Series 22: Packer family, circa 1850-1990s, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The series contains materials related to the Packer family (primarily Mrs. W.S. (Harriet L.) Packer, Miss Harriet P. Packer, and Mrs. W.S. (Mary K.) Packer Jr.), dating from circa 1850 to the 1990s.
Items relating to Mrs. W.S. (Harriet L.) Packer include her correspondences and a journal. The correspondence to and from Mrs. Packer covers a wide variety of topics. Mrs. Packer's journal details a trip to Europe taken between May and August of 1854. Also included in this series is a speech about Mrs. Packer by Mrs. Truman Jay Backus. The speech provides a description of Mrs. Packer's character, her devotion to women's education, and her vision of the Packer School.
The series includes material relating to the daughter of Mrs. W.S. Packer, Miss Harriet P. Packer, including a speech delivered at Packer's jubilee celebration and numerous letters regarding Miss Packer's death in 1909.
The series also contains the memoirs of Mrs. W.S. (Mary K.) Packer, Jr. The memoirs describe the impacts of the Civil War on the school, and family events such as the meeting with Mr. W.S. Packer Jr., her subsequent engagement and marriage to him. Historical information dealing with the aftermath of the Civil War: John Brown's raid, the nomination of Abraham Lincoln, the first Battle of Bull Run, Gettysburg, are the main subjects of individual chapters.
It also includes correspondence between Mrs. Packer and Mary discussing her attempt at attending college after a long period of absence due to poor health. The correspondence depicts a college bound curriculum.
The series also contains photographs (mostly reproductions) and portraits of members of the Packer family, including a daguerreotype of William Packer and images of the Packer mansion on Grace Court.
Packer Family photographs, circa 19th century, inclusive
Packer Family photographs (oversize), circa 19th century, inclusive
William Packer daguerreotype, 1840s-1850s, inclusive
Benjamin Putnam portrait, circa 1850, inclusive
Letters from Mrs. William S. Packer to Trustees of Brooklyn Female Academy 1853 January 25. Original copy and a Typed Transcription, 1853, inclusive
Diary of Mrs. Packer's, European Trip, May 20 – September, 1854, inclusive
Packer, Mrs. Harriet L. Two letters from 1854 trip both to "My dear Nanny…" Written to house sitter? Originals in Mylar, difficult to read. Transcribed in 1931?, 1854, inclusive
Packer, Mrs. Harriet L., Founder. Two Letters from 1853 – 1865. The First Letter Concerns Accommodations and Construction of the Packer Building. The Second Letter pertains to the Long Island Fair., 1853-1865, inclusive
Packer, Mrs. Harriet L., Correspondence and Recommendations for Teachers, Board of Trustees, Scholarship Recipients, 1863-1958, inclusive
Packer Mansion - 2 Grace Court copy negative, circa 1890s, inclusive
General note
Damaged
Packer Mansion - 2 Grace Court photographs, circa 1890s, inclusive
General note
Oversize. Two prints and one photocopy.
Harriet Packer playing chess with family at 2 Grace Court photograph, 1891, inclusive
Harriet Putnam Packer portraits, circa 1890s-1926, inclusive
William and Harriet Packer portrait reproductions, 20th century, inclusive
Miss Harriet P. Packer, 1903 – 1908; Speech regarding Jubilee celebration and importance of distinguishing between Brooklyn Female Academy and Packer Institute; Draft letters to Miss Packer from Committee on Instruction, 1904 re: student organization fundraising groups; A letter from Miss Packer about student injury to Prof. Alden Chairman of Administration Committee1908 Claiming the Need for Greater Police Presence., 1903-1908, inclusive
Packer, Harriet P. (Miss): Letters regarding Miss Harriet P. Packer's sudden death in 1909 November, 1909, inclusive
Stereograms of Packer Mansion and hand drawn map of Brooklyn Heights by Dr. Brockway, circa 1900s-1940s, inclusive
Drawing of Packer Mansion (copies), circa 1980s-1990s, inclusive
Harriet Packer portrait reproduction, circa 1990s, inclusive
General note
Oversize
Packer Family.15 letters, Dr. Backus correspondence primarily with Harriet P. Packer 1894 – 1906 13 letters between Harriet P and Backus. 1 letter from Mary Packer from Backus 1894., 1894-1906, inclusive
Letters from/to Mrs. Mary K. Packer and Dr. Backus regarding her daughter Mary and her Education.1893 – 1895., 1893-1895, inclusive
Letters from Mary K. Packer to Dr. Backus Circa. 1893 Circa 1898 with one reply from Dr. Backus to Mrs. Packer Packer, May K. Mrs. W.S., Jr., 1890s, inclusive
Letters from and to Mary Packer regarding her donations to the school; Packer, Mary K. Mrs. W.S., Jr., 1893-1917, inclusive
Packer, Mary K, (Mrs. W.S., Jr) Eulogy of M.K. Packer, Wife of the Only Son of the Founder, 1910s, inclusive
General note
after 1911?
