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Hamilton Cottier Papers

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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

Cottier

Graduating from Princeton University in 1922, Hamilton Cottier went on to become a Rhodes scholar, a professor of literature (1925-1962) at Princeton, and a well-known collector of literary works. He was the first husband of author Ann Seton, the daughter of the author Ernest Seton Thompson.

The collection consists of correspondence, documents, photographs, account books (1925-1975), financial papers, and printed matter of Cottier (Princeton Class of 1922, professor of English, 1925-1962), and material relating to "Southlawn," the home of his father, Alonzo Cottier, in Scarsdale, N.Y. The collection contains copies of correspondence (1969-1970) between Cottier and Laura Riding, the wife of Schuyler B. Jackson (Princeton Class of 1922, professor of English, 1925-1962), regarding a projected memorial for Jackson to appear in the Princeton Alumni Weekly and a small 19th-century autograph collection including letters by Angus McDonald, Robert Newell, and Millard Fillmore. Also included are 19th-century deeds and copies of several newspapers, Baltimor Patriot & Mercantile Advertiser (May 22, 1823), The Maryland News Sheet (March 6, 1862), and the Daily Dispatch (July 29 and September 10, 1856). The material about "Southlawn" includes photostats of architectural blueprints, photographs, magazine articles, and miscellaneous correspondence. Also includes a manuscript and printed material relating to Sir Walter Raleigh.

Arranged in this order: account books (1925-1955) and other financial papers, miscellaneous papers of Hamilton Cottier, a collection of 19th-century letters, documents, and newspaper clippings; blueprints, photographs, and general material about "Southlawn," miscellaneous papers of Alonzo E. Cottier; and personal notebooks of Janet Cottier.

The collection was formed as a result of a departmental practice of combining into one collection manuscript material of various accessions relating to a particular author.

Gift of Hamilton Cottier in 1979 (AM 80-34) and of Mrs. Hamilton Cottier in 1982 (AM 83-78). Additional correspondence found within Hamilton Cottier's library after his death was added to the collection in 2016 (AM 2017-34).

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.

Folder inventory added by Feng Zhu '14 in 2012.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2009
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

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

Scope and Contents

Consists of the papers of Hamilton Cottier, including account books, bills, correspondence, typescripts, receipts, and estate documents.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

11 boxes

Account Books, 1925 September 15-1933 October. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Account Books, 1933 October 1-1939 September. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Account Books, 1939-1947. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Account Books, 1947-1956. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Account Books, 1956-1964. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Account Books, 1964-1975. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Receipted Bills and Related Papers of Hamilton Cottier, 1916-1925. 3 folders.
Physical Description

3 folders

Miscellaneous Expenditure Books, 1918-1924. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence of Hamilton Cottier, 1947-1970. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Miscellaneous Notes and Printed Materials, 1924-1952. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Typescript of "The Rhythm of English Verse," by M. W. Croll, 1929. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Typescript of "Studies in Milton's Relation to the Early Fathers of the Church," by D. Goodchild, 1924-1925. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Corrected Typescript of "The Literature and Philosophy of Melancholy at the End of the Renaissance," by D. Goodchild, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Cost of Construction for Southlawn, 1917-1921. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Bills for Household Furniture and Jewelry, 1905-1930. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Receipts from Sale of Estate, 1945-1946. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Inventory and Appraisal of Scarsdale Estate, 1922-1930. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence collected by Hamilton Cottier, 1849-1924. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Miscellaneous Papers collected by Cottier, 1770-1947. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Maryland Deed of John Downes the Elder and Henry Jones, 1752. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letters from Sam Monk to Hamilton Cottier, 1946-1963. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Hamilton Cottier Correspondence, 1921-1973. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mulford Family Photographs, circa 1900-1950. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Portraits of Margaret Guest Blackwell Mulford (1880?-1962) and Roland Joseph Mulford (1871-1951).

Physical Description

1 folder

Scope and Contents

Consists of the papers of Alonzo E. Cottier, including account books, papers relating to construction of Southlawn, bills, financial records, check stubs, and photographs.

Arrangement

Arranged by genre of material.

Physical Description

4 boxes

Papers of Alonzo E. Cottier, 1916-1959. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Account books, materials relating to the construction of the main house at Southlawn, and estate record and other materials relating to inheritance.

Physical Description

1 box

Papers relating to Construction of Southlawn, 1916-1917. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Operating Accounts of Scarsdale Estate, 1918-1924. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Record of Annuities, 1922-1929. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Occupational Maintenance Expenses of Scarsdale Estate, 1927-1930. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Household Statistics for Scarsdale Estate, 1916-1927. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Check Stubs of Alonzo E. Cottier, 1929. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Receipted Bills of Alonzo E. Cottier, 1930-1931. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Davis-Cottier Case, 1928. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Portfolios of Photographs, Magazine Articles, and Architectural Plans for Southlawn, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of the papers of Janet Cottier, including appointment books, personal notebooks, expenditure records, and records of guests and dinner menus.

Arrangement

Arranged by genre of material.

Physical Description

2 boxes

Appointment Books and Personal Notebooks of Janet Cottier, 1957-1985. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Expenditure Records of Janet Cottier, 1951-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Records of Guests and Dinner Menus, 1942-1970. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Records of Guests and Dinner Menus, 1971-1985. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest