Manuscript Collections of the
Nantucket Historical Association Research Library

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 MS19 - Arthur H. Gardner papers, 1862-1923
Collection Overview: The collection contains a diary, a journal (written when he was 10 years old), a scrap book, correspondence and clippings. Subjects include local events, shipwrecks, Boston, and summer life in Siasconset.

Historical Note: Arthur H. Gardner (1854-1924) was the editor for the “Nantucket Journal” and a member of the Massachusetts State Legislature from 1891-1892 and again from 1900-1904. He was also a member of the Legislature Committee on Education, a Representative in the General Court, Register of Deeds in Nantucket and Moderator at Nantucket’s Town Meetings.

DIARY
Arthur H. Gardner Diary, August, 1864 - January, 1867

Summary note: Arthur H. Gardner (1854- 1924) Diary, August, 1864 - January, 1867: Nantucket (11 pages) Short daily entries giving local news including: Weather School with Alexander Macy, teacher Ship arrivals including the ship "Rainbow" (1864) Houses being taken down Christmas and July 4th Celebrations Patience Cooper's confession of the murder of Phebe Fuller Wreck of the "Newton" (December 25, 1865) Sale of the Methodist Meeting House, Fair Street Small Pox vaccination National events noted: Celebration on re- election of Abraham Lincoln Savannah taken Lincoln shot Many local names mentioned

FOLDER 1
Journal, August 4, 1884- May 2. 1891

Summary note: Subjects included: Vital statistics of residents of Milk Street, Nantucket ; Autobiography from 1871 National and local events including: Shipwrecks off the coast of Nantucket ; William Chadwick's embezzlement; Summer life in Siasconset; The 1885 visit of Frederick Douglass to Nantucket; Life in Boston; Sessions of the General Court Town meetings in Nantucket

FOLDER 2
Papers, 1871-1924

Summary note: Correspondence and papers concerning land at edge of Sesachacha Pond, 1921-1923 Involves question of ownership with Professor James Geddes. Receipt for "The Nantucket Journal" Nantucket, Jan. 1, 1885 County Food Administrator, 1918-1924 Involves a sugar ration. Town Clerk's document of resolution by Town recording appreciation of service rendered by Arthur H. Gardner, Feb. 12, 1924 Graduation speech, class of 1871, Nantucket Letter of recommendation from Nantucket High School Principal, Charles A. Baker, Nantucket, March 31, 1871

SCRAPBOOK
Scrapbook, October 30. 1875 - July 6. 1878

Summary note: Made up of newspaper clippings from the Nantucket paper: Articles by or about Arthur H. Gardner: Subjects include: Silas Mitchell, pages 1-5 Arthur H. Gardner speech on George Washington, July 4, 1878, page 7 "Arcturus" - Whaler, page 7 Captain Uriah Barker, page 7 "Nauticon" - Ship, page 7 Nantucket (description), August 31, 1876, page 13 Tuckernuck (description), page 13 Nantucket High School, 1877, pages 16-17 Newspaper Clipping. January 14, 1904: "Exiles Representative Writes for Post of his Ice -Bound Home" Open Letter, November 2, 1904 to Inquirer and Mirror: Decries use of newspaper to defame political candidates