Born October 15, 1805, Professor James Bushee was a New England educator and principal in the nineteenth century. In 1831, Bushee served as principal at the Old Smithfield Academy for twelve years. After becoming a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts in 1852, he was a professor of chemistry for several years at Worcester Medical College. Bushee then served as the principal and teacher of mathematics and physical science at the Young Ladies Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts from 1855-1864. Between 1864-1876, he served as the principal of the scientific department at Highland Military School in Worcester, Massachusetts. Bushee was one of the founders of the Worcester Natural History Society; vice president for eight years and president between 1872-1873. In 1879, Bushee moved to Woonsocket to teach private classes and died on December 20, 1888.
The collection contains the collected papers of James Bushee, including a memorial book written by a special committee in honor of Bushee; “Synopsis of Precession, with the New Precession Apparatus” written by Bushee; term report cards of George Bushee while attending People’s Academy and Morrisville Graded School, dated between 1880-1884; catalogues and circulars of the Young Ladies Institute; and documents relating to Smithfield Union Institute, Smithfield Union High School, and Smithfield Academy.
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
The collection is open for research.
James Bushee papers, MSS-0097, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
The collection is arranged in the order in which it arrived in the Rhode Island College Special Collections.
Provenance of the collection is unknown. It was in the holdings of Special Collections prior to 2023.
The collection was described by Special Collections intern, Melissa Moniz, in 2023 under the supervision of Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Veronica L. Denison.
This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact the Rhode Island College Special Collections.