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Collection Overview

Creator:
Remsen family.
Title:
Remsen Family Collection
Repository:
Manuscripts Division
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/765371377
Dates:
1764-1835
Size:
1 box and 0.2 linear feet
Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1
Language:
English

Abstract

Consists of selected correspondence and documents of members of the Remsen family of New York.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of selected correspondence and documents of members of the Remsen family of New York, including Henry Remsen, John Remsen, Rem I. Remsen, Robert G. Remsen (Princeton Class of 1842), and William Remsen (Princeton Class of 1835). There are thirty-one autograph letters by William Remsen to his father, Henry Remsen, dating from 1832 to 1835 when William was an undergraduate student at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). These letters include frequent requests for money, explanations of expenditures, details of trips, descriptions of the commencements of 1833, 1834, and 1835, and the burning of the Presbyterian Church (1835) where the commencements were held, accounts of the College and how many students were enrolled there, and accounts of the construction of East College (1833) into which William moved. Accompanying them are six of William's report cards (1832-1835), which were sent to his parents, as well as manuscripts of four orations, probably given for the Cliosophic Society in an undergraduate speaking contest, the subjects of which are the evils of novel reading, prejudice, religions, and the corruption of the British government. And there are eight replies to William's letters by his father. In addition, there are several letters of John Remsen and Rem I. Remsen with Thomas Riche, a Philadelphia merchant and innkeeper (d. 1792), regarding trade in Cayenne, French Guiana, in which the Remsen brothers were engaged, and an autograph trade contract (17 December 1764) between John Remsen and Peleg Thurston & Sons. Included are two copies of an agreement (1 June 1764) between Therbault de Chauvelion, Intendant of Cayenne and John Remsen for "sundries," including slaves, horses, wine, and lumber, to be sent to Cayenne.

Collection Creator Biography:

The Remsen family of Brooklyn, N.Y., dates back to Rem Jansen Vanderbeek (d. 1681), one of the earliest Dutch settlers in the New York area. Following the custom of their culture and time, Mr. Vanderbeek's fifteen children all took the name Remsen, which means "son of Rem." The Vanderbeek lineage from that point became known as the Remsen family. Henry Remsen was one of the presidents of the Manhattan Bank. His son William Remsen was the Chairman of the Council of the American Geographical Society, one of the founders of the Third Avenue surface railroad, trustee and later president of the Greenwich Savings Bank, and trustee to the Northern Dispensary.

Collection History

Acquisition:

Gift of Mrs. Charles Remsen.

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

Folder inventory added by Nicholas Williams '2015 in 2012.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Remsen Family Collection; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/765371377
Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1