Boynton Merrill, Jr. papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Boynton Merrill, Jr. papers
- Date
- 1645-2008 (inclusive)
- 1960-1980 (bulk)
- Extent
- 4.41 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Murder.
- Publishers and publishing -- United States.
- Authors, American.
- Genealogists.
- Slavery -- Kentucky -- History.
- Frontier and pioneer life -- Kentucky.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by format into six series: Research sources, Photographic materials, Book materials, Correspondence, Audiovisual, and Mapcase materials.
- Preferred Citation
- 2010ms042: [identification of item], Boynton Merrill, Jr. papers, 1645-2008, bulk 1960-1980, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Boynton Merrill, Jr. was born in Boston in 1925. After serving in the navy during World War II, he received his degree from Dartmouth College and eventually moved to Henderson, Kentucky in the 1950's. A few years later, in 1976, he published a book of poems, titled A Bestiary, and Jefferson's Nephews: A Frontier Tragedy, which is a historical look at the murder committed by Lilburn and Isham Lewis, nephews to Thomas Jefferson.
- Hall, Wade H. The Kentucky Anthology: two hundred years of writing in the Bluegrass State. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 2005. Web. 1 September 2011.
- Scope and Content
- The Boynton Merrill, Jr. papers (dated 1645-2008, bulk 1960-1980; 4.41 cubic feet; 21 boxes) consists of research sources, book illustrations, manuscript materials, correspondence, cassette tapes, and one reel-to-reel tape, which relate to Merrill's research, writing and eventual publication of the book, Jefferson's Nephews: A Frontier Tragedy. Merrill's research materials include: the general history of Virginia and Kentucky, the political climate of that area, material concerning their slave Matilda, Kentucky government papers, and legal documents pertaining to Lilburn and Isham's crime. Also included are photographs of Lilburn Lewis' will and maps of Kentucky. The research materials only contain photocopied facsimiles of historic documents and no originals.
- The bulk of Merrill's correspondence took place from 1975 to 1979, but ranges from 1967 to 2008. There are letters pertaining to requests for copies of books or articles, letters from the publishing company concerning editing and promotion matters, thank you letters from readers, queries about his genealogical research for the book, and copyright permission letters. Additionally, there are royalty statements from the publishing company, chapters that were edited out of the final book, as well as chapter inserts. There are also many lists and notes which Merrill wrote for his own reference as well as index cards with his bibliographic sources and book characters listed on them.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment
- Use Restrictions
- Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Special Collections.
Contents of the Collection
Research sources, 1741-2008, 1800-1811
Scope and Contents
The Research Sources series contain all of Boynton Merrill's research material as well as his handwritten lists and notes, including reminders to himself to find a certain piece of information, call someone, etc. There are annotated copies of the books and articles he used, as well as copies of the constitutions and laws of Kentucky. Merrill wrote a brief timeline of the Lewis family on index cards and made copies of legal documents having to do with Lilburne and Isham's crime. Also included is information on Virginian history and prominent families from the area.
General notes, undated
Albemarle County order books, 1791-1802
Albemarle County tax rolls, 1782-1812
Annus Mirabilis, 1835-1981
Appendix - Conclusions - Effects of the Crime, undated
Appendix - Murder of John Gooch, 1807
Background - General, 1808-1971
Bibliographical essay sources, undated
Book sources, 1815, 1891, 1964
Campbell, Dr. Arthur - Medical Bill Suit with Lilburne Lewis, 1809-1814
Census, 1810
Characters - Lilburne Lewis, 1812-1966
Children of Randolph and Lilburne Lewis, 1811-1830
Chronicles of a Kentucky Settlement, by William Courtney Watts, photocopies facsimile with Boynton Merrill's handwritten notations, undated
Chronicles of a Kentucky Settlement, by William Courtney Watts, interleaved documents, undated
Chronicles of a Kentucky Settlement, by William Courtney Watts, interleaved newspaper clippings, undated
The Circuit Court - Broadnax-Wallace, 1807-1931
Constitutions of Kentucky, 1789, 1792, 1800, 1850
Craven, Peyton and Jane J. Lewis, 1801-1817, 1956
C.W. Watts, Colonial Albermarle, 1984
Delany, Henry F., 1805-1972
Dickey, Rev. William, 1808-1969
Frontier finance, 1807-1897
Goochland County deed books, 1741-1798
Graphological analysis, 1967-1972
Kentucky Senate and House Journals, 1808-1813
Kentucky Statutes, Vol. 1, 1822
Kentucky Statutes, Vol. 2, 1822
The Land - The Setting, 1807-1968
Legal Affairs - Court records, 1798-1971
Lewis, Charles L. Daughters, 1808-1974
Lewis family timeline, 1779-1809
Lewis family timeline, 1810-1826
Lewis, Isham, circa 1800, 1987
Lewis, Isham and Charles, 1801-1970
Lewis letters, 1810
Lewis, Lilburne - Estate, sale, and will, 1812-1819
Lewis, Lucy Jefferson and Charles L., 1775-1809
Lewis, Meriweather - Insanity, 1809-1969
Lewis, Randolph, 1792-1812
Lewis, Randolph - Estate, sale, and will, 1811-1813
The Lewis Story, 1839, 1857, 1894, 1936
Livingston County Circuit Court, 1810-1814
Livingston County Court papers, 1807-1810, circa 1816
Livingston County government officials, 1808-1814
Martin correspondence, 1783-1975
Militia - Lilburne Lewis - Governor's journals, 1792-1812
Milton, Virginia, 1795-1955
Minor characters, 1748-1851
Monteagle - Buck Island - Land and houses, 1971
The Murder, 1760-1968
The Patrol - The Roads - Slaves, 1804-1951
People and Places Associated with the Lewis Family, circa 1811
Political elections and issues, 1803, 1807-1810
Princeton - Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 1967-1972
The Revival - Religion - The Church, 1792-1969
Rice Family, 1809-1977
Rutter Family, 1814-1967
Slave Matilda, 1999, 2006
Summary of Virginia Land - Getting and losing - Maps, 1744-1899
Thomas Jefferson vs. Henderson suit - Milton land, 1802-1818
Thomas Jefferson and the Lewises - Letters, 1795-1933
Virginia families, 1942, 1964-1965
Virginia history, 1816-1961
Virginia land acquiring, 1766-1790
Virginia land dispersal, 1793-1825
Virginia lands and background - David Thomas, 1968-1971
Virginia - Misc. sources, 1807-1975
The Wedgewood Pitcher, 1944, 1967
Whitt, Clara L. correspondence, 1967-1977
Will and murder documents, 1812
Photographic materials, 1808-1994
Scope and Contents
The Illustrations series include pictures and maps that Merrill used in his book, Jefferson's Nephews. On being returned to Merrill, they were accompanied by a letter from one of his editors, Margaret Case, which is also included. There are map negatives of Kentucky and the counties, as well as pictures (and the corresponding negatives) of some buildings and the legal documents of Lilburne Lewis. Also included are the letters Mr. Merrill received from the photographer(s) and the receipts for the pictures.
Maps and photographs, circa 1808, circa 1975
Maps and photographs, circa 1808, 1937, 1994
Book materials, 1974-1977, undated
Scope and Contents
The Book Materials series contains four folders dealing with matters just before the book was published: Merrill's list of acknowledgements, a rough first paragraph for a preface or introduction and the final editing session of Jefferson's Nephews as well as footnotes. The next three folders contain information concerning events that occurred after the book was published, including book reviews and advertisements, Merrill's speaking engagement for The Wednesday Club, and his nomination for the Pulitzer Prize. The last three folders are all written on index cards and contain character information, bibliographic sources, and indexing information.
Acknowledgements, undated
Final cutting of Jefferson's Nephews, undated
Footnotes - Final editing, undated
Front matter, undated
Book reviews and promotions, 1974, 1976-1977
The Wednesday Club, 1977
Pulitzer Prize nomination, 1976-1977
Characters in Jefferson's Nephews, undated
Bibliography cards, undated
Index, undated
Correspondence, 1967-2008, undated
Scope and Contents
The Correspondence series is comprised of Boynton Merrill's correspondence from when he began researching his book in 1967 to about 2008, with most of the letters sent and received in the years 1975-1976. The letters include: notes written by Merrill requesting copies of books or articles for research, thank you letters from his readers, queries about his genealogical research, letters to and from the Princeton University Press about the publishing and editing process, and obituaries of some of the people involved in the editing of the book.
General letter and obituaries, circa 1975-1976, 1980
Research letters, 1967-1968, 1971
Family letter, 1976
Reader response letters, 1972-2008
University Press letters - Editing, 1975-1977
Editor and proof reader letters, circa 1974-1980
Jonathan Daniel letters, 1967-1976
Reader's report - Dr. Thomas D. Clark, 1975
Robert Penn Warren letters, 1968-1980
Permission letters - not needed, 1967-1968, 1975
American Philosophical Society permission, 1975
Della Universita Di Pisa permission, 1975
E.P. Dutton and Company, inc. permission, 1975-1976
The Evansville Courier permission, 1975
Filson Club permission, 1975
Historical Society of Wisconsin permission, 1975
Kentucky Historical Society and Dr. Hambleton Tapp permission, 1975
L.E. Biggs permission, 1975
Library of Congress permission, 1975
Massachusetts Historical Society permission, 1975-1976
Missouri Historical Society permission, 1975
Needed copyright permission, undated
Presbyterian Historical Society permission, 1975
Princeton University Press permission, 1975
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation permission, 1975
University of Missouri permission, 1975
University Press of Kentucky permission, 1975
University of Virginia permission, 1975-1976
Virginia State Library permission, 1975
Wendell H. Rone permission, 1975
Western Kentucky University permission, 1975-1976
Audiovisual, undated
Scope and Contents
The Audiovisual Material series encompasses eight cassette tapes and one reel-to-reel concerning Col. Arthur Campbell and Col. Joseph Crochett.
Circuit Court tapes, undated
Col. Arthur Campbell and Col. Joseph Crochett - reel-to-reel, undated
Mapcase materials, 1645-1872
Scope and Contents
The Mapcase Materials series contains three research items which Boynton Merrill used for his book. These include: a hand drawn family tree of the Randolph and Isham line, a hand drawn timeline of major domestic, national, foreign, economic, and political events from 1790 to 1800, as well as a copy of a Caldwell County act, dated May 1, 1809, which was the year the county was formed.
Randolph and Isham family chart, 1645-1872
Historical timeline, 1790-1800
Caldwell County act, 1809 May 1
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.