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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Finding Aid Authors: Special Collections Staff.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Richard H. Patchin Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Acc. 2008.057 Purchase. Acc. 2009.194 was purchased in March 2009. Acc. 2010.406 is a gift and was received in July 2010.
Processing Information:
Acc. 2008.057 processed and described by Sarah Dorpinghaus in July 2008. Acc. 2009.194 accessioned and described in May 2009 by Ute Schechter. Acc. 2010.406 accessioned and described in July 2010 by Ute Schechter.
Biographical Information:
Richard H. Patchin of Marlborough, Ulster County, N.Y., was a teacher, clothing sales clerk, farmer and public lecturer. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
Papers of Richard H. Patchin of Marlborough, Ulster County, N.Y., who was a teacher, clothing sales clerk, farmer and public lecturer.
Largely includes accounts of Patchin's daily activities and personal reflections. Correspondence and professional documents also make up a portion of the collection. The materials document Patchin's work as a teacher, farmer, clothing sales clerk, and lecturer in and around Marlborough, New York during the mid and late 19th century. The documents also address religion, relationships, business activities, and personal aspirations. Some of Patchin's writings suggest that he had periods of mental instability that appear to have increased with age.
Acc. 2009.194 consist of 0.05 cu. ft. of papers, 1860-1879. Included are documents relating to his teaching, a receipt and notes on his financial situation and troubles, as well as miscellaneous writings on a variety of topics.
Several pages of notes are written on the back of broadsides advertising two of his public lectures, titled 'The Characteristics for the Highest Human Happiness' and 'The Element for Success in Business' - both undated.
Acc. 2010.406 consists of 0.05 cu.ft. of papers, circa 1866-1888. Included are writings and notes on a variety of topics, as well as accounts.
Arrangement of Materials:
Acc. 2008.057: The materials (1.4 cu. ft.) are arranged in nine series: Personal Writings, Correspondence, Teaching, Business, Poetry and Lyrics, Public Lectures, Miscellaneous Materials, Bound Volumes, and Photographs.
Additions are not fully processed yet and are filed at the end of the collection in accession number order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Account books
- Broadsides
- Certificates
- Diaries
- Farmers
- Invoices
- Lecture notes
- Lectures
- Mentally ill--United States--Diaries
- New York (N.Y.)--History--19th century
- Orators--United States
- Receipts (financial records)
- Teachers--New York (State)--History--19th century
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Patchin, John
- Patchin, Leah
- Patchin, Richard H., b. circa 1828
- Stevens, Sarah
Container List
- id27145
Series 1: Personal WritingsMixed Materials Box: 1 1857-1898, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id27146
Religion1857-1894
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id27147
Mental health1863-1889, undatedScope and Contents
Patchin's writings about the state of his mental health.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id27148
Occupations1864-1871Scope and Contents
Patchin's thoughts about his various professions. A majority of the documents focus on his teaching and farming career.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id27149
Marriage1864-1875, undatedScope and Contents
Patchin's writings on his relationships with women, especially finding a suitable wife.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id27150
Mother1866-1871, undatedScope and Contents
Patchin's reflections on his mother, whom he finds frustrating and irritating.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id27151
Acquaintances1870-1880Scope and Contents
Patchin's documentation of friends and acquaintances. These writings often detail the times when people are unkind to Patchin.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id27152
Miscellaneous1863-1898Scope and Contents
Writings about Patchin's daily activities, goals, and decisions.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id27146
- id27153
Series 2: CorrespondenceMixed Materials Box: 1 1832-1902Scope and Contents
The Correspondence series consists of letters either to or from Patchin. Also included are a few letters to Leah Patchin (Richard Patchin's mother) from her children.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id27154
Letters to Richard Patchin from others1832-1902Scope and Contents
A majority of these letters are from Patchin's mother, sister, and brother. Also included are several response letters from school board members whom Patchin contacted in hopes of securing a teaching position.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id27155
Letters to others from Richard Patchin1853-1884Scope and Contents
These documents include letters asking for employment, requesting money, and letters to the editors of several newspapers correcting errors noted in previous issues.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id27156
Letters to Leah Patchin (mother) and Sarah Stevens (sister) from Richard Patchin1843-1863Scope and Contents
These letters written to Patchin's mother and sister document his daily activities and current occupations. The letters provide insight to the period before Patchin's writings became more eccentric.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id27157
Letters to Leah Patchin (mother) from others1844-1868Scope and Contents
These letters were written to Leah Patchin (Richard Patchin's mother) by her children (John Patchin and Sarah Stevens) about their daily activities.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 id27158
Letters to Richard Patchin from family1846-1861Scope and Contents
These letters from Richard Patchin's mother (Leah Patchin), sister (Sarah Stevens), and brother (John Patchin) discuss their daily activities.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id27159
EnvelopesundatedScope and Contents
These envelopes were included with Patchin's papers, but were separated from the letters that they held.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id27154
- id27160
Series 3: TeachingMixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 1846-1879Scope and Contents
The Teaching series consists of documents relating to Patchin's teaching career in Ulster and Orange counties, New York.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id27161
Compositions1846 and undatedScope and Contents
Patchin's compositions, a majority of which are undated, cover topics such as Sabbath schools, books, temperance societies, and the "starry heavens." Some of the essays have editing marks; therefore it is possible Patchin wrote these as a student or as part of his teaching exams.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id27162
Licenses, contracts and accounts1847-1879Scope and Contents
This folder contains Patchin's teaching license, several teaching contracts and an account book.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id27163
Notes1857-1870 and undatedScope and Contents
Patchin's teaching notes are mostly of a reflective nature about daily issues as a teacher, such as student behavior and lesson plans, as well as personal reflections. Of particular note is a record of Patchin's various teaching jobs around Marlborough, New York.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id27164
Letters of recommendation1863 and undatedScope and Contents
These documents attest to Patchin's abilities as a teacher.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id27161
- id27165
Series 4: BusinessMixed Materials Box: 2 1849-1889Scope and Contents
The Business series consists of documents pertaining to Patchin's various business activities as a farmer, sales clerk in a clothing store, and peddler in and around Marlborough, New York. A majority of the documents were written by Patchin for personal documentation and often move quickly between topics.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Mixed Materials Folder: 1 id27167
Receipts and invoices1849-1881 and undatedScope and Contents
These documents include mostly unofficial receipts and invoices written by Patchin for his own use while working as a famer, clothing salesman, and lecturer in Marlborough, New York.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2 id27168
Licenses, certificates, and contracts1850-1897 and undatedScope and Contents
These documents include hand-written business contracts and city-issued peddler's licenses.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3 id27169
Accounts1856-1881 and undatedScope and Contents
This folder contains Patchin's hand-written account records for business transactions made while working as a farmer and clothes salesman.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4 id27170
Daily notes (folder 1)1863-1889 and undatedScope and Contents
These documents include Patchin's to-do lists and daily business reflections.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5 id27171
Daily notes (folder 2)1863-1889 and undatedScope and Contents
These documents include Patchin's to-do lists and daily business reflections.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6 id27172
Business philosophy1863-1889 and undatedScope and Contents
These writings consist of Patchin's thoughts on business practices and evaluations of his financial situation.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7 id27173
Hired help1868-1872Scope and Contents
These papers document the activities of Patchin's hired help. Included are instructions for his workers, worker evaluations, and reflections on hiring new workers.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8 id27174
Farming1868-1875 and undatedScope and Contents
These papers record Patchin's daily activities related to his farming business in Ulster County, New York.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9 id27175
Clothing1881-1888 and undatedScope and Contents
These papers document Patchin's daily activities related to his clothing business.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 10 id27176
Miscellaneous1856-1888 and undatedScope and Contents
The majority of these documents are scraps of paper on which Patchin used for business calculations.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Mixed Materials Folder: 1 id27167
- id27178
Series 5: Poetry and LyricsMixed Materials Box: 3 1846-1880 and undatedScope and Contents
The Poetry and Lyrics series consists of poems and song lyrics Patchin wrote as well as poems Patchin collected.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 id27179
"Clothing Song" materialsundatedScope and Contents
These materials are related to the "Clothing Song" lyrics which Patchin wrote to the tune of Oh, Susanna!
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2 id27180
"Darius Green and his Flying-Machine"undatedScope and Contents
These documents include several of Patchin's hand-written copies of the poem written by J. Trowbridge.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3 id27181
Various poems1846-1880 and undatedScope and Contents
These documents consist of several of Patchin's hand-written copies of poems, such as "The Three Black Crows," "The Star of Bethlehem," "Philosophy and Religion," and "The Battle of Waterloo."
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 id27179
- id27182
Series 6: Public LecturesMixed Materials Box: 3 1870-1898Scope and Contents
The Public Lectures series is comprised of materials related Patchin's profession as a lecturer. Included are copies of his lectures as well as printed handbills and lecture programs.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 id27183
Lectures1870-1898Scope and Contents
The Lectures sub-series includes copies of Patchin's lectures.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 id27184
"The Characteristics for the Highest Human Happiness,"1871
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2 id27185
"Variation and Variety"1871
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3 id27186
"Miscellanies"1883 and undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4 id27187
"Debate over the American Indian"1898 and undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5 id27188
Crusadesundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6 id27189
"Anecdotes"undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 7 id27190
"A Little of Several Things"undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 8 id27191
Orderundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 9 id27192
VariousundatedScope and Contents
Various lectures written by Patchin.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 id27184
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 id27193
Notes and Ephemera1870-1882Scope and Contents
The Notes and Ephemera sub-series includes materials related to Patchin's lectures.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 id27194
Notes and reflections1870-1882 and undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2 id27195
Handbill notes1871-1881
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 id27194
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 id27183
- id27228
Series 7: Public Lectures, continuedMixed Materials Box: 4 1870-1879 and undatedScope and Contents
A continuation of the Public Lectures series from Box 3.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 id27229
Notes and Ephemera1870-1879 and undatedScope and Contents
A continuation of the sub-series from Box 3.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id27230
Temperance notes1870-1879 and undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2 id27231
Printed handbillsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id27230
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 id27229
- id27232
Series 8: Miscellaneous MaterialsMixed Materials Box: 4 undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id27233
Miscellaneous materialsundatedScope and Contents
Miscellaneous documents
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id27233
- id27234
Series 9: Bound VolumesMixed Materials Box: 4 1829-1881 and undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id27235
Newspaper clippings1829 and undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2 id27236
Notes and newspaper clippings1859-1881 and undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 3 id27237
Notesundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id27235
- id27238
Series 10: PhotographsMixed Materials Box: 4 undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id27239
Unidentified manundatedScope and Contents
Possibly Richard H. Patchin
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id27239
- id71868
Series 11: Acc. 2010.406: AdditionMixed Materials Box: 4