James Atkins Noyes collection
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Abstract
The James Atkins Noyes collection spans 1865-1890, though the bulk of the collection pertains to Noyes' early life spent in Brooklyn, N.Y., 1865-1874. Included in the collection are 11 copybooks, one scrapbook, and one letter of correspondence.
Biographical note
James Atkins Noyes (1857-1945) was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on October 2, 1857. He was the son of James Sullivan Noyes (1816-1883) and Marie Ball Noyes (nee Edes; 1818-1880). Originally from the Boston (mainly Cambridge) area, James and Mary Noyes moved to Brooklyn in 1851 when James was sent to New York City to establish a branch of Gardner Brewer & Company. This company later became John L. Bremer & Company which was the selling agent for Amoskeag, Stark, Armory, and Naumkeag Cotton Mills. Noyes held this position for 42 years. James Sullivan Noyes was a member of many social, cultural, and religious organizations in Brooklyn including the New England Society in the City of Brooklyn, the Merchants Club, the Hamilton Club, the Long Island Historical Society, and the Second Unitarian Church. James and Mary Noyes are buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
James Atkins Noyes spent his childhood and young adult life in Brooklyn. He graduated from the School of Mines, now the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, with a PHB (Bachelor of Philosophy) at Columbia University in 1878. He left Brooklyn to attend Harvard College, now Harvard University, in Cambridge, MA. After graduating from Harvard College with an AB (Bachelor of Arts) in 1883, Noyes married Constance Winsor in Boston, MA on February 4, 1890. They had one daughter, Penelope Barker Noyes. In Who's Who in America, Volume 6, 1910-1911, James Atkins Noyes' occupation is listed as an editor. Noyes served as editor of the Quinquennial Catalogue at Harvard University from 1895-1905. He also wrote several books of genealogy including Noyes Pedigree, Adams Pedigree, and Barker Pedigree. James Atkins Noyes died in Cambridge, MA on October 12, 1945.
Sources:
- Marquis, Albert Nelson, ed. Who's Who in America. Chicago: A.N. Marquis & Company, 1910.
Scope and Contents note
Th James Atkins Noyes collection spans 1865-1890, though the bulk of the collection pertains to Noyes' early life spent in Brooklyn, N.Y., 1865-1874. Included in the collection are 11 copybooks, one scrapbook, and one letter of correspondence.
The copybooks consist of ten penmanship copybooks and one arithmetic copybook, 1865-1873. The scrapbook, compiled by Noyes from 1872-1875, contains advertising, trade, and calling cards, novelties including playing cards, printed images, postage stamps, playbills, tickets for admittance to events, and transportation tickets. Local subjects include the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Second Unitarian Church. Although most of the items in the scrapbook pertain to events or activities in Brooklyn or New York City, there are also admittance tickets for events in Boston, MA, 1873-1875. The scrapbook documents Noyes' activities and interests at the time of its compilation which included attending lectures on topics such as astronomy and religion. He was also interested in magic and printing.
The correspondence consists of a letter sent from John White Chadwick (1840-1904) to Noyes, dated March 23, 1890. In the letter, Chadwick describes a recent sermon he gave at the Second Unitarian Church located in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Chadwick was pastor at the church from 1864-1904.
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People
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); James Atkins Noyes collection, ARC.069, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Penelope Barker Noyes, 1966.
About this Guide
Processing Information note
Minimally processed to the collection level.
This collection combines the accessions 1974.236, 1977.211, and 1977.274.
Sponsor Note
Repository
Container
This finding aid does not include an online listing of contents.
To learn about viewing this collection in person, please contact cbhreference@bklynlibrary.org.
