James S. Hallowell Collection (MS132)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Alexandria Library
Alexandria Library
Local History/Special Collections
717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Patricia Walker, Branch Manager
Phone: (703) 746-1719
Phone: (703) 838-4577
Fax: (703) 706-3912

Background

Scope and content:

The James S. Hallowell Collection consists of papers from the Alexandria Boarding School (1824 - ?) including: correspondence from parents to the school, minutes, and catalogs. Also in the collection are the regulations and catalogs of the Alexandria Female Seminary (1848-1860). Additionally there are class notes and exercises (of undetermined origin), a report card, and personal diary books from James S. Hallowell and Mary [S.] Hallowell.

Biographical / historical:

James S. Hallowell was the founder of the Alexandria Female Seminary. The Seminary operated from 1848 to 1860. Between the years 1842 and 1846, James S. Hallowell and his brother, Caleb, were principals of the Alexandria Boarding School. Caleb and James were nephews of Benjamin Hallowell, who founded Alexandria Boarding School in 1824 and was central to the establishment of the Alexandria Lyceum and the Virginia American Water Company.

Arrangement:

Series I, Alexandria Boarding School, is divided into three subseries. Series is organized chronologically. Catalogs, 1842 and 1844 Minutes, 1840-1843 Correspondence, 1842-1846 Series II, Alexandria Female Seminary, consists of two subseries. Series is organized chronologically. Regulations Catalogs, 1849-1859 Series III, Instructional/Class Materials, is divided into two subseries. Geometry Problems Notebook Entries Series IV, Diaries consists of personal diary books of James S. Hallowell (for 18531877) and Mary [S.] Hallowell (for 1863). (Mary Hallowell was probably Benjamin Hallowell's daughter.) Series V, Pictures consists of a water color portrait of James S. Hallowell (1821-1886), and a photographic portrait of Anne Gilpin Stabler.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard