1823-1902
Guide to the Collection
Abstract
This collection consists of the papers of Amasa Walker, political economist, abolitionist, peace advocate, farmer, and merchant of North Brookfield, Mass.
Collection Description
The papers of Amasa Walker (1799-1875), political economist, abolitionist, peace advocate, farmer, and merchant of North Brookfield, Mass., consist of 1 narrow box of loose papers and 4 boxes containing 13 vols. The loose papers (1823-92) include correspondence on the peace movement and League of Universal Brotherhood; national politics, particularly with regard to the slavery question; and lectures. Correspondents include Charles Sumner and Thomas Drew. There also are a few family letters.
Seven scrapbooks contain clippings on Walker's views in debates over slavery, currency and bank failures, and other misc. subjects. Several of the vols. had been used by Walker as account books and are partially or wholly obscured by the clippings. These include two account books and a financial letterbook (1837-39) of the India Fire and Marine Insurance Co. of Boston of which Walker was a trustee and an account book recording sales of dry goods by the Boston firm of Carleton, Walker, and Co. (1825-27).
One vol. also contains an undated account of a voyage to Malta by Robert W. Walker. The collection also includes an anonymous account book recording sales of shoes and boots (1848); accounts of the "Hale farm" in North Brookfield (1855-63); two small vols. kept by Walker as one of the commissioners appointed by the state to investigate an epidemic of pleuropneumonia among cattle, including the results of examinations of the herds in eastern Mass. (1860); and a scrapbook containing obituaries of Walker's son, Francis A. Walker (1897).
Acquisition Information
Gift of Philip Walker, October 1940.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Bound volumes
Contains accounts of sales of dry goods by the Boston firm of (Charles G.) Carleton, (Amasa) Walker, and Co., 1825-27. The accounts are partially obscured by clippings on a variety of subjects, c. 1847-73.
Contains accounts for marine insurance of the India Fire and Marine Insurance Co. of Boston, 1837-38. Partially obscured by clippings on Walker's views of emancipation vs. separation and other subjects, c. 1861-67.
Contains fire insurance accounts of the India Fire and Marine Insurance Co. of Boston, 1837-38. Partially obscured by clippings on elections and other topics from the 1850s and an undated account entitled, "My voyage to Malta from memory" written by Robert W. Walker.
A financial letterbook of the India Fire and Marine Insurance Co. fills only part of the vol. The vol. was used primarily as a scrapbook for clippings of Walker's speeches and letters, and other printed materials on issues of currency, failures and suspension of banks, and other economic topics, most dating from 1857-59.
Walker's personal accounts and memoranda, including charitable contributions and expenses on a trip to a Europe.
Anonymous account book recording wholesale sales of shoes and boots. All but one account (dated 1848) are undated. This vol. does not appear to be in Walker's handwriting.
Clippings of proceedings of the House while Walker was its Secretary of State in 1849.
Accounts of farmwork, keeping cattle, etc. of the Hale farm in North Brookfield, Mass.
Include records of visits and counts of herds in eastern Mass., 1860.
Contains clippings on the Peace Jubilee in Boston (1872), its thirty year anniversary in 1902, and the centennial of the Battle of Bunker Hill (1875).
Contains obituaries upon the death of Walker's son, Francis A. Walker.
Preferred Citation
Amasa Walker papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.