Alexander M. and Laura S. Bartlett Papers, 1850-1989, n.d. | Oberlin College Archives

By Sabra Henke and Jonathan Thurn

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Collection Overview

Title: Alexander M. and Laura S. Bartlett Papers, 1850-1989, n.d.

Predominant Dates:1850-1883

ID: RG 30/207

Primary Creator: Bartlett, Alexander M. (1826-1883)

Other Creators: Bartlett, Laura S. (1829-1891)

Extent: 0.2 Linear Feet

Arrangement:

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series 1. Biographical File, 1864, 1978, undated

This series consists of one file which includes a general catalog entry and other notes of significant events in Alexander’s and Laura’s life. Also included is a copy of an article, entitled “A Congregational Romance; Or, Victorian Love by Mail,” written by Victor Hicken of Western Illinois University, which makes use of the courtship letters in the correspondence series in this collection.

Series 2. Correspondence, 1852-1853, 1864-1865, 1883, 1989, undated

This series is arranged chronologically, includes many letters written between Alexander and Laura during their courtship. These letters make up the primary source material for Victor Hicken’s article located in Series 1. Also included in the Correspondence series are letters between Alexander and Laura and their family and friends. A final folder includes two letters between Eugenia Stephens and Merrill Lynch & Co. concerning the transfer of these letters.

Series 3. Writings, 1850, 1852, n.d.

Series 3 consists of one folder and includes three unpublished essays by Laura Bartlett.

Date Acquired: 11/13/1989. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Courtship--United States, Oberlin College--Students

Forms of Material: letters (correspondence), manuscripts, publications

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Alexander Maitland and Laura Salome Bartlett collection is mainly made up of the long-distance courtship correspondence between Alexander and Laura from the 1850s. However, little else in terms of their childhood, time spent at Oberlin, or adult lives is included. The collection arranged into three series.

Collection Historical Note

Alexander Maitland Bartlett (1826-1883)

As an Oberlin College graduate with three degrees (AB 1853, AM 1856, School of Theology 1859), Alexander Bartlett’s career focused on education and ministry. He was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, February 5, 1826, one of five children in the family of Isaiah Bartlett (1793-1867), a mechanic and farmer and Miriam Mason Bartlett (1795-1860). Alexander Bartlett was descended from Richard Warren (ca. 1585-ca. 1628), a passenger on the Mayflower and one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact, as well as Robert Bartlett (ca. 1603-1676), a passenger on the ship Anne and a settler of Plymouth Colony. Alexander Bartlett came to Oberlin College from his home in Johnston, Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1847.

After his graduation in 1853, Alexander married an Oberlin student, Laura Salome Merrill (OC 1850-1852) on August 25, 1853 in First Church in Oberlin.

Alexander Bartlett’s career began immediately following graduation from Oberlin with the AB degree in Mansfield, Ohio, 1853-1855, and Putnam, Ohio, 1855-1857, as Superintendent of Public Instruction. He completed his AM at Oberlin in 1856, and earned a divinity degree at the Oberlin School of Theology, 1857-1859. Thereafter he served Congregational churches in Wellington, Ohio, 1860; Conneaut, Ohio, 1863; and Austinburg, Ohio, 1866. He returned to Marysville, Tennessee, and served as Superintendent of Schools, 1870-1873, and then as Professor of Latin at Marysville College, 1873-1883.

Alexander Bartlett died in Marysville, Tennesee, on November 19, 1883.

Laura Salome Merrill (1829-1891)

Laura Salome Merrill (often went by Salome or Saloma) was born on November 16, 1829 in Nunda, New York, the fifth daughter of eight siblings of Riley Merrill, Sr. (1794-1860) and Anna Cravath (1796-1854). Her father, an educator, worked in the Nunda, New York public schools, and her family was well-educated. She and four of her siblings attended Oberlin College. Laura Merrill entered the Literary Department of Oberlin College in 1850, left in 1852 without graduating, and then returned to Oberlin in 1853 to marry Alexander Bartlett. The couple raised two sons (Robert and Addison) and four daughters (Clara, Cora, Nellie, and Edith). All of Laura and Aelxsnder Bartlett's children except Edith graduated from Marysville College in Tennessee.

Laura Merrill Bartlett died on July 16, 1891 and was buried in Marysville, Tennessee with Alexander Bartlett.

Sources Consulted

Alumni files of Alexander Bartlett and Laura Merrill Bartlett (RG 28).

Find a Grave, database and images, memorial page for Deacon Isaiah Bartlett (12 Jun 1793–11 Jul 1867), https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92942113/isaiah-bartlett, accessed April 17, 2024.

Subject/Index Terms

Courtship--United States
Oberlin College--Students

Administrative Information

Repository: Oberlin College Archives

Accruals: Accession No: 1989/188.

Access Restrictions: Unrestricted.

Acquisition Method: The Alexander and Laura Bartlett Papers were given to the Archives in 1989 by Eugenia Stephens (accession 1989/188).

Related Materials:

Alumni files of Alexander and Laura Bartlett (RG 28).

Robert Merrill Bartlett Papers (RG 30/237). Robert Merrill Bartlett is the son of Alexander and Laura Bartlett.

Processing Information: Processed by Sabra Henke and Jonathan Thurn, July 2002.

Finding Aid Revision History: Revised by Louisa C. Hoffman, April 2024.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical File, 1864, 1978, undated],
[Series 2: Correspondence, 1852-1853, 1864-1865, 1883, 1989, undated],
[Series 3: Writings, 1850, 1852, undated],
[All]

Series 2: Correspondence, 1852-1853, 1864-1865, 1883, 1989, undated

Correspondence sent by Laura Bartlett is typically signed as Salome or Saloma.

Box 1

Folder 2: Correspondence, undated

The undated letters are identified by the location or time they were written.

Item 1: Salome to Alexander Bartlett, Karr Valley, ca. 1852 September 1
Item 2: Salome to Alexander Bartlett, Saturday night, undated
Item 3: Salome to Alexander Bartlett, Almond, Saturday night, ca. 1852 May 29
Item 4: Laura Bartlett to Alexander Bartlett, Monday morning, ca. 1853
Item 5: Salome to Alexander Bartlett, Nunda Station House, undated
Item 6: Salome to Alexander Bartlett, Thursday evening, undated
Item 7: Laura Bartlett to Alexander Bartlett, Tuesday night, undated
Item 8: Salome to Alexander Bartlett, Saturday night, undated
Item 9: Salome to Alexander Bartlett, Sabbath morning, undated
Item 10: Laura Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, Saturday night, undated: Includes poem written by Laura Merrill

Folder 3: Correspondence, 1852

Item 1: Iva Stone to Alexander Bartlett, Willoughby, Lake County, [Ohio], 1852
Item 2: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, Almond, Allegany County, NY, 1852 May 7
Item 3: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1852 June 19: Uncle Tom's Cabin mentioned in this letter.
Item 4: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, Karr Valley, 1852 July 27
Item 5: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, Karr Valley, 1852 September 7
Item 6: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1852 October 7
Item 7: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1852 October 15
Item 8: [Salome Merrill] to Alexander Bartlett, 1852 November 1
Item 9: [Salome Merrill] to Alexander Bartlett, 1852 November 22
Item 10: [Salome Merrill] to Alexander Bartlett, 1852 December 23

Folder 4: Correspondence, 1853

Item 1: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1853 January 1
Item 2: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1853 January 17
Item 3: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1853 January 22
Item 4: Alexander Bartlett to Salome Merrill, Oberlin, 1853 January 26
Item 5: Alexander Bartlett to Saloma Merrill, Oberlin, 1853 February 5
Item 6: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1853 February 19
Item 7: Laura Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1853 March 9
Item 8: Gussie to Alexander Bartlett, Will. Fem. Sem., 1853 March 19
Item 9: Alexander Bartlett to Salome Merrill, Oberlin, 1853 March 30
Item 10: Laura Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, Nunda, 1853 April 11
Item 11: Saloma Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, Nunda, 1853 April 24
Item 12: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1853 May 31
Item 13: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1853 June 25
Item 14: Louisa to Alexander Bartlett, Ravenna, 1853 July 3
Item 15: Salome Merrill to Alexander Bartlett, 1853 July 25

Folder 5: Correspondence, 1864-1865

Item 1: Alexander Bartlett to children Edith, Nellie, and Cora, 1864 July 27
Item 2: Alexander Bartlett to children Edith, Nellie, Cora, and Addy, 1865 June 16

Folder 6: Correspondence, 1883

Item 1: Amelia [Merrill] to Salome Bartlett, Bennett, 1883 November 5: Amelia Merrill is Laura Merrill Bartlett's sister.
Item 2: Riley Merrill to Laura Bartlett, Oklahoma, Florida, 1883 December 5: Riley Merrill is Laura Merrill Bartlett's brother.
Item 3: Samuel T. Wilson to Laura Salome Bartlett, Mexico, 30 December 1883

Folder 7: Correspondence, 1989

Item 1: Eugenia Stephens too Merrill Lynch and Company, 1989 July 14: Eugenia Stevens writes to see if the Bartlett papers would be appropriate for the Merrill Lynch Archives.
Item 2: Betty Hope to Mrs. Wesley C. [Eugenia] Stevens, 1989 July 31: Betty Hope writes to Eugenia Stevens to let her know the Bartlett papers would not be appropriate for the Merrill Lynch Archives.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical File, 1864, 1978, undated],
[Series 2: Correspondence, 1852-1853, 1864-1865, 1883, 1989, undated],
[Series 3: Writings, 1850, 1852, undated],
[All]