Horace Mann, "Father of our Public Schools," was born in Franklin, Massachusetts on May 4, 1796. His family was poor and his father died when Mann was thirteen. Up to the age of fifteen, he never attended school for more than ten weeks in a year. After attending the village school, he went to Williams Academy in Wrentham, Massachusetts, while he earned money braiding straw for the hat factories of Franklin. Mann entered Brown in 1814 but had to leave shortly thereafter due to illness. He re-enrolled at Brown in 1816 and graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1819. His Commencement address was entitled "The Gradual Advancement of the Human Species in Dignity and Happiness."
In 1821, Mann entered the law school of Judge James Gould of Litchfield, Connecticut. He opened his law practice in Dedham, Massachusetts in 1823. In 1830, Mann married Charlotte Messer, daughter of Brown University President Asa Messer. She died two years later. Following Charlotte's death, Mann moved to Boston to practice law with Edward G. Loring. Having been elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1827, Mann was involved with the passage of legislation creating the State Board of Education and the first state insane asylum in the United States.
In 1837, he began his ten year position of Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, during which he promoted common schools and the proper training of teachers. He brought about the establishment of the first state normal school in the United States, which was opened on July 3, 1839 in Lexington, Massachusetts. In 1843, he married Mary T. Peabody, one of "Peabody sisters of Salem." In 1848, he was elected to the House of Representatives to fill the term of John Quincy Adams, who had died in office. Antioch College, a new non-sectarian, coeducational college in Yellow Springs, Ohio appointed Mann president in 1853. He continued as president until 1859, when he delivered his last baccalaureate address, which included the often quoted words, "I beseech you to treasure up in your hearts these my parting words; be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." He died in Yellow Springs on August 2, 1859. Two years later his body was removed to the Mann lot in the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island.
(Much of this biography was taken from the Encyclopedia Brunoniana by Martha Mitchell)
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Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Horace Mann Family papers, MS-1U-M1, Brown University Archives.
The Horace Mann family papers consist primarily of correspondence dating from 1829 to 1856 that document the personal life of Horace Mann and, to a limited extent, some of his work in education, politics, and law. The Manuscript and Letters by Mann series includes thirteen letters to Nahum Capen regarding the Common School Journal, the Nahum estate, and miscellaneous personal matters, such as Mann's travel plans. This series also includes seven letters to E.B. Wilson regarding Mann's philosophy about teachers' institutes, and the establishment of a teachers' institute in Grafton, Massachusetts, or elsewhere in southern Worcester County, Massachusetts.
The bulk of the collection consists of family correspondence, primarily between Horace Mann and his first wife Charlotte Messer Mann; and correspondence between Mann, his second wife Mary Tyler Peabody Mann, and his sister-in-law Mary W. Messer. The Family Correspondence series includes love letters written by Horace Mann and Charlotte Messer Mann between July 1829 and April 1832. Although the content of these letters is primarily personal, there are also references to Horace Mann's responsibilities and activities in court. Charlotte Messer Mann's health is discussed throughout the love letters.
Letters (1847-1852) written by Mary Tyler Peabody Mann include descriptions of matters related to Horace Mann's work with teachers' institutes; his work in the U.S. House of Representatives, including Mann's opposition to Henry Clay's proposal to extend slavery into new territories; and Mann's involvement in the Drayton case concerning the abduction of slaves. While living in Washington, Mary Mann wrote about her opinions on the position of the Free-Soilers and the extension of slavery, as well as her desire to speak in the House of Representatives on the topic; about her impressions of Lajos Kossuth and Dorothea Dix; and about child rearing activities. The Family Correspondence series includes references to Asa Messer.
The copies of letters from James Stuart Holmes to Horace Mann discuss their experiences at Brown and the activities of other Brown classmates. Donated to Brown University in 1966, all of the letters are negative photostats and typescripts of the original letters.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
The acquisition information for this collection in unavailable. The James Stuart Holmes portion of the collection was donated by Gertrude S-B. Wallis in 1966.
No further materials are anticipated for this collection.
Brown University catalog record for this collection:
Brown University Archives, Biographical Files Collection
For works about or associated with Horace Mann, please search Josiah using the search term,
Short essay about wealth and the good of mankind.
In doubt what to do about "Newton & the False Witness." Asks about opinions of Willard, Sumner, Fowle, Rantoul.
Has written to Mr. Fowle about the Journal; cannot see anyone wanting Field; would like to see Waterhouse's arithmetic; seeking a man to keep an academy in Cumberland, Maryland.
Mentions passage in Mr. Motley's report on application of colleges for a grant.
Asks him to forward some expected letters to him at Taunton.
Introducing Enos Foord of Dedham.
At convention in Worcester; glad Mr. Coombe is in New York.
Needs help with Journal; willing to publish the whole of Waterston's lecture.
Will send Common School Journal which Woods should have received.
Asks him to send Journal proofs and letters with school reports.
About mortgages on Capen's estate.
Declining a request; will visit, if possible.
Plans for an institute in Grafton, Massachusetts; suggests lecturers; all the lectures must be open to the public.
End of September best time for institute.
Has attended dedication of new normal school at Westfield; names those he has invited to lecture at teachers' institute.
Consoling Willson in his despair over the failure to attract sufficient numbers to the forthcoming teachers' institute, and explaining his own philosophy.
Busy writing report for legislature, he cannot accept invitation; may possibly attend one of latest meetings of Lyceum; would like to know general feeling left in Willson's community in regard to institute.
Concerning a plan of Capen's with regard to a house and property.
Mentions letters of Danforth and Rowens; Munroe's certificate without sentence on Smith's veracity; will forego Dr. Sharp's certificate.
Thanks editors of Excelsior for wanting to print his article.
Reports on chances of Capen to secure an appointment; Macon prefers a Virginian; Mr. Washington of William & Mary College is Capen's competitor.
Gives an account of the various offices he has held.
Writes his opinion of James A. Long; corrects some statements about his own education before college and the activities of others.
Sends Meehan's letter, with which he is surprised.
Discussing climate in Yellow Springs with concern for Williams' health.
Fifteen letters, written by Mann from Dedham, Massachusetts, to Charlotte Messer, daughter of Asa Messer, prior to their marriage on September 29, 1830.
Ten letters, August 9, 1832-December 10, 1836, after death of Charlotte Mann; refers [Oct. 16 and Oct. 19, 1836] to death of Asa Messer. Letter of August 17, 1832 mutilated.
Three letters, August 1-October 6, 1832, on death of Charlotte Mann. Note by Mary Messer to her parents added to letter of August 1.
Congratulating him on birth of daughter.
Four letters written to Mann by Messer from Providence in the year before their marriage.
Thirteen letters written by Charlotte Messer Mann from Providence to Horace Mann, both before and after their marriage on September 30, 1830.
Seventeen letters written by Charlotte Messer Mann to Mann following their marriage in 1830.
Eight letters.
Twelve letters, August 15, 1847-May 8, 1852, including one letter addressed to Mrs. D. Messer [May 8, 1852]; references [May 28, 1849] to Drayton case involving abducting slaves; [February 21, 1850] to Mann's stand against Clay on extension of slave territory; [January 30, 1851] to Miss Dix's work with insane hospitals and penitentiaries; [January 18, 1852] to Kossuth's visit. One undated letter requests financial aid for Dwight Currier to study at Bridgewater Normal School.
Pasted on inside of a box cover.
Mann was elected member of Dedham Institution of Savings.
Three letters regarding the acquisition of the Mann papers for Brown University.
Contains twenty-two letters from Holmes to Mann beginning in February of 1819, with the last letter in August of 1853. The two graduated from Brown University in 1819. Most letters are personal and contain news of family and mutual friends from Brown. The letters are not originals but photostats and typescripts of the originals.