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REQUEST AS:

Call No.: A-160
Repository: Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute
Creator: ELLIS GRAY LORING
Title: Collection
Quantity: 6 file boxes 1 folio+ folder
Abstract: Correspondence, scrapbooks, diaries, etc., of Ellis Gray Loring, lawyer and abolitionist, from Boston, Massachusetts.

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Acquisition Information:

Historical Note

Ellis Gray Loring, lawyer, abolitionist was born on April 14, 1803, the son of James Tyng Loring, a druggist and Relief Faxon. Ellis Gray Loring was born in Boston and spent most of his life there. On October 29, 1827 he married Louisa Gilman of Boston, daughter of Frederick Gilman and Abigail Gilman. Louisa was born January 1, 1797 and died May 25, 1868.

(The following quotations are from the Loring Genealogy, Pope and Loring; Cambridge, 1917).

"He entered Harvard College in 1819 - but was not graduated, though a member of the Hasty Pudding Club and the Phi Beta Kappa Society. The following extract from the College faculty explains this matter: 'June 27, 1824. Loring who left college in May, 1823, at a time a large part of the class was dismissed for resistance of college authority, applies for his degree. - Voted, that Loring's request be not granted, as the Govt. cannot make any distinction between his case and that portion of his class who were dismissed in May, 1823.

"He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1827. He was Counsellor-at-law, master in chancery, and solicitor for the Western Railroad Company. Was one of the early `abolitionists.'"

Loring was an organizer of the New England Anti-Slavery Society in 1831. He financed the continuation of William Lloyd Garrison's Liberator and supported gradual abolition of slavery. In 1836, in the court case, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts vs. Thomas Aves Loring established the principle that a slave having been brought into Massachusetts could not be taken out of the State against his will. Loring died May 24, 1858.

The Lorings had one child, Anna, who was born November 10, 1830. "To her Lydia Maria Child dedicated her book, Fact and Fiction. She m. Oct. 29, 1863, Otto Dresel pianist and composer, b. at Geisenheim on the Rhine, Dec. 22, 1826, d. Beverly, (Mass.) July 26, 1890. She was Vice president of the Sanitary Commission of Boston during the Civil War, president of the Vincent Hospital. She died in 1896.

• "Children:"
• 1. Louisa Loring Dresel, 1864-195-.
• 2. Ellis Loring Dresel, 1865-1925, Harvard, A.B. 1887, L.L.B. 1892, lawyer in Boston in the firm of Goodwin, Dresel, and Parker. Was attached to the U.S. Embassy in Berlin in 1915, was assigned to the Embassy in Vienna and later to the Legation at Berne. His most recent work has been with American prisoners of war.

Scope and Content

The collection is largely the business papers of Ellis Gray Loring, and the papers of his estate. There are family letters, also, mainly from Anna Loring to her parents and later to her daughter, Louisa Loring Dresel. Of special interest are: (1) a partial diary of Ellis Gray Loring in which he describes various discussions he had with Ralph Waldo Emerson on philosophic and religious issues, dated 1838; (2) A trust established for William Lloyd Garrison by friends to help him and his family financially, but at the same time to hold tighter control over the gift; (3) Letters from Elizabeth Preston Peabody discussing the possible establishment of a Boston academy (1850's to 1860's).

The Ellis Gray Loring Collection covers the period from 1809-1942.

Series I.Family correspondence and business records of Ellis Gray Loring. 1809-1881. The records kept by Loring prior to his death May 24, 1858. They include a large amount of real estate records as well as records of wills, trusts, acts of incorporation, mortgages, loans, taxes, suits and promisory notes, and, lists of profits, rents, and personal property. The papers are arranged alphabetically within the series and chronologically within each folder.

Series II.Estate papers of Ellis Gray Loring and Louisa Loring, 1853-1890. As the business and legal papers of Loring's estate, the records are largely vouchers, receipts and cancelled checks. There are also records of real estate transactions, suits, and various miscellaneous legal papers. The papers are arranged according to individual, type of record, and chronologically.

Series III. Scrapbooks, diaries and photographs of the Loring and Dresel families. 1821-1942. 36 volumes. Arranged chronologically.

Other Descriptive Data

Among the correspondents are:

• Ellis Gray Loring, 1803-1858
• Louisa Loring, 1797-1868
• Anna Loring Dresel, 1830-1896
• Louisa Loring Dresel, 1864-195-
• Lydia Maria Child, 1802-1880
• Agassiz, Elizabeth Cary, 1822-1907
• Peabody, Elizabeth Palmer, 1804-1894

Additional catalogue entries:

CONTAINER LIST

• Box 1: Folders 1-21, Vol. 1.
• Box 2: Folders 22-48
• Box 3: Folders 49-87
• Box 4: Vols. 2-14.
• Box 5: Folder 90, Vols. 15-22.
• Box 6: Vols. 23-37.

INVENTORY

• Series 1. Family correspondence and business records of Ellis Gray Loring. 1809-1881.
  • FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE
    • 1. Ellis Gray Loring to Louisa Loring. 1852.
    • 2. Louisa Loring to Ellis Gray Loring. n.d.
    • 3. Anna Loring to E.G.L. n.d.
    • 4. Anna Loring to E.G.L. 1852; 1858.
    • 5. Anna Loring to Louisa Loring. n.d.
    • 6. Anna Loring to Louisa Loring. 1839-1855.
    • 7. Anna Loring to Augusta G. King. 1852.
    • 8. Anna Loring Dresel to Louisa Loring. n.d; 1863-1867.
  • BUSINESS PAPERS
    • 9. Account book. Louisa Loring. 1866-1868.
    • Vol. 1. Account book. Anna Loring Dresel. 1875-1881. Massachusetts, (Boston, Beverly) 1875 - August, 1878; Germany, August, 1878-1881.
    • 10. Adams Place. Title search. n.d.
    • Folio+ Austin, Henry, to E.G.L. Mortgage and notes. 1844-1846.
    • 11. Ballard Vale Machine Shop. Mortgage, receipts. 1848-1849.
    • 12. Benzon, Edmund Ernst Leopold Schlesinger. Will. 1853.
    • 13. Blake, William H. to E.G.L. 1852-1853.
    • 14. Boston Academy. Correspondence between Elizabeth Palmer Peabody and E.G.L; Dr. Reinhold Solger to [E.G.L.] concerning the establishment of a Boston Academy. [Late 1850's - early 1860's].
    • 15. Bradford, Duncan. Mortgage controversy. 1852-1856.
    • 16. Child, David Lee. Will. April 28, 1857.
    • 17. City Wharf Company. Act of Incorporation, list of members, agreement to indemnify. 1853-1855.
    • 18. City Wharf. Plan of lots of E.G.L. July, 1854.
    • 19. Dix land grant. Correspondence. n.d.; 1825; 1835; 1841.
    • 20. Dix land grant. Correspondence. 1855-1863.
    • 21. Dix land grant. Correspondence. Martin Blake inheritance in trust. Largely Henry V. Sanders and Cabel William Loring. 1857-1868.
    • Folio+ Dix land grant. Deed (not used). Henry Blake to Ralph Haskins. October 3, 1835.
    • 22. Dix land grant. Miscellaneous legal papers. 1809; 1835-1836; 1838; 1859.
    • 23. Dix land grant: Tax receipts. 1835; 1840-1856.
    • 24. Faxon, George N. Power of Attorney. November 5, 1855.
    • 25. Francis, Convers. Trustee's papers. n.d.; [1840] - 1858.
    • 26. Garrison, William Lloyd. Trust. January 1, 1849. E.G.L., Samuel Philbrick, Francis Jackson take over management of funds donated to Garrison.
    • 27. Gray, Anna K. Estate Trust. 1846-1857.
    • 28. Land sales. 1840; 1856.
    • 29. Lawrence house. Act of Incorporation, minutes, assessment. 1848-1856.
    • 30. Leonard, Thomas. Mortgage of the Sloop Two Brothers. February 11, 1858.
    • 31. Loans. 1846-1853.
    • Folio+ Naylor, Vickers and Company. Articles of Copartnership. January 1, 1856.
    • 32. Rutland and Burlington Railroad. Bondholder's Agreement. November 25, 1856.
    • 33. Slavery. Bill of sale for Negro Boy, Perry. October 9, 1847.
    • 34. Slavery. Depositions. William Johnson, Annie E. Hall, Jane McCrummill, Nicholas Boston. 1850-1851.
      Concerning run-away woman slave, Mary Walker.
    • 35. Suits and promisory notes. 1817; 1832-1841.
    • 36. Suits and promisory notes. 1842-1855.
    • 37. Washburn, Henry S. Correspondence, insolvency papers, lists of credits and debts. n.d; 1856-1859.
    • 38. Miscellaneous papers. Deeds, mortgages, receipts, warranty, lists of profits and losses, rents, properties, insurance policies, poetry. n.d.; 1840-1859.

• Series II. Estate papers of Ellis Gray Loring and Louisa Loring. 1853-1890.
  • ELLIS GRAY LORING ESTATE PAPERS.
    • 39. Correspondence. 1858-1859.
    • 40. Vouchers, receipts, cancelled checks. n.d.
    • 41. Vouchers, receipts, cancelled checks. 1853; 1855; 1857.
    • 42. Vouchers, receipts, cancelled checks. 1858.
    • 43. Vouchers, receipts, cancelled checks. 1859.
    • 44. Vouchers, receipts, cancelled checks. 1860.
    • 45. Vouchers, receipts, cancelled checks. 1861.
    • 46. Vouchers, receipts, cancelled checks. 1873; 1887-1890.
    • 47. Receipts. Louisa and Anna Loring. 1860-1861.
    • 48. Tax records. 1857-1887.
    • 49. Executors First Account. Vouchers. n.d.
    • 50. Executors First Account. Vouchers. January - May 26, 1858.
    • 51. Executors First Account. Vouchers. May 26, 1858 - December, 1858.
    • 52. Executors First Account. 19 Winter Street. 1858-1859.
    • 53. Executors First Account. Vouchers. 1864.
    • 54. Executors Second Account. Vouchers. 1858.
    • 55. Executors Second Account. Vouchers. 1859.
    • 56. Executors Second Account. Vouchers. 1860.
    • 57. Executors Second Account. Receipts of Louisa and Anna Loring. 1859-1860.
    • 58. 31st Probate Account. Vouchers. October, 1888 - October 1, 1889.
    • 59. 32nd Probate Account. January, 1889 - August, 1890.
    • 60. Alger vs. N.Y.C. RR. Questions for executors n.d.
    • 61. Executors warrant. July 14, 1858.
    • 62. Gray, Anna. Probate Court. November 9, 1858.
    • 63. Hutchins, William R. Notice of vacating property. March 18, 1859.
    • 64. Land sales. n.d.
      Bids on properties, advertizements of properties.
    • Folio+ Land sales. June 7, 1859. Flier announcing auction of Loring lands on Hanover and Hudson Streets in Boston.
    • Folio+ Land sales. Title deeds and mortgages. 1835-1859.
    • 65. Land sales. Title deeds. 1858-1859.
    • Folio+ Land sales. Title deeds of estates still held. 1852-1862.
    • 66. Land sales, rents, deeds, 1859-1864.
    • 67. Livermore, Hannah. Agreement to pay indebtedness; suit against Boston and N.Y. Central R.R. 1856-1859.
    • 68. Notices to Quit for nonpayment of rent. 1858.
    • 69. Petty accounts and liabilities, list of properties, inventory of personal and real estate. [1858].
    • 70. Proctor's book. Louisa Loring. December 22, 1857 - June 14, 1858.
    • 71. Release from lease. Michael Prendergast. August 26, 1858.
    • 72. Rents. 1858; 1862.
    • 73. Roxbury Color and Chemical Manufactory. Insolvency proceedings. October, 1859.
    • 74. Smith vs. Phillips. February 7, 1859.
    • 75. Special power of attorney. April 15, 1859.
    • 76. Tenancy at will. Notice. August 31, 1888.
    • 77. Widow's dower. Louisa Loring. April 12, 1859.
  • LOUISA LORING ESTATE PAPERS.
    • 78. Correspondence. Anna Loring Dresel to Caleb William Loring. n.d., p.d., 1869-1870.
    • 79. Correspondence. Anna Loring Dresel to Caleb William Loring. n.d., p.d., 1873-1874.
    • 80. Receipts. 1868-1874.
    • 81. Vouchers, receipts, miscellaneous papers. 1868-1890.
    • 82. Tax receipts. 1868-1880; 1887-1889.
  • ELLIS GRAY LORING AND LOUISA LORING ESTATE PAPERS.
    • 83. Correspondence. 1871.
    • 84. Receipts. 1882-1885.
    • 85. Receipts. 1886.
    • 86. Receipts. 1887.
    • 87. Tax receipts. 1883-1886.

• Series III. Scrapbooks, diaries and photograph albums of the Loring and Dresel families. 1821-1942.
  • Vol. 2. Selected passages of poetry. Ellis Gray Loring. 1821.
  • Vol. 3. Selected passages of poetry. Various hands including Louisa Loring's. 1831-1861.
  • Vol. 4. Partial diary of Ellis Gray Loring. 1838. Describes discussions held with Ralph Waldo Emerson and others on religious and philosophic topics.
    Also copies of letters of Anna Loring Dresel of her trip to Germany, 1871. Translation into English of an article in German on George Eliot. (1877).
  • Vol. 5. Newsclippings. Letters written by Lydia Maria Child, 1841, from New York.
    Clippings of stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Paul Richter, and Miss Sedgwick. Collected by Augusta Gallison King. Book given by Ellis Gray Loring.
  • Vol. 6. Selected passages from poetry. Reactions to reading. Anna Loring Dresel. Poetry written in various hands. 1857.
  • Vol. 7. Letters and obituaries kept by Louisa Loring after the death of Ellis Gray Loring. 1858.
  • Vol. 8. Selected passages of poetry. Anna Loring. 1862.
  • Vol. 9. Newsclippings. Miscellaneous collected by Louisa Loring Dresel. 1877-1892.
  • Vol. 10. Partial diary of Louisa Loring Dresel, p.d.
    Notes on art. 1881.
  • Vol. 11. Diary of Louisa Loring Dresel.
    Includes poetry and humorous anecdotes, travel descriptions, extracts from letters. 1885-1887.
  • Vol. 12. Diary of Louisa Loring Dresel.
    Extracts from letters to A.A. of life and school in Germany and Switzerland. 1878-1880.
  • Vol. 13. Diary of Louisa Loring Dresel. Visit to Germany and Italy in 1888. Life in Boston 1889 including reports of art lectures attended. 1888-1890.
  • Vol. 14. Book of engravings - scenes of the Rhine. Given to Anna Loring Dresel.
    Notes by Lydia Maria Child. 1845.
  • Vol. 15. Diary of Louisa Loring Dresel.
    Notes on lecture series, art, discussions with friends including Oliver Wendell Holmes. 1892-1897.
  • Vol. 16. Postcards to Susan G. King from Louisa Loring Dresel. 1898-1900.
  • Vol. 17. Diary. Anna Loring Dresel 1899.
    In German.
  • Vol. 18. "Memoirs" Louisa Loring Dresel. Autobiographical statement of her life through May, 1924.
  • Vol. 19. Photograph album of Boston and surrounding area. Shows relatives and friends of Louisa Loring Dresel. 1897-1900.
  • Folder 88. Includes one folder of loose photographs of relatives and friends. 1902, 1911.
  • Vol. 20. Scrapbook of newspaper clippings concerning World War 1. In English and German. 1914-1915.
  • Vol. 21. Notebook of copies of letters and jottings concerning World War 1. In English and French. 1914-1916.
  • Folder 89. Includes one folder of items removed from Vol. 21. Article "Wherein the Allies Failed" by Prince Max of Baden, 1919; one photograph.
  • Vol. 22. Guest book. List of friends and visitors. 1920-1922.
  • Folder 90. Includes one folder of photographs removed from the guest book. Pictures of Europe.
  • Vol. 23. Scrapbook "The Aftermath of the War" Autumn, 1923 to January, 1925.
    Newsclippings.
  • Vol. 24. Scrapbook. Newsclippings. December, 1924-1925.
  • Vol. 25. Scrapbook. Newsclippings. June - July, 1936. Domestic and European politics. In English and German.
  • Vol. 26. Scrapbook. Newsclippings. August - September, 1936.
    German Olympic games, War in Spain, politics in Europe.
  • Vol. 27. Scrapbook. Newsclippings. September - October, 1936.
    Mainly domestic affairs.
  • Vols. 28 - 37. Scrapbooks of newsclippings on World War II. In English and German.
    • Vol. 28. September 1 - 30, 1939.
    • Vol. 29. September - November, 1939
    • Vol. 30. November - December, 1941.
    • Vol. 31. December 7 - 31. 1941.
    • Vol. 32. January 1 - 21, 1942.
    • Vol. 33. January 22 - February 18, 1942.
    • Vol. 34. February 14 - March 17, 1942.
    • Vol. 35. March 17 - April 26, 1942.
    • Vol. 36. May 1 - June 24, 1942.
    • Vol. 37. June 24 - July 26, 1942.
  • ADDENDUM MARCH, 1970
    • 8a. Agassiz, Elizabeth Cary, 1822-1907. 1 ALS to Louisa Loring Dresel (1864-195-) December 27, [1901] This letter was found inside the book, The Mountains of California, by John Muir. Inscribed, "Ellis L. Dresel from Mrs. Agassiz. Xmas 1901."