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COLLECTION Identifier: UAI 15.870

Papers of Edward Holyoke

Overview

Edward Holyoke (1689-1769) was pastor of the Second Church of Marblehead, Massachusetts, from 1716 to 1737 and the ninth president of Harvard College, serving for thirty-two years from 1737 to 1769. This collection documents Holyoke family affairs, as well as Holyoke’s activities and interests as president of Harvard. It contains family correspondence, genealogies, and descriptions of property; presidential correspondence; Harvard financial accounts; and a few of Holyoke’s sermons.

Dates

  • Creation: 1720-1767.

Creator

Physical Description

1 half legal document box, 1 folio box

Conditions on Use and Access

The Papers of Edward Holyoke are open for research use. Access to fragile original documents may be restricted. Please consult the reference staff for further details.

Extent

0.41 cubic feet (21 folders)

This collection documents Holyoke family affairs, as well as Edward Holyoke’s activities and interests as a pastor and as president of Harvard. It contains family correspondence, genealogies, and descriptions of property; presidential correspondence; Harvard financial accounts; and a few of Holyoke’s sermons.

Biography

Edward Holyoke (1689-1769) was the ninth president of Harvard College, serving for thirty-two years from 1737 to 1769.

Holyoke was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1689. After attending Harvard (A.B. 1705, A.M. 1708), he served as a tutor at the College from 1712 to 1716 and as a Fellow of the Corporation in 1713. From 1709 to 1712, he also served part time as the College librarian. In 1716, he resigned his Harvard positions to become pastor of the Second Church of Marblehead, Massachusetts, where he served for the next twenty-one years. Holyoke returned to Harvard in 1737, when he was appointed president.

During Holyoke’s presidency, the College flourished. A number of academic reforms were instituted, including subject specialization by the tutors, the introduction of public exhibitions by students, consisting of orations, debates, and dialogues, and the establishment of academic merit as the criteria for admission to Harvard.

Holyoke was married three times. In 1717, he married Elizabeth Browne of Marblehead, Massachusetts. They had two children before Elizabeth died in 1719. In 1725, Holyoke married Margaret Appleton of Ipswich, Massachusetts, with whom he had eight children. Margaret died in 1740. In 1742, Holyoke married Mary Whipple Epes, with whom he had one child. Mary died in 1790.

Series in the Collection

  1. Family and biographical materials
  2. Correspondence
  3. Financial accounts
  4. Sermons

Acquisition Information

The Papers of Edward Holyoke were acquired by the Harvard University Archives through donation and purchase. The acquisitions are as follows:

  1. 1862 Mrs. M.B. Blanchard
  2. 1897 Franklin Bowditch Dexter
  3. 1932 Hamilton V. Bail
  4. 1934 Hamilton V. Bail
  5. 1938 American Autograph Shop
  6. 1942 American Autograph Shop
  7. 1986 March 4: Accession number: 10674

Related Material

  1. Harvard University. Corporation. Harvard College Papers, 1st series, 1636-1825, 1831 (UAI 5.100): http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.ARCH:hua62011
  2. Harvard University. Corporation. Corporation papers, 1st series, supplements to the Harvard College Papers, circa 1650-1828 (UAI 5.120): http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.ARCH:hua09012
  3. Infant linen shirt worn by Harvard President Edward Holyoke, ca. 1693

Search HOLLIS (Harvard's online library system) for works by and about Edward Holyoke.

Citations to published versions of the documents in this collection are noted in the folder list.

Inventory update

This document last updated 2019 April 12.

Processing Information

Most of this material was first classified and described in the Harvard University Archives shelflist prior to 1980. The collection was reprocessed in 2005, with subsequent preparation for digitization in 2009. Reprocessing involved a collection survey, rehousing in size- and format-appropriate archival folders and boxes, and the creation of this finding aid. Preparation for digitization involved minor adjustments to the physical arrangement of the collection, with corresponding updates to the finding aid and the addition of links to the digital copies.

The digitization of Edward Holyoke's papers was made possible in part by generous support from the Sidney Verba Fund.

Title
Holyoke, Edward, 1689-1769. Papers of Edward Holyoke : an inventory
Language of description
und
EAD ID
hua02005

Repository Details

Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository

Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.

Contact:
Pusey Library
Harvard Yard
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
(617) 495-2461