Alexander M. and Laura S. Bartlett Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-207

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

Creation: 1850-1989, undated
Creation: Majority of material found in 1850-1883
Other: Date acquired: 1989 November 13

Creator

Bartlett, Alexander M. (Bartlett, Alexander Maitland) (Person)
Bartlett, Laura S. (Bartlett, Laura Salome Merrill) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

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, to Isaiah Bartlett (1793-1867), a mechanic and farmer and Miriam Mason Bartlett (1795-1860). His siblings were Peter Mason (1820-1901), Jerusha (1822-1864), Lucius (1824-1875), Mary E. (1828-1899), Harriet Luthervia (1830-1833), Emily Cerelia (1832-1909), Robert Albion (1836-1889), and Sidney Farnem (1841-1919). 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, who 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 Edith Miriam (1856-1887), Nellie Eugenia (1858-1951), Cora Cecilia (1860-1940), Mason Aldon (1862-1941), Addison Merrill (1863-1941), Robert Alexander (1865-1927), and Clara Lyon (1867-1958). All of Laura and Alexander 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, Deacon Isaiah Bartlett (12 Jun 1793–11 Jul 1867), Accessed April 17, 2024.

Note written by Sabra Henke and Jonathan Thurn, 2002; Louisa C. Hoffman, 2024.