Levi K. Fuller Papers
Scope and Content
The Levi K. Fuller Papers consist mainly of correspondence but also include newspaper clippings, financial records, and political papers, among others. Letters and telegrams are governmental, commercial, and private in tone with coverage of the following topics: Estey Organ Company and uniform pitch, Vermont Academy, The Vermont State Asylum for the Insane, the military, the Republican Party and elections, World’s Columbian Commission, Shaw University, and various religious and benevolent societies.
The correspondence is arranged in strict chronological order in three major categories: received, outgoing (written by Fuller or Secretary J.H. Goulding), and Vermont Academy. Outgoing correspondence is present in three sets: loose, bound Executive Letters (volume numbers 1-11), and bound professional letters (volume numbers 12-29 entitled L.K. Fuller Letters). Volume numbers 13 and 28 are not present. Loose outgoing correspondence covers a range of topics. Note that within the outgoing bound professional correspondence, there is some overlap with personal and gubernatorial topics. The correspondence regarding Vermont Academy has been separated from the general loose correspondence. It is chiefly between Charles A. Reese, Secretary of the Vermont Academy, and Mr. Fuller, serving as trustee to the school. It provides an almost daily tabulation of the events at the school from personnel recruitment to advertising. Additionally, there are some congratulatory telegrams, statements and letters regarding the sale of the Alexander Farm and proposed changes in the curriculum.
Newspaper clippings are arranged in scrapbooks in a more or less chronological order with two topical scrapbooks for jokes and prayers/poems.
Additionally, the collection includes reports, annotated speeches, notes, and financial records for Fuller's personal expenses as well as the institutions he represented including the state of Vermont and Vermont Academy. Financial records are arranged by date paid (when available) or the date on which the latest purchase was made.
Dates
- Majority of material found within Bulk, 1890-1894
- 1848 - 1913
Creator
- Fuller, Levi Knight, 1841-1896 (Person)
- Reese, Charles A. (Person)
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.
Biography
Levi Knight Fuller, was born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire on February 23, 1841, the son of Washington Fuller and Lucinda Constantine. He attended the High School and learned telegraphy at Brattleboro Vermont and the Roxbury Institute, Mass., and later served an apprenticeship as a machinist in Boston.
In 1860 he became mechanical engineer of the Estey Organ Works at Brattleboro and a member of the firm in 1866; then Superintendent of manufacturing, patent expert, and inventor, for many years was Vice President of the Estey Organ Company and aided in establishing and building up its large foreign trade. Through his influence, an International pitch for musical instruments was adopted by all the leading makers. Fuller married Abby Estey (1842-1929), daughter of Jacob Estey, owner of Estey Organ Works, in 1865.
In 1874, he organized and, until his inauguration as Governor, commanded, the Fuller Light Battery, Vermont National Guard, the first to receive the new-model United States breech loading guns, and which Regular Army inspectors have repeatedly pronounced second to none other in the country.
He held various town and village offices, sat in the State Senate in 1880 representing Windham County, was Lieutenant Governor of Vermont in 1866, and served as Governor from 1892 to 1894.
He was a member of various societies, scientific, mechanical, and astronomical and served as a trustee of religious, benevolent, and educational institutions, most notably as trustee of the Vermont Academy in Saxton's River where he spent many years organizing and building the school's image. There he aquired additional land, enlarged the existing facilities while soliciting and attracting a superior grade of student and teacher.
Mr. Fuller died in Brattleboro, October 10, 1896.
Extent
9.0 Linear feet (9 cartons)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Levi K. Fuller papers consist mainly of correspondence but also include newspaper clippings, financial records, and political papers, among others. Letters and telegrams are governmental, commercial, and private in tone with coverage of the following topics: Estey Organ Company and uniform pitch, Vermont Academy, The Vermont State Asylum for the Insane, the military, the Republican Party and elections, World’s Columbian Commission, Shaw University, and various religious and benevolent societies. Mr. Fuller served as trustee to Vermont Academy and received an almost daily tabulation of the events at the school from personnel recruitment to advertising. Newspaper clippings are arranged in scrapbooks. Additionally, the collection includes reports, annotated speeches, notes, and financial records for institutions Fuller represented including personal, governmental, and Vermont Academy.
Physical Location
Library Research Annex; contact uvmsc@uvm.edu for access.
Acquisition Information
Cynthia E. Rubin, May 15, 1979
- Title
- Guide to the Levi K. Fuller Papers, 1848-1913
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Processor: J. O'Halloran.
- Date
- 1998
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the University of Vermont Libraries, Special Collections Repository
Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington Vermont 05405 U.S.A. US
(802) 656-2138
(802) 656-4038 (Fax)
uvmsc@uvm.edu
