Mrs. George Hay Collection

0.25 linear feet

The collection contains correspondence, receipts, and a diary from various members of the Perry family. The correspondence details members keeping one another up to date with events in their lives. The date range stretches from the late 1820s to the early-1880s. Deeds come from when the Perry family resided in Rhode Island and reflect inheritances. The receipts show what family members bought and for how much. Many record purchases made at businesses in Genesee County. The diary was kept by Clarissa Potter Perry. It describes farm life, if sparingly, but from a woman’s perspective as well as her time at training school to become a teacher and recipes and ingredients. Perry occasionally kept track of ingredients bought and the prices involved.

Past practices described the contents of this collection individually. Each item received an object ID number and was treated as a distinct artifact. Records have been reunited, but their original order may have been lost.

No restrictions. Contact the Collections Department and the Archivist to arrange use for research at collections@sloanlongway.org or (810) 237-3421.

The collection is housed in several acid-free folders, which were transplanted to a Hollinger box. The records are all paper-based, though the diary has a black leather cover. Handwriting is entirely cursive. Some is written in pencil, some in ink.

The general condition of the collection is fair. Yellowing is present throughout correspondence, deeds, and receipts, though most heavily among the receipts. This has caused the receipts to become more fragile than other paper. These receipts were also in one folder prior to arrangement. They were separated into two folders while retaining their original order as a means of better preserving them from harm. Many are small and difficult to keep in order in a single folder.

The diary is also in questionable condition. The pages remain together but have separated from the spine. The cover has fraying along its edges but remain intact. Handwriting on pages is faded in many spots, which makes for difficult reading.

No restrictions. Reproductions are done and charged in accordance with Sloan Museum Archives Fee Service Policy.

• English

A downloadable PDF finding aid is available.

Mrs. George Hay donated the collection in September 1965. Accession records indicate Roger Van Bolt received the collection.

None.

Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd edition

Jonathan Kirkwood, Archivist
February 13, 2023 (PastPerfect)

Jonathan Kirkwood, Archivist
April 10, 2024 (Access to Memory)