Eli Whitney Blake was born in New Haven, Connecticut on February 13, 1867. He was the son of Eli Whitney Blake, Jr. (1836-1895) and Helen Mary Rood Blake (1832-1869). He had one sister, Alida Blake Hazard (Mrs. Barclay Hazard) (1861-1938). Blake's father was the Hazard Professor of Physics at Brown University from 1870 until shortly before his death in 1895.
Blake studied zoology and English at Brown University. He was interested in the theater, as evident in many of his letters, and participated in several productions while at Brown. He was also one of the editors of the
Blake received his LL. B. degree from the Harvard Law School in 1891. Rather than begin a law practice he moved to Hampton, Virginia, to teach at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, now Hampton University. Hampton was founded in 1868 by General Samuel Chapman Armstrong (1839-1893) with help from the American Missionary Society and other philanthropic organizations. Its purpose was to provide education and vocational training to freed slaves. In 1878 the first American Indian students were admitted. While at Hampton, Blake taught Greek and geometry and was on the editorial staff of the school's magazine,
Blake returned to Providence in June 1892 to work as the general manager of the Providence Society for Organizing Charity, now Family Services, Inc. In 1894 he moved to Syracuse, New York, where he was employed at the Solvay Process Works. This chemical plant produced soda ash and caustic soda, used in the making of glass. The plant was owned in part by members of the Hazard family of Rhode Island, to whom Blake was related. Richard M. Atwater, Sr., with whom Blake corresponded, was recruited to work there in 1893. Atwater was a chemist noted for his contributions to the manufacture of scientific glassware.
After leaving the Solvay Process Works Blake moved to New York City, where he practiced law. He passed away on August 30, 1902, at the age of thirty-five. In her memoir,
Richard M. Atwater, Sr., (1844-1922) was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated from Brown University in 1865. In 1867 he married Abby Sophia Greene (1844-1935). Richard and Abby had nine children, among them Sophia Mead Atwater, Elizabeth Arnold Atwater and Marjory Garrison Atwater. Atwater was made Quaker Trustee of Brown University in 1878. After a successful career as a chemist and businessman both in the United States and in Europe, he and his wife retired to a farm in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, in 1906.
Little is known about Sophia and Stephen Atwater. Sophia was born on or around 1869. She was living with her parents in Chadds Ford in 1920. The vendor who sold this collection to the Brown library describes Sophia and Stephen as siblings, but there is no evidence in these papers that they were brother and sister.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
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.
Eli Whitney Blake (1867-1902) papers, Ms. 2008.031, Brown University Library.
The Eli Whitney Blake (1867-1902) papers contain personal correspondence to and from Blake, several of his drawings and poems, one portrait photograph of him and an undated letter from a family member to a publisher regarding his correspondence.
The bulk of the material consists of personal letters from Blake to his friends Sophia Atwater and Stephen Atwater, and their letters to Blake. Also included are Blake's letters to Sophia's father, Richard M. Atwater, Sr., and to her sisters Elizabeth and Marjorie Atwater. Some of the letters to Stephen and Richard Atwater contain descriptions of Blake's work at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Hampton, Virginia.
Several empty envelopes are included in the first series. They are arranged by the date of the postmark and are addressed to Richard M. Atwater, Sr. and Sophia Atwater.
The second series contains drawings by Blake and several poems written by him. Many of the poems are illustrated. The final two series in these papers consist of a framed portrait photograph of Blake taken in New York City and an undated letter from Sylvia M. Boethe, a family member, to the editors of The American Heritage Publishing Company regarding their interest in publishing an article about Blake's letters.
The collection is arranged into the following series:
This collection was purchased by the Brown University Library in March 2007.
No further materials are anticipated for this collection.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
Related collections at the Rhode Island Historical Society include:
This series consists primarily of personal letters from Eli Whitney Blake to Sophia Atwater and Stephen Atwater and their letters to Blake. Many of the letters written by Blake are illustrated with humorous drawings and political cartoons. Some contain quotations written in Greek or Latin. One of the letters from Sophia to Blake is written in German. Another has the date 1903 written in pencil above the salutation. Since Blake passed away in 1902 this is probably not the year the letter was written. Also included in this series are Blake’s letters to Sophia’s father, Richard M. Atwater, Sr., and to her sisters Elizabeth and Marjorie Atwater.
Some of the folders include letters that are not dated or are incomplete. A few letters have either the initials “SMA” or a year written in pencil at the top of the first page. The envelopes in this series are arranged by date and are addressed to Sophia Atwater and Richard M. Atwater, Sr.
This series contains several drawings and poems by Eli W. Blake. Some of the poems are illustrated.
This series contains one mounted portrait photograph of Eli W. Blake taken in New York City. It is signed on the back by Blake.
This series consists of one letter from Sylvia M. Boethe, a family member, to the editors of the American Heritage Publishing Company, asking if they would be interested in publishing an article about Blake’s letters.