Guide to the Elizabeth Buffum Chace and family papers, circa 1801-1900

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2020

Collection Overview

Title:	Elizabeth Buffum Chace and family papers
Date range:	circa 1801-1900
Creator:	Chace, Elizabeth Buffum, 1806-1899
Extent:	4.5 linear feet (approximately 80 items)
Abstract:	This collection includes correspondence, Elizabeth Buffum Chace’s commonplace book and diary, family albums, scrapbooks, photographs, an album of familial hair locks, needlework (cross stitch samplers), newspaper clippings, and other material relating to the Buffums, the Chaces, the Cheneys, and the Tolmans. The papers also contain letters in response to Chace’s book "Anti-Slavery Reminiscences." Elizabeth Buffum Chace was an activist for prison reform, the rights of orphans, peace, and temperance.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	Ms.89.12

Scope & content

The Elizabeth Buffum Chace papers consist of a wide variety of materials relating primarily to Chace's personal life and her experience as a Quaker in Rhode Island questioning the morals and ethics of the religion in which she was reared. Chace relays her conflict with the practice of Quakers holding slaves. She also writes about her passion for prison reform, orphanage reform, and school reform. These papers represent an important resource for those researching Rhode Island Quaker Families, Social reformers, Anti-slavery movements, and Abolitionists.

Among the many unique items found in the collection are Elizabeth Buffum Chace’s diary and commonplace book (1832-1854); scrapbooks of family photographs; a leather album with locks of hair from various family members (1837-1871); a sketch and watercolor book; and an album (1891 May 11-November 15) containing thank you notes in response to her book "Anti-Slavery Reminiscences." These thank you notes are sewn into the book by hand. The collection also includes letters from leaders of various Rhode Island institutions (e.g. the Commissioner of Rhode Island State Farm, and the Rhode Island Commissioner of Public Schools) in response to her reform work.

Handwritten manuscripts by Mary C. Tolman (the youngest daughter of Elizabeth Buffum Chace) entitled “Quakers,” “Reminiscences,” and “Six Generations in a Quaker Family” also form part of the collection.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Chace, Elizabeth Buffum, 1806-1899
• Buffum, Arnold, 1782-1859
• Tolman, Edward Chace, 1886-1959
• Tolman, James P.
• Tolman, Richard Chace, 1881-1948
• Lovell, Lucy Buffum
• Read, Lydia Buffum
• Lovell Family
• Chace, Mary
• Cheney, Elizabeth Caroline
• Cheney, Horace
• Tolman, Mary Chace
• Metcalf, Isabel H.
• Carter, Elizabeth C., recipient
• Chace, Samuel
• Cheney, Bessie
• Tolman, Mary Chace.

Subject Topics

• Abolitionists
• Anti-slavery movements
• Anti-slavery movements – United States
• Families -- Massachusetts -- History
• Families -- Religious life
• Families – Rhode Island -- History
• Family life
• Family life issues
• Feminists
• Motherhood
• Prison reformers
• Quaker abolitionists – United States – History – 19th Century
• Quakers -- Massachusetts -- Biography
• Quakers -- Massachusetts -- Correspondence
• Quakers -- Massachusetts -- History
• Quakers – United States – Political Activity – History – 19th Century
• Reformers – United States – History -- 19th Century
• Religion
• Slavery
• Social reformers
• Society of Friends
• Society of Friends -- Massachusetts -- History
• Society of Friends – Rhode Island -- History
• Underground Railroad

Document Types

• Albums
• Clippings
• Commonplace books
• Letters (correspondence)
• Photographs
• Scrapbooks
• Sketchbooks

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in six series:

• Series 1. Biographical and Family Information
• Series 2. Correspondence
• Series 3. Journal
• Series 4. Writings
• Series 5. Photographs
• Series 6. Objects

Biographical/Historical Note

Elizabeth Buffum Chace (1806-1899) was a tireless, life-long worker for women's rights and the abolition of slavery, and is probably best known for opening her home as the main Rhode Island stop on the Underground Railroad.

Elizabeth Buffum was raised in Smithfield, Rhode Island, the daughter of active Quakers Arnold and Rebecca (Gould) Buffum. The family moved to Pomfret, Connecticut for several years, before Elizabeth spent a year at the Friends' Boarding School in Providence in 1822. Her family then moved to Fall River, Massachusetts, where she met and married Samuel B. Chace (1800-1870) in 1828.

Following in the footsteps of her father, the first president of the New England Anti-Slavery Society, Chace helped found the Fall River Female Anti-Slavery Society in 1835. Her family moved to Valley Falls, Rhode Island after Samuel's business failed in Fall River in 1840. It was in Valley Falls that Elizabeth and Samuel played an active part in the Underground Railroad. There, she sheltered fugitive slaves, hosted anti-slavery speakers (such as Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Sojourner Truth, and Wendell Phillips), and wrote numerous letters encouraging others, including her own children, to be activists in the cause of abolitionism. For her work, Elizabeth Buffum Chace became a social outcast and found a warm welcome only among a small band of abolitionists like herself.

After the Civil War, Chace served as vice-president of the American Anti-Slavery Society as it continued its efforts to assist the freedmen.

Chace's work for women's rights began in 1850, when she attended the Worcester Women's Rights Convention. She served as president of the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association from 1870 to her death. She was the driving force behind a women's suffrage amendment that was rejected by Rhode Island voters in 1887, and was also influential in the founding of Pembroke College, the women's college at Brown University.

Chace's other crusade was prison reform. In 1870, she convinced the state legislature to allow female inspectors in prisons as part of a Board of Lady Visitors. Her lobbying also led to the establishment of the Rhode Island Home and School for Dependent Children in 1884.

After losing her first five children at an early age, Elizabeth had the following five: Samuel O. Chace (1843-1867); Arnold Buffum Chace (1845-1932), eleventh Chancellor of Brown University, married to Eliza C. Greene; Elizabeth B. Chace (1847-1929), author, married to John C. Wyman; Edward G. Chace (1849-1871); and Mary E. Chace (b. 1852), married to James P. Tolman.

Bibliography:

"Elizabeth Buffum Chace and Lillie Chace Wyman”:

http://www.quahog.org/factsfolklore/index.php?id=104

“Homelessness Is Not A Crime: Elizabeth Buffum Chace and Creation of The State Home and School for Children, 1875-1885”:

http://www.ric.edu/statehomeandschool/resourcesStevens.html

"Notable American Women, 1607-1950: A Biographical Dictionary" (Cambridge, Mass. Belknap Press, 1971), pp. 317-319.

“'Was She Clothed with the Rents Paid for These Wretched Rooms?': Elizabeth Buffum Chace, Lillie Chace Wyman, and Upper-Class Advocacy for Women Factory Operatives in Gilded Age Rhode Island,” Rhode Island History, vol. 52, no. 4 (November 1994), pp. 107-133.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Elizabeth Buffum Chace and family papers, Ms.89.12, Brown University Library
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The Elizabeth Buffum Chace papers were a gift of Martha C. Hill to Brown University Library in 1986.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Brown University Library staff
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the RIAMCO EAD spreadsheet, 2020 October 9
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material:

Elizabeth Buffum Chace Letter, 1893 Dec. 22 (Ms. 49.9) Scrapbook on Women’s Suffrage, 1840-1888, compiled by Elizabeth Buffum Chace (Main Codex 7018/1-size) “Visitors and Home People in Old Providence, [1901-1925?],” compiled by Lillie Buffum Chace Wyman (Ms. 30.90) Commonplace book, 1871-1875, of Lillie Buffum Chace Wyman (Ms. Harris Codex 3017) Poetry of the War, [1861-1868?], collected by Lillie Buffum Chace Wyman (Ms. Harris Codex 3018) Autograph Album, 1862-1865, of Lillie Buffum Chace Wyman (Ms. Harris Codex 3019) Lovell family papers (including Lucy Buffum Lovell) (Ms.89.4) Elizabeth Buffum Chace Papers (Rhode Island Historical Society) Chace Family Papers (Rhode Island Historical Society) Richard Chace Tolman Papers (California Institute of Technology)

Inventory

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