The University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Nash-Scott Family

Nash-Scott Family Papers

ca.1830-1957
15 boxes 15 linear feet
Call no.: MS 581
Depiction of Nash family
Nash family

Long-time residents of Hadley, Massachusetts, the Nash and Scott families were united in 1881 when John Nash, a farmer, married Lizzie Scott. Of their seven children, Herman B. Nash, graduated from the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1917, and immediately enlisted in the army, serving in France at the close of World War I. His youngest sister, Helen, kept the family connected during these years by writing and distributing a family newsletter, the Plainville News.

The Nash-Scott Family Papers contain a number of photographs, including an album capturing a trip to the west coast in 1915 and a canoe trip to Labrador in 1920. Herman B. Nash’s scrapbook documents not only his time as a student at M.A.C., but also his service in France, featuring candid photographs taken by Nash during and after the war as well as identification cards, company rosters, and a German propaganda leaflet picked up near the front. Pamphlets, genealogical notes and postcards complete the collection.

Background on Nash-Scott family

John Nash was the son of Samuel Nash and was raised on the family homestead in Hadley, Massachusetts. He was born in January 1847 and became a farmer. John met Lizzie Scott at the North Hadley Church. Lizzie was born in North Hadley in July 1858. Her mother died when she was fifteen and she was therefore left to care for her younger siblings. The two were married in May 1881 and went on to have seven children, George, Alice, Ethel, Luella, Ruth, Herman, and Helen. Lizzie died in July 1927 and John died two years later in 1929.

Not all of the Nash children survived into childhood. Alice died when she was only nine years old after being bitten by a dog. George had several health issues growing up and died when he was 37. Ethel became a teacher in Connecticut after going to Smith College and Northampton Commercial College. Ruth went to New York City for a time after graduating. She helped keep up the family farm along with operating a poultry farm.

Luella worked at the Amherst Library after graduating from Mount Holyoke College. During World War I, she helped in the war effort by taking a job as a secretary in the Department of Agriculture in Washington D.C. After the war in August of 1920 she married Walter Buchanan, a high school math teacher. The two lived in several towns in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Luella died in 1971.

The youngest Nash sibling, Helen, never lived far from home. Like Ethel, Helen became a teacher after studying at Northampton Commercial College in 1920. She taught in Brooklyn for a while but returned home to help her mother who was ill. She became in Elementary school in Hadley for almost forty years before become the librarian at Hopkins Academy for two years before retiring. Helen lived to be 86 years old when she died in June 1987.

Herman Nash, the second of John and Lizzie’s two boys was born in 1895. He graduated from Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1917 and immediately joined the Army. During World War I, Herman served in France from 1918-1919. He ended up teaching agriculture in Allerey, France at the American Expeditionary Forces University.

Upon returning home Herman met Grace Leonard; she taught at Hopkins Academy while he served on the school committee board. Herman taught school in Connecticut and Massachusetts before the family settled in Springfield where he worked for the Post Office until he retired in 1961. Until 1955 he served in the Army Reserves and served in a training post during World War II. Herman was 82 when he died in 1977.

Before marrying Herman, Grace taught at various schools in Massachusetts. She was originally from Marshfield, Massachusetts and went to Boston University to study teaching. The couple had three children, Howard, Herman Jr. and John. Grace spent the rest of her life raising her children. In 1973 Grace died at the age of 77.

Contents of Collection

Joined together by the marriage of John and Lizzie in 1881, the Nash and Scott families were both long-time Hadley residents. This collection of family papers features the history of individual family members as well as of the area of western Massachusetts in which the lived and worked. Highlights include scrapbooks from the Massachusetts Agricultural College, World War I era letters, genealogical materials, a family newsletter, and numerous photographs and photo albums.

Series descriptions

A significant amount of the collection includes the correspondence of Herman Nash. While serving in World War I, Herman wrote almost daily to his family and friends back home. In his letters he discussed daily routines and where he was. The letters his family wrote to him, mainly from his mother are also in the collection. After the war and throughout their marriage Grace kept a lengthy correspondence with her friends from college and other Nash family members.

The Nash-Scott papers includes a wide variety of family materials from diaries and school papers to genealogies and scrapbooks. An extensive amount of area history to be found in the collection along with family history and genealogy. Postcards from family travels are included in the collection from New York to California to Texas. Several family members assembled scrapbooks to commemorate special events or local news. Information about daily life in the Nash family during the 1930s and 1940s can also be found. Issues of the newsletter Plainville News, created by Helen Nash, kept her older siblings apprised of the happenings at home.

The collection contains a significant number of Nash family photos from John and Lizzie to Herman and Grace. Along with Nash photos there are also a variety of photographs from the Scott and Leonard families. The series includes several photo albums, one of the albums is from John and Lizzie’s trip to Labrador and another from Helen Nash’s time as a school teacher in the early 1920s.

Collection inventory

Series 1. Correspondence
1831-1987
Correspondence
1831-1915
Box 1: 1
Correspondence
1916
Box 1: 2
Correspondence
1917
Box 1: 3
Correspondence
1918 Jan-Mar
Box 1: 4
Correspondence
1918 Apr-Aug
Box 1: 5
Correspondence
1918 Sept-Dec
Box 1: 6
Correspondence
1919 Jan-Feb
Box 1: 7
Correspondence
1919 Mar-Apr
Box 1: 8
Correspondence
1919 May-Aug
Box 1: 9
Correspondence
1919 Sept-Dec
Box 1: 10
Correspondence
1920-1921
Box 1: 11
Correspondence
1922
Box 1: 12
Correspondence
1923
Box 1: 13
Correspondence
1924 Feb-May
Box 1: 14
Correspondence
1924 June-Nov
Box 1: 15
Correspondence
1925-1927
Box 1: 16
Correspondence
1928
Box 1: 17
Correspondence
1930-1932
Box 1: 18
Correspondence
1933-1934
Box 1: 19
Correspondence
1935-1936
Box 1: 20
Correspondence
1937-1939
Box 1: 21
Correspondence
1940
Box 1: 22
Correspondence
1941
Box 1: 23
Correspondence
1942 Feb-Mar
Box 1: 24
Correspondence
1942 Apr-May
Box 1: 25
Correspondence
1942 June-July
Box 1: 26
Correspondence
1942 Aug-Sept
Box 1: 27
Correspondence
1942 Oct-Dec
Box 1: 28
Correspondence
1943 Jan
Box 1: 29
Correspondence
1943 Feb
Box 1: 30
Correspondence
1943 May-June
Box 1: 31
Correspondence
1943 July-Aug
Box 1: 32
Correspondence
1943 Sept-Oct
Box 1: 33
Correspondence
1943 Nov-Dec
Box 1: 34
Correspondence
1944
Box 2: 35
Correspondence
1945-1946
Box 2: 36
Correspondence
1947-1949
Box 2: 37
Correspondence
1950
Box 2: 38
Correspondence
1951-1952
Box 2: 39
Correspondence
1953-1955
Box 2: 40
Correspondence
1956-1957
Box 2: 41
Correspondence
1958-1959
Box 2: 42
Correspondence
1960 Jan-July
Box 2: 43
Correspondence
1960 Aug-Dec
Box 2: 44
Correspondence
1961
Box 2: 45
Correspondence
1962
Box 2: 46
Correspondence
1963 Jan-June
Box 2: 47
Correspondence
1963 July
Box 2: 48
Correspondence
1963 Aug-Dec
Box 2: 49
Correspondence
1964
Box 2: 50
Correspondence
1965 Jan-Aug
Box 2: 51
Correspondence
1965 Sept-Dec
Box 2: 52
Correspondence
1966
Box 2: 53
Correspondence
1967
Box 2: 54
Correspondence
1968
Box 2: 55
Correspondence
1969
Box 2: 56
Correspondence
1970
Box 2: 57
Correspondence
1971
Box 2: 58
Correspondence
1972-1973
Box 2: 59
Correspondence
1974-1975
Box 2: 60
Correspondence
1984-1987
Box 2: 61
Correspondence
undated
Box 2: 62
Correspondence: cards
1900-1980
2 folders
Box 2: 63-64
Correspondence: cards, Christmas
1900-1980
2 folders
Box 2: 65-66
Series 2. Family History and Materials
1781-1981
American Education
1968 Feb
Box 8: 170
Amherst-Hadley church anniversaries
1859-1981
Box 4: 1
Anniversaries and weddings
1923-1973
Box 4: 2
Ashland High School
1918
Box 4: 3
Austin, Samuel: Sermon, Preached at the Dedication of the New Meetinghouse in Hadley
1808
Box 2: 67
Better Say: grammar book
undated
Box 4: 4
Bills and accounts
1838-1944
Box 4: 5
Birth certificates
1895-1896
Box 4: 6
Boston University Centennial
1939 Sept
Box 8: 171
Bostonia
1917, 1944-1946
Box 7: 161
Breckenridge, William E.: Polyphase Duplex Slide Rule
1924
Box 2: 68

Walter Buchanan’s copy.

Buchanan, Walter and Luella: Address book
1963-1975
Box 3: 69
Buchanan, Walter Gray: naval service
undated
Box 4: 7
By Mead and Stream: Flower Poems
1939
Box 4: 8

Illustrated by Charles G. Noakes.

Calling cards, business cards
1930-1945
Box 4: 9
Charters: Junior Extension Service of the Massachusetts Agricultural College
1928-1939
Box 7: 162

Presented to two clubs, Real Good Sewers Club and Silver Wing Handicraft Club, led by Helen E. Nash.

Currency, European
1914-1922
Box 4: 10
Currency, souvenir
undated
Box 3: 70
Descendents of William Scott of Hatfield, Mass., 1668-1906
undated
Box 3: 71
East Springfield book reports
1930-1960
Box 4: 11-12
Essay on constitutionality of judicial salaries in Massachusetts
ca.1843
Box 4: 13
Family history
1929-1986
Box 3: 72
Grand jurors list
1922
Box 3: 73

Herman B. Nash listed.

Funerals and deaths
1973-1985
Box 4: 14
Hadley anniversary
1959
Box 4: 15
Hadley Historical Society
1975-1989
Box 4: 16
Hampshire County Pomona Grange, No. 8
1923
Box 4: 17
Hampshire Gazette
1827
Box 4: 18
Hankerchief
1923
Box 3: 74

Sent from France by Madame Remy about 1923; a wedding gift.

Historical Society of Plainville: Record book, transcript
ca.1835
Box 3: 75
Hopkins Arms
1969
Box 3: 76

Helen Nash’s copy of the Hopkins Academy yearbook; the students dedicated the yearbook to Nash for her years of service to the school.

Howell, Clarence V.: They Eat Their Cake and Keep It
1947
Box 3: 77
Hurricane: publications
1938
Box 3: 78
Invitation: Nash, Herman B.
1949
Box 3: 79
Jones Library: Nash papers
1994
Box 4: 19
Leonard family genealogy
ca.1960
Box 7: 163
Leonard family genealogy
1988
Box 7: 164
Leonard, George: diary, typed exerpts
1821-1881
Box 4: 20
Leonard, George: Marshfield Sixty Years Ago: A Lecture
1872
Box 3: 80
Leonard, J.” Division of Fisheries and Game receipt
1922
Box 4: 21
Leonard, Mabel: Recipe book
1936
Box 3: 81
Life
1945 Nov 12
Box 8: 172

Includes photograph of Herman Nash, page 46.

Map: Hadley
1958
Box 3: 82
Marshifield High School
1893-1920
Box 4: 22
Memorabilia
undated
Box 10

Various family memorabilia including spectacles, leather baby shoes, fans, leather wallet, and medals.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company: Information for Expectant Mothers
1924
Box 3: 83
Musical scores: Boston University
ca.1911
Box 8: 173
Nash, Alice: “East Meets East: Japanese in Boston, 1868-1941”
1989
Box 4: 23
Nash, Alice: History From the Attic: A Compilation of Primary Source Materials Relating to What a New England Farm Family was Doing During 1919
1985
Box 3: 84
Nash, Alice: Research: Nash, Grace
1986-1987
Box 4: 24-26
Nash, Enos
1781-1791
Box 4: 27
Nash family: art work
ca.1970
Box 8: 174-175

Miscellaneous printed paintings and photographs collected by Nash family.

Nash family: history, transcripts
1805-1860
Box 4: 28
Nash family: letters, transcripts
1810,1823
Box 4: 29
Nash family military documents
1917-1923
Box 7: 165
Nash family military documents
1940-1945
Box 7: 166
Nash family: poems, essays
1923-1960
Box 4: 30
Nash family: recollections
1901-1980
Box 4: 31
Nash, Grace: Boston University
1917
Box 4: 32
Nash, Grace: Boston University, Class of 1917
1957-1966
Box 4: 33
Nash, Grace: Boston University, coursework
ca.1917
Box 4: 34-35
Nash, Grace: Boston University, notebooks
1916-1918
Box 4: 36-37
Nash, Grace: cookbook
1930
Box 4: 38
Nash, Grace: Hopkins Academy
1919-1923
Box 4: 39
Nash, Grace: Marshfield High School
1913
Box 4: 40
Nash, Grace: Marshfield public schools
1904-1908
Box 4: 41
Nash, Grace: Sanderson Academy
1925
Box 4: 42
Nash, Grace: Scrapbook
1909-1971
Box 15
Nash, Grace: Scrapbook: Boston University
1911-1914, 1938
Box 5
Nash, Grace: “We Have a Goodly Heritage”
1972
Box 4: 43-44
Nash, Helen: “pet” rock
1976
Box 4: 45
Nash, Helen: Scrapbook: Hadley area
1961
Box 5
Nash, Herman: biographical information
ca.1971
Box 3: 85
Nash, Herman: calendar
1974
Box 3: 86
Nash, Herman: diaries
1918-1921
Box 4: 46-47
Nash, Herman: diaries, Massachusetts Agricultural College
1914-1917
Box 4: 48-49
Nash, Herman: drawing
1944
Box 3: 87
Nash, Herman: finances
1906, 1961-1962
Box 3: 88
Nash, Herman: hair
1899
Box 3: 89

Cut at age four.

Nash, Herman: map, First Army Maneuver Area, Clinton County, N.Y.
1939
Box 3: 90
Nash, Herman: Massachusetts Agricultural College
1914-1917
Box 4: 50
Nash, Herman: military service, France
1917-1919
Box 3: 91
Nash, Herman: military service, scrapbook
1942-1944
Box 3: 92
Nash, Herman: notebooks
1938-1971
Box 3: 93
Nash, Herman: receipt, Underwood Arms Co.
1974
Box 3: 94
Nash, Herman: school work
1907-1914
Box 3: 95
Nash, Herman B.: Scrapbook
1908-1920
Box 15

Includes content for Nash’s days as a student at Smith’s Agricultural High School, Northampton and the Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC) as well as his service during World War I. Approximately 125 photographs from the front lines in France (purchsed there during his service), approximately 75 candid photographs taken by Nash during the war, and ephemera such as identfication cards, arm patch, company rosters, German propoganda leaflet picked up near front, programs, tickets all relating to his service. MAC materials include dance cards, tickets, baseball programs, and miscellaneous ephemera relating to the College.

Nash, J.A.: Mount Pleasant Boarding School for Boys, Amherst, Mass.
1846
Box 3: 96
Nash, John: probate court
1929
Box 3: 97

Appraisal of his estate and effects.

Nash, John: school work
ca.1940
Box 3: 98
Nash, Lizzie: Diary
1919
Box 3: 99
Nash, Ruth: Sewing sample book
1923
Box 3: 100
Nash, Samuel: documents, justice of the peace
1844-1852
Box 3: 101
Nash, Samuel: Journals
1835-1836
Box 3: 102
Nash, Samuel: Log book
1837-1841
Box 3: 103

Account book of descriptive entries of work performed, including shoe making and timber milling. Also includes practice pages of cursive handwriting.

Newspaper clippings
1840
Box 3: 104
Newspaper clippings
ca.1907, 1969
Box 3: 105
Newspaper clippings
1926-1986
Box 4: 51
Newspaper clippings: Leonard Bell
1998
Box 3: 106
Notebook: funeral arrangements
undated
Box 4: 52
Pamphlets
1917-1921
Box 4: 53
Pamphlets and tickets, souvenirs
1917-1971
Box 3: 107
Plainville News
1918-1927
Box 3: 108
Postcards: California
ca.1930-1960
Box 3: 109
Postcards: Canada
ca.1930-1960
Box 3: 110
Postcards: England
ca.1919-1980
Box 3: 111
Postcards: France
1919
Box 3: 112
Postcards: France, World War I
1917-1919
Box 3: 113
Postcards: Luxembourg
ca.1919
Box 3: 114
Postcards: New England
1921-ca. 1960
Box 3: 115
Postcards: New York
ca.1919
Box 3: 116
Postcards: United States, miscellaneous
ca.1930-1960
Box 3: 117-120
Reconciliation Trips: flyers
1948 June
Box 3: 121
Resolution: Industrical Division Delegates, New York State Convention
1956
Box 3: 122
Scott family reunion
1916
Box 3: 123
Scott-Nash genealogy
1986
Box 7: 167
Scott, Nellie: Diary
1885
Box 3: 124
Scott, Nellie: Diary
1887
Box 3: 125
Scrapbook: covered bridges
1907-1970
Box 5

Contains newspaper clippings, notes, photographs (18), postcards (30), and real photo postcards (12) of covered bridges in New England.

Scrapbook: history of Springfield
1952-1953
Box 5
Scrapbook: “Stories in Stamps”
1938
Box 5
Smith, M.H.: “The End of the World: A Lecture Sermon, Delivered Before the First Universalist Society in Hartford…”
1832
Box 4: 54
Stamps, postage
ca.1959
Box 6: 126
Strong Talk Newsletter
1942
Box 6: 127
Trees of Amherst
1959
Box 7: 168

Copy belonged to Helen E. Nash.

Van Sickle Junior High School: Van Lore
1942 Mar
Box 6: 128
Vet’s Voice for Peace
1954
Box 6: 129
Wellspring for Young People
1906
Box 6: 130
Western New England
1912 Oct
Box 7: 169

Issue featuring “Attractive Amherst.”

Wills
1851-1960
Box 4: 55
World’s Fair: medal
1939
Box 6: 131

Belonged to John Nash.

Series 3. Photographs
1853-1975
Buchanan, Walter and Luella
1920-1975
Box 6: 132
Dickinson, Abigail: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 8
Dickinson, Homer: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 7
Dickinson, Martha: ambrotype
ca.1857
Box 13: 15

Daughter of Ebenezer Dickinson and grandmother of Lizzie Scott Nash. She taught at Mount Holyoke; her three daughters (Martha, Hannah, and Emily) all graduated from Mount Holyoke.

Dodge, Laura B. and husband
ca.1853
Box 13: 6

Daguerreotype of husband and wife; Laura B. Dodge granddaughter of Israel Scott.

Labrador canoe trip: photograph album
1920
Box 9

Includes images of St. Lawrence River, Montreal, slums of Sous le Cap, Quebec City, Ste Anne de Beaupre, “Half breed spinning,” “Indian squaw, San Prin,” Labrador, Maine coast.

Lamson, Andrew and Hannah Scott: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 12
Leonard family
1896-1910
Box 6: 133
Leonard family
1913-1922
Box 6: 134
Leonard family
1923-1945
Box 6: 135
Leonard family
1946-1995
Box 6: 136
Leonard, Grace: Boston University classmates
1917-1919
Box 6: 137
Nash family: cartes de visite
1870-1900
Box 6: 138
Nash family
1900-1920
Box 6: 139
Nash family
1921-1995
Box 6: 140
Nash family: photograph album
1917-1935
Box 9
Nash, Helen
1920-1984
Box 6: 141
Nash, Helen: photograph album
1920-1930
Box 6: 142
Nash, Helen: photograph album
1931-1933
Box 6: 143
Nash, Helen: photograph album
1934-1939
Box 6: 144
Nash, Herman and Grace
1922-1925
Box 6: 145
Nash, Herman and Grace
1926-1945
Box 6: 146
Nash, Herman and Grace
1946-1975
Box 6: 147
Nash, John and Lizzie
1894-1910
Box 6: 148
Nash, John and Lizzie
1913-1917
Box 6: 149
Nash, John and Lizzie
1918-1921
Box 6: 150
Nash, John and Lizzie: photograph albums
1910-1924
Box 6: 151-154

Four family photo albums dating from the same time period.

Nash, Laura and John: daguerreotype
1853
Box 12: 5
Nash, Lurintha Ball
ca.1880
Box 13: 1
Nash, Samuel and daughter Jennie: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 11
Nash-Scott family: photograph albums
undated
Box 10
Photograph album: unidentified
undated
Box 11
Scott, Aaron with sisters: ambrotype
ca.1858
Box 14: 2

Aaron Scott and sisters, Cornelia and Emily, children of Rufus Porter Scott.

Scott, Cornelia and Hannah: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 3
Scott, Elvira C.
ca.1855
Box 13: 10

Cased ambrotype of Elvira C. Scott, wife of R. Porter Scott.

Scott, Emily: daguerreotype
ca.1853
Box 14: 1

Daughter of Rufus Scott.

Scott, Emily: daguerreotype
ca.1853
Box 14: 3

J. D. Wells, photographer.

Scott, Emily A.: daguerreotype
ca.1855
Box 13: 9

Cased daguerreotype of Emily A. Scott, daughter of Rufus Scott, with early albumen print of her husband Charles Cleveland.

Scott, Emily and Hannah: daguerreotype
ca.1855
Box 12: 13
Scott, Emily, Cornelia, and Hannah
ca.1855
Box 13: 7

Cased ambrotype of Emily, Cornelia, and Hannah Scott, daughters of Rufus Scott.

Scott family
ca.1855
Box 13: 8

Cased ambrotype of Cornelia Scott Dickinson, Rufus Porter Scott (back row); Aaron Scott, Hannah Scott Clarke (front row).

Scott family
1870-1900
Box 6: 155
Scott family
1901-1920
Box 6: 156
Scott family
1921-1950
Box 6: 157
Scott family: cartes de visite
1840-1900
Box 6: 158-160
Scott family: photograph album
1924-1940
Box 9
Scott family: photograph album
undated
Box 11
Scott, Frank: Daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 9
Scott, Rufus: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 4
Scott, Rufus: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 6
Unidentified elderly woman: daguerreotype
ca.1853
Box 13: 12
Unidentified infant: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 10
Unidentified man: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 1
Unidentified man: tintype
ca.1870
Box 14: 4

Man wearing top hat.

Unidentified man and boy: daguerreotype
ca.1853
Box 13: 4
Unidentified man and woman: daguerreotype
undated
Box 12: 2
Unidentified, miscellaneous: tintype
ca.1865
Box 13: 2

Four gem tintypes; three unidentified women, one unidentified man.

Unidentified subject: ambrotype
ca.1858
Box 13: 13

Ruby ambrotype; image indiscernible.

Unidentified woman: ambrotype
ca.1855
Box 13: 3

Tintype of two unidentified women enclosed with cased ambrotype.

Unidentified woman: silver gelatin print
ca.1900
Box 13: 14
Unidentified woman: daguerreotype
ca.1853
Box 13: 11

J.D. Wells, photographer.

Unidentified young man: daguerreotype
ca.1850
Box 13: 5
West coast: photograph album
1915
Box 9

Images of trip to West coast including Portland, Oregon, Yellowstone, San Francisco World’s Fair, Los Angeles and Pasadena, San Diego Fair, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Hopi and “Apache” adobe houses; all image identified.

Administrative information

Access

The collection is open for research.

Language:

English

Digitized content

The World War I correspondence and other materials have been digitized and may be viewed online through SCUA’s digital repository, Credo.

Provenance

Acquired from Alice Nash, 2008.

Processing Information

Processed by Ashley Purvis, August 2009.

Acknowledgments

Digitization was made possible through the generous support of the Neal Shipley Fund and Lloyd Bonfield.

Copyright and Use (More informationConnect to publication information)

Cite as: Nash-Scott Family Papers (MS 581). Special Collections and University Archives, UMass Amherst Libraries.

Subjects

Hadley (Mass.)--HistoryHadley (Mass.)--Social life and customsMassachusetts Agricultural CollegeNash familyScott familyWorld War, 1914-1918--France

Contributors

Nash, Herman B

Types of material

Photograph albumsPhotographs