1764-1914; bulk: 1850-1914
Guide to the Collection
Funding for the digitization of this collection and the creation of preservation microfilm was provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act grant as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Restrictions on Access
Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below). Black and white microfilm is also available for use in the library.
Abstract
This collection consists of clippings and correspondence related primarily to Norwood P. Hallowell's career as an army officer and as lieutenant-colonel of the 55th Mass. Regiment, the second Black regiment in the state, during the Civil War.
Biographical Sketch
Norwood Penrose Hallowell (1839-1914) was born on 13 Apr. 1839 in Philadelphia, Penn., the son of Morris L. and Hannah (Penrose) Hallowell. He graduated from Harvard College in 1861. On 10 June 1861, he was commissioned first lieutenant of the 20th Mass. Regiment and later promoted to captain. He fought in many battles, including Ball's Bluff, Yorktown, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Chantilly, and Antietam, where he was wounded. On 17 Apr. 1863, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 54th Mass. Regiment and later colonel of the 55th Mass. Regiment, the second Black regiment raised in the state. The regiment was stationed at New Bern, N.C. and took part in the attack on Fort Wagner, S.C. Hallowell's brothers, Edward N. and Richard P. Hallowell, were also involved in the recruitment of Black soldiers for the 54th and 55th Regiments. The family was active in the anti-slavery movement and worked to get equal pay for Black soldiers and other equal treatment for Blacks.
In 1863, Norwood P. Hallowell was discharged from military service and entered the wool business in New York and Boston. He married Sarah Wharton Haydock on 27 Jan. 1868. The couple settled in Medford, Mass. and had six children: Anna Norwood Hallowell; Robert Haydock Hallowell; Norwood Penrose Hallowell, Jr.; John White Hallowell; Esther Fisher Hallowell; and Susan Morris Hallowell.
Collection Description
This collection consists of clippings and correspondence related mostly to Norwood P. Hallowell's career as an army officer and as lieutenant-colonel of the 55th Mass. Regiment. The papers, primarily in scrapbooks, also contain Hallowell's essays as a student at Harvard, papers related to his lifelong affiliation and loyalty to the college, and items concerning his career as a businessman in Boston.
Arrangement
The Norwood Penrose Hallowell papers consist primarily of five scrapbooks. Three of the scrapbooks (Vols. 1, 2, and 4) have been disbound and rehoused in boxes and folders, and two of the scrapbooks (Vols. 3 and 5) are still bound. Volume 3 is an oversize scrapbook located in Oversize Box 1. Items in some, but not all, of the scrapbooks are arranged in rough chronological order, and researchers will find overlap of dates and subjects across the five volumes. Some loose clippings were photocopied for preservation.
Oversize papers in this collection have been removed to an oversize box but are digitized at their original location. Some loose items from Scrapbook Vol. 5 have been removed to document boxes, but are also digitized at their original location.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mrs. John Crocker, May 1971.
Restrictions on Access
Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below). Black and white microfilm is also available for use in the library.
Other Formats
The collection is also available on microfilm, P-800 (2 reels). See the Microfilm Reel List below.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Loose papers, 1858-1914digital content
Included are speeches, writings, correspondence, and clippings.
Scrapbook vol. 1, 1850-1904 (disbound)digital content
Included are clippings, photographs, correspondence, and ephemera. NOTE: Some numbered pages in this scrapbook are blank and have not been scanned. All pages with content are included in the digital presentation.
Scrapbook vol. 2, 1863-1887; bulk: 1863-1865 (disbound)digital content
This scrapbook contains clippings primarily related to the 54th and 55th Mass. Regiments, as well as printed material, notices, broadsides, circular letters, and correspondence of John A. Andrew and Edward N. Hallowell. Because many of the papers were loose, individual items have been numbered rather than pages.
Scrapbook vol. 3, 1764-1914; bulk: 1862-1914digital content
This scrapbook contains clippings, photographs, and papers related to the education of Hallowell family members; material on Harvard College, especially Harvard football; and obituaries of members of the 54th and 55th Mass. Regiments. Correspondents include Morris L. Hallowell, George F. Hoar, Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and William H. Taft.
Scrapbook vol. 4, 1860-1888 (disbound)digital content
Scrapbook vol. 5, 1861-1885; bulk: 1861-1863digital content
NOTE: Loose items from this volume are stored in Box 3 but are digitized at their original location.
Bound scrapbook. Included are clippings related to the Civil War, especially the 20th Mass. Regiment.
NOTE: Loose items from this volume are stored in Box 3 but are digitized at their original location.
NOTE: Loose items from this volume are stored in Box 3 but are digitized at their original location.
NOTE: Loose items from this volume are stored in Box 3 but are digitized at their original location.
Oversize papers
NOTE: Oversize papers in this collection have been removed to an oversize box but are digitized at their original location.
Microfilm Reel List
Preferred Citation
Norwood Penrose Hallowell papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.
Persons:
Organizations:
Subjects:
Materials Removed from the Collection
One photograph from this collection has been removed to Portraits small (Photo. 9.34).