Manuscript Collection Relating to His Research and Writing

M.V.P. Perley (1835-1926) was an Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts educator, historian, genealogist, author and publisher. Most of Perley's research focused on New England and New England families during the period from early colonial settlement to the post Civil War era. Among his published works are: The Agawan Manual and Directory, 1889; Essex County Historical and Genealogical Register, 1894; History of Topsfield Academy, 1899; James Howe of Ipswich and Some of His Descendents, 1900; History and Genealogy of the Perley Family, 1906; Short History of the Salem Village Witchcraft Trials, 1911; James Leslie of Topsfield, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendents, 1915. Perley also made contributions to "Writings on American History" 1908-22 and did "fee for service" research. The collection consists of: Letters: There are 171 letters to Perley. Their subjects range from genealogical research to local church history to the Civil War. Some of the correspondence is brief (one line postcards or signed documents) and some of the letters are very lengthy. Fifty two of the letters deal specifically with local church history and are almost exclusively from clergymen. Ten of the letters are from former Civil War soldiers, who are writing in response to a letter Perley has sent them. Among notable correspondents writing Perley, usually in regard to genealogical research, are: Frederick Odell Conant (b. 1857). Banker and author of History and Genealogy of Conant Family, 1887. (14 letters); Wilberforce Eames (1855-1937). Librarian and bibliographer. William Davis Foster (1841`-1925). Surgeon and genealogist. (4 letters). B.A. Gould (1824-96). Astronomer. Horace Edwin Hayden (1837-1917). Librarian and Episcopalian clergyman. Eber Putnam (1868-1938). Historian and genealogist. F. Saunders (1807-1902). Librarian and author. Thorwald Solberg (1852-1949). Register of Copyrights. The letters to clergymen are usually in response to queries Perley has sent them while doing research on church history in the Ipswich-Rowley area (Linebrook Parish). The clergymen give their biographies and memoirs of time spent in the region. Many of the correspondents are of the Methodist denominatiojn. Some of the more prominent correspondents are: Charles A. Aiken. (1827-92). Congregational clergyman and university president. John Ellsworth Goodrich. (b. 1831). University professor. William Dewitt Hyde. (1858-1917). Congregational clergyman and university president. (Two postcards). F.W. Ricord. (1819-97). Author and librarian of the New Jersey Historical Society. George Whitaker. (b. 1836). Methodist clergyman, university president and librarian of the New England Historical Society. Daniel Wise. (1813-98). Methodist clergyman and author of children's books. Manuscripts: Two of the manuscripts relate to Perley's genealogical research or himself. The are: "A String of Pearls." Genealogy of the Pearl family. Nine pages. 'Sale of Accounts to Wm. Pearson by Perley." 1878. Three pages. Among the 13 manuscripts relating to Ipswich-Rowley Church history (early 1700's to early 1800's) are: Chart, hand drawin in ink, by Perley showing early member seating arrangement in Linebrook Parish. "Introductory re History of Linebrook Parish." 1867. Eight pages. Annotated printed program. "Installation of Rev. E. Dow, Congregational Church, Linebrook Parish. Ipswich. 1860." Annotations tell which clergymen performed which parts of the service. Ephemera: Twelve items, 10 of which relate to Perley's publishing ventures and two from his wife businesses, dressmaking and candy sales. Research notes: There are in excess of 900 pages of research notes made by Perley. These notes are very loosely collected but often there are gatherings of notes showing genealogical research that Perley has done on specific families. Surnames include: Blanchard, Chapman, Conant, Fowler, Jewitt, KIilbron, Morse, Odell, Pearson.…