Henry Bromfield Pearson papers

The Henry B. Pearson Papers consists mainly of correspondence dating from 1802 to 1875, the bulk of which was written to Henry Bromfield Pearson (1795-1867) by friends and relatives. An interesting exchange of letters between Henry and his father Eliphalet Pearson (1752-1826) deals with Henry's student days at Andover, Yale (which he entered as a member of the class of 1815 but left without receiving a degree), and Harvard and dates from 1804 to 1821. A general account of Henry's studies is given, and his financial problems and misconduct are discussed. There are also a number of letters from Henry to his sister, Margaret (Pearson) Blanchard. Approximately one hundred letters to Henry and his wife, Elizabeth McFarland, from relatives and friends dating down to the 1860s are addressed to Philadelphia, Boston, Harvard, and Skowhegan and Waterville, Maine.

There is a copy of a letter of 1802 written by Eliphalet Pearson to his sister, consoling her on the death of her daughter which is ofinterest, and a letter from Josiah Quincy (1772-1864) to Henry B. Pearson concerning Eliphalet Pearson. In addition, a set of accounts for the years 1846 to 1850 is included, as is a small amount of printed matter.

Correspondence and other materials relating to Henry Pearson and members of his family can also be found in the Bromfield Family Papers, Mss. Group No. 599, as can a genealogical chart.

This set of papers would be of value in a study of student life at Andover, Yale, and Harvard in the first two decades of the nineteenth century.