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Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 7182

Merriam, Clinton Levi, 1824-1900

Clinton Levi Merriam Papers, circa 1848-1899

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Merriam, Clinton Levi, 1824-1900
Title:Clinton Levi Merriam Papers
Dates:circa 1848-1899
Quantity:2 cu. ft. (3 document boxes) (2 half document boxes)
Collection:Record Unit 7182
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

These papers consist of journals kept by Clinton Levi Merriam from 1848 to 1899. The journals contain diary entries, poems, copies of letters, speeches, political writings, expense accounts, and clippings from newspapers. In many cases, the clippings have been pasted over a written entry. The papers also contain a photograph album containing prints of family members, associates, and reproductions of paintings.

Historical Note

Clinton Levi Merriam (1824-1900) was born in Leyden, New York. After attending Copenhagen Academy in Copenhagen, New York, he entered business as a merchant in Utica, New York. In 1847 he moved to New York City and became an importer and, in 1860, entered banking. While in New York City, he married Caroline Hart in 1850. In 1864, Merriam returned to Leyden, having retired from business early. He had a mansion built in Locust Grove, Lewis County, New York; and it was here that his son, Clinton Hart Merriam, the naturalist, grew up and had his original medical practice. From 1871 to 1875, the elder Merriam served two terms in Congress as a Republican from New York. He died on a trip to Washington, D.C., February 18, 1900.

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Descriptive Entry

These papers consist of journals kept by Clinton Levi Merriam from 1848 to 1899. The journals contain diary entries, poems, copies of letters, speeches, political writings, expense accounts, and clippings from newspapers. In many cases, the clippings have been pasted over a written entry. The papers also contain a photograph album containing prints of family members, associates, and reproductions of paintings.

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This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7182, Clinton Levi Merriam Papers

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Container List

Box 1

Folder 1 Journal, labeled 1848-1864

Box 1 of 3

Folder 2 Journal, labeled 1858-1869

Box 1 of 3

Folder 3 Journal, labeled 1873-1874

Box 1 of 3

Folder 4 Journal, labeled 1875-1878

Box 1 of 3

Folder 5 Journal, labeled 1878-1880

Box 1 of 3

Box 1A

Folder 6 Journal, labeled 1881-1883

Box 1A of 3

Box 2

Folder 1 Journal, labeled 1883-1884

Box 2 of 3

Folder 2 Journal, labeled 1885-1886

Box 2 of 3

Folder 3 Journal, labeled 1885-1889

Box 2 of 3

Folder 4 Journal, labeled 1889-1890, 1898

Box 2 of 3

Folder 5 Journal, labeled 1890-1891

Box 2 of 3

Folder 6 Journal, labeled 1892-1893

Box 2 of 3

Box 2A

Folder 7 Journal, labeled 1894

Box 2A of 3

Box 3

Folder 1 Journal, labeled 1895-1896

Box 3 of 3

Folder 2 Journal, labeled 1897-1899

Box 3 of 3

Folder 3 Photograph album, containing prints of Louis Agassiz, William A. Whule, John L. Burns, W. C. Bryant, Charles B. Collins, A. Powers, Hiram Powers, Henry Ward Beecher, Florence Augusta Merriam, Mary Wilber, Anna Farwell, Rose Farwell, Charles Collins Merriam, Caroline Hart Merriam, S. N. Dexter North, Mrs. Satler (?), C. Hart Merriam, S. F. Merriam, Clinton Levi Merriam, Ela N. Merriam and other unidentified persons. The album also contains 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch reproductions of paintings of landscapes and persons.

Box 3 of 3