbook.
Physical Description6 boxes
1 box
1 box
4 boxes
1 box
3 boxes
1 box
Consists of photographs of William Allen Butler, college friends, Civil War Generals, and grandchildren.
Arranged alphabetically by subject of photograph.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of memorials related to the Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Judge George C. Holt), the Class of 1843 of New York University, and the Marine Society of the City of New York.
Arranged alphabetically by subject of memorial.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the genealogy of William Allen Butler.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
2 folders
Consists of memorabilia from Albany Academy-Certificate of Excellence in Latin, a Dance Card - "Hay-Loft Frolic," and New York Bible Society-Annual Reports, as well as others.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Physical Description4 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Located in First Presbyterian Church Yonkers, N.Y.
Physical Description1 folderCopy
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Consists of printed material collected by William Allen Butler, including remarks on the death of President Garfield, "Chat" from Harper's Weekly, and "Light of the World" (Hymn).
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists primarily of "The Crinoline Satires of 1857" by E. B. Hungerford.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folderCopies
Consists of the correspondence of individuals such as Robert Buchanan, Andrew Jackson, and Silas Wright, as well as others.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description1 box
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed. Copy.
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folder
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
Includes 1 letter to Andrew J. Hutchings, 1829; 1 letter to the Secretary of War, 1836.
Physical Description1 folderAutograph letters, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folder2 autograph letters, signed
1 folder7 autograph letters, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
Consists of the writings, correspondence, memorabilia, and the Marshall family genealogy.
This series is arranged into five subseries: Writings, Correspondence, Memorabilia and Miscellaneous Material, Marshall Family Genealogy, and Works of Other People.
Physical Description4 boxes
Consists primarily of diaries and journals regarding favorite poems and an European trip of Mary Russell Marshall Butler.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the correspondence of Mary Russell Marshall Butler, primarily made of acknowledgements, condolences, and congratulations.
Arranged alphabetically by subject of correspondence.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Transcription of letters by Mary Marshall Butler, daughter of Mary Butler.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Consists of memorabilia and printed matter belonging to Mary Russell Marshall Butler, including a history of the Black Ball Line, a lists of letters of condonlence on the death of William Allen Butler, and Record of Butler Family's Removal from New York City to Yonkers, as well as others.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Black Ball Line was a trans-Atlantic packet ship line owned by Charles Henry Marshall, Mary R. Butler's father.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Fidelia was the sister of Mary Russell Butler.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the genealogy of Mary Russell Marshall Butler.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
Consists of various works of other people.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
Consists of the correspondence and memorabilia of William Allen Butler, Jr.
This series is arranged into two subseries: Correspondence, and Memorabilia and Miscellaneous Material.
Physical Description1 box
Consists of the correspondence of William Allen Butler, Jr., primarily of acknowledgements and condolences.
Arranged alphabetically by subject of correspondence.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists primarily of documents and memorials belonging to William Allen Butler, Jr.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the correspondence of Mary Marshall Butler.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description3 boxes
Consists of the correspondence of Mary Marshall Butler, primarily to family members.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description3 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of original works, correspondence, and memorabilia of Charles Henry Butler.
This series is arranged into three subseries: Original Works, Correspondence, and Memorabilia and Miscellaneous Material.
Physical Description1 box
Consists of a birthday letter for Harriet Allen Butler as well as several poems.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Physical Description1 box
At sea on board the Gallia.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists largely of condolences and acknowledgements of Charles Henry Butler.
Arranged by subject of correspondence.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of memorabilia and printed matter belonging to Charles Henry Butler.
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of journals, works, correspondence, and memorabilia belonging to Harriet Allen Butler.
This series is arranged into four subseries: Journals, Works, Correspondence, and Memorabilia and Material Material.
Physical Description3 boxes
Consists of the journals of Harriet Allen Butler, which cover her Colorado trip and European trip.
Arranged by subject of journal.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the work of Harriet Allen Butler, including "Discussion of Social and Relief Work in Yonkers," "Our Club and Liberty of Thought," and "Social Development Among the Lower Animals."
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the correspondence of Harriet Allen Butler, including Charles Scribner's Sons, Martin Van Buren, and correspondence regarding Rome.
Arranged by genre of correspondence.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Containing pertinent information, clarification of dates, historical references, etc.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folderCarbons
1 folderFace copies
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of a calendar from 1903, documents, and memorials belonging to Harriet Allen Butler.
Arranged by genre of material.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the correspondence, works, and printed material of Howard Russell Butler.
Arranged by genre of material.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists largely of the correspondence of other members of the Butler family.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder