Edwin Flye Stetson (2 results)

Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. On offer are six [6] original handwritten diaries belonging to Edwin Flye Stetson and Mary (Chapman) Stetson, both of Maine. Edwin Flye Stetson (1853-1924) was born in Damariscotta, Maine to Abner Stetson, a shipbuilder, and Betsey (Riggs) Stetson. He was educated at preparatory schools and graduated from Lincoln Academy before entering Bowdoin College in 1874. He attended Bowdoin for his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Harvard Medical School in the fall of 1876. In 1883, Edwin married Mary Chapman (1856-1944) of Newcastle, Maine. They would have four children together: Helen (1884) , Rufus Edwin (1886) , Grace Lunt (1891) and Mary Elvira (1894). Edwin Flye Stetson's diaries cover 1873, 1874, 1875, and 1877. In 1873, Stetson is a student at (we presume) Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Maine. In 1874 he completes his secondary education and even comments forlornly on the end of his time as a school boy on July 1, 1874: "Sitting outthe last time I will ever sit here as a schooler most likelygood bye old house, school days where are all over here". He begins his education at Bowdoin in the fall of 1874 (after a false start getting left behind on his first attempt to go to Brunswick, ME on September 23, he finally arrives at his dorm on the 25th). He writes of his time at Bowdoin from Sept-Dec, 1874 and throughout his 1875 diary. By 1877, Stetson is living in Boston and attending Harvard Medical School. Mary Chapman's (later Stetson) diaries cover 1880, and 1882. She would marry Edwin in 1883. In 1873, Edwin is a 20-year old student, we believe at Lincoln Academy. Some excerpts follow: "February 12th, Cut wood a little while today. Go over to the hall in the afternoon and helped fix it up a little for the great ball Friday night. Everite has gone to Augusta and I have got to stop in the store tonight. " In June he takes a trip to St. John's on a ship and spends a few months camping and relaxing for the summer". "June 23rd and 24th, Start for St. Johns this morning. I am tired of riding. Wish I was there.Arrive in St. Johns 7 o'clock this morning. Go up to the Victoria Hotel to breakfast. Stay in the ship all day with Wilder. Like it. Think I shall run across to L. With them. Go up where the folks are tonight. Turn in at 10 o'clock happy". "July 2nd, Father called me at 4 o'clock this morning. Devil of a hurry as usual. Boat starts from B. At 6 o'clock. Arrive in Rockland at 12 m. Get home 3 o'clock.Have a gay time. I tell ye fine bedfellow". He returns to school in September 1873: "Finish sawing pine wood this forenoon. Get some in. Sent ma the note tonight. Dance in the hall. Don't go. Sobered down quite an old man now. Things that I once loved I now hate and things that I once hated I now love. Whiskey &c. ". 1873 is written almost entirely in pencil, and there has been some serious smudging on some day's entries. This is not too common, but for the couple days smudged over, they cannot be comprehended fully. 1874 is much the same as the previous diary, recordings of his day-to-day tasks and life experiences, often dealing with girls, drinking, school, and friends. He begins school at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in the fall of 1874: "February 12th, Our annual ball tonight. The best time I ever had. Home at 5 o'clock. We go over and sit and smoke with Jones until ½ after 6. Home, do my work and turn in". "September 26. Got my books today and fooled around a little. Went down to Dunnings to tea tonight but don't like much". "October 15. School adjourned this PM on account of the fair. Eve and I went over. Joined the Society tonight. Heard from Mother todaybecame a member of the [Zeta Psi] Society tonight 2am". "November 18. A new member in the freshman class. Purrington entered today or rather came today, got his ticket last year. Class meeting again for election of officials as split before". In 1875, Stetson is completing his freshman year and beginning his sophomore year at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine: "January 9th, Started for school today in a snow storm. Got here all night but am everlastingly lonesome, homesick for anything you please". "January 12th, I have studied like the very-D. Today and taken a dead for it. If it wasn't for the corks of the thing I'd pack my books, send them home and strike for parts unknown to man or east. I'm fairly discouraged. If I had a 'drop of the old creature' I believe I'd indulge a little". In college, Edwin is sometimes struggling, homesick, lonely and 'dead broke'. He writes once that one "Can't say that I have had a very good time outside of home" In the summer, his parents and his brother Abner visit him. This doesn't help too much though. "July 27th & 28th Ab came down this afternoon but wouldn't stay. He has been at home now over a week and I am unable to read him. I fear he has changed mightily or else he is acting it. Picnic today. Don't care much about it but must go. Wish I hadn't gone. Never had a much poorer time. Wish I had gone when I had a good mind to Oh! Dear! Things are not just as I would have them but when will they ever be different? " Edwin's last diary is in 1877, written in Boston, Massachusetts, where he is attending Harvard Medical School. He is doing better at Harvard, obviously studying very hard, but seeming to enjoy the struggle. "January 21, 1877. In the last 84 hours I have slept 6, tried to sleep today but could not". "March 1, Worked in the lab until (? ) 11. After lecture in anatomy went down to the store and got my collars, came home and studied on anatomy until supper time. Down to dissecting room this eve then Rob & I went down to Miller's. " He attends classes on Chemistry, Physiology, Anatomy and others. He is incredibly studious during this time: "Studied till 11 - a very pleasant day - down to Chemistry - studied till after 2." The entries thin out a bit by the end of the year, probably due to end of year exams. There is one entry from another time that Edwin has added i.

Condition: Good+. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. On offer is a super, original 1876 manuscript diary handwritten by student Edwin Flye Stetson (1853-1924) while he was completing his sophomore year at Bowdoin College and then transferring to Harvard Medical School to complete his education. Stetson was born in Damariscotta, Maine to Abner Stetson, a shipbuilder, and Betsey (Riggs) Stetson. He was educated at preparatory schools and graduated from Lincoln Academy before entering Bowdoin College. In 1883, Edwin married Mary Chapman (1856-1944). Stetson entered Bowdoin in 1874 and was meant to graduate from in the class of 1878, but left Bowdoin at the end of his sophomore year. He entered Harvard in fall of 1876 and graduated with the Harvard class of 1879. Dr. Stetson practiced medicine in Indiana from 1879-1885 and then moved back to Maine, practicing in his hometown of Damariscotta until he retired due to poor health. Dr. Stetson's son, Dr. Rufus Stetson, graduated from Bowdoin in 1908 and went on to specialize in blood transfusions in New York City. This diary covers the second half of Stetson's sophomore year at Bowdoin (January-April, 1876) , his summer working at a physician's office and then his move to Massachusetts on September 24, 1876 and his first semester as a student at Harvard (Sept-Dec, 1876). Interestingly, at the end of his sophomore year at Bowdoin, Stetson is uncertain whether he will return, even once he returns home for the summer: ".Is this my last full day at Bowdoin. I hope not surely" [April 3, 1876]. ".I suppose I have made my last recitation at Bowd. Started for home at 3" [April 4, 1876]. "I wish I could decide about going back to Bowd" [April 7, 1876]. As we know, he will ultimately decide to say goodby to Bowdoin and attend Harvard a few months later. It is neat to know with hindsight that the next generation of Stetson doctors would graduate from Bowdoin only 32 years later. At Harvard he describes many experiences in the medical school such as attending autopsies. Throughout the diary, Stetson proves himself to be a social, active man of many interests, involved in a fraternity and with many friends and a packed work schedule. He writes daily and provides enough detail to get a clear picture of his life as a medical trainee across two states. The 7.5 x 3.25 inch leather 100+ page diary, written in pencil, filled for the entire year with the day to day activities, studies, socializing making for a fascinating look at the training of this young man. Diary is in overall G+ condition save for normal signs of aging, with all pages, spine and covers intact. ; Manuscript; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, BOWDOIN COLLEGE, EDWIN F. STETSON, BRUNSWICK, MAINE, EDWIN FLYE STETSON, MEDICAL STUDENT, MEDICAL SCHOOLS, MEDICAL TRAINING, EDUCATION OF DOCTORS IN THE 19TH CENTURY, AUTOPSY, PATHOLOGY, SURGERY, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, AUTOGRAPHED, AUTHORS, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNAL, LOG, PRIMARY SOURCE, FIRST HAND ACCOUNT, SOCIAL HISTORY, PERSONAL STORIES, LIVING HISTORY, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL,BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY PERSONAL NARRATIVES; Signed by Author.