This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Research Library at the Nantucket Historical Association. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the internet.
Summary
This is an artificial collection of records of Nantucket temperance societies assembled by the Nantucket Historical Association. This collection has records that contain names of members and other materials.
Collection Details
- Collection Number:
- MS78
- Title:
- Collection of Nantucket Temperance Societies Records
- Date(s):
- 1834–1900, undated
- Creator:
- Nantucket Historical Association.
- Extent:
- 0.5 linear feet (approximately 15 items)
- Repository:
- Nantucket Historical Association
- Language:
- Material is in English.
Information for Users
Restrictions to Access: No restrictions. Open for research.
Restrictions to Use: No usage restrictions.
Copyright Notice: Copyright is retained by the authors of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation: [identification of item], in the Collection of Nantucket Temperance Societies Records, Nantucket Historical Association.
Acquisitions Information:
Sons of Temperance constitution (Margaret G. Perry copy) a gift of Mrs. William C. L. Hommerstein (Acc. 136b); Sons of Temperance constitution a gift of Matthew Barney (Acc. 1003); Address Delivered before the Nantucket Association for the Promotion of Temperance a NHA purchase (Acc. 245); Address Delivered before the Nantucket Association for the Promotion of Temperance by William Coffin, Jr. a gift of Mrs. William B. Nicholson (Acc. 245); Address Delivered Before the Nantucket Association for the Promotion of Temperance by Thomas Macy a gift of Miss S. A. Starbuck (Acc. 492); William B. Stevens and Emma Stevens Union Temperance Society certificates NHA purchases (Acc. RL2004.37); and Nantucket Union Temperance Society of Nantucket minutes 1876–1877 and 1878–1888 a gift of Mrs. Mary Coffin (Acc. 2189).
Sensitive Materials Statement:Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual’s private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Nantucket Historical Association assumes no responsibility.
Subject Headings
-
Topical Terms
- Temperance—Societies—Massachusetts—Nantucket.
- Young adults--Societies and clubs—Massachusetts—Nantucket.
Biographical Information
This is an artificial collection of records of Nantucket temperance societies assembled by the Nantucket Historical Association. In some instances, the NHA gathers materials of a single topic to preserve them and make them available. In these cases, the NHA is seen as the creator of the artificially constructed collection.
Young Men’s Total Abstinence Society of Nantucket
The Young Men’s Total Abstinence Society of Nantucket was formed by the young people of Nantucket to stop the use, sale, or serving of intoxicating drinks. The Nantucket Association for the Promotion of Temperance, 1833–1835, and the Young Men’s Total Abstinence Society, 1834–1835, appear to have merged into the Total Abstinence Society in 1836 which was then active until at least 1841.
Nantucket Union Temperance Society
The Nantucket Union Temperance Society was founded in 1876 and became inactive in 1899. Members pledged that they would never make, buy, sell, or use any spirituous or malt liquors and would discourage the manufacture of liquor.
Sons of Temperance Nantucket Division No. 15
The Sons of Temperance Nantucket Division No. 15 was founded in 1845 and appears to have become inactive by 1850.
Daughters of Temperance
The Daughters of Temperance appear to have been active from 1845–1846 and was later replaced by the Union of the Daughters of Temperance in 1847.
Scope and Content
This collection has records that contain names of members and other materials documenting young people’s temperance societies of Nantucket, Mass., including the Young Men’s Total Abstinence Society of Nantucket, Nantucket Union Temperance Society of Nantucket, Daughters of Temperance, Sons of Temperance, Nantucket Society for the Suppression of Intemperance, and the Nantucket Association for the Promotion of Temperance.
Contents
Folder 1 Daughters of Temperance reminiscence, 1900
Includes Phebe A. Folger’s memories of serving as secretary of the Daughters of Temperance.
Folder 2 Sons of Temperance, Nantucket Division, No.15 constitution, 1846–1848
Folder 3 Temperance address and pledge, 1844
Includes an address on Temperance and the fragment of a Temperance pledge for sailors.
Folder 4 Nantucket Union Temperance Society of Nantucket records, 1876–1878
Includes addresses, membership certificates, songs, and addresses given to the Nantucket Society for the Suppression of Intemperance and the Nantucket Association for the Promotion of Temperance.
OP-78/1 Nantucket Union Temperance Society of Nantucket flyer, undated
Consists of a flyer listing the names of Nantucket retailers selling alcohol.
Folders 5–6 Nantucket Union Temperance Society of Nantucket minutes, 1876–1888
Folder 7 Young Men’s Total Abstinence Society of Nantucket minutes, 1834–1840
Items Separated
- Oversize paper item (OP-78/1)
Processing Information
Processed by Cindy Li, August 2022.
Finding Aid by Cindy Li, August 2022. Additional description by Ashley Miller, June 2023.