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Mary Chrystie Papers
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Cotsen Children's Library [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Cotsen Children's Library. 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
Mary Chrystie is a pious, intelligent, chatty, and wealthy young lady from Fishkill Landing, New York. Unfortunately she is also sickly. She dies at the early age of 17 from tuberculosis in Nice, France, where her mother and father took her in order to spend the winter in a warm climate.
A collection of letters and other writings written principally by Mary Chrystie but also other members of her family. The collection mostly consists of correspondence between Mary Chrystie and her family members from 1833-1841, and Mary Chrystie's diary 1837-1841. Chrystie is a precocious, well-to-do child growing up in New York State and Princeton in the years leading up to the American Civil War.
Box 1: Letters, organized by correspondent. Box 2: Storybooks and Journals. Volume 3: Diary of Mary Chrystie.
Eric Johnson, Ohio State University, "Making Mary: Maternal Shaping and the Construction of Childhood in the Mary Christie Archive".
Gift of Bruce C. Willsie, class of 1986, in 2002.
This collection was processed by Eric Johnson in 2002. Finding aid written by Ian Dooley and Miranda Marraccini in 2014.
No materials were separated during 2014 processing.
Subject
- Publisher
- Cotsen Children's Library
- Finding Aid Date
- 2014
- Access Restrictions
-
This 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
Arranged mostly by individual correspondents, except where indicated as seperately collected material
Correspondence mostly between Mary Chrystie and her close family members and friends from 1833-1841.
Physical Description1 box
No discernible arrangement
Mary's letters to her mother Frances Chrystie, spanning 1832-1837?, most letters undated, covering these topics of interest: sketches, poems, daily life, homesickness, Pelham Priory education, prayers, hymns, anniversary card.
Physical Description1 box
Pelham Priory; postmarked September 3 (no year), New Rochelle, NY. Mary describes at length how she is caught in the middle of a convoluted spat between two of her friends and relates how her friends all call her "a perfect goose because I cannot think wrong of any one". Dates supplied are the probable years which Mary spent at Pelham Priory.
Physical Description1 folderPages 3 and 4 are written with crossed, overlapping text. One sheet folded in half.25.3 x 39.5 cm
At Fishkill Landing. Mary copies a number of texts from her textbooks and books belonging to her brother, with pencil sketches of insects, a bird, and plants.
Physical Description1 folderIncludes pencil sketches. One sheet folded in half.32 x 39 cm
Five poems, at least one of which Mary copied.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.19.4 x 31.8 cm
Mary laments that she and her mother must suffer from headaches, but resolves to bear up under them as "God has sent them", with pencil sketch of a house at bottom. On verso is a hand written receipt: "Recd of A. Chrystie Eighteen dollars in full. Fishkill Landing, 9 March 1833, Robert Gilmer,".
Physical Description1 folderOn a fragment of paper. Includes pencil sketch.10 x 19.6 cm
A four line poem written by Mary addressed to her mother: "This is for my mother dear only i am a fraid she will not like it", with pencil sketch of a seaside scene.
Physical Description1 folderIncludes pencil sketch.16.1 x 19.4 cm
An original(?) poem.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.8 x 19.7 cm
An original(?) poem.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.19.6 x 24.4 cm
Mary describes a pleasant day at play with her brother; with note in mother's hand: "At 10 years of age".
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet.24.4 x 19.6 cm
Pelem (sic) Priory; postmarked July 18 (no year), New York. Mary describes her lessons in French and archery and requests that she be sent supplies such as towels, a wash rag, a "deep green silk cape for most all the girls have them," and other materials. Dates supplied are the probable years which Mary spent at Pelham Priory.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.8 x 38.8 cm
A "Sunday letter" Mary writes to her parents in which she turns a hymn into prose.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.9.7 x 20.1 cm
A short note in which Mary expresses that she thinks that her friend Kitty is "a good girl and minds her work", with a pencil sketch of a house.
Physical Description1 folderIncludes a sketch. One page folded in half.7.5 x 14.9 cm
July 17 (no year), Pelham Priory, New York. Mary explains to her mother in detail her experience of homesickness. Dates supplied are the probable years which Mary spent at Pelham Priory.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet of paper folded in half.24.8 x 38.9 cm
A short prayer which Mary addresses to her mother, with notation by Frances Chrystie at bottom of verso: "Written by dear M__ while I was at lunch".
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet.6.7 x 9.7 cm
A short note in which Mary apologizes for a fit of temper, with scribbles in ink and sketches on verso of outdoor scenes.
Physical Description1 folderScribbles in ink. Sketches on verso. One sheet.16.3 x 19.6 cm
A short note in which Mary transcribes sentences from one of her textbooks ("union spelling and reading book").
Physical Description1 folderTorn and missing a large chunk of text. One sheet folded in half.9 x 19.5 cm
December 25 (no year), Princeton, New Jersey. In Frances Chrystie's(?) hand, statement that Mary was "About eleven years of age" when she wrote the letter, hence 1836-1837. Mary writes a letter to please her mother and includes in it a riddle of her own devising, also transcribes a hymn she has memorized.
Physical Description1 folderTorn and missing a large chunk of text. One sheet folded in half.15.6 x 19 cm
A very affectionate letter to her mother in which Mary expresses her desire to please her parents.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet.13.5 x 20.8 cm
No date, Princeton, New Jersey. In Frances Chrystie's(?) hand, statement that Mary was "About eleven years of age" when she wrote the letter, hence 1836-1837. Mary transcribes a hymn for her mother.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.19.5 x 24.5 cm
No date, but in Frances Chrystie's(?) hand, statement that Mary was "about 7 years of age" when she wrote the letter, hence 1832-1833. A short note to her mother with an original(?) poem entitled "The Beloved Sister", with pencil sketch of a flower.
Physical Description1 folderIncludes pencil sketch. One sheet folded in half.12 x 18.5 cm
Adressed to "Mrs. Chrystie", 5 poems, with numerous sketches.
Physical Description1 folderIncludes pencil sketches. One sheet with cut-out heart designs.15.9 x 19 cm
A card from Mary celebrating her parents' wedding anniversary, with pen sketch of two birds over a heart.
Physical Description1 folderIncludes pen sketch. Letter had been folded into triangular shape. One sheet folded in half.12.5 x 19.5 cm
No discernible arrangement.
Mary Chrystie's letters to her father Albert Chrystie, spanning 1841-1842, most letters undated. Includes 1 letter from J. W. Chrystie (Albert Chrystie's brother) to Albert Chrystie and two letters from Frances Chrystie (Mary Chrystie's mother) to Albert Chrystie. The letters cover these topics of interest: Arrival of Mary and Frances at Ms. Garrettson's in Rhinebeck, New York, description of the "country" in Rhinebeck, a funeral sermon, animals, Frances's illness, Mary thanks her father for a prayer book, a hymn, a eulogistic letter after Mary's passing.
Physical Description1 box
June 10, 1841, Rhinebeck, New York; postmarked June 10 at Rhinebeck New York; two letters on one sheet (one by Mary and one by her mother, Frances). Mary writes to her father about her arrival, with her mother, at the house of Ms. Garrettson in the country. Frances writes to her husband describing how she and Mary have given themselves "up to the [natural] delights" surrounding them.
Physical Description1 folderTwo letters on one sheet. One sheet folded in half.25.7 x 40.9 cm
No date, postmarked July 26 (no year), New York, written while in the country at Rhinebeck; three letters on one sheet (two by Mary and one by her mother, Frances). In the first letter Mary mentions that her mother is ill, that she has been to a funeral sermon, and that her "bile has worked itself off by emiting a great quantity of blood;". In her second letter Mary again mentions her mother's illness and decribes her friendly encounters with local animals. In the third letter Frances describes her illness, "a little cold" caused "by the great change in weather". Year supplied by date of preceding letter (see series "Letters to Albert Chrystie", letter 1).
Physical Description1 folderThree letters on one sheet. One sheet folded in half.25.3 x 40.4 cm
No date, Pelham Priory, postmarked September 12 (no year), New Rochelle, New York. Mary thanks her father for a "very acceptable" prayer book which he has sent her and expresses her joy at not having to borrow one anymore. Dates supplied are the probable years which Mary spent at Pelham Priory.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25 x 40.3 cm
No date; Mary transcribes a hymn for her father and expresses the wish that he will be pleased with her writing. She confidently states:"I think that it is very good".
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet.12.3 x 18 cm
December 1842, New York; from Albert Chrystie's brother J. W. Chrystie. A long eulogistic letter about Mary Chrystie (Albert Chystie's daughter), written as "a tribute of affection to a Brother dearly beloved, and to the memory of his daughter. . .". J. W. Chrystie was Mary's teacher for 3 years. Included with the letter is an addressed cover sheet with the following pencil-written note on verso: "Dear Brother, if you think it of sufficient importance I will write one a fairer copy of the enclosed. Mr J. C."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet; includes addressed cover sheet.25 x 40.3 cm; addressed cover sheet: 20 x 25 cm.
No discernible arrangement.
Mary Chrystie's letters to her brother William Chrystie, one undated letter and one letter dated 1835. Includes 1 letter by Frances Chrystie. The letters cover these topics of interest: family activities, William's being away at school, daily life, and gratitude.
Physical Description1 box
October 7 (no year, but apparently written at a fairly young age), New York. Mary writes to her brother to tell him of family plans and doings while he is away at school; she closes with instructions to "direct your thoughts to God", for their mother and father are uneasy about his studies.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.9 x 39.9 cm
December 26, 1835, Princeton, New Jersey; postmarked December 29 at Princeton. 2 letters on one sheet (the first letter by Mary, the second letter by her Mother, Frances). Mary regales her brother with a description of her daily life and apologizes for not getting him a Christmas gift because "Princeton is a poor place and mama is loath to part with her money". Frances entreats Willie to send them more letters and reminds him to show his appreciation of a Mr. Dardan's generosity (he gave Willie a copy of Robinson Crusoe).
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.4 x 39.2 cm
Letters written by Mary Chrystie come before letter written by other persons.
Mary Chrystie's letters to her grandmother Catherine Few: one letter dated 1841, all other letters undated. Includes 3 letters from Mary's mother, Frances Chrystie, to her mother Catherine Few, 1 letter to Mary from Catherine, 1 letter to Frances from Catherine, and 1 letter from Mary Chrystie's aunt, Mary Few, to her mother, Catherine Few. The letters cover these topics of interest: Mary's playing, Mary's health, weather, Philadelphia, Josephus, Mary and a friend are frightened by a man following them, a courtroom scene, Mary's seeing various newspapers, and 3 paper cut-outs.
Physical Description1 box
March 30 (no year), Fishkill Landing; 2 letters on 1 sheet (the first letter by Mary and the second leter by her mother, Frances). Mary thanks her grandmother Catherine for an earlier letter and relates how she spends her time at play. Frances tells Catherine (her mother) about Mary's (her daughter) health condition and the dissappointing weather.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet.19.58 x 24.2 cm
30 January (no year), Philadelphia; 2 letters (1 from Mary and 1 from Frances). Mary expresses satisfaction with her stay in Philadelphia, mentions that she is reading Josephus, and request a number of things including a visit from Catherine. Frances writes a touching note to her mother Catherine, concluding ". . . I can say most truly that your happiness is as dear to me as my own. . .".
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.8 x 39.4 cm
March 6 (no year); postmarked March 6, Philadelphia. 2 letters (1 from Mary and 1 from Frances). Mary includes more news from Philadelphia including a frightening incident in which Mary and a friend are followed by a strange man, a description of a court scene, and the newspapers from various states in the court's reading room. Mary includes 3 paper cut-outs that reveal the figure of Shakespeare, Little Red Rding Hood, and an old lady. Frances writes a short note and complains of headaches.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet. 3 separate paper cut-outs sleeved together.24.1 x 32.8 cm. 3 cut-outs of varying size.
August 8 (no year), Pelham Priory; postmarked August 10 at New Rochelle, New York. A newsy letter from school in which Mary remarks that she is doing very well in her French and music lessons, expresses feelings of homesickness, sends her regards to the rest of the family, and challenges her mother to find "any words spelt wrong". Dates supplied are the probable years which Mary spent at Pelham Priory.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.8 x 38.5 cm
July 14, 1841, New York; postmarked July 15, New York. 2 letters (1 to Mary from Catherine and 1 to Frances from Catherine). In a very newsy letter to Mary, Catherine (Mary's grandmother) expresses her concern for Mary's health and commends her to God's care. In the letter to Frances, Catherine (Frances's Mother) offers to give Frances money to pay for the transportation of Mary to Virginia Springs in an effort to ease Mary's illness.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.1 x 39.4 cm
No date; postmarked June 28 (no year) at New York. A letter from Mary Chrystie's aunt, Mary Few, to Catherine Few (Mary Few's mother). A newsy missive full of general information about a dinner party she hosted and the otherwise uneventful two days that have passed since Catherine departed for Brooklyn.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.2 x 38.7 cm
No discernible arrangement
Mary Chrystie's letters to her maternal great aunt, Maria Montgomery. Spanning at least 1836-1840, most letters undated. Includes 2 letters from Frances Chrystie to Maria Montgomery. The letters cover these topics of interest: outdoor activities at Lebanonville including horseback riding, staying in the country, Mary's health and various illnesses, a thank-you note, a jump-rope game, swimming dogs, homesickness, Mary's complaints about her Madame, and knitting.
Physical Description1 box
July 25 (no year), Lebanonville; 2 letters (1 from Mary and 1 from her mother, Frances). Mary Chrystie writes to her maternal great aunt, Maria Montgomery, about her outdoor activities at Lebanonville, including a session of horseback riding that made her "not the least afraid", but nevertheless left her sore: ". . . my bones acked (sic) so badly, at first I thought it was the rheumatism". Frances tells her Aunt, Maria Montgomery, about the pleasant time she and the family are having in the country, expresses concern over Mary's heatlh, and laments that the mail in Lebanonville is not "well regulated". Mary Chrystie's green wax "Mary" seal is attached. Year supplied by inference, the only year provided from Mary's time in Lebanonville is a letter to Anne Cambreleng, July 6, 1841 (see series 11 "Separately Collected Miscellaneous Letters", letter 11).
Physical Description1 folderMary Chrystie's green wax seal is attached to the letter. One sheet folded in half.25.2 x 39.4 cm
Undated, apparently written when Mary was very young. A short thank-you note for the gift of a chair; the letter was written on an addressed cover sheet used earlier for a letter sent to Albert Chrystie.
Physical Description1 folderContent written on just a single section of one folded sheet.19.9 x 32.9 cm
July 24 (no year; 1840?), Pelham Priory; postmarked July 24 at New Rochelle; New York. Mary tells Maria, her maternal great aunt, about the fun she is having while not at her lessons: she describes a pair of swimming dogs and the near death of one of them and she explains how to play a jump-rope game called "fox and geese". Mary expresses homesickness and asks for supplies such as towels, a wash rag, a box of wafers, and a bottle of comphire.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.7 x 39 cm
August 17 (no year, but circa 1840), Pelham Priory; postmarked August 18 at New Rochelle, New York. A very busy letter in which Mary complains about Madame, explains in detail her attempt to make her mother a muslin collar, describes how a Mr. Lorillard, the owner of a snuff factory, has determined that Mary will be an old maid because she did not sneeze while taking a pinch of snuff, mentions that she has been "poisened (sic) pretty badly" but is coping with the help of flaxseed tea, states that she has lost the brooch her brother gave her, and notes that she is "distressingly in want of funds . . . nothing less than dollars will do . . .". Dates supplied are from descriptions of the same poisoning incident in "Separately Collected Miscellaneous Letters," items 1, 2, and 10.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.3 x 39.7 cm
September 26 (no year; but probably 1840 based on a date provided in the letter itself), Pelham Priory. A short letter in which Mary mentions that she has been suffering from a cough and sore throat, complains that two of her friends have not written her, and excitedly relates how she has marked the days until she is able to give "little Mary Wilkes" a white worsted cap that she will knit in the future on "the 14th of October 1840". (The sequence of marked days and further reference to this date are found on the rear pastedown of Mary's journal: "How I will jump when I can say this day is Wednesday 14 October 1840".)
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25 x 40.3 cm
January 15, 1836; postmarked January 16 at Princeton. 2 letters (1 from Mary and 1 from her mother, Frances). Various news from Mary, including an account of how she is now "working for poor children" by knitting and making caps. Frances describes Mary's recent bouts with stomach flu, fever, and respiratory problems; she also unfavorably compares Princeton to New York, saying of Princeton that it is "a bad place to bring up children".
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.9 x 39.5 cm
No discernible arrangement
Mary Chrystie's letters to her aunt Mary Few (Frances Chrystie's sister). One letter with no year and one letter dated (post mortem) circa 1832-1833. Includes one letter from Mary's mother, Frances. The letters cover these topics of interest: flower arranging, Philadelphia, Mary's health, William's garden preperations, a pencil sketch of a farm, and a copied poem.
Physical Description1 box
May 1 (no year), Philadelphia; postmarked May 4 at Philadelphia. One letter from Mary and one letter from Frances. Mary describes her time in Philadelphia arranging flowers and spending time with a girl named Mary Ingraham. Frances sends a newsy letter that briefly mentions Mary's state of health, but is otherwise full of details of the time she's spent in Philadelphia.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.6 x 39.7 cm
No date (but stated in Frances' hand that Mary (her daughter) was "7 or 8 years of age" when she wrote the letter, hence 1832-1833?). A short note in which Mary mentions her brother's garden preparations and tells her aunt Mary that she is sending along two baskets, instructing her to "choose which you like best & give the other to Aunt Tildy". On verso is a pencil sketch of a farm yard scene and a poem (copied from an unknown source) entitled "The Shepard's Home".
Physical Description1 folderIncludes pencil sketch. One sheet of ruled paper.17.2 x 19.6 cm
Mary Chrystie's letter to her Aunt Matilda "Tildy" Few, December 1832. The letter covers these topics of interest: Mary's dog Frisk, a local dog who sits in the church pew on Sundays, a hymn, and a pencil sketch of a tree.
No discernible arrangement.
Physical Description1 box
December 1832 (dated from a pencil written statement by Frances Chrystie, Mary's mother, on verso of letter), Fishkill Landing. Mary tells her "dear aunt Tildy" about her dog Frisk, his other canine friends, and another local dog that goes to church every Sunday and "sets up in the pew behind us and behaves like a gentleman". She asks Matilda to send down her lap dog and her cat. Since Mary is writing on a Sunday, she decides to transcribe a hymn, "Worth of the Bible". Mary mentions that she has "a very great secret which will surprise you very much", but she does not reveal it. Includes a pencil sketch of a tree on the verso.
Physical Description1 folderPencil sketch on verso. One sheet.19.4 x 32.1 cm
No discernible arrangement
Mary Chrystie's letters to her aunt Eliza Durham, no dates provided. Includes 2 letters from Mary mother, Frances, and 1 letter from Mary's brother, William. The letters cover these topics of interest: Mary's Christmas gifts, Frances's unhappiness caused by the death fo her grandmother, Mary's ailments, and the sickness of her friend Mrs. Schink, Mary's moral improvement, and a scarlet fever outbreak in Eliza Durham's area around Newburgh.
Physical Description1 box
December 19 (no year), Fishkill Landing. 2 letters (1 from Mary and one from Mary's mother Frances). Although the letter is dated December 19, Mary states that it is Christmas Day. She goes on to enumerate the presents that she has recieved: "battledoor & shuttlecock - a sugar dog - a cornucopia full of sugar plums - a beautiful book full of pictures - and wooden cart made by her brother Willie". Frances expresses a great deal of unhappiness and weariness due largely, it seems, to the death of her grandmother: "dear Grandmama - everyday I feel her loss - I cannot express to you how interesting and how dear to me she was. Oh shall we ever meet & know & love again?". Adding to her melancholy feelings are the sickness of a good friend, Mrs. Schink, and Mary's continuing respiratory ailments. Frances closes by warning Eliza to regulate her affections for her pet (child?), Robert.
Physical Description1 folderLarge chunk of paper (approx. 6 x 16.3 cm) missing (does not affect text). One sheet folded in half.32.1 x 39.6 cm
No date. 3 letters (1 from Mary, apparently at a very young age, 1 from Mary's brother William, and 1 from Mary's mother Frances). A short note from Mary and a short note from William. Frances describes Mary's moral improvement during the course of her winter studies with her mother and father: "[Mary] has certainly in the last year overcome many of her evil propensities & I think I can now pronounce her a child of truth". Frances also expresses her regrets that Eliza has been surrounded by the sickness and death brought about by an outbreak of scarlet fever (in Newburgh?). Frances's letter is incomplete, there appears to be a leaf missing.
Physical Description1 folderLetter is incomplete. One sheet.20.1 x 24.5 cm
Chronological order, with undated item at end.
Mary Chrystie's letters to her friend Rhoda Bolton. Spanning 1840-1841. The letters cover these topics of interest: salutations, a request for a visit form Rhoda, Mary is disappointed by postponed trips and a bout with the measles, includes a card.
Physical Description1 box
October 19, 1840, New York; postmarked October 21 at New York. Begins with salution "Dear Rosa" (a pet name, perhaps). At the time of this writing, Mary was studying in New York with a Miss Campbell. In this letter Mary writes to her Rhoda, a school friend from her time spent at Pelham Priory, instructing Rhoda to say hello to all of her other friends at Pelham Priory.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.4 x 38.6 cm
March 26, 1841, New York; no postmark, but with a note on verso saying "Favoured by Mr. Jay Bolton". Mary requests that her friend Rhoda come visit her, if for no other reason than that she will then be familiar with Mary's surroundings and local friends; this, then, will allow Mary to write letters that will be both longer and of more interest to Rhoda.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.7 x 30.7 cm
April 9, 1841, New York; postmarked May 1 at New York. Again beginning with a salutation to "dearest Rosa", Mary goes on to describe a series of disappointments to her friend including a number of postponed trips and a bout with measles; the letter begins: "I never met with more disappointments in my life I believe than I have within the last few weeks, I shall renumerate them to you, feeling sure you will sympathize with me".
Physical Description1 folderDark green wax seal of the Eye of Providence, indecipherable text. One sheet folded in half.25.7 x 30.8 cm
No date, no place. A card to accompany a gift of "silk . . . meant for an apron" that Mary intends for her friend Rhoda to make.
Physical Description1 folder4 page card, with die-cut border (similar to lace) on the first leaf, folded into the shape of a triangle.11.2 x 17.5 cm
No discernible arrangement.
Mary Chrystie's letters to her friend Anne Cambreleng. Spanning: December 22, 1835 - January 18, 1836. The letters cover these topics of interest: a riddle, Mary's feelings about arriving at Princeton, and the Great Fire of 1835 (New York City).
Physical Description1 box
January 18, 1836, Princeton; Postmarked January 18 at Princeton. Mary Chrystie writes a newsy letter to her friend Anne Chambreleng in New York City. The letter includes a riddle (the same riddle Mary wrote for her mother Frances Chrystie in item 16 of the series "Letters to Frances Chrystie").
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.4 x 38.6 cm
December 22, 1835, Princeton (dated at the bottom of the page). Mary Chrystie sends her greetings to her friend Anne Chambreleng, saying that she has "been very well ever since [she] came [to Princeton]". Mary also mentions a large fire that has recenctly occured in New York City (later known as "The Great Fire of 1835").
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.4 x 39.2 cm
No discernible arrangement
Various letters, mostly by Mary Chrystie, written to members of Mary's family and her friends. Spanning: February 7, 1836 - July 10 1841. This group of letters was previously tied together by a piece of white ribbon still included in the series (probably collected by Mary Chrystie's mother Frances Chrystie after Mary's death). The letters cover these topics of interest: Mary's fleas, sicknesses, and posion ivy at Pelham Priory, Mary's fear of her music teacher, Mary's defence of Oliver Cromwell during a discussion about Cromwell and Charles I, Mary's own lesson plans for the coming winter at home including: French, writing, "sums", history, and astronomy, Mary's mother Frances Chrystie's anxieties over her daughter's health, Mary's time in the country, Mary's involvement in the courtship of her friend Louisa by a Mr. Beals, evidence of Frances Chrystie's collecting Mary's letters post mortem, Mary's new dog, a riddle, Mary's work for the poor, Revolutionary War sites near Pelham Priory, a letter writing game with friends at Pelham Priory, Mary's homesickness, a memorable trip to an island with a blind horse swimming, Mary's weight, and a prayer written by Mary.
Physical Description1 box
Wednesday, August (circa 1840), Pelham Priory; postmarked August 27 at New Rochelle, New York. This letter appears to have been written after Mary wrote her August 17 letter to her great aunt Maria Montgomery (see series: Letters to Maria Montgomery, item 4). Mary Chrystie writes to her mother Frances Chrystie that she has been afflicted with flea bites (125 separate bites, by her own count), but that she is "growing used to them". She mentions that the "poison" she had referred to in her letter to Maria Montgomery, "is going away". She decribes her regimen of bathing in salt water and her decision to no longer use flaxseed to treat her ailments. She also mentions (as she had to Maria Montgomery) the loss of the brooch her brother gave her.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half25.3 x 39.8 cm
Monday (no date), Pelham Priory; postmarked September 1 at New Rochelle, New York. Mary Chrystie again writes to her mother Frances Chrystie about her flea problem and notes that her "poison" is almost gone and "does not trouble me at all now, and only looks very ugly". Mary complains that her music teacher "is so hatefully cross that I tremble when she calls me to take my lesson" and mentions that her throat is "pretty well" but that she "wheeze[s] when the weather is at all damp".
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half. Large chunk missing (approx. 5.5 x 19.3 cm) at bottom (does not affect text).25.5 x 39.6 cm
September 14 (no year), Pelham Priory; postmarked September 19 at New Rochelle, New York; written at the top of the first page, underlined, and emphasized further by three exclamation marks is: "Only one month and two days!!!" - this is reemphasized in a postscript; Mary begins by telling her mother of her recent ill health (headaches, stomach pains, and fever), and closes after two pages; she reopens the letter and writes more later that evening, however, to tell her mother that she feels much improved, and that, in a dispute between the young ladies as to the relative merit of Oliver Cromwell and Charles I, she is the only one who has taken Cromwell's side; she closes the letter with a compliment she received from her teacher: "[Miss Bolton] says that she never knew any young person write with so much ease that my compositions are so natural not as if it was an effort to write."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25 x 40.4 cm
September 28, 1840, Pelham Priory; labeled "(No 4)" in an unknown hand at top of first page; with her time at Pelham Priory coming to an end, Mary writes her mother to tell her that she still suffers from a cough, headaches, and a sore throat and asks if she can come home as soon as possible; most interesting are Mary's own lesson plans for her winter at home: she has 2 hours set aside with her father (bookeeping, sums, writing, spelling, and French), time spent studying history, notably "Ramsay's United States" (David Ramsay's History of the United States, unfinished at his death in 1815, but completed by his brother-in-law, S. Stanhope Smith; Ramsay was a graduate of Princeton in 1765) with her mother, and supplemental learning with a number of composition books, reading a dictionary, and memorizing French phrases and verbs, with, perhaps, some readings from "Banicastle's astronomy" (John Bonnycastle's Introduction to Astronomy, London, 1796), with music and painting filling in the rest of her time.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25 x 40.3 cm
Monday (no date), postmarked January (?) 16 at Fishkill Landing; from Mary Chrystie's mother, Frances Chrystie. A rather melancholy letter full of thoughts of loss and death as Mrs. Chrystie describes Mary's continuing ill-health (from a present case of "whooping cough," Mrs. Chrystie says); her anxiety for Mary and the severity of Mary's illness are testified by the following lines: "Sometimes I have a glimpse of things as they are in this world and then I can undeservedly give her up to God and say Thy will be done--but too often I cannot even bear to think of parting with her--she is a dear little creature and tho' full of faults I am sure if she is spared she will be a good woman..."; Mrs. Chrystie then goes on to describe the failing health of a number of other women in the neighborhood.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.5 x 40 cm
July 10, 1841, Lebanon; 2 letters (1 from Mary Chrystie and 1 from her mother, Frances Chrystie); with substantial remains of a dark green wax seal (with "Mary" still legible). Mary describes her time in the country, with particular attention paid to the dogs, kittens, and birds around the farm at which she is staying; Mary also excitedly relates that she has "been made the confidant in love affairs, an office which I like very much, as I have love letters read to me" (the love letters are from a Mr. Beals and are directed to Mary's friend(?) Louisa). Frances Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother, complains that she has not had a letter in some time, and mentions that Mary is gaining strength and that Albert Chrystie, Frances' husband, is suffering from some sort of "dispeptic feeling which occasions an irregularity of his pulse."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half, with substantial remains of dark green wax seal (with "Mary" still legible).25.2 x 39.8 cm
No date; postmarked February 4 at Fishkill Landing; from Frances Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother. A newsy letter in which Frances Chrystie professes that she is quite comfortable and content with her increasingly grey hair and expresses her uneasiness over Mary's poor health; winter at Fishkill Landing is very pleasant, and she spends the rest of the letter describing the health and affairs of people from the neighborhood.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half. Fragile.24.6 x 40.3 cm
No date; postmarked February 17 from New York; from Frances Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother. Written to the side of the address block is a note in a different ink: "Letters in which my child is mentioned"--evidence of Frances Chrystie's attempt to gather materials by and concerning Mary after her death; Frances Chrystie writes about her great pleasure at wintering in the city and states that she is so content that "no change for me can be for the better"; Willie (William, Mary Chrystie's brother) and Mary are now studying under a new teacher who is much loved and respected by his pupils; Mary wheezes on occasion, but her health has largely been sound.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half. Large chunk (approx. 6.9 x 20.3 cm) cut and missing (does not affect text). Very fragile condition, with paper beginning to separate along some of the folds.25.5 x 40.6 cm
January 5, 1841, New York; postmarked January 8 at New York; from Mary Chrystie. Mary apologizes for not having written sooner, but she has a good excuse: "I have been obliged to keep my room (and part of the time my bed) for nearly three weeks with an inflammation of my lungs"; she describes in detail her new dog--which she has named Rhoda in honor of her friend ("I hope you are able to appreciate the honour conferred on you..."); she explains that due to her illness she will not attend school "for some time"; Mary copies a long riddle for Rhoda to solve. A hole in the second leaf (presumably made when the wax seal was removed) affects the text.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half. A hole in the second leaf (presumably made when the wax seal was removed) affects the text.25.8 x 30.8 cm
Dated August 19 (no year, but circa 1840), Pelham Priory; Postmarked August 22 at New Rochelle, New York; from Mary Chrystie. Labeled "(No 2)" in an unknown hand on top of first page. A very newsy and interesting letter in which Mary describes her life and surroundings at Pelham Priory; she is involved in "a little scoiety...to work for the poor in the neighborhood" (sewing for poor families) and it is while delivering some of the clothes they have prepared that Mary, in an attempt to skirt around a swampy area, falls off a fence into some bushes and brambles concealing "poison vines"--the cause of Mary's "poisoning" mentioned in a letter to her great aunt and to her mother (see Letters to Maria Montgomery 4 and Miscellaneous Letters 1 and 2). Mary describes numerous Revolutionary War sites in the area, including an immense rock in the forest used by Americans to grind corn, the "haunted oak" where "several men were hung...during the war," and small spring where two Americans were shot by the British while having a drink; she also describes an interesting Irishman ("quite an original character"), a workman at the Priory; and she describes a "post office" that she and her friends have established at which they deposit letters they write to each other under fictitious names (Mary is Lady Albertine Collona of Geneva, Switzerland, but she is considering changing her name to Biddy O'Brian of Cork, Ireland); Mary also transcribes a letter she has received from the "Duke of Wellington," written by Ada Bolton.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.3 x 39.8 cm
Dated July 6, 1841, Lebanonville; from Mary Chrystie; with substantial remains of dark green wax seal (with "Mary" still legible). Mary writes from her uncle's (Albert Chrystie's brother's) house in the country; she spends much of her time with her friend Louisa, but their "amusements together have lately been very much interrupted by [Louisa's] lover's (a Mr. Beals)" visits; Louisa's engagement to Mr. Beals is back on after her sister, who, Mary says, did not approve of the match, persuaded Louisa that she did not love him enough; Mary describes other activities, such as driving with her father, and expresses concern for her dog, who has been left at home with the servants.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half. With substantial remains of dark green wax seal (with "Mary" still legible). Very fragile condition; paper beginning to separate along some of the folds.25.7 x 40.9 cm
Circa 1837-1840; postmarked September 1 at New Rochelle, New York; from Mary Chrystie. A long letter written with crossed, overlapping text throughout in which Mary describes her homesickness and a very memorable picnic trip with all the other students at Pelham Priory (Mary also includes a complete list of names of the people who went on the picnic--31 people in all) to a nearby island; while sailing to the island Mary's boat discovers a blind horse swimming away from land and rescues it; a rush to be seated on an old, rotting bench results of many of her classmates being deposited on the ground "in a number of very interesting positions"; Mary also describes a singing game played between the two boat-loads of students, and transcribes the text of a sung prayer used that day at lunch. Dates supplied are the probable years which Mary spent at Pelham Priory.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.3 x 39.8 cm
Pelham Priory, circa 1837-1840; postmarked September 17 at new Rochelle, New York; Labeled "(No 3)" in an unknown hand at top of first page; from Mary Chrystie. Mary, addressing Anne as "Nancy," describes another picnic, including a tree where a young man named Underhill "hung himself in a fit of melancholy"; Mary steps onto a scale in a mill and is surprised to discover that she weighs only 85 pounds; she mentions that she has been "quite sick" but is now well; and she scolds Anne for not writing more often: "I have had twenty two letters since I have been here, and only three from you." Dates supplied are the probable years which Mary spent at Pelham Priory.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25 x 30.5 cm
Dated on the verso in Frances Chrystie's, her mother's hand(?): "Written.Feb.7.1836." Entitled "Prayer to God"; Mary prays for an "aimiable and benevolent" temper and for God to "soften our hard and stony hearts so that we may be brought to love thee and serve thee as we ought"; she also prays for the missionary cause and for the protection of those who leave home and have "gone to foreign lands and have taught the poor heathen natives the truth of the holy Bible."
Physical Description1 folderOne ruled sheet.12.9 x 20.5 cm
White ribbon used to tie together items in series ("Miscellaneous Letters"). Tied in a loop.
Physical Description1 folderWhite ribbon used to tie together items in series ("Miscellaneous Letters"). Tied in a loop.Approximately 50 cm in length.
No discernible arrangement.
Prayers, poems, fiction, and journal entries by Mary Chrystie, some original, some copied from periodicals and other publications. Most are undated, but span the period January 21 1833 - May 23 1872; some are materials related to Mary collected by relatives and friends after her death. Topics of interest include: Mary's religious disposition at a young age, her relationship with God, her rasising of horses, her feelings toward her mother, and her stories about children.
Physical Description1 box
A touching and selfless prayer of dedication: "Oh! my most gracious Redeemer I now give myself to thee in my presence. I will solemnly give my word that I will henceforth deem thy word as sacred and thous as without blemish. I pray thee Oh! Lord to help me fulfil (sic) my resolutions to become thy servent (sic) forever and I shall not leave out my dear brother and parents and all my friends and particularly my dear cousin Mag and forgive them all their sins and give me my dear mother's head-ache and take it from her. Your sinful servent (sic) Mary Chrystie."; on verso is a note written in her mother's hand: "princeton Dec 1836 Found by her Mother," and another note written by Mary: "Hoped to be opened next time with joy"; This item was enclosed in a folded paper with writing by her mother (see next item).
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.14.7 x 9.8 cm
No date, but after Mary Chrystie's death in 1842. A note written by Mary's mother, Frances Chrystie, explaining how she found the above described prayer ("Prayer of Dedication") written by Mary; Frances Chrystie found the prayer in 1836 but did not tell Mary that she had discovered it until "a few days before she left us." Mrs. Chrystie goes on to relate how she told Mary it was apparent that she had dedicated herself to God at a very young age. She then explains that Mary responded by saying "I was very wicked." Mrs. Chrystie recalls that at the time the prayer was written Mary was constantly questioning how her mother knew whether everything the Bible said was true. Mrs. Chrystie concludes: "I think when I mentioned the enclosed paper it awakened regret at her sceptical feelings that winter and the way in which she often expressed them to me."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.18.5 x 22.6 cm
No date. "Oh Lord help me prays (sic) and all my friends all the days of our youth to serve you and love you. Amen for Jesus Christ sake even so Amen. Oh lord make every body on earth love and serve thee, give them new hearts and holy minds."
Physical Description1 folderOne piece of ruled paper.13.5 x 18.4 cm
Poem in an unknown hand entitled "Afraid" by Laura Redden Searing, pseudonym Howard Glyndon. 5 stanzas of 4 lines (aabb). The following date is written after the poem in pencil and in a different hand: "May 23rd 1872." This poem was first published on February 24, 1872 in Appleton's Journal Volume 7, Issue 152 (see Sweet Bells Jangled ed. Judy Yaeger Jones and Jane E. Vallier).
Physical Description1 folderOn pattern-printed sheet folded in half. Indecipherable watermark. Second leaf torn in half but all present.18 x 24.7 cm
The first poem, copied by Mary Chrystie(?) through stanza 9, is "The Crucifixion," originally published in The Amulet for 1830, and later reprinted in religious periodicals including The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle, Volume 7. The scond poem, verso, appears to be an original composition by Mary Chrystie. It is an unfinished, untitled poem of two 4-line stanzas, with third stanza marker present but no text. It contrasts the happiness of children at "mery" (sic) harvest time ("Very joyous is their joys") with the feelings of "a little child thats sick" who wishes to "run through snow and the rain."
Physical Description1 folderOne ruled sheet folded in half.19.7 x 32.2 cm
A copy in an unknown hand of the Horatius Bonar Hymn "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" (included in his Hymns, Original and Selected, 1846). Originally enclosed in a later envelope with a brief note, undated save for "27 March Saturday," and signed by a Mr. Plats (?): "I enclose you a letter received this morning from Mr. Buckley--I suppose he will be back here by next week Saturday."
Physical Description1 folderHymn: One ruled sheet folded in half. Letter: One sheet folded in half.Hymn: 20.5 x 25.4 cm. Letter: 20.4 x 26.7 cm.
Unmarked envelope in which the above items were enclosed (Hymn "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" and Note).
Physical Description1 folderOne unmarked envelope.13.9 x 17.9 cm
An incomplete note, presumably by Mary Chrystie, describing a horse she has raised and seems to be selling: "...untill a few week past she has never been handled untill short time past Rode but a few times and only few miles at a time quite gentle and kind with fine action. I Think to take her fine size beauty action temper & Blood she is the finest horse I ever raised She is full 3/4 Therough (sic) Bred If from the above description she should suit/ turnover..." Here the page ends.
Physical Description1 folderFragment of ruled paper.6.6 x 12.4 cm
A fragment or perhaps an enclosure from one of Mary Chrystie's letters. Recto: the note "I will write you a few words and draw you another picture," with a pencil sketch of a small house and trees. Verso: "Continued. As I told you in my last letter about the picture I will draw it in this piece of letter," with a pencil sketch of a street or farmyard(?).
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet with vertical crease.9.8 x 12.2 cm
An aborted attempt(?) by Mary Chrystie to start a journal. The text, headed with the word "Journal," reads in full: "I am now going to write a journal of myself once or twice I indulged a passion which caused me to say I wished my mother was dead. Mr Hyer came to see us and talk to me I can never forget what he said to me he said I ought to give myself to God and I had allready done it I have". On the final page Frances Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother, has written: "This journal was begun before we left(?) Fishkill consequently before she was eight years old--it was meant for no eye but her own." See also Post-Mortem Series, item 2.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.19.3 x 31.6 cm
A story about five children raised in a "very wicked" household. Four of them are wicked, but the fifth child, Jane, is saved when she learns about God in school. She quotes from the hymn "Little Children, love each other." In Chapter II, Jane's mother send for a man to kill her own children; instead, the man adopts the children into his own happy family, "religious people" who "went to church every Sabbath." At the end, their wicked mother, now "blind and feeble" comes to the children's adopted home but faints "at the sound of their voices." Note in Mary's mother's, (Frances Chrystie's) hand at the bottom of the page reads "Story for the box. Written Between 8 & 9 years of age."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.16.1 x 39.4 cm
The first four pages of a story by Mary Chrystie entitled "The Hermit's Tale." The epigraph is a quotation from "The Minstrel; or, The Progress of Genius," by James Beattie, who also wrote a poem called "The Hermit" (1771). The plot of this fragment seems to have been influenced by both poems. In the story, a young traveler on a hiking trip hears about a hermit who is supposed to live in the passes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It contains some lyrical descriptions of landscape: "The night was dark for the moon had not risen but ten thousand times ten thousand little stars were peeping from thier (sic) azure home..." The traveler finds the hermit, "an old man with beard hanging to his waist and long unshorn locks," and tells the hermit about his life. But the story breaks off just as the Hermit begins to tell his own story, a didactic tale "to show how sorrow in age springs from pleasure in youth." The location of the rest of the story is unknown.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half; appears to have been bound with other pages at some point.24.9 x 39.3 cm
No discernible arrangement.
Various letters from members of Mary Chrystie's family, mostly written to other family members. Spanning: May 16 1803-March 10 1843. The letters cover these topics of interest: travel in France and Italy, British and American govenments, the War of 1812, Mary's writing ability, family health problems, Mary's death, the birth of William Few Chrystie, Mary Few's and Frances Few's weights, and Mary and William Chrystie's schooling.
Physical Description1 box
December 6, 1816, Paris; from N. Gallatin, written to her sister Catherine Few, Mary's maternal grandmother, but addressed to Catherine Few's husband Colonel William Few (father of Frances Chrystie, and Mary's grandfather). Gallatin describes English preaching "in the Episcopal Form": "They pray for King George, that he may overcome all of his enemies, that seems so strange to me. But the congreagation are entirely made up of English, nevertheless you may be sure an American cannot relish hearing, or at least cannot unite in offering up such prayers, although they may be very good Christians. The sermons are pretty good but not delivered with much solemnity."; also of note in the letter is a mention of a Frances Gallatin leaving a boarding school after having "not made much progress in speaking French"; and also a mention of an Albert who is visiting Geneva: "He appears to be very happy with his relations and they are fond of him. He says he thinks he must marry there, only they will introduce him to none but old ladies and he reproaches them for it"; also, an interesting postscript: "Vanbrugh Livingston has got quite well and is grown monstrous fat. We see him often."
Physical Description1 folderOn sheet folded in half; Van Der Ley watermark.24 x 39.6 cm
No date; from "Lily" to William, perhaps Col. William Few, Mary Chrystie's maternal grandfather, but more likely to William Few Chrystie, Mary's brother, or a different William altogether. A brief note in which Lily describes a conversation she had with her mother about the distribution of various pieces of property, such as furniture, a piano, jewelry, and a mirror.
Physical Description1 folderOn one piece of notebook paper folded in half.12.2 x 20.3 cm
April 7, 1819, Paris; from N. Gallatin to her sister, Catherine Few, Mary Chrystie's maternal grandmother. Mrs. Gallatin writes from Paris and sends her letter through the person of a Mr. Bruen, an American preacher; mention is also made of "our poor nephew James Nicholson."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half, with coat of arms watermark.22.5 x 36.2 cm
December 13, 1817 (with appended entries from 14 and 17 December), New York; from Albert Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's father, to "Smith." A very interesting letter in which Mr. Chrystie writes to his friend Smith who appears to be a member of (or in some way affiliated) with the British Parliament; Mr. Chrystie discusses the relative merits of those in politics and whether their elevation above "us plebians" is just; he reviews the state of politics in Washington and "the high sense we entertain now adays of our own importance as a nation"; he describes his studies, mentions mutual friends, requests a copy of a book ("a handsome edition of Lavater(?)") and describes some orations he has recently seen.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24 x 39 cm
May 11, 1814, New York: from "L.C."(?) to Albert Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's father. Interesting letter with mention of the War of 1812 and the fighting going on in Europe in 1814, and an optimistic hope for its conclusion: "I am more inclined than ever to think we shall have peace soon--notwithstanding the general Blocade (sic) Yankees & all included!"; remainder of letter discusses friends and family.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.7 x 41.3 cm
May 16, 1803, New York; from James Nicholson (Mary Chrystie's maternal great-grandfather, and father of Catherine Nicholson Few, Mary's maternal grandmother) to his daughter Maria. Maria is perhaps Mary's great aunt Maria Montgomery. A short letter in which Mr. Nicholson passes on news concerning the family and expresses disappointment that Maria will not be able to be with him as soon as originally expected; Mr. Nicholson patiently accepts the delay: "...yet we submit knowing it is our duty to do so, perhaps as the Alarm of War has taken another turn.'
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet with watermark "1800."18.6 x 23.5 cm
No date; postmarked December 11 at Fishkill Landing; from Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother, to Matilda Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt. Frances Chrystie writes to her sister who, ten days previously, set off on a journey by sea to Savannah, Georgia; due to strong winds and storms, she expresses no small amount of anxiety over her sister's well-being at sea; she mentions Mary's facility with writing: "...teaching Mary is the greatest possible amusement to me...as to writing I never saw any one learn so fast. She writes whole sentences on the slate without a copy..."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25 x 30.7 cm
March 10, 1843, Oak Hills; from J.W. Nicholson, Mary Chrystie's great uncle, to his sisters Catherine Few (Mary's grandmother) and Maria Montgomery (Mary's great aunt). Mr. Nicholson writes to express his condolences over their recent loss (of Mary?); he then goes on to mention the dire illness of his own daughter (named Frances) who suffers from consumption; he mentions his own health problems and complains of being "very weak," a condition he says might be related to his total abstinence from wine and spirits since joining the Temperance Society some months previously--he does, however, acknowledge that his debility could stem from old age.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half; paper has some tears and cuts and is almost completely separated along the folded middle seam.24.6 x 38.6 cm
June 15, 1842, Geneva (date and place taken from note from Frances Chrystie; year taken from postmark); postmarked July 1, 1842 (no place); 2 letters to Catherine Few (Mary Chrystie's grandmother), one from William Few Chrystie (Mary's brother) and one from Frances Few Chrystie (Mary's mother). William consciously avoids writing about the death of his sister Mary and the illness of his father and instead describes his travels for his grandmother in order to "afford...some passing amusement"; Willie has thoroughly enjoyed Italy, preferring Rome should he stay to study, but liking Florence better "for amusement and excitement of every kind"; Venice, "although very striking at first sight soon becomes too monotonous, and the motion of the gondolas although by way of variety still soon becomes exceedingly tiresome"; also described in brief are Milan, a sailing trip around Lake Como, a day spent rowing on Lake Maggiore, an ascent of Simplon Mountain, a visit to Chillon castle and its dungeons (made famous by Lord Byron's "The Prisoner of Chillon"--while there the Chrysties were disappointed in their attempt to introduce themselves to the Countess of Sellon; Frances Chrystie adds a note stating that Albert has recovered from the illness he suffered in Milan, thereby saving her from being "doubly bereaved"; she refers to Mary's death: "...all is not taken from me tho' that which gave me enjoyment in all (sic) is"; she also mentions that they will be returning home via London, and cryptically adds that they may be detained there: "We cannot entirely control our own movements. As soon as we get to L I will let you know why, at present I am bound to secrecy"; she closes by telling her mother that she had a dream in which her Aunt Lizzy(?) appeared to her and told her "All was well," (see also below, item 3 of the "Post-mortem items" series). Frances Chrystie concludes with the following words: "...& so it is dear Mother if Jesus died for us all is well--well for time and well for eternity."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.27.5 x 43 cm
Part 1 of 2; this part of the letter (10a) was folded into an envelope that enclosed the next item (10b).April 23-24, 1842; postmarked May 19, 1842 at Le Havre, France; from Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt, to Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother. A very densely packed letter--writing covers every available surface--in which Mary Few comforts her sister over the death of Mary Chrystie; in spite of her mind being "obtuse to all that is spiritual," Mary writes to her sister to tell her of various religious sentiments--and pre-sentiments--that she has had; she refers to "how tenderly little Albert Gallatin and she [Mary Chrystie] loved each other in their childhood" and mentions that Albert Gallatin was affected "most keenly" by the news of her death and "was in great danger of falling into his Catholic supersitions" but Mary's "sweet example" might "lure him into the path of truth and holiness"; she refers to a request made by Mary: "Love and remember me, but do not weep for me"; and she comforts Frances Chrystie, reminding her that Mary "chose a better portion even in the full enjoyment of all that this world could bestow--You dedicated her to God--you brought her up for him--He has claimed the free-will offering sooner than you anticipated--He has moved the tender flower--transported it to a more genial clime..."; Mary Few also adds the condolences expressed by many other friends and family members.
Physical Description1 folderOne page cut in the shape of a diamond (labeled 10a) used as an envelope for item 10b.In the shape of a diamond (labeled 10a), 19.3 x 29.6 cm at widest and longest points. Substantial remains of a black wax seal.
Part 2 of 2; this part of the letter (10b) was enclosed inside the previous item (10a). April 23-24, 1842; postmarked May 19, 1842 at Le Havre, France; from Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt, to Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother. A very densely packed letter--writing covers every available surface--in which Mary Few comforts her sister over the death of Mary Chrystie; in spite of her mind being "obtuse to all that is spiritual," Mary writes to her sister to tell her of various religious sentiments--and pre-sentiments--that she has had; she refers to "how tenderly little Albert Gallatin and she [Mary Chrystie] loved each other in their childhood" and mentions that Albert Gallatin was affected "most keenly" by the news of her death and "was in great danger of falling into his Catholic supersitions" but Mary's "sweet example" might "lure him into the path of truth and holiness"; she refers to a request made by Mary: "Love and remember me, but do not weep for me"; and she comforts Frances Chrystie, reminding her that Mary "chose a better portion even in the full enjoyment of all that this world could bestow--You dedicated her to God--you brought her up for him--He has claimed the free-will offering sooner than you anticipated--He has moved the tender flower--transported it to a more genial clime..."; Mary Few also adds the condolences expressed by many other friends and family members.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half, (labeled 10b), formerly contained in envelope (item 10a).27.4 x 43.8 cm
July 12 (no year), The Rocks; from Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt, to her mother Catherine Few, Mary Chrystie's grandmother. Mary congratulates her mother on becoming a grandmother for the first time (with the birth of William Few Chrystie); Mary is happy that the infant is a boy, "for this world is certainly particularly troublesome to the womankind--and as I always look very far ahead in my calculations I think it particularly fortunate that the eldest is of the protecting sex..."; the rest of the letter mentions many other family members.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.20.4 x 32.9
April 2, 1835, New Haven; postmarked April 3 at New Haven; From Frances Seney(?) to her sister Catherine Few, Mary Chrystie's grandmother. A letter heavily laden with religious sentiment; also mentioned is a revival in religious curiosity and devotion "at the college"--Yale, presumably; Frances also asks her sister about a "Lunitick hospital" that might be able to affect a cure for the son of one of her friends; she also describes a number of profitable lessons she has taken away from her reading of Richerd Baxter's (1615-1691) The Saints' Everlasting Rest (first published in 1650).
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.4 x 39.4 cm
August 7, 1804, Windsor Hill; from Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt, to her mother Catherine Few, Mary Chrystie's grandmother. A letter written while visiting the Chrystie family with Frances (not yet married to Albert Chrystie?); Mary notes that she and Frances went to a mill and were weighed; Frances weighed in at 109 pounds, while Mary weighed 100 pounds (see above, item 13 in the "Separately Collected Miscellaneous Letters" series, for Mary Chrystie's own experience of being weighed at a mill.)
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half, with watermarks: "W.Y. & Co." and "Gen Stamp Office". 2 different 50 cent stamp(?) images pressed into the paper, one of a bald eagle with shield, the other of a ring surrounding 13 stars.25.8 x 38.1 cm
September 12 (no year); postmarked September 12 at New York; from Lanny(?)/Fanny(?) to her cousin Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt. Mary's cousin mentions the people she met while on a trip to Albany, including Chancellor Landford, Joe Chartin, Mary Garritson, and Martin van Buren "...whom I was delighted, and quite astonished such an elegant and gentell man should be found in this republican country" (this sighting may date the letter to before 1821 and van Buren's election to the U.S. Senate).
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half, with Butler & Ward U.S. watermark.24.9 x 39.8 cm
November 1828; from Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother, to Eliza Durham, Mary Chrystie's aunt. Mention of Albert Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's father, visiting a prospective school for Willie and Mary (a school on Fulton St.); also mentions a Mr. Stewart who will be serving as chaplain on a "publick vessel" which will take him to the Sandwich Islands; Frances enquires as to how Eliza's school is coming along and whether or not she is making any money with it; a wedding was held at the Chrystie house (the wedding of George Chrystie and Frances Gallatin); Frances Chrystie also mentions that Willie has a "boy doll" that he plays with, and that he informed her that he was going to be a soldier, to which her response was: "I [told him] I thought it would be better to teach him how to be good than to teach him to fight"; little Mary Chrystie's response to Willie's declaration was "Oh Willie you may look at the soldiers but you must worship God"; also, when asked if she has a message for her aunt, Mary says "she has love for you but she won't send it she will give it to you when she goes to Newburgh."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.4 x 40 cm
No discernible arrangement.
Most items are undated, but all were written after Mary Chrystie's death in 1842. Notes from Mary Chrystie's mother, Frances Few Chrystie, and aunt, Mary Few, describing their grief over Mary's death and memorializing her life. The most significant item (item 2) is a hagiography of Mary Chrystie, written by her mother and father. The document is a brief but detailed biography, including many anecdotes that portray Mary as gentle, loving, and pious throughout her short life. The hagiography has been transcribed and a typescript is available in Eric Johnson's notes at Seeley Mudd Manuscript Library.
Physical Description1 box
No date; from Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt, to "Sir," perhaps Reverend F.P. Tappan. A short note which accompanied a variety of biographical materials about Mary Chrystie: "I send the materials for the biographical sketch in which you have so kindly interested yourself"; it is not clear exactly which materials this note did accompany; Mary Few says only "I have sent her journal &c thinking that you might find it interesting to trace the development of her character and sentiments."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half, with a black border.19.3 x 24.5 cm
No date; at least partially written by Albert Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's father, and perhaps by her mother Frances Few Chrystie. A hagiography of Mary Chrystie. 9 written pages describing in some detail Mary Chrystie's spiritual devotion, character, qualities, and latent intelligence, as well as her loving relationship with her family--especially her extremely close relationship with her mother, who was described by Mary as being her "oldest sister. You never command me, but you tell me what is best, and you deny me nothing, without convincing me it is best I should do without it"; Mary is descibed as having begun walking "at less than 10 months old"; at 19 months she was freely talking; at 3 years of age she "could repeat in her own language the substance" of Watt's First Catechism for Children; at age 4 she read very well; and "Religious truth made a sensible impression," so much so that she prayed to be forgiven "for every sin that she thought she had been committing"; she did not associate much with friends or servants, choosing instead to invest her time in her immediate family; she was a "conspicuous" participant in her father's Sunday evening family Bible class (which the domestics were also invited to attend); while traveling to Italy Mary told her mother, "I was never so happy in religion as I am now--I never loved to pray so much," a statement that her mother interpreted as a fortelling of Mary's death; her loving character is testified to: "The last night of her life while resting her head on her Father's bosom she said Father you promised me a watch when we got to Geneva. Give it to Mother--do not forget"; very interestingly, it is mentioned that when Mary was aged 5 or 6 "a daily journal was begun to be kept of her misdeeds which was read to her at night. Nothing pained her more than this journal, she would often entreat that it might not be read & sometimes refuse to listen--but the effect was always salutary. The journal was not always kept, but if any fault seemed to be gaining strength the journal would be renewed for a week or month or longer. Some pages of it have been found and will show her early character better than any thing else (see above, item 9 of the "Prayers, Poems, and Miscellaneous Notes" series for an example). Further anecdotes detailing Mary's gentle and loving character can be found throughout these pages.
Physical Description1 folder3 sheets folded in half to create 12 pages; each sheet is loose, although two sheets show signs of having been bound at some point. Sheet 1 has 4 pages of writing; Sheet 2, 1 page of writing; Sheet 3, 4 pages of writing.Sheet 1, 25.4 x 42 cm, with a 6.2 x 21 cm piece of paper sewn onto the bottom of the second leaf; sheet 2, 25.4 x 42 cm; sheet 3, 25.2 x 39.6 cm.
November 24, 1843; A note by Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother, describing her grief at the death of her daughter the previous Spring in Nice, her own apparent experience with the "invisible world" and ministering angels in the aftermath of Mary's death, and a dream she had on May 28th, in Bologna, in which she was visited by her aunt Lizzy who told her, in response to Mrs. Chrystie's query as to whether or not Lizzy had seen Mary, "All is well" (See the "Miscellaneous Letters" series, item 9, for another description of this dream). Mrs. Chrystie concludes: "I note these things that I may keep in remembrance the goodness of the Lord to a suffering creature so comforted & so sustained. With dark events I strove/ And found when rightly understood/ All messages of love."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet.12.4 x 19.3 cm
No date; A note by Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother, setting the record straight about Mary's honesty: "in mentioning her propensity to not speak the truth, I fear I may be misunderstood, it showed itself only when she was a very little child..."; by the time Mary was 7 or 8 "so strict was her veracity & so entirely to be depended upon" that Mary told the truth even to her own detriment; also described is Mary's tolerant and forgiving nature; mention is made of the Chrystie family's trip to Europe, and it seems that it was in large part motivated by medical advice: "[Mary's] physicians said that she ought not to return to America in two years"; Mary, however, wanted to return home sooner rather than later in order to prevent her mother from feeling herself "an exile" and so she might grow up close to her friends so as not to differ from them or lose any of their love.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.19.7 x 25.2 cm
No date; from Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother, to Reverend W. Tappan. A note with editorial corrections and suggestions made by Mrs. Chrystie in regard to a memoir the Reverend Tappan is writing about Mary; Mrs. Chrystie has made a couple of specific changes: changing "Mother" to "parents" and effacing the word "tyrannical" from the third page; she also urges the Reverend to place more emphasis on the love between Mary and her father and brother--if her brother William is not mentioned frequently in her journals, it is because she only began keeping a diary after Willie had left for school; Mrs. Chrystie supports the writing of this "memoir" so "that the simple Christian experience of my blessed child will lead some 'little ones' to Jesus that dear Saviour on whom she [Mary] reposed in life and in death."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.19.8 x 25.2 cm
No date; From Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt, to Reverend W. Tappan. A note describing Mary Chrystie's intellectual qualities in order to help Reverend Tappan form "a just estimate of the dear child in whom you have so kindly interested youself"; Mary's great facility with geometry is described, as is her extreme enjoyment of reading and writing--her enthusiam for recording her thoughts and desires "induced a habit of careless writing & careless spelling which made her fall below the boarding-school standard--but it had also given her a peculiar facility in expressing herself, while her love of reading had furnished her with ideas which made her superior to her companions in composition."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half with watermark.22.6 x 36.9 cm
July 8, 1843, Savannah, Georgia; from Mary T/F(?) to Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother. Transcription of a poem entitled "Epitaph on a Young Lady Aged Eighteen" by Miss H. More; with a note: "Copied for F. Chrystie by her friend Mary T/F(?). The Poem is "Epitaph on Miss Gwatkin" by Hannah More (1745-1833).
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.20.2 x 25.5 cm
No discernible arrangement.
Letters and notes, most written at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Mostly by Chrystie family members and their descendants. The letters cover these topics of interest: Marion Letcher's research on the Few family, Mary Chrystie's death, the Civil War, death of Colonel William Few, and sketches by Mary Chrystie.
Physical Description1 box
May 31, 1871, New York; part of a receipt for silver bought by William Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's brother, from Starr & Marcus of No. 22 John Street, Up Stairs, New York, New York; purchased items include 1 sterling silver tea service, 5 pieces ($385); 2 dozen sterling silver table spoons ($115.50); 2 dozen sterling silver table forks ($109); 1 1/2 dozen sterling silver dessert spoons ($56.87); 1 dozen sterling silver dessert forks ($37.87); 2 dozen sterling silver tea spoons ($54); 1 sterling silver soup ladle ($25); 1 dozen sterling silver egg spoons ($25); 1 gorham plated tureen ($60); 1 gorham plated kettle & stand ($41.50); total cost of these items: $909.74; the rest of the receipt is lost.
Physical Description1 folder1 incomplete letterhead page.16 x 22.5 cm
November 19, 1904, Washington, D.C.; from Marion Letcher to Mrs. William Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's brother's wife(?), residing at Hastings on the Hudson, New York; Marion Letcher (possibly the Marion Letcher who was United States consul in Chihuahua during the Mexican revolution) requests the help of Mr. William Chrystie in his/her attempt to compile information for a biography of Colonel William Few, Mary Chrystie's grandfather. Marion Letcher specififes a letter written by Dr. Ignatius Few to Miss Mary Few in 1837 that is included in Mrs. William Chrystie's collection. Also see item 9 of this series, below.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.16.5 x 26.2 cm
July 5, 1880, Princeton, NJ; from a Ms. "Chgimi"(?) to Mrs. F. F. Chrystie, presumably Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother. A 2 page letter thanking Mrs. Chrystie for her hospitality during a recent visit.
Physical Description1 folderOne ruled sheet folded in half.20.4 x 25.4 cm
August 18, 1878, Quebec; from Emily (William Few Chrystie's daughter?) to her grandmother Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother. Emily describes her trip to Quebec, what she has seen, and where she has gone.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.19.7 x 24.2 cm
Dated "Saturday Night 18th" (no year, but possibly 1842, the year of Mary Chrystie's death); postmarked November 23 or 29 at Rhinebeck, NY; from Mr. Gallatin to Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt; a brief note lamenting Mary Chrystie's death, along with a 22-line eulogistic poem written by Mary Gallatin in honor of Mary Chrystie. The poem urges faith in the face of grief, beginning: "In foreign lands her sacred dust is laid/ By stranger lips her funeral rites were said,/ Youth, Beauty, genius, fortune's favours given/ Unheeded all, her eye was fixt on heaven..."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.3 x 40.4 cm
No date; from Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt, to Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother. Mary Few relays news of various mutual acquaintances and family friends, mentions a letter she has received from Willie Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's brother, in which he mentions his father's ill health, and anticipates Frances's visit to "the south" (Georgia?).
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.20.5 x 33.1 cm
Dated August 14 (no year, but after Mary Chrystie's death in 1842), written at Hell Gate; from T. F. Desmond(?) to Mary Few, Mary Chrystie's aunt; a 40-line poem commemorating Mary Chrystie's death; at the top of the first page is a note in pencil written in a different hand: "Lines by Mrs. D." The poem compares Mary Chrystie's short life to that of a rose: "But its quiet and star like beauty told/ Too plainly on earth 'twas not meant to unfold." Now she rests "in the sunlight of God's own eye;/ Where the leaf never droops and the flowers never die."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.25.5 x 40.3 cm
October 1 1802, New York; from James Nicholson (Mary's maternal great-grandfather and the father of Catherine Nicholson Few) to his daughter Maria (perhaps Mary's great aunt Maria Montgomery, see above "Miscellaneous Letters" series, item 6). A brief letter in which Mr. Nicholson informs his daughter of his improving health.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half, watermark of a crown and horn (and more). Remains of a red wax seal.24.8 x 40 cm
July 5, 1907 (dated at end of letter), University Club Washington letterhead; from Marion Letcher (possibly the Marion Letcher who was United States consul in Chihuahua during the Mexican revolution) to his/her cousin. A letter discussing the genealogical project about the Few family that Letcher is undertaking (See item 2 of this series, from the same correspondent).
Physical Description1 folderTwo sheets folded in half, University Club Washington letterhead.20.3 x 25.2 cm
Dated "Saturday 30th(?) January" (no year, but written during the Civil War; possibly in 1864 when January 30 fell on a Saturday, if the date is correct); from an aunt in Georgia(?) to Emily, possibly the daughter of William Few Chrystie (Mary Chrystie's brother). Recalls mutual acquaintances; mentions that "Mr. Chrystie had been very sick"; a little over 4 lines of writing at the bottom of the first page are nearly completely crossed out; at the top of page 2 the author expresses concern over a man whom the family has "not hear a word from," stating "I have no doubt he was killed." Later on p. 2 reference is made to one Frank Cocke(?), a member of the signal corps who was killed in Savannah; "There is much sorrow in the land and many of the most loved have been call (sic) away, and yet would you believe the people are mainly gay..."; p. 4 lists other acquaintances who have died, such as the minister's wife, as well as a Mr. Henry who "has lost his mind"; closes with "My dear child I shall make every effort to go North if my life is spared, if I cannot obtain a Passport, I will try by the way of Memphis or Nashville."
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.20.3 x 26.6 cm
Lecture notes in an unknown hand, in pencil with some pen; "Notes on Real Property--Professor Washburne"; "Criminal Law"; the names "Thomas" and "Singleton" appear frequently, as does the date 1776 (at the top left of the first page and all across the top of the second page); on the final page is a doodle of a square-rigger at full sail.
Physical Description1 folderOne page folded in half.21 x 33.3 cm
August 14, 1828, Steamboat North America; from Mr. Stewart to Mrs. Few (Catherine Few, Mary Chrystie's grandmother); Stewart writes to Catherine Few to offer his condolences on the death of her husband, Colonel William Few (1748-1828).
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.24.6 x 40 cm
Undated pencil sketches by Mary Chrystie (with Mary's initials): tree boughs and foliage, a church, a fence post and flower, and a footbridge.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.28.2 x 43.4 cm
Undated sketches by Mary Chrystie; 4 sketches of houses (timberframe, thatched roof, and stone cottage) in pencil, with pencil sketch of flowers (partially colored with green and brown watercolors); on verso is a sketch of a young boy wearing a hat and holding a kite.
Physical Description1 folderOne sheet folded in half.28 x 43.3 cm
No discernible arrangement.
Mary Chrystie's childhood journals, and stories of her own composition, mostly about children. Some notebooks undated; some are dated between 1836 and 1837. There is also a packet of writings by Frances Few Chrystie, Mary Chrystie's mother, about her young daughter. Mary's journals cover these topics of interest: Bible verses and morality; Mary's education; children and families; Mary's grief over the death of a nest of birds.
Physical Description1 box
16 pages, all with inscription, unpaged. Mary Chrystie's signature on inside front wrapper; and written on inside front wrapper in her mother, Frances Few Chrystie's hand: "Written at 7 years of age". Notebook contains a story entitled "Little Tom and his Mother"; 2 hymns ("Hark! the skies with music sound..." and "begone, unbelief, my Saviour is near..."); a short story (really Bible quotations) about two children who memorize Matthew 5:3-7; text of the Golden Rule; an unfinished story of the discovery of an abandoned baby (continues after skipping 2 pages); an assortment of moral verses; pencil drawing of a country house and a neighboring church; beginning of a poem called "Robin"; beginning of the Guy Fawkes day poem "5th of November".
Physical Description1 folderSmall notebook with unlined paper and grey card wrappers. 16 pages.10.1 x 16.3 cm
38 pages; 14 pages with inscriptions at front of book, unpaged. On inside front wrapper: Mary's signature, date of March 8, Princeton 1836; "Continuation of Ellinor Randolph" (a short story Mary was writing); "Written at eleven years of age" (in pencil in her mother Frances Few Chrystie's hand). Blue paper label with script "Children's Tales" pasted on front wrappers. Notebook contains continuation of a story entitled "Ellinor Randolph" that Mary began writing in another book; a story entitled "The Tyrannical Girl" (on detached pages); a story entitled "Louisa & Harriet". A page of writing near the middle of the notebook has been torn out and is missing.
Physical Description1 folderBrown marbled paper wrappers, lined paper.19.5 x 16.5 cm
40 pages, 28 of them with inscriptions, unpaged. On inside front wrapper: Mary Chrystie's signature, dated Princeton 1836 March 14. "The Washington Family...1"; "Alfred Templeton...7"; "Written at the age of ten (written over struck word "eight") years" (in pen in mother Frances Few Chrystie's hand). Blue paper label with script "Children's Tales by Mary Chrystie" pasted on front wrapper. Written on vertical edge of inside rear wrapper: "Do dear Willie won't you" in Mary's hand. Contains the short stories "The Washington Family"; "Alfred Templeton"; and an untitled short story starring "Old Mr. Ausburn".
Physical Description1 folderBrown marbled paper wrappers, lined paper.16.8 x 19.5 cm
44 pages, all with inscriptions. Laurel-framed box at the top of the wrapper enclosing: "Property of Mary Chrystie". Written on inside of front wrapper is a long addition problem, various squiggles, the word "spanled" (?), and a small drawing of a house and tree. White paper wrappers printed in black (pictured on the front is a mail coach drawn by four horses with 4 lines of verse beneath it); on outside rear wrapper are printed addition and multiplication tables and an illustration of a fire engine and firemen. Notebook includes short stories entitled "Albertina and Mary"; a "true story" entitled "The stolen child..." a hymn ("Oh. Lord thou good and great / To thee my praise I'll bring..."; authorship is claimed by Mary herself); and poem entitled "My Father at the Helm". 2 folios sewn in at the end of the text include a short story written by Mary at a much earlier age; a pencil drawing of a country house; the beginning of a story entitled "Harriate and Ann"; and an incomplete short piece signed by Mary's brother, William Few Chrystie. At least one folio has been torn from the notebook.
Physical Description1 folder15.6 x 18.7 cm
58 pages, all with inscriptions. Brown paper wrappers printed in black (pictured on front is an engraving of a man lost at sea holding on to a hot air balloon); white paper label with yellow markings and the word "Journal" written on it pasted beneath the engraving, and presumably covering printer/publisher information; multiplication table printed on outside of rear wrapper; 12 additional pages sewn in at the front of the notebook. On inside front wrapper is a small profile of a man's head, and written in pen in the hand of Mary Chrystie's mother, Frances Few Chrystie: "Mary Chrystie 12 years old"; inside of rear wrapper covered with small drawings and doodles and the words "William Few Chrystie has this book or in French dis livre" written in the hand of Mary's brother, William Few Chrystie. First 4 sewn in pages: letter from Mary Chrystie in Saratoga Springs to her brother, Willy, in New York City; final 8 sewn in pages: journal entries beginning July 12, 1837 (written while in Saratoga Springs) in which Mary describes family activities in Saratoga. Included in the sewn in pages is an entry from July 16, 1837 describing the death of a family of birds that nested outside their house, and including a 24-line poem written by Mary's mother, Frances Few Chrystie, to commemorate the birds. The notebook's main text block includes journal entries from July 23, 1837 to December 24, 1837. Journal entries include descriptions of daily activities, Bible texts, and other lessons. Mary's mother, Frances Few Chrystie, has corrected many of Mary's errors and commented on her mistakes, penmanship, and overall writing style. It is clear that Mary's journals were evaluated on a regular basis by her mother (see other letters and journal entries).
Physical Description1 folderBrown paper wrappers printed in black (pictured on front is an engraving of a man lost at sea holding on to a hot air balloon); white paper label with yellow markings and the word "Journal" written on it pasted beneath the engraving, and presumably covering printer/publisher information; multiplication table printed on outside of rear wrapper; 12 additional pages sewn in at the front of the notebook.16.6. x 20.2 cm
Marbled brown and black stiff paper wrappers; pasted on inside front wrapper is bookseller's sticker: B. G. Jansen, / Bookseller, Stationer, and / Law Blank Seller, / 158 Nassau-st., N. Y.". Written in pencil on inside of front wrapper is "Mary Albertine" Mary Chrystie's first and middle name, and an outline of the subjects Mary covered in her Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday lessons: Monday: Bible lesson, Phrases, Exercise, verb, Composition Tuesday: Geography, Theme, History, Dictation, Grammer (sic), Exposition(?) Wednesday: G_____(sic), Translation, Exercise Notebook includes various lessons, such as compositions ("Life of a canary bird"; "A Shipwreck"; "Life of Oliver Cromwell"; "Life of a sailor left on desert land"; "An account of the destruction of tea in Boston harbour"; a biography of the biblical figure Ruth; a description of events from the Revolutionary War; "A holy day"; "Descriptions of Mr. Bolton's house at New Rochelle"; a description of Norway; and 3 sample letters.
Physical Description1 folderMarbled brown and black stiff paper wrappers; pasted on inside front wrapper is bookseller's sticker: B. G. Jansen, / Bookseller, Stationer, and / Law Blank Seller, / 158 Nassau-st., N. Y.".16 x 19.2 cm
Unbound group of 20 pages (10 fols.) sewn together (not including 4 additional pages that have been cut out of the gathering). Writings by Mary Chrystie's mother, Frances Few Chrystie, including ones written on February 15 and 16, 1831, and others written between January 4-31, 1832; February 1-4, 1832; January 4-28, 1833; and February 19-26, 1833. The writings include accounts of Mary's education and lessons, her piety, and her daily activities. Parts of the text are written in dialogue form between Mary ("M") and her mother ("F").
Physical Description1 folderUnbound group of 20 pages (10 fols.) sewn together (not including 4 additional pages that have been cut out of the gathering).16 x 19.4 cm
294 ruled pages, 221 of them with inscriptions, unpaged. Written on front pastedown: numbers in a column, 2 small drawings of a house, a floorplan(?), and the outline of Mary Chrystie's hand; pinned to the first page: four printed stanzas beginning "And thou, my loving child..." from the poem "A Mother's Thoughts Amidst her Children" by Mrs. Charles Tinsley. Above this is written "Mary Chrystie / from / her / Father on / Christmas 1837". Drawn on first recto of the first blank rear fol. is a detailed study of the upper story and eaves of a house; on verso of second blank fol. at rear is an outline of Mary's foot. Written on rear pastedown: column of dates (Monday 14 to Wednesday 14, followed by "How I will jump when I can say this day is Wednesday 14 October 1840". Written next to S 27: "Here I am now"); a few odd words; another floorplan and a few squiggles; verso of last ruled folio bears what looks to be an expense ledger begun on 1 January 1839, with entries for cash and candy. Mary wrote consistently in this journal up to page 221 (fol. 111). Odd pages thereafter bear writing--after some blank pages Mary writes "I wonder where I will be when I get here / I am now at the Priory longing for home". Laid in the MS are 2 pieces of colored scrap paper (greyish purple and dark pink); sewn into the pages in various locations are feathers and fur belonging to Mary's pet birds, other birds, and dogs. This is the journal Mary remarks upon in one of her letters as having received from her father for Christmas in 1837. She wrote in it while in school at Pelham Priory, 1837-1840.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 volume3/4 bound, marbled boards; 4 blank pages at front, with an additional 4 blank pages at rear; 294 ruled pages.16.5 x 20.8 cm