1842-1898
Guide to the Collection
Restrictions on Access
The bulk of the John Murray Forbes papers is stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@ngskmc-eis.net.
There are restrictions on the use of this collection. Users must sign an agreement stating that they understand these restrictions before they will be given access to the collection.
Abstract
This collection consists of the papers of Boston businessman John Murray Forbes, 1842-1898, including correspondence, letterpress books, and account books.
Biographical Sketch
Born on February 23, 1813, John Murray Forbes was the son of Ralph Bennet Forbes and Margaret Perkins Forbes. He married Sarah Swain Hathaway in 1834, and the couple had six children: Ellen Randolph Forbes, Alice Hathaway Forbes, William Hathaway Forbes, Mary Hathaway Forbes, John Malcolm Forbes, and Sarah Forbes.
Forbes was a leading Boston businessman and philanthropist. His primary financial interest was the development of railroads across the country, but he built his fortune early in his Perkins uncles' China trade firm and spent a number of years in Canton, China. He was also active in politics as a Whig and later a Republican.
Forbes died on October 12, 1898.
Collection Description
The John Murray Forbes papers span the years 1842-1898 and consist of three record cartons and one document box (stored offsite) and four extra-tall volumes (stored onsite). The collection is divided into four series: Correspondence, Letterbooks, Account Books, and Additions.
The loose correspondence, written from 1854-1897, consists primarily of letters written to J. M. Forbes, but includes some copies of outgoing correspondence, as well. It is related to Forbes's personal business affairs, such as mining interests, real estate, steam yachting, Naushon Island, stocks and investments, and politics, particularly the 1884 presidential election and the "Committee of One Hundred," a group of Republican and Independent party voters who worked to elect James G. Blaire. Correspondents include Josiah Quincy, James Jackson, Catharine M. Sedgwick, William C. Bryant, Joseph G. Cogswell, Wendell Phillips, Ulysses S. Grant, Lord Amerley, R. W. Emerson, Thomas Hughes, and John H. Clifford. Frequent business correspondents include various Forbes family members, Charles E. Perkins, Edward C. Perkins, George S. J. Oliver, Jonathan L. Lathrop, H. B. Scott, A. E. Touzalin, and Miers Coryell, among many others. The letterbooks contain copies of outgoing correspondence from 1857-1898.
Account books kept from 1860-1869 detail his investments in various industries, in particular land speculation, China trade shipping, estates and houses, and railroads. The account books also include a few accounts relating to Massachusetts cavalry regiments (including the 5th) in the Civil War. The additions include Forbes's correspondence with J. P. Cushing, W. H. Gardiner, R. B. Forbes, and others.
Restrictions on Access
The bulk of the John Murray Forbes papers is stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@ngskmc-eis.net.
There are restrictions on the use of this collection. Users must sign an agreement stating that they understand these restrictions before they will be given access to the collection.
Restrictions on Use
The papers of John Murray Forbes have been placed on deposit at the Massachusetts Historical Society by the J. M. Forbes Family Archives Committee. The Massachusetts Historical Society does not claim ownership of the literary rights (copyright) to this collection. The Massachusetts Historical Society cannot give permission to publish or quote from documents to which it does not hold copyright. Use of these materials does not imply permission to publish. It is the sole responsibility of the researcher to obtain formal permission from the owners of the literary rights (copyright) to publish or quote from documents in this collection.
All reproductions, including photocopies and digital photographs, are for personal use only. Personal use copies may not be donated to or deposited in other libraries or archives, or made available to other researchers, without the written permission of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Acquisition Information
Deposited by the J. M. Forbes Family Archives Committee, 1995, 2004. Additions deposited in 2009.
Arrangement
The papers of John Murray Forbes were merged with the John Murray Forbes account books in January 2006.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. Correspondence, 1854-1897
Arranged chronologically.
This series contains loose correspondence, mostly letters written to J. M. Forbes, but also some outgoing letters (copies), 1854-1897, primarily between 1886-1889. The correspondence is mainly related to Forbes's personal business affairs, such as mining interests, real estate, steam yachting, Alabama claims, Naushon Island matters, stocks and other investments, bimetallism, and politics. There is a substantial file of materials concerning the 1884 presidential election and the "Massachusetts Committee of 100," a group of Republican and Independent party voters who worked to elect James G. Blaine. The loose correspondence includes letters written by Josiah Quincy (1854), Dr. James Jackson (1855), Catharine M. Sedgwick (1857), Oliver W. Holmes (1857, 1858, 1864, 1882), William C. Bryant (1859, 1864), Joseph G. Cogswell (1861), Wendell Phillips (1867, 1882), Ulysses S. Grant (1868), Lord Amberley (1869), R. W. Emerson (1870), Thomas Hughes (1870, 1880), and John H. Clifford (1870). Frequent business correspondents include Charles E. Perkins, Edward C. Perkins, George S. J. Oliver, Jonathan L. Lathrop, H. B. Scott, A. E. Touzalin, and Miers Coryell, among many others. There a number of Forbes family members who occasionally wrote to J. M. Forbes, as well.
II. Letterbooks, 1857-1898
Arranged chronologically.
Included are four letterbooks of letterpress copies of outgoing correspondence, 8 Aug.-2 Mar. 1898, and one small carbon-copy letterbook of outgoing correspondence, used on a trip out west, 4 Oct.-4 Dec. 1883.
III. Account Books, 1860-1869
Arranged chronologically by type.
This series consists of four account books, 1860-1869, documenting J. M. Forbes's investments in various industries, in particular land speculation, China trade shipping, estates and houses, and railroads. Also included are a few accounts relating to Massachusetts cavalry regiments (including the 5th) in the Civil War. Volumes I and II are ledgers with indexes, 1860-1864 and 1864-1866. Volumes III and IV are journals (in chronological order), Apr. 1862-Jan. 1864, and Feb. 1864-Jan. 1869.
Note: These volumes are located (onsite) at Ms. N-500.
IV. Additions, 1842-1898
This series consists of one box of additions to the correspondence of John Murray Forbes, 1842-1898. Included are letters written to and from Forbes concerning agriculture, commerce, railroads, investments, properties, and Republican politics. Among the correspondents are J. P. Cushing, W. H. Gardiner, R. B. Forbes, and others. There is also a series of letters, 1858-1860, written to F. B. Sanborn about the education of Forbes's son J. Malcolm ("Mac") Forbes, as well as one undated letter from Fanny Kemble to John Murray Forbes.
Preferred Citation
John Murray Forbes 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.