John Martin Vincent Papers: Finding Aid mssVT
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
November 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Finding aid last updated on February 10, 2023 by Suzanne Oatey.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: John Martin Vincent papers
Creator:
Vincent, John Martin,
1857-1939
Identifier/Call Number: mssVT
Physical Description:
51.2 Linear Feet
(41 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1827-1940
Abstract: A collection of material related to the
life and career of American historian and Johns Hopkins professor John Martin
Vincent.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. John Martin Vincent papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifts of John Martin Vincent, 1932-1936.
Biographical / Historical
Martin John Vincent (1827-1939) was born in Elyria, Ohio, the son of Phebe Martin and John
Martin Vincent (1820-1863) who was prosecuting attorney for Lorain County, Ohio, the
publisher of the Elyrian Independent Democrat, an anti-slavery weekly journal, and a member
of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1859 to 1861. The younger Vincent was educated at
Amherst and Oberlin, and he also studied in Germany and France; in 1880, Vincent married Ada
Jane Smith. Vincent was a historian, political scientist, and Professor of European history
at Johns Hopkins University from 1889 until his retirement in 1925. He specialized in the
government and laws of Switzerland, and was author of numerous books on the subject,
including State and Federal Government in Switzerland (1891). In 1936, Vincent moved to
Pasadena, California and died there in 1939.
Scope and Contents
A collection of 4,382 items from 1827 to 1940, which contains personal and business
documents, correspondence, diaries, speeches, essays, and ephemera. The personal
correspondence of John Vincent Martin, chiefly his family correspondence, contains comments
on politics, religion, race, economics, and history. Also included are the papers of
Vincent's father, John Martin Vincent (1820-1863) which includes letters, sermons,
addresses, diaries, travel journals, and legal papers. Also present are five letters from
Woodrow Wilson to John Martin Vincent, see Box 35 for details.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1940. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from a legacy summary report. In 2022, Melissa Haley enhanced
description of the presidential material present in the collection as part of the American
Presidential Papers Project. In 2023, Suzanne Oatey enhanced description of the box titles
and contents.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
General
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssVT 1-4109.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Abolitionists -- Ohio
Historians -- United States
Lawyers -- Ohio
Political scientists -- United
States
Ohio -- History -- 19th century
United States -- Intellectual life -- 20th century --
Sources
Family papers -- United States
Legal correspondence -- Ohio -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States
Personal papers -- United States
Photographs -- United States -- 19th century
Photographs -- United States -- 20th century
Diaries
Dewey, Melvil (Melvil Louis Kossuth), 1851-1931
Vincent, John Martin, 1820-1963
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Johns Hopkins University --
Faculty
Box 1
Correspondence, Abbott – Aubert VT 1-97
Box 2
Correspondence, Backus & Noble – Ball, Webb C., Co. VT 98-196
Box 3
Correspondence, Ballagh – Bowman VT 197-291
Box 4
Correspondence, Boynton – Burton VT 292-391
Box 5
Correspondence, Bushnell – Champney VT 392-487
Box 6
Correspondence, Chandler - Devine VT 488-589
Box 7
Correspondence, Dewey, Melvil - Dye VT 590-700
Box 8
Correspondence, Eastman Co. - Fredericksen VT 701-832
Box 9
Correspondence, Freeman – Grosvenor VT 833-940
Box 38
Correspondence, Galbraith – Gunsaulus VT 4008-4099
Box 10
Correspondence, Greene – Greenfield VT 941-1050
Box 11
Correspondence, Hack - Hart VT 1051-1186
Box 12
Correspondence, Haskins - Hill VT 1187-1303
Box 13
Correspondence, Hinkley & Morris – Hunt, R. D. VT 1304-1399
Box 14
Correspondence, Hunt, T. E. - Kilvert VT 1400-1529
Box 15
Correspondence, King – McLean, L. VT 1530-1672
Box 16
Correspondence, McLean, M. – Martin, Carrie VT 1673-1770
Box 17
Correspondence, Martin, Catherine VT 1771-1873
Box 18
Correspondence, Martin, Cyrena – Martin, D. VT 1874-1985
Box 19
Correspondence, Martin, E. – Metcalf, E. VT 1986-2084
Box 20
Correspondence, Metcalf, F. - Nyman VT 2085-2221
Box 21
Correspondence, Oakes - Owen VT 2222-2351
Box 22
Correspondence, Packard - Puttnam VT 2352-2465
Box 23
Correspondence, Quillard - Seager VT 2466-2572
Box 24
Correspondence, Seaman & Smith – Smith, Albert VT 2573-2699
Box 25
Correspondence, Smith, Albert – Smith, Mary VT 2700-2825
Box 26
Correspondence, Smith, Mary - Spinney VT 2826-2910
Box 27
Correspondence, Stadden – Van Syckel, J. VT 2911-3005
Box 28
Correspondence, Van Syckel, Cyrena J. (Martin) - Vignaux VT 3006-3128
Box 29
Correspondence, Vincent, Ada Jane (Smith) VT 3129-3247
Box 30
Correspondence, Vincent, Alice – Vincent, John VT 3248-3358
Box 31
Correspondence, Vincent, John VT 3359-3483
Box 32
Correspondence, Vincent, John – Vincent, Phebe VT 3484-3584
Box 33
Correspondence, Vincent, Phebe - Volck VT 3585-3709
Box 34
Correspondence, Wagstaff - Welsh VT 3710-3810
Box 35
Correspondence, Wender – Young VT 3811-3950
Scope and Contents
Includes the following Woodrow Wilson letters to John Martin Vincent: autograph letter
signed, 1889 January 9; typescript letter signed, 1889 January 29; typescript letter
signed, 1893 March 5; typescript letter signed, 1894 April 4; typescript letter signed,
1911 February 7 (VT 3857-3861).
Also includes letters from unknown correspondents and letters written in German and
French.
Box 36
Documents, journals, diaries VT 3951-3963
1846-1905
Scope and Contents
This box contains:
- Account records, bills, invoices, 1853-1905
- Government documents, 1849-1894
- Journal of a trip to the American South by John Martin Vincent, 1846-1849
- Journal of a trip to Italy by Phebe (Martin) Vincent, 1881
- Pocket diaries of John Martin Vincent, 1853, 1856
- Pocket diaries of Phebe (Martin) Vincent, 1854-1880
- Receipts, checks, 1847-1894
- Telegrams
Box 37
Postcards, various correspondents VT 3964-4007; VT 4100
Scope and Contents
Postcards to John Martin Vincent and postcards from John Martin Vincent to Phebe
(Martin) Vincent, 1874-1887.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Box 39
Genealogical material; photographs VT 4101-4104
Box 40
Letterbooks, book draft, notes and research VT 4105-4109
1870 - approximately 1911
Scope and Contents
John Martin Vincent letterbook (1894), readings (1872), book draft (approximately
1911). Also some papers related to Vincent's secondary school education, 1870 to 1872.
Some research notes by Phebe (Martin) Vincent, 1884.
Box 41
Ephemera
Scope and Contents
Includes printed material and research notes from Pomona College and Johns Hopkins
University.
