Isabel Carret Peirce Correspondence
Collection — Container: MS 3869
Call Number: MS 3869
Scope and Contents
This collection contains fourteen letters written to Isabel Carret Peirce (1831-1888) of Lincoln, Massachusetts, from 1850-1888. The eight letters to Isabel from her sister Adeline written between 1870 and 1888 document life on the Carret family sugar plantation near Trinidad, Cuba during and immediately after the Ten Years War. The war began in 1868 when rebels declared Cuban independence from Spain and called for the emancipation of slaves. The letters contain descriptions of dangers faced by the family, including the looting and burning of local towns and plantations by bands of insurgents. The letters also document interactions with soldiers sent to protect the sugar plantations from rebels. The failure of neighboring plantations and the economic decline of Trinidad in general are frequently described, as are the mounting debts of the Carret plantation. The imminent abolition of slavery in Cuba is also discussed.
The six letters written from Isabel’s mother, Eliza H. Carret; aunt, E. H. Henchman; and sisters Theresa and Maria Carret in Massachusetts during the 1850s focus on family news, including trips to Dedham, Lynn, Scituate, Watertown, and Wolfsborough.
The six letters written from Isabel’s mother, Eliza H. Carret; aunt, E. H. Henchman; and sisters Theresa and Maria Carret in Massachusetts during the 1850s focus on family news, including trips to Dedham, Lynn, Scituate, Watertown, and Wolfsborough.
Dates
- 1849-1888
Creator
- Peirce, Isabel Carret, 1831-1888 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Items in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. The Boston Public Library does not hold copyright on the material in this collection. Researchers are responsible for identifying and contacting the persons or organizations that hold copyright.
When reproducing material from this collection please include the credit line "Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/ Rare Books."
When reproducing material from this collection please include the credit line "Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/ Rare Books."
Extent
14.00 Items (14 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains fourteen letters written to Isabel Carret Peirce (1831-1888) of Lincoln, Massachusetts, between 1850 and 1888. Letters written to Isabel from her sister Adeline date from 1870-1888 and describe life on a Cuban sugar plantation during and after the Ten Years War (1868-1878). Letters written to Isabel from her mother, sisters, and aunt in Massachusetts during the 1850s discuss local trips and other family news.
Arrangement Note
Arranged alphabetically.
Method of Acquisition
Unknown
Processing Information
Finding aid written by Lauren Pey, November 2010.
- Carret, Adeline -- Correspondence.
- Carret, Eliza H. -- Correspondence.
- Carret, Maria -- Correspondence.
- Carret, Theresa -- Correspondence.
- Cuba -- History -- Insurrection, 1868-1878.
- Massachusetts -- Social life and customs -- 19th century.
- Peirce, Isabel Carret, 1831-1888 -- Correspondence.
- Sugar plantations -- Cuba.
- Women -- Cuba -- History -- 19th century -- Correspondence.
- Women -- Massachusetts -- History -- 19th century -- Correspondence.
- Women -- West Indies -- History -- 19th century -- Correspondence.
Creator
- Peirce, Isabel Carret, 1831-1888 (Person)
- Title
- Isabel Carret Peirce Correspondence
- Date
- 10/21/2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
About this library
Part of the Boston Public Library Archives & Special Collections Repository
