Historical note:

            Oliver Perry Sherman Jr. was born in 1846, the son of Oliver P. Sherman (1818-1903) and Susan C. Gardner (1819-1858). He became a lumber dealer in Centerdale, Rhode Island, and married Diana A. Brown. They had two children: Howard D. Sherman (b. 1874) and Susan M. Sherman (1885- ), who married James C. Scott of Providence.

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Scope and content:

            This collection includes some personal letters received by Oliver P. Sherman Jr., including a few letters relating to the purchase of race horses. There are also some letters received by his daughter Susan on the occasion of her marriage in 1907. There are also records of Oliver's business between 1885 and 1898, including receipts, correspondence and a contract to supply railroad ties to the Providence and Worcester Railroad. There are also extensive receipts for construction and maintenance on the home of Oliver's aunt, Susan G. Dean, which Oliver apparently arranged.

            In some cases, it is possible that papers of Oliver P. Sherman Sr. have been mistaken for those of his son, though this seems unlikely.

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Provenance:

            The collection was donated in 1995 as part of a large gift from William Worthington, the grandson of Susan (Sherman) Scott. It arrived boxed seperately from the David C. Scott Family Papers (MSS 956), and was made a distinct collection.

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Processing note:

            The collection has been unfolded, sorted and stored in an archival box and folders. Some printed ephemeral material, including local advertising cards, Masonic forms and programs, was sent to the Graphics Collection.

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Inventory:

1. Sherman, Diana A. - Insurance policies, 1915-1917

2. Sherman, Oliver P. Jr. - Business correspondence, 1888-1893

3. Personal correspondence, 1888-1893

4. Contract with Providence & Worcester RR, 1888

5. Deeds and insurance, 1877-1892

6. Business receipts, etc., 1885-1890

7. 1891-1898 and n.d.

8. Tax bills, 1880-1887

9. Bank books, 1899-1901

10. Sherman, Susan M. - Letters received, 1907

11. Dean, Susan G. and Larned - Receipts, etc., 1885-1893

12. Dean, Susan G. - Letters received, 1895-1905

13. House receipts, contracts, etc., 1894-1895

14. 1896-1902

15. Miscellaneous - Letter, Mamie Barnes to Howard D. Sherman, n.d.

                    Silas Gleason mortgage, 1886

                    Misc. wedding invitations, 1903-1907

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Subjects:

Centerdale, R.I. - Social life and customs

Dean, Larned (ca. 1816-1894)

Dean, Susan G.

Horse owners - Rhode Island - Centerdale

Lumber trade - Rhode Island - Centerdale

Providence and Worcester Railroad

Scott, Susan M. (Sherman)

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RIHS1822