2022-10-06 Preliminary Inventory of the Thomas James Holmes Papers, 1905-1959 SPEC.RARE.CMS.0010 Finding aid prepared by Beth Crowner; Audrey Wimbiscus Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections

1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210

2019 March; 2022 September This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2022-10-06T08:57-0400 Describing Archives: A Content Standard Thomas James Holmes Papers SPEC.RARE.CMS.0010 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 14.79 Cubic feet 1905-1959 Thomas James Holmes (1874-1959) was a bibliographer, bookbinder, and librarian known for his bibliographies of the Mather family. The Thomas James Holmes Papers contains the correspondence and bibliographical work of Holmes about the Mather family. Materials date from 1905-1959. (34) 5" letter document boxes; (1) 5" legal document box; (1) 2.5" letter document box; (1) 2.5" legal document box; (1) card box; (1) flat box English Holmes, Thomas James, 1874-1959 Arrangement of Materials

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are provisionally arranged into three series, two of which contain further subseries:

Series 1: Correspondence Series 2: Mather Family Research and Publications Series 3: Speeches and Essays

Acquisitions Information

Unknown

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Thomas James Holmes Papers, SPEC.RARE.CMS.0010, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

Processing Information

This collection is unprocessed; Finding aid written by: Beth Crowner, 2019 March; Audrey Wimbiscus, 2022 September

Historical Note

Thomas James Holmes (1874-1959) was a bibliographer, bookbinder, and librarian. He researched the Mather family in 1906 when he became the personal librarian of William Gwinn Mather, a Cleveland industrialist. Mather was interested in collecting a library of his family’s writing and research, and Holmes wrote six bibliographies of Mather family members. From 1942-1945, he was an honorary consultant to the Cleveland branch of the Army Medical Library, assisting in the conservation of approximately 32,000 rare books.

Increase Mather (1639-1723) was a minister, author, and educator in New England who was one of the first council members of the British colonies born on American soil. He is known for compiling "An Essay for the Recording of Illustrious Providences," as well as writing "Case of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Personating Men." Increase and his son, Cotton Mather, campaigned for inoculation against smallpox, and were involved in the Salem Witch Trials.

Cotton Mather (1663-1728) was a Puritan from New England who was a minister and author. He wrote and published over 400 works, the most famous of which is "Magnalia Christi Americana," an ecclesiastical history of America from the founding of New England to then-present day.

Scope and Contents

The Thomas James Holmes Papers contains the correspondence and bibliographical work of Thomas James Holmes, who wrote six bibliographies about Mather family members, including Increase and Cotton Mather. Some papers and materials also relate to work Holmes did with the Rowfant Bindery. Materials date from 1905-1959.

Holmes, Thomas James, 1874-1959 Mather (Family) Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728 Mather, Increase, 1639-1723 Bibliographers--Ohio--20th century Bibliographies Clergy--Massachusetts--17th century--Bibliography Clergy--Massachusetts--18th century--Bibliography Essays Families of clergy--Massachussetts--17th century--Research Families of clergy--Massachussetts--18th century--Research Speeches (documents) Correspondence Series 1 1905-1959 General Subseries 1.1 1905-1959 A-Al 1 1 1923-1939 Am 1 2 1912-1957 An-Az 1 3 1920-1957 Army Medical Library 1 4 1932-1952 Ba 1 5 1925-1957 Be 1 6 1922-1954 Bi 1 7 1920-1956 Bl-Bo 1 8 1923-1956 Boston Public Library 1 9 1922-1940 Br-Bz 2 10 1914-1956 Brigham, Clarence S. 2 11 1915-1928 Brigham, Clarence S. 2 12 1929-1955 Ca 2 13 1916-1954 The Caxton Company 2 14 1921-1928 The Caxton Company 2 15 1929-1939 Ce-Ci 2 16 1925-1952 Cheshire Cheese Club 2 17 1926-1959 City Blue Printing Company 3 18 1922-1932 Cl 3 19 1914-1954 Co-Cz 3 20 1913-1957 D 3 21 1922-1957 Damon, Theron J. 3 22 1939-1941 Damon, Theron J. 3 23 1942 Damon, Theron J. 3 24 1943 Damon, Theron J. 3 25 1944-1958 E 4 26 1919-1953 Eames, Wilberforce 4 27 1920-1936 F 4 28 1929-1958 G 4 29 1920-1950 Grassby, Percy (Samuel Mather book plate) 4 30 1922-1923 H-Hn 4 31 1913-1957 Harvard University Press 4 32 1924-1948 Ho-Hz 5 33 1913-1957 Holmes family members 5 34 1905-1954 Henry E. Huntington Library 5 35 1922-1939 I 5 36 1912-1957 J 5 37 1925-1957 Jones, Matt B. 5 38 1928-1930 Jones, Matt B. 5 39 1931-1932 Jones, Matt B. 5 40 1933-1935 K-Ke 5 41 1925-1957 Ki-Kz 5 42 1920-1954 L-Li 6 43 1925-1946 Library of Congress 6 44 1922-1946 Lo-Lz 6 45 1924-1959 Ma 6 46 1914-1956 Massachusetts Historical Society 6 47 1919-1940 Mather, Samuel 6 48 1911-1931 Mather, William G. 6 49 1912-1919 Mather, William G. 6 50 1920-1922 Mather, William G. 7 51 1923-1924 Mather, William G. 7 52 1925-1927 Mather, William G. 7 53 1928-1931 Mather, William G. 7 54 1932-1939 Mather, William G. 7 55 1940 Mather, William G. 7 56 1941-1951 Travel notes and reports 7 57 1921-1932 Mather, William G., Mrs. 7 58 1949-1957 Me-Mz 8 59 1922-1957 Murdock, Kenneth 8 60 1921-1924 Murdock, Kenneth 8 61 1925-1955 N 8 62 1925-1957 O 8 63 1925-1957 Pa-Pe 8 64 1917-1957 Ph-Q 8 65 1924-1956 R-Re 9 66 1927-1955 Rh-Rz 9 67 1920-1954 Richardson, Mary Jane (sister) 9 68 1926-1958 Robinson, George W. 9 69 1940-1949 Rowfant Club 9 70 1926-1957 S-Sc 9 71 1915-1927 Se-Sh 9 72 1917-1955 Si-Sp 9 73 1914-1954 Sq-Sz 10 74 1921-1957 T-Tho 10 75 1926-1957 Thp-Tz 10 76 1918-1951 U-V 10 77 1919-1950 W-Wh 10 78 1925-1956 Wi-Wz 10 79 1917-1954 Winship, George P. 11 80 1919-1924 Winship, George P. 11 81 1925-1940 Wroth, Lawrence C. 11 82 1924-1957 X-Z 11 83 1922-1954 Incomplete letters 11 84 1951 March-September Miscellaneous 11 85 1916-1954 Dealer Subseries 1.2 1913-1959 A 11 86 1917-1934 B-Bi 11 87 1921-1936 Bj-Bz 11 88 1916-1939 C 12 89 1913-1943 Da-Dn 12 90 1924-1930 Do-Dz 12 91 1924-1932 E-F 12 92 1922-1955 Foley, P.K. 12 93 1917-1924 Foley, P.K. 12 94 1925-1931 G-Graf 12 95 1925-1932 Grag-Gz 12 96 1923-1948 Goodspeed's Bookshop 13 97 1917-1924 Goodspeed's Bookshop 13 98 1925-1927 Goodspeed's Bookshop 13 99 1928-1940 Ha 13 100 1922-1953 He 13 101 1921-1932 Hf-Hz 13 102 1923-1928 Harper, L.C. 13 103 1918-1921 Harper, L.C. 14 104 1922-1924 Harper, L.C. 14 105 1925-1927 Harper, L.C. 14 106 1928-1940 I-K 14 107 1924-1931 The Korner & Wood Company 14 108 1921-1959 L-Le 14 109 1921-1931 Li-Lz 14 110 1916-1931 M 14 111 1922-1930 N 15 112 1923-1931 O-P 15 113 1923-1935 Q-R 15 114 1926-1932 The Rosenbach Company 15 115 1920-1935 S-Se 15 116 1917-1932 Sf-Sz 15 117 1917-1932 Smith, George D. 15 118 1917-1920 Smith, George D. 15 119 1921-1932 Henry Stevens, Son & Stiles 16 120 1916-1921 Henry Stevens, Son & Stiles 16 121 1922-1924 Henry Stevens, Son & Stiles 16 122 1925-1933 T-V 16 123 1923-1948 W 16 124 1916-1929 X-Z 16 125 1927-1929 Mather Family Research and Publications Series 2 1916-1957 Research and Notes Subseries 2.1 1916-1951 Brigham, Clarence S. The Bible and the Book of Common Prayer 31 224 1926 April 30 Canavan, Michael J. The spectre seen by Mrs. Weeden 31 225 undated Cooper, James F. - Letters (copies) 31 226 1930 July 7 Eames, Wilberforce. American imprints. . . in The New York Public Library 31 227 1916 May Jones, Matt B. Some bibliographical notes on Cotton Mather's "The Accomplished Stranger" 31 228 undated Kubinyi, Kálmán. Self-portrait - etching 31 229 1932 June 8 Mather, Amasa Stone. The occasional impromptu verses and songs. . . 1st chapter only 31 230 1920 Murdock, Kenneth B. The life and work of Increase Mather. Preface and introduction 31 231 1923 March 31 Orr, Charles. A book fatal to its author 31 232 undated Sheppard, Odell. The English Bible and American men of letters 31 233 undated Library Club of Cleveland - correspondence 31 234 1924-1935 Library Club of Cleveland and Vicinity - handbook forms 31 235 1925-1926 Varia and unplaced 31 236 1926-1940 Army Medical Library - reports, etc. 31 237 1942-1951 Miscellaneous publications and reprints 31 238 1935-1940 William G. Mather Library. Lists. 27 166 1921-1925 William G. Mather Library. Binding. 27 167 1920-1921 William G. Mather Library. Miscellaneous. 27 168 1918-1942 Amasa Stone Mather Fund. 27 169 1930-1931 Murdock, Kenneth. Portraits . . . Dict. Lists. 27 170 1923-1927 Murdock, Kenneth. Portraits . . . acknowledgements and requests (A-K) 27 171 1924-1926 Murdock, Kenneth. Portraits . . . acknowledgements and requests (L-Z) 27 172 1925 January - April Summary of items of Matheriana in the collection of William Gwinn Mather 26 1 1916-1919 Untitled distribution list reviewed by William G. Mather 26 2 undated Untitled distribution list of review copies 26 3 undated Untitled distribution list 26 4 undated Miscellaneous distribution cards 26 5 undated Miscellaneous distribution cards 26 6 undated Mather Bibliographies Subseries 2.2 1916-1957 Mather reference Subseries 2.2.3 1916-1940 Photos, zincs, etc. 23 161 undated Photos, zincs, etc. 24 162 1922-1939 Photos, zincs, etc. 24 162B 1922-1939 Photostat books. 24 163 1924-1926 Photos, zincs, etc. 24 163B 1924-1926 Acceptances 1-100 16 126 1940 August-September Acceptances 101-200 16 127 1940 August-September Acceptances 201-300 16 128 1940 August-September Acceptances 301-418 17 129 1940 August-September Offers declines 17 130 1940 August-September Acknowledgements A-C 17 131 1940 September-October Acknowledgements D-H 17 132 1940 September-December Acknowledgements I-M 17 133 1940 September-October Acknowledgements N-R 17 134 1940 September-October Acknowledgements S-Z 17 135 1940 September-November Early material 17 136 1916-1925 Literature distribution 17 137 1926-1927 Library reports of holdings 18 138 1922-1937 Mathers and Matheriana in New York Public Library 18 139 undated Preliminary checking sheets 18 140 1936-1938 Checklists circulated to libraries 18 141 undated Checklists in the five largest collections 18 141.2 undated Binding 18 142 1940 February-October Distribution lists 18 143 undated Financial statements 18 144 1939-1940 Photos, zincs, etc. 39 1 undated Photos, zincs, etc. 39 2 1928-1931 Photos, zincs. etc. 39 3 undated Photos, zincs, etc. 39 4 1928-1931 Photos, zincs, etc. 39 5 undated Photos, zincs, etc. 39 6 1924 Photos, zincs, etc. 39 7 1921-1924 Reserve List Number 1 25 1931 Fall Reserve List Number 2 25 undated Editions of Bay Psalms and Cambridge Platform 25 undated Speeches and Essays Series 3 1913-1959 Address at the Cheshire Cheese Club: a few minutes with Samuel Johnson. 28 173 1934 September 18 Address at staff luncheon of history of medical division 28 174 1948 January 9 The Albany Evening Times - The Observers Column 28 175 1940 January 10 Aunt Mary's parrot 28 176 undated The basis of valuation of rare books 28 177 undated Lecture - the bibliography of Increase Mather 28 178 1933 February 25 Pascal, Blaise (story re: business and labor) 28 179 undated Book collecting and William G. Mather 28 180 1927 July 2 The Bookbindings of John Ratcliff . . . 28 181 1929 Burton Congregational Church 125 anniversary 28 182 1933 The Cleveland Cliffs iron company . . . (published under name: Forggett, Joseph) 28 183 1933 June 27 Deflation versus purchasing power 28 184 undated An English anecdote . . . 28 185 undated English ballads and songs . . . 28 186 1929 The form of the modern book. Read to Rowfant Club 28 187 1945 November 23 A glance at the seventeenth century (draft) 28 189 1935 October 10 A glance at the seventeenth century (draft) 28 190 1935 October 10 A glance at the backgrounds of the seventeenth century 28 191 undated How Increase Mather stopped the hanging of witches at Salem in 1692. Read to Rowfant Club 28 192 1932 December 12 An introduction to Gorham Munson's Aladdin's Lamp 28 193 1952 It is the end . . . (article on diversity in farming) 28 194 undated Labor's next step . . . 28 195 undated Lecture (re: images of history) 28 196 1935 September 26 Magic and witchcraft. 28 197 undated The Mather collection at "Gwinn", Cleveland, Ohio 28 198 1930 June 30 Mather's books tell about it 28 199 undated Mr. Mather buys a book 28 200 1931 January 19 Murder: it's usefulness, especially to some early Boston Puritan preachers 28 201 undated Murderers help Cotton and Increase Mather to fill the Puritan churches of old Boston 28 202 undated Notes on Increase Mather's "cases of conscious . . ." 28 203 undated Notes on Richard Mather's "church government . . ." 28 204 1924 Samuel Mather of Witney: proofs of cover & preliminaries 28 205 1928 1692-1932: the fear panic. Read to Chardon Kiwanis Club 28 206 undated Some aspects of fine binding 29 207 1920 October 18 Some popular philosphies 29 208 1937 Story of the Rowfant bindery 29 209 1957 March 8 "What stopped the witch hangings . . ." (see folder 192) 29 210 undated Who is this Dr. Johnson, any way? 29 211 undated Witchcraft. . . . Chapters 1-3 (notes on Increase Mather's cases of...) 29 212 undated Witchcraft. . . . Chapters 4-6 29 213 undated Miscellaneous, notes and fragments - witchcraft, etc. 29 214 1926-1949 Notes on witchcraft 29 215 1928-1933 Notes on binding 29 216 1917-1918 Miscellaneous notes 29 217 1920-1949 Personal 29 218 1913-1959 Industrial self government. . . . Preliminaries and chapters 1-5 30 219 undated Industrial self government. . . . Chapters 6-11 30 220 undated Industrial self government. . . . Early drafts 30 221 undated Paper on Italian history 30 222 undated What do the socialists want to do? 30 223 undated