Guide to the Howell Family Papers, 1783-1960

Collection number: MC 28
Size: 9 boxes (3 cu.ft.)

About the Howell Family

John Beatty Howell (1847-1924)

John Beatty Howell spent nineteen years (1877-1896) in Sao Paolo, Brazil under the auspices of the Presbyterian Board of Missions. He planned and built a farm school for the education of country boys and, at the request of the Board of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church, he translated the Prayer Book into Portuguese. Upon returning to the United States, Howell organized and became the pastor of the Tennent Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. In retirement, he devoted himself to writing commentaries on books of the New Testament in Portuguese.

Elizabeth Hibler Day Howell (b.1850)

Elizabeth was the wife of John Beatty Howell and an author of childrens’ stories about Brazilian life and culture.

Archibald Alexander Howell, II (d.1918)

Archibald was the son of John and Elizabeth Howell and a 1903 graduate of Princeton University. He became a doctor and published several works on the measurement of blood pressure.

Lawrence Day Howell

Lawrence Day Howell was the son of John and Elizabeth Howell and a 1913 graduate of Princeton University. From September 1913 until 1915, Lawrence Howell worked for Princeton’s branch of the Y.M.C.A. in Peking, China. In 1916, he enlisted into the Third Pennsylvania Infantry and was stationed in France during World War I. He was wounded twice during the war and became a First Lieutenant.

Isabell Howell Thatcher

Poet and author, was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Howell and wife of Edward Thatcher, III.

About the Beatty Family

Charles Clinton Beatty (1715-1772)

A Presbyterian minister in Neshaminy, Pennsylvania; did some missionary work among the Indians. Beatty was trained by William Tennent, and he was one of the most popular preachers of his day. His son, John Beatty (1749-1820), was a graduate of Princeton College, a commissioned captain in the Revolutionary War, a member of the New Jersey state legislature, and a delegate to the Continental Congress.

Dr. James Lawrence Day (1814-1854)

A doctor from Morristown, New Jersey, became Physician for the American Colonization Society to Liberia in 1840. The American Colonization Society was established in 1816 to aid in the emigration of free blacks in the United States back to Africa. The Society bought land in what is now Liberia, on the western coast of Africa. Dr. Day spent three years in Liberia, 1840-1843, aiding in the welfare and partial success of the colony. In 1843 he served as the United States Agent to the West Coast of Africa.

About the Grier Family

Isaac Grier (1763-1814)

A graduate of Dickinson College and a Presbyterian minister. He served as a missionary on the western frontier of Pennsylvania and New York in 1791-1792, and he married Elizabeth Cooper in 1793. John Grier Hibben (1861-1933), a great-grandson of Isaac and Elizabeth Grier, was President of Princeton University.

About the Howell Family Papers

The Howell Family Collection contains correspondence regarding James Lawrence Day’s work in Africa, S. Harrie Hibler’s (the uncle of Elizabeth Day Howell) activities in the Civil War, John Beatty Howell’s mission in Brazil, and Lawrence Day Howell’s experiences teaching in Peking, China and fighting in France during World War I. Manuscripts found in the collection include sermons by Charles Beatty, Isaac Grier, and John Beatty Howell; journals pertaining to the secondary education of an unidentified son of Charles Beatty, Isaac Grier’s work as an itinerant minister on the western “frontier” of Pennsylvania and New York, and James Lawrence Day’s experiences in Africa; Bible translations by John Beatty Howell written in Portuguese; as well as music, poetry, and prose composed by Isabel Howell Thatcher. Also included in the Howell Family Collection are extensive genealogical notes, photographs, and printed materials by or about individuals related to these families including Archibald Alexander Howell.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open.

Copyright Notice

Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], [Folder number], [Box number], Howell Family Papers, 1783-1960, MC 28, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Gift, Mrs. John Hennessy of Ashland, NH, 1969 (Accession number: 023)

Collection Contents

Series 1: Howell Family
Series 2: Beatty Family
Series 3: Day Family
- Subseries A: James Lawrence Day
- Subseries B: Day Family Genealogical Records
Series 4: Grier Family
Series 5: Photographs
Series 6: Miscellanous

Series 1: Howell Family

Subseries A: John Beatty Howell, 1847-1924

Box 1
Box 1, Folder 1		Correspondence: Family Members to John Beatty Howell, 1875-1889
Box 1, Folder 2		Correspondence: Miscellaneous to John Beatty Howell, 1875-1917
Box 1, Folder 3		Correspondence: John Beatty Howell to his wife, Elizabeth Day Howell, 1885-1895
Box 1, Folder 4		Correspondence: John Beatty Howell to his parents, 1868-1874
Box 1, Folder 5		Correspondence: John Beatty Howell to his sister, Susan Howell, 1874-1878
Box 1, Folder 6		Correspondence: John Beatty Howell to his children, 1895-1918
Box 1, Folder 7		Correspondence: John Beatty Howell, miscellaneous, 1892-1920
Box 1, Folder 8		Manuscripts: Essays, 1857-1858, 1857-1858
Box 1, Folder 9		Manuscripts: Sermons, 1896-1917
Box 1, Folder 10		Manuscripts: Sermons, undated
Box 1, Folder 11		Manuscripts: Religious Notes, undated
Box 1, Folder 12		Manuscripts: "Exposicao da Epistola aos Romanos," 1918
Box 1, Folder 13		Manuscripts: Diary Transcriptions, 1888-1912
Box 1, Folder 14		Manuscripts: Notes on John Beatty Howell, undated
Box 1, Folder 15		Published articles and sermons by John Beatty Howell, 1896-1897
Box 1, Folder 16		Miscellaneous: Princeton University Materials, 1836-1872
Box 1, Folder 17		Miscellaneous, 1852-1910
Box 1, Folder 18		Miscellaneous: Brazilian materials, 1876-1913
Box 1, Folder 19		Miscellaneous: Newspaper clippings regarding Brazil, 1877-1924 “Commentario sobre Evangelho Segundo S. Matheus (40 pages)” [in Portuguese], an article written by Rev. John Beatty Howell in O Estandarte, Apr 3, 1924 (2pp) An entry in O Estandarte about Rev. Dr. J. Beatty Howell, undated (1p) Three-part article about Rev. John Howell in O Estandarte written by Vicente Themudo in Mogy-Mirim, April-July 1924 (5pp) An entry in O Expositor Christão, Apr 16, 1924 about Rev. J.B. Howell (1p) Article about Rev. J.B. Howell in Voz de Verdade, July 1912 (2pp) An article in Puritano (Rio de Janeiro), Jan. 25, 1912 about the "Supremo Concilio Nacional" that includes a photograph of Rev. J. Beatty Howell, although he is not specifically mentioned by name in the article (1p) An article in Puritano (Rio de Janeiro), Feb. 1, 1912 about the "Assembléa Gera da Egreja Presbyteriana no Brasil" (2pp) A photocopied page with two articles "União da Mocidade Cristão" that mentions Howell and "Missão em Portugal" that again mentions Howell (1p) (In English) Two articles: "A Brazilian Patriarch" and "Insult to the Holy Ghost" by Rev. J. Beatty Howell, in São Paolo in Foreign Missions, Nov 1887 (4pp) "Romanism in Brazil in {sic} Its Influence Upon National Development" by Rev. J. Beatty Howell in Foreign Missions, Nov 1888 (5pp) "The Negro in Brazil" by Rev. J. Beatty Howell in The Presbyterian Journal, May 30, 1901 (2pp) Entry in Record of the Times, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1877, reporting that Rev Howell and his wife, accompanied by Mrs. J. Lawrence Day, left for New York on their way to Brazil (1p) Multiple entries by Howell under "Foreign Missions" (possibly in The Evening Report, Burlington, N.J.) about the mission in Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo (9pp)
Box 1, Folder 20		Obituaries and Resolutions of Esteem for John Beatty Howell, 1924

Subseries B: Elizabeth Day Howell, b. 1850

Box 2
Box 2, Folder 1		Correspondence: S. Harrie Hibler to Elizabeth Hilber Day, 1861-1864
Box 2, Folder 2		Correspondence: Miscellaneous to Elizabeth Day Howell, 1872-1901
Box 2, Folder 3		Correspondence: Elizabeth Day Howell and her mother, 1878
Box 2, Folder 4		Correspondence: Elizabeth Day Howell to her daughter, 1911-1912
Box 2, Folder 5		Correspondence: miscellaneous, 1881-1887
Box 2, Folder 6		Published works, 1886-1890
Box 2, Folder 7		Miscellaneous, 1877-1882

Subseries C: Archibald Alexander Howell

Box 2, Folder 8		Published Works, 1910-1914
Box 2, Folder 9		Miscellaneous: Princeton materials, 1903
Box 2, Folder 10		Miscellaneous, 1877-1918

Subseries D: Lawrence Day Howell

Box 2, Folder 11		Correspondence, 1913
Box 2, Folder 12		Correspondence, 1914
Box 2, Folder 13		Correspondence, 1915
Box 2, Folder 14		Correspondence, 1916
Box 2, Folder 15		Correspondence, 1917
Box 2, Folder 16		Correspondence, Jan - July 1918
Box 2, Folder 17		Correspondence, Aug - Dec 1918
Box 2, Folder 18		Correspondence, 1919-1920
Box 2, Folder 19		Micellaneous, 1917 and undated

Subseries E: Isabel Howell Thatcher

Box 2
Box 2, Folder 20		Correspondence: Letters to Isabel Howell Thatcher, 1925-1961
Box 2, Folder 21		Correspondence: Letters from Isabel Howell Thatcher, 1932-1953
Box 2, Folder 22		Correspondence: Edward J. Thatcher, III, 1946-1958
Box 2, Folder 23		Manuscripts: Poetry and prose
Box 3
Box 3, Folder 1		Manuscripts: "The Clock"
Box 3, Folder 2		Manuscripts: Transcribed diaries of John and reading Beatty
Box 3, Folder 3		Miscellaneous: Articles and news clippings, 1930-1958
Box 3, Folder 4		Miscellaneous: Engravings of Philadelphia and the surrounding area
Box 3, Folder 5		Miscellaneous: Engravings of paintings at the Vernon Gallery, London
Box 3, Folder 6		Miscellaneous: Engravings of paintings at the Vernon Gallery, London
Box 3, Folder 7		Miscellaneous: Engravings of paintings at the Vernon Gallery, London
Box 3, Folder 8		Miscellaneous

Subseries F: Genealogical Records of the Howell Family

Box 3, Folder 9	Howell family genealogical notes
Box 3, Folder 10	Howell family miscellaneous materials, 1832-1881

Series 2: Beatty Family

Box 3, Folder 11		Charles Beatty: Sermon, "Concerning Man's Natural Estate," undated
Box 3, Folder 12		John Beatty: Papers, 1794-1814
Box 3, Folder 13		Journal of unidentified Beatty
Box 3, Folder 14		Beatty family genealogical notes
Box 3, Folder 15		Miscellaneous newspaper clippings on the Revolutionary War, 1900-1956

Series 3: Day Family

Subseries A: James Lawrence Day

Box 4
Box 4, Folder 1		Correspondence: James Lawrence Day from his father, David Day, 1840-1853
Box 4, Folder 2		Correspondence: Miscellaneous letters to James Lawrence Day from members of the Day family, 1839-1845
Box 4, Folder 3		Correspondence: James Lawrence Day from Franklin Knight, 1840
Box 4, Folder 4		Correspondence: James Lawrence Day from J.N. Lewis, 1845-1848
Box 4, Folder 5		Correspondence: James Lawrence Day from W. McSwain, 1841
Box 4, Folder 6		Correspondence: James Lawrence Day from W.W. Seaton, 1840
Box 4, Folder 7		Correspondence: Miscellaneous, 1839-1845
Box 4, Folder 8		Correspondence: Letters from James Lawrence Day, 1846 and 1862
Box 4, Folder 9		Manuscripts: Journals of James Lawrence Day, 1841-1843
Box 4, Folder 10		Documents and letters relating to Liberia, 1826-1845
Box 4, Folder 11		Miscellaneous printed materials relating to Liberia, 1824-1843
Box 4, Folder 12		Inventory of James Lawrence Day's correspondence
Box 4, Folder 13		Elizabeth Day Howell: Correspondence relating to James Lawrence Day, 1914-1939
Box 4, Folder 14		Notes, articles, and news clippings relating to Liberia
Box 4, Folder 15		Notes, articles, and news clippings relating to Liberia
Box 4, Folder 16		Articles and news clippings relating to Liberia
Box 4, Folder 17		Notes on Liberia

Subseries B: Day Family Genealogical Records

Box 5
Box 5, Folder 1	Day family: Genealogical notes
Box 5, Folder 2	Day and Howell families: Genealogical notes
Box 5, Folder 3	Day family: Miscellaneous, 1893-1914

Series 4: Grier Family

Box 5, Folder 4		Issac Grier (1761-1814): Correspondence, 1783 and 1808
Box 5, Folder 5		Issac Grier: Journal, 1791-1792, and manuscript,undated
Box 5, Folder 6		Issac Grier: Sermons, 1800-1814
Box 5, Folder 7		Elizabeth (Cooper) Grier: Correspondence, 1800-1843
Box 5, Folder 8		John Grier Hibben: Correspondence
Box 5, Folder 9		Miscellaneous correspondence, 1863-1900
Box 5, Folder 10		Genealogical notes
Box 5, Folder 11		Miscellaneous, 1891-1953

Series 5: Photographs

Box 6
	86 Photographs, Mostly Undated e. 1 John Beatty Howell, Christmas, 1900 e. 2 Elizabeth Day Howell and her children, Isabel, Alex, Emma, and Lawrence e. 3 John Beatty Howell e. 4 John Beatty Howell e. 5 John Beatty Howell, taken in São Paolo e. 6 John Beatty Howell, taken in São Paolo e. 7 Elizabeth Day Howell e. 8 Elizabeth Day Howell and her daughter Emma, 3 months, 23 days taken in Sao Paolo e. 9 Elizabeth Day Howell, Lisbon, Oct 1912 e. 10 Elizabeth Hibler Day (Howell), Lizzie Miner, Mary E. Yost e. 11 Massey Burroughs, Elizabeth H. Day, Phebe R. Thomas e. 12 Elizabeth Day (Howell) e. 13 Elizabeth Day (Howell) e. 14 Elizabeth Day (Howell), Centennial Tea Party at Wilkes-Barre, PA, Feb 3, 4, 5 (no year) e. 15 Elizabeth Hibler Day (Howell), Lizzie Miner, Mame Yost e. 16 Elizabeth Hibler Day (Howell), Lizzie Miner, Mame Yost e. 17 Elizabeth Hibler Day (Howell) e. 18 Elizabeth Day Howell [?] e. 19 Emma Howell, daughter of E. L and J. Beatty Howell e. 20 Emma Howell e. 21 Lawrence Day Howell with Mrs. Anna Hibler Yost, Jeanne and Richard Hibbel e. 22 Lawrence Day Howell, World War I e. 23 Lawrence Day Howell, 1st Sergeant's Tent, Co.H, 3rd Reg. N.G.P Mt. Gretna, PA, July 1913 e. 24 Lawrence Day Howell in uniform e. 25 Lawrence Day Howell, 2nd Lt. 110th Inf. Augusta, Georgia, Nov 1917 e. 26 Lawrence Day Howell as a young boy e. 27 Lawrence Day Howell with Bruce (dog) e. 28 Lawrence Day Howell e. 29 Lawrence Day Howell and W. H. Baker, Capt. Co.E, 104th Eng. APO 765 e. 30 Lawrence Day Howell (oval shaped photo) e. 31 Lawrence Day Howell at Gettysburg, 1912 e. 32 Lawrence Day Howell as a young boy e. 33 Kate Howell Reynolds, sister of J. B. Howell e. 34 Horatio Howell, Chaplain in the Civil War, killed at Gettysburg, PA, Uncle of J. B. Howell e. 35 Isabella Beatty Howell, mother of J. B. Howell e. 36 Dr. Archibald Alexander Howell, I, father of J.B.Howell e. 37 Howell Home (tin-type) Allentown, N.J. shows Isabella Beatty Howell and Dr. A. A. Howell, I e. 38 Howell Homestead in Allentown, NJ e. 39 View of São Paolo from MacKenzie College e. 40 Main Building, MacKenzie College e. 41 Statue of Dr. Horace Lane, 1st President of MacKenzie College e. 42 Dormitory of Mackenzie College e. 43 View of Building, in Brazil (J.B.Howell's Agricultural School) e. 44 Farm School founded by J. B. Howell e. 45 View of Church in São Paolo e. 46 Home of J. Beatty Howell; Rua Da Consolacao, São Paolo, Brazil e. 47 View from back corner of porch of Howell home in São Paolo, with rear view of boy's dormitory school on the hill beyond e. 48 The Chamberlain family-associates in Mission work in São Paolo e. 49 G. W. Chamberlain/Phebis property; View taken from the college hill back of Howell's house showing relative position of properties e. 50 Family reunion and 40th anniversary of John Beatty Howell's wedding; Taken at the bungalow in Newtown, Conn., ca. 1917 e. 51 Bungalow at Newtown, Conn e. 52 Bungalow at Newtown, Conn e. 53 A. Alexander Howell II e. 54 Archibald Alexander Howell (Alex) e. 55 Dr. A. Alexander Howell II and his wife, Hattie Chapman Howell e. 56 Dr. A. Alexander Howell II and his wife, Hattie Chapman Howell e. 57 Hattie Chapman, married Jan 1910 e. 58 Photograph album. Dr. A. A. Howell and his family e. 59 Snapshot album. Dr. A. A. Howell and his family e. 60 Children of Dr. A. A. Howell...Jack, Nevin, and Bobbie e. 61 Mrs. Hattie Chapman Howell and some children e. 62 A. A. Howell and son Archibald, June 1912 e. 63 A. A. Howell and son Nevin, about l 1/2 years old e. 64 Nevin Howell e. 65 Nevin Howell, 3 photographs e. 66 Jack Howell e. 67 Jack Howell e. 68 Jack and Nevin Howell e. 69 Edwin Nevin Howell, Stony Brook Prep School, StonyBrook, N.Y. Graduation Class of 1931 e. 70 Robert Grier Howell, Stony Brook Prep School, Long Island, N.Y., 1934 e. 71 Photo Album. Emma Howell Reynolds and her family e. 72 Emma Howell Reynolds and son e. 73 Emma Day Howell Reynolds and Lawrence Beatty Reynolds e. 74 Lawrence Beatty Reynolds (standing) e. 75 Lawrence Beatty Reynolds e. 76 Lawrence, taken Christmas Day, 1912 e. 77 Lawrence (standing), and Wilson Reynolds (sitting) e. 78 Lawrence Beatty Reynolds e. 79 Group photograph. A. Alexander Howell, Wilson Reynolds, and Lawrence Beatty Reynolds e. 80 Arthur Wilson Reynolds and his three children e. 81 Wilson M. Reynolds, age 4 years, 3 months e. 82 Wilson Reynolds e. 83 Phebe R. Thomas, "Aunt Phebe," sister of Elizabeth Hibler Howell e. 84 Unidentified person, possibly Isabel Howell Thatcher e. 85 Postcard showing unidentified woman in car with dogs; Addressed to Mr. Mike Thatcher, of Woodstock, New York e. 86 Edward John Thatcher III and his son Mike (Edward John Thatcher IV)
Box 7
	42 Photographs, Mostly Undated e. 1 Dr. James Lawrence Day e. 2 Dr. James Lawrence Day e. 3 Dr. James Lawrence Day e. 4 Dr. James Lawrence Day e. 5 Sarah Hibler Day, wife of James Lawrence Day e. 6 Sarah Hibler Day, "Grandma Day" e. 7 Sarah Hibler Day, wife of James Lawrence Day e. 8 David Day, father of James Lawrence Day e. 9 Samuel Henrie Hibler, brother of Sarah Hibler Day e. 10 William Hibler, porcelain-type photograph e. 11 William Hibler [?] , porcelain-type photograph e. 12 William Hibler: son-in-law of Rev. Isaac Grier, husband of Jane Grier e. 13 William Grier Hibler and Samuel Henrie Hibler, brothers of Sarah Hibler Day e. 14 William Hibler e. 15 Jane Grier Hibler, wife of William Hibler e. 16 Jane Grier Hibler e. 17 Jane Grier Hibler (Grandma Day's Mother) e. 18 Mary (Mame) E. Yost, b.1853, daughter of Anne J. Hibler and John S. Yost e. 19 Henrietta Hibler Kutz (1831-1909), sister-in-law of J. Lawrence Day e. 20 Isabella Rose Kutz, niece of James Lawrence Day e. 21 Isabella Rose Kutz e. 22 Isabella Rose Kutz e. 23 Isabella Rose Kutz e. 24 Isabella Rose Kutz e. 25 Isabella Grier, mother of Mrs. LeConte, wife of Judge Robert Grier e. 26 Sarah Grier Beck, daughter of Hon. Robert Grier e. 27 Elizabeth Grier Hancock e. 28 John Grier e. 29 Unidentified male (Grier family) e. 30 Unidentified girls (Grier family) e. 31 Congregational Church in Newtown, Conn., postcard e. 32 Man on a tractor, 2 photographs e. 33 Unidentified young men, appearing in various skits, and poses; Numbered 2 - 5 e. 34 Christmas card with photograph, from Eve and Josh e. 25 Unidentified women e. 36 Unidentified women e. 37 Unidentified women e. 38 Unidentified women e. 39 Unidentified women e. 40 Elizabeth Day Chesbro, July 4, 1941 e. 41 Chesbro family (on left), Sept 1941 e. 42 Elizabeth Day Chesbro, July 4, 1941

Series 6: Miscellanous

Box 8
Item 1		Metal ring and pin
Item 2		Child's shoe
Item 3		Infant's shirt worn by Elizabeth Day Howell
Item 4		Journal of poetry by Isabel Howell Thatcher
Oversize Box 1
Folder 1		Broadside: Regulations for the Port of St. Thomas, 1819
Folder 2		Deed [Pennsylvania]: William Hilber, 1848
Folder 3		Diploma [Medical Society of Pennsylvania]: A. Alexander Howell, 1851
Folder 6		Paul Pry, Vol.1 No.5 [Dec 1862], Princeton, New Jersey,
Folder 7		Whang-Doodle, Vol.1 No.2 [May 1863], Princeton, New Jersey
Folder 8		The Nassau Herald, No.1 [June 1864] and No.2 [June 1865], Princeton College, Princeton, New Jersey
Folder 9		Princeton Standard---Extra, [Apr 7, 1865], Princeton, New Jersey
Folder 10		St. Valentine Journal, Vol.1 No.1 [Feb 14, 1867], Monticello, New York
Folder 11		Pass [U.S. Department of State]: John Beatty and Elizabeth Day Howell, 1877
Folder 12		Musical composition for piano by Isabel Howell Thatcher and Carl Johner, undated
Map Drawer 4		Deed: John Scott and Trustees of the General Loan Office of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1789 Indenture: David N. Inman and William Hibler, 1843 Indenture: Nathaniel and Susan Horton and Elijah Richards, 1849 Indenture: Thomas P. Darrach, William Bradford, Jr., and Dr. James H. Bradford and William Hibler, 1857