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Charles E. Garman (AC 1872) and Eliza Miner Garman Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MA.00026

Scope and Contents

The collection contains a large Section 1, Correspondence, includes many letters to Garman from former students and a substantial amount of personal correspondence in the Miner family (Mrs. Garman's family). Section 2, Papers Pertaining to Garman, Sub-section A, Writings of Garman, contains original papers and essays written by Garman. Section 3, Pamphlets Used in Garman's Classes contains the written material which Garman had printed himself and distributed to his students. He was very careful with them and did not allow anyone outside his courses to look at them. They serve as a partial record of what he taught. Section 4, Lecture Notes Taken in Garman's Classes, contains transcripts belonging to William J. Newlin, Garman's successor, and notes taken by various students. They are particularly important as a record of what Garman taught because he left no lecture notes of his own. Section 5, Notebooks, includes notes Garman took at Yale as a Divinity student, as well as miscellaneous diaries of Eliza Miner.

Dates

  • Creation: 1732-1932
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1862-1907

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There is no restriction on access to the Charles E. Garman and Eliza Miner Garman Family Papers for research use. Particularly fragile items are restricted for preservation purposes.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests for permission to publish material from the Papers should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Biographical / Historical

Charles Edward Garman, Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy at Amherst College, was born on December 18, 1850 in Limington, Maine. He prepared for college at the high school in Athol, Massachusetts. After graduating from Amherst in 1872, as an outstanding student, he was principal of the Ware, Massachusetts high school from 1872 to 1876. After this period he studied theology at Yale Divinity school, graduating from there in 1879. The next year he was appointed to the Hooker fellowship at Yale for two years. After only one year, however, President Seelye of Amherst College called him to a teaching position at Amherst. Returning in 1880, Garman served as Walker Instructor in Mathematics, 1880-1881; instructor in Philosophy 1881-1882; associate professor of Moral Philosophy and Metaphysics, 1882-1889; professor of Mental Philosophy, 1889-1892; and professor of Moral Philosophy and Metaphysics from 1892 until his death. He married Eliza Miner on August 24, 1882. He died on February 9, 1907 at Amherst.

Extent

35.5 Linear feet (65 archives boxes, 1 flat package)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection contains correspondence, papers, essays, pamphlets, notes, notebooks and diaries relating to the personal and professional life of Charles Edward Garman, Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy at Amherst College. His teaching career is represented by the printed pamphlets he distributed in his classes and by lecture notes taken by his students.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into eleven series:

  1. Series 1: Correspondence
  2. Series 2: Papers Pertaining to Garman
  3. Series 3: Pamphlets Used in Garman's Classes
  4. Series 4: Lecture Notes Taken in Garman's Classes
  5. Series 5: Notebooks
  6. Series 6: Items in Garman's Business File
  7. Series 7: Non-Amherst Things that Interested Garman for His Work
  8. Series 8: Garman's Postcard Collection
  9. Series 9: Newspaper Clippings
  10. Series 10: Photographs, Diplomas and Sound Recordings
  11. Series 11: Student Papers

Custodial History

The papers of Charles E. Garman (AC 1872) were arranged and inventoried circa 1974. The finding aid was reexamined in 1996. At that time it became clear that a large part of the collection consisted of papers of Garman's wife, Eliza Miner Garman, and her family. No rearrangement was made at that time. Especially since the original inventory is an exhaustive one. However, the following notes were prepared to reflect in more accessible form the broad range of this collection of papers of two families.

Processing Information

The papers of Charles E. Garman (AC 1872) were arranged and inventoried circa 1974. The finding aid was reexamined in 1996. At that time it became clear that a large part of the collection consisted of papers of Garman's wife, Eliza Miner Garman, and her family. No rearrangement was made at that time. Especially since the original inventory is an exhaustive one. However, the following notes were prepared to reflect in more accessible form the broad range of this collection of papers of two families.

Box numbers were added for clarification, and to direct researchers to sections of the finding aid which list box contents.

Processed:
c. 1974
Finding Aid Revision:
1996-1999
Prepared by:
Elaine Trehub, Archives Consultant
Edited by:
Daria D'Arienzo, Archivist of the College
Format:
Jasmine Lee '02, Student Assistant
John Lancaster, Curator of Special Collections
Briana Cahill, Archives and Special Collections Associate
Status
Completed
Author
Elaine Trehub, Daria D'Arienzo
Date
2002
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Repository Details

Part of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
61 Quadrangle Drive
Amherst MA 01002-5000
(413) 542-2299