Moses Giddings Papers

Collection

Identifier: SpC MS 0201

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This small collection contains both business and personal papers of Moses Giddings which reflect his interests in philanthropy, education, and religion, as well as his involvement in the lumber and shipping businesses.

The collection is arranged in two series: Personal Papers and Business Records. There are no sub-series. The Personal Papers series opens with two folders of correspondence. The first, 1848-1909, contains incoming letters to Giddings and drafts of his replies; it covers both personal and business matters. A major segment originates from Madeira cargo. This section also contains a letter to Giddings from Joshua L. Chamberlain about the work of the Bible Society of Maine. A second folder of correspondence, 1862-1899, concerns land held by Colby College. This series also contains ledgers of household expenses, 1867-1903; photographs of Giddings and his wife; and articles by and about him from various publications of the Good-Will Hinckley Homes, with which he was actively involved.

The Business Records series contains letter books, 1848-1884, of Giddings's outgoing correspondence, mostly concerning his lumber and shipping ventures; a permits and stumpage ledger, 1897-1906; and financial records including a cashbook, journals, and a ledger. The series ends with information about accounts of the brig "Executive" and the ship "Golden Rocket," two vessels in which Giddings held interests.

Dates

Creation: 1846-1938
Creation: Majority of material found within 1848-1908

Creator

Giddings, Moses, 1816-1911 (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility. One week's notice required for retrieval.

Use Restrictions

Information on literary rights available in the Library.

Biographical Note

Moses Giddings was born in Bangor Maine, on September 29, 1816, and lived there until his death in 1911. He began his working life as a clerk for the Norcross Lumber Company, gaining practical knowledge of all branches of the lumber business. After a few years, he went into business himself, gradually enlarging his operations until he became one of the leading lumber merchants and owners of timberlands in Maine. He was also involved in the shipping business, sending vessels to foreign ports and bringing them back loaded with various goods from those ports. He owned part interest in the ship "Golden Rocket," burned at sea in 1861 as the first vessel captured by the Confederate ship "Sumter."

Giddings served for many years as the president of the Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad Company; during his term the railroad was extended from Blanchard to Greenville, Maine. He was also trustee of the Bangor Savings Bank. Active in civic and religious organizations he was superintendent of the Sunday school at the First Baptist Church in Bangor for more than 40 years. He was also president of the Maine Baptist Conference from 1887 to 1889 and was for many years a member of the Board of Managers of the American Baptist Missionary Union.

Beginning in 1852, he served for 59 years as a trustee of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He was also a member of the board of trustees of Ricker Classical Institute, Houlton, Maine, and of the State Industrial School for Girls in Hallowell, Maine. He also served as the first president of the Good Will - Hinckley Homes for Boys and Girls, founded in 1889 in Fairfield, Maine, as a home and school for children in need.

Moses Giddings was married three times: to Mary Shirley, who died in 1851; to Ernestine Chase, who died in 1869; and to Sarah E. Sabine. He had four children from his second marriage: Frederick Chase, Ernestine, Madeleine, and Mary Susan.

Moses Giddings died on October 22, 1911.

Extent

3 boxes

1 box (1 oversized box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This small collection contains both business and personal papers of Moses Giddings of Bangor, Maine.

Conservation Note

The collection has been re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Photographs have been housed in polypropylene sleeves and remain with the relevant documents.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Moses Giddings papers came to the University of Maine Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections in 1983 as a gift of Henry D. Burrage, executor of the estate of Mildred Giddings Burrage.