ARCHIVES

Collections

Manuscripts

Archives Committee Materials

Several hundred documents relating to the history of Ipswich from 1634 to 1985, including original records of the Feoffees, papers of Capt. Thomas W. Hicken, papers of Humphrey Lakeman, and the papers of Marietta Pease.  The collection ncludes many other miscellaneous documents.

Cable Hospital Auxiliary

Minutes, by-laws, member lists, newsletters, programs, newspaper clippings 1956-1981.

Daniel Treadwell Papers

Correspondence, pamphlets, memorabilia of 19^th century Ipswich scientist
and benefactor of Ipswich Public Library (1791-1872)

Emma Safford Papers

Manuscripts, photographs, articles, correspondence and artifacts relating to Emma Safford (1879-1958), an Ipswich resident and descendant of the Wampanoag Sachem Massasoit. The collection contains information on Native Americans in Massachusetts.  
 

Family Genealogies

A collection of published genealogy references on select families of early Ipswich.

Fewkes-Darling Papers

189 volumes of indexed genealogical records, compiled by Jonathan Fewkes and Edward Lee Darling, covering over 200 families of Ipswich, Massachusetts. The entries are arranged by family surnames in loose-leaf notebooks.

Ipswich Garden Club

Ipswich Parish Players

Minutes, by-laws, member lists, scripts of 11 plays written by Sumner Nichols, programs and set photos, newspaper clippings, memorabilia 1930-1942.

Ipswich Museum Collection

The collection includes correspondence, deeds, genealogical notes, notebooks, diaries, account books, and other materials. Items of special interest include records of the Ipswich Female Seminary (1826-1863), which drew many young women to town, including Mary Lyon, founder of Mt. Holyoke College; the diary of Mary E. Brown (1898) with reflections on daily life.

Ipswich League of Women Voters

Minutes, by-laws, reports on community meetings, bulletins, newspaper clippings 1953-1999.

John Updike

Documents from 1958 to 2009 about and by writer John Updike, a former resident of Ipswich. Includes articles, poetry and a condolence letter written by John Updike, two extensive bibliographies, the transcript of filmed interview in 1966, the index of items related to John Updike in the Ipswich Chronicle from 1958 to 1979, copies of the John Updike Newsletter, a few photographs, and copies of a play written by John Updike called Three Texts from Early Ipswich, a Pageant.  Collection also contains copies of periodical articles related to John Updike.

Lighthouse Keeper’s Papers

Contains papers of Benjamin Ellsworth, Lighthouse Keeper from 1861 to 1902, including documents on Ipswich Lighthouse, correspondence (1864 to 1962) reports (1873 to 1895), and miscellaneous items.  Most documents donated to Ipswich Public Library in 1975 by Carolyn Eaton, great-granddaughter of Benjamin Ellsworth.