"Four Generations Attend Baptism of B. B. Ward Son" -- clippings and family portrait, 1933-07
Scope and Content
This small collection of family papers centers around Dr. Benjamin Bennett Briggs (1827-1893) whose 1849 diary chronicles his account of moving from Ohio to California by covered wagon. Briggs was the great-great-grandfather of the collection's donor, Dr. Chester Ward. In addition to the diary, the collection includes a small account book/diary from 1862--also kept by Briggs--as well as a number of letters to and from family members and photographs of family members across multiple generations. There are also a few Presbyterian missionary materials because Benjamin's daughter, Irene, married Samuel Lawrence Ward; they went to Persia as missionaries of the Presbyterian Church from 1876 to 1897. Other noteworthy items in the collection include a very small (and fragile) Arabic prayer book and an 1896 book of "pressed flowers from the Holy Land" in excellent condition.
Dates
- Creation: 1933-07
Creator
- From the Collection: Briggs, Abby Crane (Person)
- From the Collection: Briggs, Benjamin (Person)
- From the Collection: Briggs, Caroline Crane (Person)
Language of Materials
"Four generations were represented at a communion service held at the First Presbyterian Church at San Fernando, where Chester Lawrence Ward, the child in the picture, was baptized. In the center is the child's father, Benjamin B. Ward, at left, Mrs. B. B. Ward, the baby's grandmother, and, right, Edward D. Young, Sr., greatgrandfather."
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Extent
From the Collection: 4.92 Linear Feet (8 boxes)
Processing Information
The two clippings and the family portrait were donated framed (all in one frame). The frame was removed during processing, but all of the items are still mounted on the same board.
Repository Details
Part of the USC Libraries Special Collections Repository
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0189 United States
specol@usc.edu