Bayard Taylor Putnam Family Papers, 1870-1934

Contents and Arrangement

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Collection Overview

Creator:

Putnam, Bayard Taylor (1854-1886)

Title:

Bayard Taylor Putnam Family Papers

Repository:

Manuscripts Division

Permanent URL:

http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/gt54kp39v

Dates:

1870-1934

Size:

4 boxes, 1.8 linear feet

Storage Note:

This is stored in multiple locations.
Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1-3
Firestone Library (scahsvm): Box 4

Language:

English

Abstract: Bayard Taylor Putnam (1854-1886) was geological surveyor in the Division of Mining Geology for the United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) from the founding of the agency in 1879 to the early 1880s. This collection consists of Putnam's professional papers, including correspondence and field notes, which document his work with the U.S.G.S, specifically his surveys of iron-ore and coal mines for the Tenth U.S. Census. His papers also relate to a patented combined protractor and chart holder that Putnam invented. Other Putnam family members, particularly his wife, Grace Haven Putnam (1855-1900), are also represented.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

Organized into two series, "Bayard Putnam Papers" and "Putnam Family Papers," this collection consists of correspondence as well as diaries of field notes, legal documents, bills and receipts, and ephemera relating to Bayard Taylor Putnam (1854-1886). Most of the materials are professional in nature and document Putnam's work with the United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.). They also relate to Putnam's combined protractor and chart holder, specifically his attempts to manufacture and market the device. Professional correspondence and field notes document Putnam's time in Michigan as well as northern New Jersey and surrounding areas of New York and Pennsylvania as Expert Special Agent for the Tenth U.S. Census as well as his time surveying mines in Montana for the Northern Transcontinental Survey.

Bayard T. Putnam's immediate family members, particularly his wife, Grace Haven Putnam (1855-1900) as well as his daughter, Dr. Mary Putnam (b. 1887), are also represented primarily through personal correspondence. Other materials include some legal documents, ephemera, receipts, and a few glass plate negatives.

Correspondence relating to Grace helps shed light on her life and that of her children after Putnam's death. Most are letters from her close friend, Bishop Henry Codman Potter (1834-1908), seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Letters to and from Mary Putnam, circa 1931 to 1934, are of particular interest as they document a contentious period within the history of the Putnam family and G.P. Putnam's Sons. Discussing the family's stock in and ownership of the publishing company, the correspondence relates to the recent merger of G.P. Putnam's Sons with Minton, Balch & Co., (1930) whereupon the owners of the latter became the majority stockholders.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into two series: "Bayard T. Putnam Papers" and "Putnam Family Papers."

Box 3 is oversized.

Collection Creator Biography:

Putnam

Born in 1854, Bayard Taylor Putnam of Newport, Rhode Island, was one of several children of George Palmer Putnam (1814-1872), founder of the publishing firm G.P. Putnam's Sons, and Victorine Haven Putnam (1824-1891). The Putnam's other children included: Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi (1842–1906), George Haven Putnam (1844-1930), Edith Grace Putnam (1845-1930), Ida J. Putnam (b. 1846), John Bishop Putnam (b. 1848) Amy Victorine Putnam Puiley (b. 1850), Irving Putnam (1852–1931), Ruth Putnam (1856-1931), Kingman Putnam (b. 1859), and Herbert Palmer Putnam (1861-1955).

Deciding not to go into the family publishing business, Putnam instead became a geological surveyor for the United States Geological Survey Division of Mining Geology upon the agency's founding in 1879 working under division chief, Raphael Pumpelly (1837-1923). Pumpelly had been appointed Special Agent of the Census Office in charge of gathering coal mining statistics for the Tenth U.S. Census (1880), and Putnam was made Expert Special Agent for the Census. As a surveyor for the U.S.G.S., Putnam was sent to several parts of the country, including Michigan, northern New Jersey and the surrounding area, Kentucky, and the "Far West," to survey largely iron-ore and coal mines.

Around 1881, Putnam became involved with the Northern Pacific Railroad's Northern Transcontinental Survey as the geologist in charge of the Upper Columbia Division. Organized by Pumpelly, this survey collected information on the topographical and economic features of Dakota, Montana, and Washington territories to identify the economic resources near the railroad lines.

Putnam spent much of the last few years of his life devoted to the manufacturing and selling of a patented combined protractor and chart-holder ("Chart Holder and Course Indicator") that he invented for sailors. In 1886, at age 30, Putnam allegedly committed suicide leaving his wife, Grace Sanderson Thacher Putnam (1855-1900), son, Worcester Putnam (born 1883), and daughter, Mary Putnam (born 1887).

Following Putnam's death, Grace Putnam continued attempts to market the chart holder. In order to make ends meet, she also rented out summer cottages on her property on Conanicut Island, Rhode Island, and also gave sailing and swimming lessons to local residents before her own death in 1900.

Collection History

Acquisition:: Purchased 2013 (AM 2014-51).
Appraisal: No material was separated during 2013 processing.
Processing Information: This collection was processed by Faith Charlton in December 2013. Finding aid written by Faith Charlton in December 2013. Lexy deGraffenreid updated the Conditions Governing Access note in January 2025.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Access to glass-plate negatives is restricted due to their fragility. Where prints of the negatives are present, the prints are open for research use. Though digitization may not be possible for every negative, researchers may make requests to digitize material via the Ask Special Collections, form according to Special Collections' policy on digitization.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

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