Addison Merrill Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-179

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers consist of a notebook and some loose items from the notebook. The notebook contains the following sections: "Index Rerum or Prompter, intended as a Manual to aid The Memory By Addison Merrill Fort Wayne Indiana May 1st 1840"; "Order of Studies at O.C. Institute," 1841‑42; skeleton of lectures on physiology and anatomy by Professor James Dascomb, September 1, 1841 (pp. 23‑32); language of Flowers (36 pages); poetry. The notebook was apparently written by Merrill, his sister Mary E. Merrill Hodge, and others.

Note: Entry modified from William E. Bigglestone's unpublished "[preliminary] Guide to the Oberlin College Archives," which was prepared as individual entry sheets in a three-ring binder during the early 1980s.

Dates

Creation: ca. 1840-1842
Other: Date acquired: 1964 May 2

Creator

Merrill, Addison (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

Addison Merrill (1820‑57)was born in Fabius, New York, to Riley (1794-1878) and Anne Cravath Merrill (1796-1854). He had many siblings: Mary C (1816-1886), Harriet Adelaide (1818-1894), Mary Elizabeth (1821-1884), Amelia Ann (1824-1886), Emeline (1825-1895), Riley Mead (1827-1917), Laura Salome (1891), and Cecelia Harmonia (1839-1920). Addison came to Oberlin in 1841 from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where he had studied law. He left in 1842.

Merrill returned to Oberlin in 1847 to enter the Seminary from which he graduated in 1849. Merrill was a minister in New England and Canada. On September 25, 1850, Addison Merrill married Lovina C. Severance in Northfield, Massachusetts. He died at Northfield, Massachusetts, May 4, 1857, and was buried in Gill, Massachusetts.

Extent

0.20 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The notebook was a gift to the Oberlin College Library by Mr. L.J. Hodge, May 2, 1964. The Archives received it from Library Special Collections, November 8, 1985.