Title:: Richard H. Patchin Papers 1829-19021860-1890

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Richard H. Patchin Papers, Accession # Mss. 2008.57, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
4.00 Boxes
Creator:
Richard H. Patchin; Patchin, John; Patchin, Leah; Stevens, Sarah.
Abstract:
The Richard H. Patchin papers largely includes accounts of Patchin’s daily activities and personal reflections. Correspondence and professional documents also make up a portion of the collection. The materials document Patchin’s work as a teacher, farmer, clothing sales clerk, and lecturer in and around Marlborough, New York during the mid and late 19th century. The documents also address religion, relationships, business activities, and personal aspirations. Some of Patchin's writings suggest that he had periods of mental instability that appear to have increased with age.
Language:
The papers are in: English
Preferred citation:

Richard H. Patchin Papers, Accession # Mss. 2008.57, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

The Richard H. Patchin papers largely includes accounts of Patchin’s daily activities and personal reflections. Correspondence and professional documents also make up a portion of the collection. The materials document Patchin’s work as a teacher, farmer, clothing sales clerk, and lecturer in and around Marlborough, New York during the mid and late 19th century. The documents also address religion, relationships, business activities, and personal aspirations. Some of Patchin's writings suggest that he had periods of mental instability that appear to have increased with age.

reflections of the role of religion in patchin's life and his ambitions to become more religious

writings about the state of his mental health

thoughts about his various professions- a majority of the documents focus on his teaching and farming career

writings on Patchin's relationships with women, especially finding a suitable wife

reflections on Patchin’s mother, whom he finds frustrating and irritating

documentation of friends and acquaintances, often detailing the times when people are unkind to Patchin

writings about Patchin’s daily activities, goals, and decisions

A majority of these letters are from Patchin’s mother, sister, and brother. Also included are several response letters from school board members whom Patchin contacted in hopes of securing a teaching position.

including letters asking for employment, requesting money, and letters to the editors of several newspapers correcting errors noted in previous issues

provide insight to the period before Patchin’s writings became more eccentric

included with Patchin’s papers, but were separated from the letters that they held

documents relating to Patchin’s teaching career in Ulster and Orange counties, New York

of a reflective nature about daily issues as a teacher, such as student behavior and lesson plans, as well as personal reflections

hand-written business contracts and city-issued peddler’s licenses

the majority are scraps of paper on which Patchin used for business calculations

Various lectures written by Patchin.

possibly Richard H. Patchin

Biographical / historical:

Richard H. Patchin worked as a teacher, farmer, clothing sales clerk, and lecturer in New York during the 1870s.

Processing information:

Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word, created by Sarah M. Dorpinghaus.

Arrangement:

The materials are arranged in nine series: Personal Writings, Correspondence, Teaching, Business, Poetry and Lyrics, Public Lectures, Miscellaneous Materials, Bound Volumes, and Photographs. Within each series folders are arranged chronologically with undated and miscellaneous material placed last. The Public Lectures series has two subseries: Lectures and Notes and Ephemera.