Guide to the Lovell Family Papers , 1790-1911

(bulk 1800-1860)

Brown University Library , University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A, John Hay Library
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Fax: 401-863-2093
E-mail: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title:	Lovell Family Papers
Date range:	1790-1911, (bulk 1800-1860)
Creator:	Lovell Family
Extent:	17 boxes
Abstract:	The Lovell Family Papers (Ms.89.4) were compiled by Malcolm R. Lovell, Jr. They range in date from 1790 to 1911, with the primary focus being the period between 1800 and 1860. The range of subjects covered is equally broad, including religion and spirituality, slavery, family life, and student life at Brown University.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Brown University Library , University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	Ms.89.4

Scope & content

The Lovell Family Papers (Ms.89.4) were compiled by Malcolm R. Lovell, Jr. They range in date from 1790 to 1911, with the primary focus being the period between 1800 and 1860. The range of subjects covered is equally broad, including religion and spirituality, slavery, family life, and student life at Brown University.

Religion is at the core of this collection. The story depicted in the collection of nearly 850 letters, journals, clippings, sermons and other materials is that of a family struggling with its convictions about religion. These convictions are apparent in nearly all portions of the collection, from the sermons of Shubael Lovell to the letters and journals of his children.

The materials are arranged in eight series:

Series 1. Correspondence. Letters dated 1790 to 1870, and undated, from various members of the Lovell family, including the patriarch, Rev. Shubael Lovell, his daughter Laura Hoover Lovell, the primary correspondent in the collection, and the bulk of whose correspondence was with her sister Martha B. Hall, as well as Laura’s brothers Lorenso Owen Lovell and Nehemiah Gorham Lovell, some of whose letters were written while they were students at Brown University. Also well represented in the collection is Sally Lovell, writing mostly to Rev. Shubael Lovell. This series also includes letters from people outside the Lovell family, undated fragments in various hands, essays, notes, obituaries, a short story, and fabric samples.

Series 2. Sermons of Rev. Shubael Lovell , some dated between 1792 and 1817, but most undated. The majority have titles. Some are in a bound “Sermon Book” but most are written on loose pages. Sermons were apparently used on multiple occasions and include more than one sermon topic per document. Accompanied by Rev. Shubael’s leather case for holding sermons.

Series 3. Journals. Subseries A consists of journals of Rev. Shubael Lovell, most dated 1792 to 1833, but with others not fully dated, listing his daily activities, including visits to homes, lectures, sermons, and communions. Subseries B consists of journals of other members of the Lovell family dated 1827 to 1838, including longer journals of Laura H. Lovell and Martha B. Lovell.

Series 4. Two Quaker Sisters: From the Original Diaries of Elizabeth Buffum Chace and Martha B. Lovell. Subseries A contains the book “Two Quaker Sisters” as well as notices of and clippings about the book, and source material used in the book. Subseries B consists of reviews, and Subseries C contains listings of the book in various publications. See also the journal of Martha B. Lovell labelled Codex 1 in Series 3, Subseries B.

Series 5. Malcom R. Lovell Materials. School assignments of Malcolm R. Lovell at Highland Grammar School in Fall River, Massachusetts, dated 1903 to 1905 and undated. Also includes three issues of the Highland Grammar School newspaper “The Premier” dated 1907 to 1909.

Series 6. Genealogy Materials on the Lovell family , dated circa 1801 to circa 1819.

Series 7. Photographs consist of twenty-two daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and photographs, sixteen of which are unidentified.

Series 8. Miscellaneous. Consists of newspaper clippings dated 1872 to 1882 and undated, a 1938 issue of a publication from Williston Academy in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and some sewing needles.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Lovell, Shubael, 1770-1846
• Lovell, Laura Hooper
• Lovell, Nehemiah Gorham
• Chace, Elizabeth Buffum, 1806-1899
• Lovell, Lucy Buffum
• Lovell, Lorenso O.
• Lovell, Martha Blake
• Lovell, Malcolm Read, -1975

Subject Topics

• Abolitionists
• Anti-slavery movements – Massachusetts - History
• Baptists
• Baptists - Clergy
• Brown University
• Families - Massachusetts - History
• Families - Religious life
• Family life
• Family life issues
• Preaching
• Religion
• Slavery

Subject Topics

• Religion
• Social Life and Customs

Document Types

• Ambrotype
• Correspondence
• Daguerreotype
• Diaries
• Journals
• Photographs
• Sermons

Arrangement

Arrangement

• Series 1. Correspondence
• Series 2. Sermons of Rev. Shubael Lovell
• Series 3. Journals
• Series 4. Two Quaker Sisters: From the Original Diaries of Elizabeth Buffum Chace and Martha B. Lovell
• Series 5. Malcom R. Lovell Materials
• Series 6. Genealogy Materials
• Series 7. Photographs
• Series 8. Miscellaneous

Historical note

Religion was at the core of the Lovell family. Lovells were charter members of the First Baptist Church in Fall River, Massachusetts. Rev. Shubael Lovell, patriarch of the family, was ordained a minister in 1795 and travelled throughout Massachusetts as a preacher. Two of his four sons, likewise, were ministers and one of his two daughters, Laura Hoover Lovell, taught Sunday school in Fall River, Massachusetts for over twenty years.

A genealogy of the Lovell Family is useful in identifying relationships and correspondents. This collection encompasses four generations of the Lovell Family, and the given names of Nehemiah, Shubael, Leander, and Laura are used in consecutive generations.

• Rev. Shubael Lovell (?-1846). Married Bethiah Perkins Lovell (1772-1856) on 1797 May 24. Six children: Shubael (Jr.), Lorenso Owen Lovell, Nehemiah Gorham Lovell, Laura Hoover Lovell, Martha Blake Lovell Hall, and Leander P. Lovell. Shubael and Bethiah Lovell lived primarily in New Rowley, Barnstable, and Fall River, Massachusetts. Shubael was ordained a Baptist minister in 1795 and spent many of his early years travelling to areas such as Hyannis and Martha's Vineyard as an itinerant preacher. He was seventh in descent from John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley, who came to Plymouth on the Mayflower in 1620.
• Leander P. Lovell (1798 October 28-1842), son of Shubael and Bethiah Lovell. Married Ariadna B. ?. Three children: Elvira (died aged 10 months), Susannah (1831-?) and Leander.
• Shubael Lovell (1801 December 27-?), son of Shubael and Bethiah Lovell. Married Elizabeth ?. Two children: George (?-1839) and Lucy, who married John Hancock Brown in April 1842.
• Lorenso Owen Lovell (1809 October 24-?), son of Shubael and Bethiah Lovell. Married Sophia ?. Three children: Frank, Richard, and Martha. Lorenso attended Brown University where he suffered from severe and prolonged health problems. Ordained a Baptist minister and served as a pastor. Health problems also affected Sophia.
• Nehemiah Gorham Lovell (1806 August 2-1851 November 15), son of Shubael and Bethiah Lovell. Married Lucy Buffum at the home of Samuel and Elizabeth Chace in Valley Falls, Rhode Island in 1835. Five children: William Buffum Lovell (1847 Dec-?), Rebecca (1849 Oct-1850 Oct), Isaac Lovell (1846-?), Henry Lovell (1843-1855 June 25), and Caroline (?-1842). Attended Brown University with his brother, Lorenso. Ordained a Baptist minister on 1834 July 10 and served as a pastor in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Assumed the role of head of the family after the death of his father before dying unexpectedly in 1851.
• Laura Hoover Lovell (1800 January 10-1872 December 5). Never married. Lived most of her adult life in Fall River, Massachusetts where she was a successful school teacher. (Primary correspondent in the collection.)
• Martha Blake Lovell Hall (?-?). Married John Hall of East Hampton, Connecticut. Two children: Lovell Hall and Laura B. Hall.

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:	Lovell Family Papers, Ms.89.4, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	Brown University Library , University Archives and Manuscripts Box A, John Hay Library Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Fax: 401-863-2093 E-mail: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The Lovell Family Papers were donated to the Brown University Library by Malcolm Read Lovell, Jr. in 1989.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by staff of the John Hay Library.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Gregory Olson 2009 July 28
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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