Overview
This collection contains ten documents related to Francis Sales (1771-1854), a Harvard instructor of French and Spanish from 1816 to 1854. The records pertain to Sales work as a translator, his honorary master's degree from Harvard in 1835, communication with French astronomer and government leader Francois Argo (1786-1853) in 1849, Sales's resignation from Harvard in 1852 and 1854, and letters of condolence to Sales's daughter, Mary, from the Harvard Corporation and Senator Charles Sumner following Sales's death on February 16, 1854.
Dates
- Creation: 1798-1854
Researcher Access
The Papers of Francis Sales are open for research.
Copying Restriction
Copying of fragile materials may be limited.
Extent
.22 cubic feet (1 half-legal document box)This collection contains ten documents related to Francis Sales, Harvard instructor of French and Spanish from 1816 until 1854. While most of the documents are in English, two of the documents are in French. The records pertain to Sales work as a translator, his honorary master's degree from Harvard in 1835, communication with French government leader Francois Argo (1786-1853) in 1848 and 1849, Sales's resignation from Harvard in 1852 and 1854, and letters of condolence to Sales's daughter, Mary, from the Harvard Corporation and Senator Charles Sumner following Sales's death on February 16, 1854. The documents include a translation certified by Sales of a 1798 power of attorney for ship captain Thomas Whippo, correspondence between Sales and Harvard President Josiah Quincy related to the delivery of his honorary diploma, an 1852 letter from Harvard Corporation member James Walker regarding Sales's letter of resignation, an autobiographical sketch by Sales written in 1853, and a copy of his 1854 resignation.
The item titles in this collection were supplied by the cataloger.
Biographical note
Francis Sales (1771-1854), a Harvard instructor of French and Spanish from 1816 to 1854, was born in Thuir, France. Sales immigrated to the United States in June 1793 and gave French and Spanish lessons in Boston until 1816, when he was appointed the instructor of French and Spanish at Harvard. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, George Ticknor, and Charles Sumner were among Sales's pupils, and beginning in 1822, Sales authored a number of French and Spanish language textbooks. In 1835, he received an honorary degree from Harvard. Citing his failing health, Sales attempted to resign from Harvard in 1852, but he continued teaching until January 1854. He died on February 16, 1854. Sales married Mary Hilliard on July 24, 1796 and they had one daughter, Mary Catherine Sales. The Sales Prize, which was funded by a bequest from Sales, continues to be awarded for the best essay written in Spanish by a Harvard undergraduate.
Arrangement
The records are arranged in chronological order.
Acquisition information
The translation of the power of attorney was received on May 8, 1882 as the gift of Jeremiah Colburn. The other documents were left by his daughter to her friend Miss Harris of Cambridge, and Miss Bond, the niece of Miss Harris, placed them in the Harvard College Library on July 7, 1903.
Online access
All of the papers have been digitized and are available online. Links accompany detailed descriptions.
References
- Coester, Alfred. "Francis Sales- A Forerunner" in Hispania (May, 1936) Volume 19, No. 2, pp. 282-302.
- Sturgis, E. Leavitt. "The Teaching of Spanish in the United States in Hispania (December 1961) Volume 44, No. 4, pp. 591-625.
Inventory update
This document last updated 2018 November 6.
Processing Information
The material was first classified and described in the Harvard University Archives shelflist prior to 1980. The material was re-processed in 2011. Re-processing involved a collection survey, re-housing in appropriate archival folders and boxes, and the creation of this finding aid.
This finding aid was created by Diann Benti in August 2011
Preservation and description of the Papers of Francis Sales was supported by the Arcadia-funded project Harvard in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries.
- Title
- Sales, F. (Francis), 1771-1854. Papers of Francis Sales, 1798-1854: an inventory
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua46011
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.
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