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Elihu Dwight was born on October 22, 1763 in Belchertown, Massachusetts to Justus Dwight and Sarah Lamb Dwight. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1790, he studied medicine with Dr. Ebenezer Hunt in Northampton, Massachusetts. Dwight became one of the first physicians to establish a medical practice in South Hadley, Massachusetts. On October 7, 1801, he married Lydia White of Springfield, Massachusetts. They had four daughters and four sons together. He became a successful businessperson and acquired a good deal of property in the local area. He also made a substantial donation towards the establishment of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. At ninety, he died in his South Hadley home on June 1, 1854.
The Elihu Dwight Papers consist of small pox inoculation records, account books, bills, correspondence, various receipts, indenture forms, land agreements and deeds, and shipping statements. Dwight was one of the first physicians to settle in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and materials related to his medical practice include smallpox inoculations receipts for himself and two of his children. This collection primarily concerns his investments and business activities, including the purchase of land, his interest in a blacksmith shop in South Hadley, and his involvement with a lead mine in Hatfield, Massachusetts. The primary focus of the land agreements and deeds document his frequent property investments in South Hadley, Massachusetts as well as several purchases in Maine, New York, and Virginia. The majority of the financial records reflect his business activities in the early nineteenth century, particularly regarding the purchase and sale of goods for his apothecary shop. Shipping correspondence provides information related to the prices and quantities of goods and statements provide an inventory of goods as well as the names of the captains, the sailing vessels, and the ports. This collection also includes recipes for whiskey and dying wool, as well notes from an algebra class, possibly from his time at Dartmouth or perhaps from one of his children.
This collection is organized into eight series:
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Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:
Mount Holyoke College, Archives and Special Collections, South Hadley, MA.
This series consists of receipts and correspondence regarding the inoculation of Dwight and Samuel Moody by Dr. Gideon Tiffany in Hanover, New Hampshire. Other correspondence includes Park Holland and Thomas Willson's (of the Belchertown Board of Selectman) decision to inoculate Nancy and Justus Dwight since they were most likely exposed to small pox. Also, a section of the Boston Medical Intelligencer includes information on the outbreak and treatment of smallpox in the Boston area.
This series contains agreements, correspondence, and deeds regarding the purchase and sale of land mostly located in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Other purchases are for Northampton, Granby, and Springfield, Massachusetts and in Bangor Maine, Troy New York, and Randolph County Virginia. Property transactions with local residents include Justus Dwight, Titus Goodman, J. Woodbridge, Eldad White, and Cyrus and Elvira White.
This series consists of account books, ledgers, bills, various financial receipts, requests, shipping records, and memoranda. Much of the material reflects Dwight's business activities in the early nineteenth century, particularly regarding the purchase and sale of goods for his apothecary shop. Shipping correspondence provides information related to the prices and quantities of goods and statements provide an inventory of goods as well as the names of the captains, the sailing vessels, and the ports. Account books and ledgers include the names of borrowers and the amount of money owed to Dwight. Other account material contains information regarding Dwight's store account with Bridgman & Co. Billing information primarily consists of formal ledgers and lists of items that document the sale of alcohol and household goods. Receipts of credit provide additional information regarding frequent purchases made by Dwight. Receipts of payment provide information regarding services for goods, labor, and shipments. Also, receipts for city taxes for South Hadley and tuition for Yale College may be of interest.
This series consists of correspondence, indentures, and receipts regarding the Hatfield lead mine. Correspondence includes Dwight's purchase of the mine in 1809, financing of labor and equipment, and the proposed sale of the mine in 1841. Also, indentures provide the name of laborers and type of work to be completed. Other material includes receipts of payment for mining equipment or labor from George Gibbs.
This series consists of agreements and contracts regarding the daily labor and operation costs of a blacksmith shop in South Hadley. A contract between James Doane and William Granger provides information regarding their business partnership to run the shop. Agreements between Dwight and Daniel Stebbins document the financing of furnishings and labor for the business. Other materials include agreements for payment of labor and settlement statements for ownership.
This series consists of three notebooks that vary in subject matter and use. One notebook contains vocabulary lists, the second is related to biblical study, and the third includes a list of household goods.
This series consists of a recipe for making whiskey as well as a recipe for dying wool.
This series consists of notes from an algebra class, possibly from Dwight's time at Dartmouth or perhaps from one of his children.
This series consists of a recipe for making whiskey as well as a recipe for dying wool.
This series consists of notes from an algebra class, possibly from Dwight's time at Dartmouth or perhaps from one of his children.