Elizabeth Pinkham Crosby (b. 1816) and Malvina F. Pinkham Marshall (b. 1820) were the daughters of Capt. Seth Pinkham, a Nantucket whaler, and his wife Mary (Brown) Pinkham. The girls were raised on Nantucket, along with their sisters Harriett (b. 1828), Helen (later the wife of Joseph Belcher of Providence), Mary (b. 1814) and Rebecca (b. 1818) and their brother Seth, who followed their father into the whaling business.
Elizabeth married William H. Crosby in 1834, and Malvina married whaling captain Joseph Marshall (whose second wife she became) in 1846.
The family home on Nantucket, built in 1826 and called the Captain Seth Pinkham House, is now preserved as a historic heritage property. A biographical novel about their father, based on his manuscript logs, journals and correspondence, was published in 1932 under the title
The Brown University Library's collection of Pinkham family correspondence represent a small portion of a larger collection of family correspondence pertaining to the lives of a prominent Nantucket family intimately involved in the whaling business. (Related materials may be found at the
The letters in this collection are chiefly directed to Malvina F. Pinkham (who married Joseph Marshall in Nantucket in 1846) and Elizabeth Pinkham (who married William H. Crosby on Nantucket in 1834), both of whom relocated to the New Bedford area after marriage. The letters include much discussion of social life in Nantucket (Mass.), New Bedford (Mass.) and Providence (R.I.), as well as national politics and family life.
Although purchased by Carleton D. Morse for his collection on whaling, there is little discussion of whaling in the letters.
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.
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.
Pinkham family correspondence, Ms. 85.16, Brown University Library.
The collection is arranged chronologically in a single series.
Received from Doris G. Morse (widow of Carleton D. Morse) between 1957 and 1962.
One set of papers, originally affiliated with the Pinkham family correspondence, was processed, cataloged, and housed separately:
The Nantucket Historical Association Research Library has two collections with Pinkham family papers:
The Nantucket Historical Association also has a genealogical database online with a portrait and details of
The Brown Library holds a biography of Captain Seth Pinkham:
Digital facsimiles of items from this collection are available from within the online finding aid.
Marriage announcement between B. Penniman and N. Bedford. Anticipation of creator's marriage proposal.
Letter written en route by train. Mary and Henry's purchase of Capt. Frederick Chase's Sailing Street house. Henry's relief of a ship wrecked by the Falkland Islands. Receipt of word from Joseph and Malvina Pinkham. Renovation of Benjamin's house. Capt. Elisha Fisher's wife's discontentment. Locke's empiricism. Joseph's trip to Calcutta. Maria Whitehill.
Letter-writing.
Author and mother's domestic management and discusses coin collection.
Notification of secession of several states and hopes for peace-making once Lincoln takes office. Remembrance of Joseph Marsdale's courting of Malvina. Enjoyment of sleigh-riding. Notice of Priscilla Chasey to Mr. Almy of Providence. Author offers to supply clothing to Malvina. George Marshall, aunt, and John Mather's separate deaths. Skating and housekeeping. Author's invitation to visit.
Mother's decline and Luther's refusal to care for her.
Response to Malvina's previous accusations regarding financial relations with Joseph. Author's defense against Malvina's accusations, specifically his hospitality to Joseph in San Francisco.
Appreciation for letting author visit.
Notice of accompaniment to the Lyceum.
Notice of expected visitation by friends.
Macy anticipates meeting Pinkham at concert.
Marshall requests interview with Pinkham.
Invitation
Apology and hopes for reconciliation over dispute concerning Joseph.