Parker/Fleming Family Papers

Collection Summary

Repository: University of Vermont, Bailey/Howe Library, Special Collections
Creator: Parker-Fleming family
Creator - Contributor: Parker, Charles Carrol, 1814-
Creator - Contributor: Parker, Elizabeth Fleming, 1813-1879
Title: Parker/Fleming Family Papers
ID: mss.048
Date [inclusive]: 1835-1909
Extent: 1.25 Linear feet 1 carton
Location: Library Research Annex
Language
Abstract: The Parker/Fleming Collection deals primarily with the descendants and relations of Charles Carrol Parker (1814-?), a Congregational minister who preached in various churches in Vermont and Maine, and Elizabeth Fleming Parker (1813-1979), his wife. The letters span the time period of 1835-1909, with the bulk of the collection lying between 1863-1879.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item] Parker/Fleming Family Papers, Special Collections, University of Vermont Library.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

University of Vermont, Bailey/Howe Library, Special Collections 1992 February

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.

Acquisition Note

Gift of Mrs. Mary de Jong, January 16, 1987

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The Parker/Fleming Collection deals primarily with the descendants and relations of Charles Carrol Parker (1814-?), a Congregational minister who preached in various churches in Vermont and Maine, and Elizabeth Fleming Parker (1813-1979), his wife. Elizabeth's older brother and younger sister, Archibald Fleming and Catherine Fleming Worscester, kept in close and steady contact with the Parker family, which included four children: Catherine Elizabeth Parker ("Kate"--1845-1915) and Charles Edmond Parker ("Ed", "Eddy", or "Ned"--1845-1878) who were twins, Mary Hephzibah (1849-1917)and Laura Birge Parker (1851-1928). Catherine and Laura later marry Rev. James A. Ferguson and Francis A. Wilber, respectively, but Mary remained singled and devoted a great deal of time and energy to God and the Church, as well as to the teaching profession.

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Scope and Contents Note

The letters span the time period of 1835-1909, with the bulk of the collection lying between 1863-1879. The letters are written in various New England towns and sent mainly back to Burlington, VT. The first portion of the collection contains letters to Charles and Elizabeth Parker from family members (including Catherine Fleming Worcester and Archibald Fleming), and moves to letters from Charles and Elizabeth to their children. The last portion of the collection deals mainly with letters to Mary Hephzibah Parker and Laura Birge Parker, from their brother Charles Edmond Parker and from cousins Robert H. Fleming and Julia Fleming.

As Charles Carrol Parker travelled to different churches in various parts of New England, he often wrote back to the family about the interesting people he met and the experiences he had. Charles Edmund Parker served in the Union Army as a chaplain during the Civil War, and his letters from Virginia (1864) often talk of daily routines and army life. Mary's letters to her brother Eddy describe classes she is taking in a school in Waterbury, Vermont, as well as activities at home and religion. With the exception of those topics mentioned, the letters speak of family matters, the weather, health, and activities of family and friends.

Also included in the collection are diaries of Mary and Catherine Parker, photographs of family members, and a large collection of daguerreotypes. The library also owns the papers of Katherine Wolcott, granddaughter of Archibald Fleming.

The first folder in the files contains family/genealogical information.

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Controlled Access Headings

Genre(s)

Correspondence
Diaries
Photographs

Geographic Name(s)

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Occupation(s)

Clergymen--Congregationalists

Subject(s)

Family--History

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