Abstract: The William Wyman Henry Papers contain correspondence between William Wyman Henry and his wife, Evaline, and other family members, Henry's ship journals, research about the clipper ship era, and some personal books belonging to William Henry and his son.
The William Wyman Henry papers contain correspondence between William Wyman Henry and his wife, Evaline, and other family members, Henry's ship journals, research about the clipper ship era, and some personal books belonging to William Henry and his son.
Series I. William and Evaline Kidder Correspondence contains letters from William to his wife Evaline while serving in his various commands from 1847 to 1884.
Series II. Evaline Kidder and Family Correspondence contains letters between Evaline and her family including her father and sister.
Series III. Ships' Journals contains individual journals for William's commands that run continuously from 1863 to 1876.
Series IV. Miscellaneous Research includes research notes and portions of a research paper on the clipper ship era that highlights William's commands of the ships Raven and Noonday in addition to many photocopies of news clippings regarding those ships.
Series V. Personal Books contain William's personal Bible, a penmanship schoolbook and his son's autograph book.
Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, William Wyman Henry (1820-1886) was a prominent merchant and clipper ship captain. William gained notoriety in 1851 during his first clipper ship command in the Raven by defeating the famous Sea Witch in a race from New York to San Francisco, completing the voyage in 106 days. There is no record of his life before 1844 when he is found to be serving as mate aboard the bark Stamboul engaged in the Mediterranean trade. Shortly thereafter, in 1846, William was given his first command in the bark Alert. For the next forty years he would spend little time at home in Charlestown since he continuously acquired ship commands that sent him from Boston to San Francisco to Shanghai to Liverpool and back to Boston several times. Willam married Evaline Kidder (1817-1877) in 1845 and had two children, Evaline Augusta Henry (1848-1910) and William Linzee Henry (1854-1930). The letters between William and his wife Evaline are the primary source for this information about his voyages and family life and provide a vivid account of a life at sea.
William Wyman Henry (1820-1886) Papers, MSS 396, Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass.
This material was donated by the Waters Family (acc # 1995.034 and 1995.035).
Collection processed by Ken Selnick, April 2009.
Clark, Arthur H. The Clipper Ship Era: An Epitome of Famous American And British Clipper Ships, Their Owners, Builders, Commanders And Crews. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1912.
Cutler, Carl C. Greyhounds Of The Sea: The Story Of The American Clipper Ship. Annapolis MD: United States Naval Institute, 1961.
Henry, Sarah P. ed. The Letters of William W. Henry Sea Captain 1820-1886 Vol 1. 1844-1854. N.p.,1978.
Howe, Octavious T., American Clipper Ships. Salem MA: Marine Research Society, 1926-27.
Description The William Wyman Henry Papers contain correspondence between William Wyman Henry and his wife, Evaline, and other family members, Henry's ship journals, research about the clipper ship era, and some personal books belonging to William Henry and his son.
Provenance This material was donated by the Waters family (acc # 1995.034 and 1995.035).