Description:
W.J. Corthell was the first principal of the Western State Normal School in Gorham, founded in 1878. The other collector may have been Marjorie Thurston, class of 1907.  The Memorabilia consists of artifacts and photographs found in Special Collections.    Date Range:
1870s-1907  Size of Collection:
1 ft

Hendrix, Megan

English

University of Southern Maine: Digital Commons@USM

University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Search the General Manuscript Collection Finding Aids General Manuscript Collection 12-2014 GEN MS 30 Thurston/Corthell Collection Finding Aid Megan Hendrix Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/manuscript_finding_aids  Part of the American Studies Commons, and the Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons Recommended Citation Thurston/Corthell Collection, Special Collections, University of Southern Maine Libraries. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the General Manuscript Collection at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Search the General Manuscript Collection Finding Aids by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact jessica.c.hovey@maine.edu.       UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE LIBRARIES SPECIAL COLLECTIONS     THURSTON/CORTHELL COLLECTION GEN MS 30      Total Boxes: 2 Linear Feet: 2 ft.      By Megan Hendrix     Portland, Maine December 2014       Copyright 2014 by the University of Southern Maine 2  Thurston/Corthell Collection Special Collections University of Southern Maine Libraries   Administrative Information  Provenance: The Thurston/Corthell Collection was found in the Special Collections (then Archives) reading room. It is believed to have been donated by the Alumni Association. Ownership & Literary Rights: The Thurston/Corthell Collection is the physical property of the University of Southern Maine Libraries.  Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the creator or her/his legal heirs and assigns.  For further information, consult the Head of Special Collections. Cite as: Thurston/Corthell Collection, Special Collections, University of Southern Maine Libraries. Restrictions on Access: There are no restrictions on this collection.  Historical Note William J. Corthell was the first principal of the Western Normal School in Gorham.  W.J. Corthell served as principal from 1878-1905.  He was born in Addison, Maine on July 11, 1827 and he received his bachelor’s degree from Colby College in 1857 and was awarded an honorary L.L.D. from Colby in 1893.  The Gorham Normal School was a merging of two previously failed schools, the men’s Gorham Academy and the Women’s Gorham Seminary.  GNS (Gorham Normal School) was founded in 1878 by the state legislature in response to a letter from Corthell urging the State to open up a school to educate teachers. He spent his tenure as a principal fighting for the state to recognize the need for post-high school level education for teachers and stayed active until he died in Calais, Maine on November 1, 1908.   Corthell, along with Governor Frederick Robie put in the permits to the state for the campus and raised over $15,000 to start the school.  In 1970, Gorham Normal School went through changes and became the University of Maine in Gorham.  Both Corthell and Robie had halls named after them and still are used as USM buildings today.  The only mentions of “Thurston” in relation to the Gorham Normal School are 7 female alumni with that last name, 3 are married last names listed in the 1969 alumni directory.  The earliest is Marjorie Thurston, Class of 1907.    Description of the Collection This collection of memorabilia was found in 2 boxes on the “storage table” in the Special Collections/Archives Reading Room.  These materials had come into the Archives and not been processed.  The last Archivist, Marge Duvall, was contacted and said she believed the collection came to the Archives from the Alumni Association.  There was 3  Thurston/Corthell Collection Special Collections University of Southern Maine Libraries  an original hand-written accession list found in the box.  A copy of this is included in the file of this collection.  This collection has been divided into 4 series and the groupings are as follows:  Series 1.  Material Objects  This series includes a graduation dress from 1892 believed to be from Laura Byrne from the GNS 2nd Class of 1892.  It is a two-piece dress and appears to be handsewn.  The bodice of the dress has bone ribbing and the bodice looks to be a red or pink silk.  An embroidered shawl is also included in this series.  The shawl is undated, appears to be sewn by machine or professionally done and has crocheted edging and tassels.  The third material object is a black lacquer jewelry box.  The inside cover is padded green satin and the fittings are green satin and velvet.  The main body is decorated with painted flowers, mother-of-pearl and gold-leaf accents.  Inside the box is a mother-of-pearl handled pocket knife with “W.J. Corthell” engraved on it, a decorative gold stud and a bisque doll’s arm.  The last object is an autograph book given to Mary Louise Corthell in 1884 by her father William J. Corthell.  Inside are 26 signatures, some can be traced back to a graduating class at the Gorham Normal School.  The book is likely made of cardboard and decorated outside with a gold-leaf floral pattern on what appears to be a glossed paper.  Series 2. Carbon Photographs  This series includes a total of 40 photographs with dates ranging through the 1880s.  There are 12 photographs that have names written on them, none of which are able to clearly be linked to the Gorham Normal School.  The remaining 28 are a mix of men, women, children and even a few families.    Series 3. Gorham Normal School Memorabilia  This series consists of 6 graduation examinations ranging from 1881-1901.  There is a tribute card to William Corthell by William Wallace Stetson and a blank “letter of recommendation” from 1882 that would be sent out to the surrounding towns after the teachers had passed their graduation exam, an actual letter of recommendation for Laura Byrne dated 1890 (although records we have indicate a Laura Byrne graduated in 1892) and 2 of the same copies of the graduation examination questions and one with different questions.  Series 4: Oversize  This series houses 3 items found in the Material Objects series.  They are the 1892 graduation dress, the lacquered jewelry box with contents and the shawl.  4  Thurston/Corthell Collection Special Collections University of Southern Maine Libraries  Appendix:  This contains a list of names of the identified people in 12 of the carbon photographs, a list of the names in alphabetical order from Mary Corthell’s autograph book and what they wrote, and a list of photographers in alphabetical order of the unidentified people in the carbon photographs.  Keywords:  Gorham Normal School, Western Gorham Normal School, William J. Corthell, Carbon Photograph, Autograph Book, University of Southern Maine, State of Maine Educational Department   Box Folder  Description       Date(s) Series 1. Material Objects (1883, 1885-1887, [1892], 1893, 1905, 1911, undated) 1 1  Autograph Book      1883, 1885-            1887, 1893,             1905, 1911             Undated      1   Lacquered Jewelry Box     Undated    See Oversize 2   Graduation Dress      [1892]    See Oversize 2   Shawl        Undated    See Oversize Series 2. Carbon Photographs (1878, 1880, 1884, 1888, undated) 1 2  Identified Photographs     1880, 1878,                  1884, Undated 1 3-5  Unidentified Photographs       1878,1884,                  1888, Undated Series 3. Gorham Normal School Memorabilia (1881-1882, 1889, 1890-1892, 1894, 1898, 1901) 1 6  Gorham Normal School     1881, 1889,            1891, 1898,             1892, 1894,            1901 1 7  State of Maine Educational Department   1881, 1882,            1890 Series 4. Oversize ([1892]) O/S Dr. 29  Lacquered Jewelry Box      Undated 2   Graduation Dress      [1892] 2   Shawl        Undated  5  Thurston/Corthell Collection Special Collections University of Southern Maine Libraries   Appendix: List of names on the carbon photographs: Buzzell, Nellie E.; Dayton, Maine Cormier, Mabel; Sept 16, 1884, 12 years old Cormier, Rosamond; 4 ½ yrs-1884 Dinsmore, Julia Ladd, Dora & Cara [Clara] Mitchell, George Everett Mitchell, R.G. Phillip, Harold Sachman Phillips, Marion Phillips, Mrs. [possibly] Phillips, W.R.; for Mary Corthell Stitson, J.W.; 1878  List of names in Mary Corthell’s autograph book: Last Name First Name Place Date Class Buck F.A. Robbinston April 21, 1885  Brooks Angie M.  January 27, 1887 1886 Brown Florence M. Baring, ME (Calais) April 22, 1885  Burleigh Josie A.  January 27, 1887 1887 (Josephine A.) Chaplin Agnes B. Orono (GNS) January 26, 1887 1887 Colby Jennie M. Colby March 14, 1887 1885 Estabrooke H.M.  March 26, 1887  Estabrooke H. Gorham March 22, 1887  G(S)agelose Katie Calais   Gegrod Pauline A. New Castle, ME January 25, 1887  Hayden Jane Calais October 10, 1886  Hunt Marion Robbinstown, ME Sept. 24, 1905  Jenkins Mabel Kittery October 9, 1886 1885 Libby Eva E. Auburn January 27, 1887 1887 Loring Hattie J. E. Otisfield, ME January 25, 1887 1887 (Harriet J.) McAllister Mary A. Minneapolis, MN July 8, 1885  McLeod Lena E. Pomeroy Ridge, N.B. (Calais) Feb. 2, 1911  Pera ( c )y Katie Phippsburg January 26, 1887 1887 Taylor Jennie Louise N. Fairfield January 26, 1887 1887 Tozier Vyra L. Fairfield Centre January 28, 1887 1887 Vose Elisha Miles City, Montana Territory July 8, 1883  Vose Emma J. Calais July 12, 1885  Vose Laura H. Calais (Shepard Bay)   Warren Augusta Gorham July 1905  White Viola M. Winchester, MA 1893  6  Thurston/Corthell Collection Special Collections University of Southern Maine Libraries    List of photographers of unidentified carbon photographs: Last Name / Company First Name Place Date Additional Information  Brandmo  Montevideo, MN   Child Carleton C.G. Waterville 1888 Carrol A. Wilern (?) Child Claflin  Worcester, MA   Female Conant  478 1/2 Congress St. Portland   Female Conant  Portland   Female Conant  Portland  Daniel Dinsmore? Male Critcherson & Hallock  S. Framingham, MA   Male Child Dubeck  12 Monument Sq. Portland   Male Edwards W.H. St. Stephen, N.B. 1878 J.W. Stetson Male Gardner & Philbrick  Biddeford   Male Glenton  Nashua, NH   Male Hardy  Massachusetts   Female Hearn Chas W. Portland   Male Kinney Jackson Portland   2 children Kinney Jackson Portland   Female Kinney Jackson Portland   Female Kinney Jackson Portland   Female Kinney Jackson Portland   Female Lamson  Portland   Female Lamson  Portland   Male Lamson  5 Temple St. Portland   Male Lamson  478 1/2 Prebble St. Portland   Mother/Daughter Miller  Minneapolis  Ivorette Finish Male Notman  Boston   Male Oswald Brothers  Minneapolis   Family Stoddard FA Calais   Male Swan  Norway, ME   Family 7  Thurston/Corthell Collection Special Collections University of Southern Maine Libraries  Last Name / Company First Name Place Date Additional Information  The New  DC   Female Ye Longfellow Gallery  Portland   Female Identified Photographs:      Carpenter  Kansas City, MO  R.G. Mitchell  Goss, Artist  Milford, NH  Julia Dinsmore  Jordan  Washington, DC Feb-05 Rosamond Cormier  Jordan  Washington, DC 1884 Mabel Cormier  McClaire M.S. Seattle, W.T.  Harold Sachman Phillip  McClaire M.S. Seattle, W.T.  Marion Phillips  McClaire M.S. Seattle, W.T.  Mrs. Phillips?  McClaire M.S. Seattle, W.T.  W.R. Phillips for Mary Corthell  Poivon (?) E.J. Westebrook, ME  Dana & Clara Ladd  Smith (SR)    Nellie Buzzell  Ye Holland Studios  No.611 Washton St. Boston  George Everett Mitchell                     

GEN MS 30 Thurston/Corthell Collection Finding Aid

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GEN MS 30 Thurston/Corthell Collection Finding Aid

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