Reference Request
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
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.
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.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- Merriam, Clinton Levi, 1824-1900
- Merriam, Caroline Hart
- Merriam, C. Hart (Clinton Hart), 1855-1942
- Copenhagen Academy (Copenhagen, N.Y.)
- United States. Congress
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7182, Clinton Levi Merriam Papers