Francis Charles Foster papers, 1844-1915.
Scope and Contents
Consist chiefly of diaries, kept from 1857 until just before his death in 1915. They record few personal feelings, but are a meticulous account of the weather, personal expenses and charities. Most of the letters are from the period of his Grand Tour in Europe (1854-1856). They include some sent to him by his father. There are also a few letters by Francis from other periods of his life and material on his Harvard career. At the end of the collection is a group of photographs of Foster, his wife and children.
Dates
- 1844-1915
Conditions Governing Access
R. Stanton Avery Special Collections material is non-circulating, requires staff retrieval, and is available to NEHGS members (Research level and above) during normal library hours.
Biographical / Historical
Francis Charles Foster, 1829-1915, was the son of Leonard Foster of Boston. Francis graduated from Harvard in 1850 and then took over the family investments, mainly centered on Foster's Wharf in Boston, which prospered under his hand. In order to preserve him from an "unsuitable female," Francis' father sent him off to Europe on the grand Tour from 1854-1856. On his return, he settled down in Cambridge and married Marion Padelford of Savannah, GA. They had three children: Leonard, 1857-1884; Caroline, 1861-1928 who married C. Bors Isdahl, and Francis Apthorp, 1872-1966, none of whom had any descendants. Francis lived in Cambridge in the winter and summered at Woods Hole.
Extent
3 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
General
Unpublished guide to the collection is available in the library; folder level control.
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the R. Stanton Avery Special Collections Repository
R. Stanton Avery Special Collections
New England Historic Genealogical Society
99-101 Newbury Street
Boston MA 02116-3007 United States
617-536-5740
617-536-7307 (Fax)
library@nehgs.org