Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Upton Family Papers |
Title |
A guide to the Upton Family Papers |
Catalog Number |
A2022.10.0001 |
Level of description |
Fonds/Collection |
Dates of Creation |
1838-1970 |
Creator |
Upton Family |
Admin/Biographical History |
Henry Orlando Upton was born in Salem, MA on June 7 1839 to Ebenezer Upton and Sarah "Sally" Shaw Sanborn. He married Elizabeth A Cate (1840-1909) The couple had 6 children: Ida Florence Upton (1860-1936), Eben Albert Upton (1863-1894), Sarah Mariah Upton (1865-1938), Jacob Henry Upton (1870-1947), Henrietta "Etta" Farrington Upton (1874-1956), and William M. Upton (1885-1904). Henry Upton was a well-known member of Salem society. He was a musician and composer, as well as the proprietor of "Mr. Upton’s School of Dancing and Physical Culture." He passed away on March 30 1919. Elizabeth Cate Upton was born in Salem, MA to James Cate and Rachel Wood. In 1883, Elizabeth, by then married to Henry Upton, purchased the old Turner House on Turner St. in Salem, now called The House of the Seven Gables. She and her husband opened the house to visitors in 1890. Henrietta "Etta" Farrington Upton graduated from Emerson College of Oratory in 1895. She initially utilized her degree to provide oratory classes in Salem while continuing to assist her father with his school. She would take over the school after Henry Upton’s retirement. Over a period of 50 years, Henrietta trained hundreds of students, utilizing her physiology training as well as her French-speaking skills to translate instructions from the International Association of Dancing in Paris. She retired from teaching in 1938. In 1910, she opened a girl’s camp in Middleton, MA, the first of its kind in the area. She died in Salem in 1956. Ida Upton designed the first Salem Witch Souvenir, a witch painted in color on french china. The china was sold at "Hepzebah’s Shop in the House of Seven Gables" and at her father’s dance studio at 252 Essex Street where Ida held the title of ‘Decorator of China and Art Goods.’ Rosamond Wood Chipman, born in 1883, was Elizabeth Cate Upton’s niece through Elizabeth’s sister Josephine Cate Chipman. Rosamond married John Glover Shaw. Their son John loaned several Upton Family papers to the House of the Seven Gables in 2006. |
Scope & Content |
The collection includes newspaper clippings, tickets, programs, dance cards, guest books, memoirs, correspondence, souvenirs, and photographs, including tintypes. Ranging from 1838-1992, items are arranged by type and then chronologically when possible. Many of the earlier collection items relate to Elizabeth Cate Upton's forebearers from the Cate Family. These include correspondence, a receipt for a pew purchase, and a guardian bond agreement. The bulk of the collection, however, relates to Henry and Elizabeth Upton and their children. Many files chronicle events at Henry Upton's school of dance. In addition to programs and tickets, there is a pamphlet advertising Salem's first witch souvenir designed by Ida Upton and sold at her father's dance studio as well as "Hepzibah's Shop" in the House of the Seven Gables. There are also a number of documents relating to Henrietta Upton, from her high school graduation program to a newspaper clipping marking her 1938 retirement from dance. The photographs range from formal portraits such as a carte de visite of Henry Upton to candid photographs, including one labeled "Upton girls playing croquette," dated 1916, as well as tintypes Guest books showcase the names and home locations of visitors to the House of the Seven Gables after it was opened to the public in 1900. The collection also includes an 1879 copy of the Salem Observer, mentioning John Cate's death. See also the Elizabeth Upton Haywood Eaton Collection for more information, including a scrapbook full of Upton family photos and memorabilia (A2022.11.0001). |
Language of Material |
English |
Contents of the Collection |
Name of collection: Upton Family Papers, 1838-1992 Location(s): Gables Curatorial, VC Basement Collection ID: A2022.10.0001 Size Of Collection: 2 archival boxes, & 1 Oversized box 3 linear feet Processed By: Erin Pucko Note: Catalog numbers are provided for items that may be viewed online. The collection includes additional records not available on our website. For more information email info@7gables.org Please see below for a detailed drawer, box, and folder list Box 1Folder 1 1838 Pew Receipt for Cate Family, ancestor of Elizabeth Cate Upton (ID A2022.10.001.f1.001) Box 1Folder 2 1870-1881 Letters Received by Rachel Wood Cate, Elizabeth Upton's mother. 1 written in 1881 by her daughter "Lizzie" while on vacation in the White Mountains (1881). The envelope refers to the "House of Seven Gables." (item # A015). The other letter's connection to the Upton family is less certain, but most likely written to Rachel Wood Cate (Elizabeth Cate Upton's mother) by her sister in 1870. (A2022.10.0001.f2.001) Box 1Folder 3 1871 Guardian Bond signed by Rachel and John Cate, Elizabeth Upton's parents, assigning Rachel guardian to her niece, Carrie Cate (A2022.10.0001.f3.001) Box 1Folder 4 1869 Letter written to "Mother," Rachel Cate, from her daughter-in-law, Maggie Cate (A2022.10.0001.f4.001). Box 1Folder 5 1888 Possibly an Upton furniture loan document, signed by CA Hutchings for furniture at 83 Derby St. Salem, MA in1888 (A2022.10.0001.f5.001) Box 1Folder 6 1891-1896 This folder includes several cards, tickets and programs for events at Henry Upton's school. It also includes business cards for Henry Upton, Ida Upton, and an advertisement for Ida Upton's Witch Souvenir. (A001, A002, A003, A004, A005, A006, A007, A008, A009, A010, A2022.10.0001.f6.001, A2022.10.0001.f6.002) Box 1Folder 7 1892-1938 Items in this folder relate to the life of Henrietta Upton. They include a High School graduation program and a newspaper article detailing her career and retirement from dance. (A017, A011) Box 1Folder 8 undated Photographs: -Henry and Elizabeth Upton, Gables (A2005.09.02) -Frank Paine, husband of Ida Upton Paine (A2005.09.04) -Ida Upton Paine (A2005.09.03) -Copy of Upton family photograph Box 1Folder 9 1875-1916, undated Upton Family photographs: -Henry O. Upton, ca 1875 (A2022.10.0001.f9.001a) -Henry O. Upton, ca 1893 (A2022.10.0001.f9.001b) -Eunice Ingersoll (A2022.10.0001.f9.003) -Elizabeth Upton, undated (A2022.10.0001.f9.003) - Family photo, 1899 (A2022.10.0001.f9.004) -Helen Arey, Mary Johnson, Annie Paine, and Lillian Arey on the south lawn of the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion. Helen and Lily were Henry and Elizabeth Cate Upton's granddaughters, 1916. (A2022.10.0001.f9.006) -Jossie Chipman (A2022.10.0001.f9.007) -Albert Cate, Elizabeth Upton's brother (A2022.10.0001.f9.008-010) -Photograph of Sarah Upton Arey (A2005.07.09) Box 1Folder 10undated Unidentified photos found with Upton family photos Box 1Folder 11ca. 1860s and 1870s - Unidentified Upton Family photos, mini tintypes (A2005.08.03) -Framed tintype of Upton family members (A2005.08.01) Box 1Folder 12ca. 1870s -Several undated and unidentified images taken in Salem photographic studios, including carte de visite Box 1Folder 13undated -"My Aunt Lizzie," a letter written by Antiss Manning to Mrs. John Glover Shaw, Elizabeth's Upton's niece. The story recounts a visit to the Upton Family at the House of the Seven Gables. Amidst a tale of adventure, it also describes Elizaebeth's purchase of the estate, rumors about the previous owner Susannah Ingersoll, and the house being haunted. It references Hawthorne's novel "The House of the Seven Gables," provides insight on the setting of the house in the neighborhood, and paints a picture of the routines and habits of daily life in the Upton Family. (A2022.10.0001.f13.001) Box 1Folder 141933-1992 -Correspondence and Photographs relating to Rosamond "Rossie" Chipman Shaw, niece of Elizabeth Upton (A018) Box 1 Folder 151900-1908Gables Guestbook owned by the Uptons (A2022.10.0001.f15.001) Visitor's Center BasementUnit D, Shelf 3, Gables Curatorial Unit 2 Drawer 3 1892 flat file Dance Music by Henry O. Upton (A2022.10.0001.ff.001) Oversized 2019-2020 Inventory Box 101 1879 Salem Observer (1879), mentions John Cate's death, & a copy of an 1800s Essex County Mercury |
Subjects |
Dance schools Souvenir china Witches |