Part 1 (Mss 384, Micro 33, PH Mss 384, PH 76): Original Collection, 1775-1940 (bulk 1838-1923)
Physical Description: 3.6 cubic feet (9 archives boxes and 1 flat box), 1 reel of microfilm (35 mm), and 26 photographs 
Scope and Content Note

The William F. Allen Family Papers contain correspondence, journals, and writings of family members and are arranged into four series: William F. Allen, Margaret Andrews Allen, Allen Children, and Allen, Andrews, Clarke, and Ware Families. Within each segment of the papers the arrangement is chronological, except the writing files, which are arranged alphabetically by title.

The bulk of the papers pertain to William F. Allen, who kept a detailed record of his experiences throughout his life. His diaries contain his reactions to the people he met and the places he visited. Of particular note is the diary he wrote while a freedmen teacher in Beaufort County, South Carolina (1863-1864), which includes the music and words to numerous slave songs. His journals and notebooks consist largely of short, factual accounts of everyday life including material on architecture, finances, topography, weather, and other mundane activities. Allen's papers also contain several grade books from courses he taught at the University of Wisconsin, a sermon written in 1788 by Thomas Prentiss which Allen delivered in 1873, and correspondence with Herbert Baxter Adams. Many of William F. Allen's published and manuscript articles on such diverse topics as religion, history, and music can be found in this first series. The correspondence is mostly outgoing and starts in 1838 when he was a young boy, up through 1878. The diaries from his time in Beaufort County, South Carolina are typed transcripts; location of the originals is unknown.

Besides her numerous articles and stories, Margaret Andrews Allen's papers include incoming correspondence, primarily letters of condolence following the deaths of William Francis, William Ware, and Philip Loring. Her notable correspondents include John Bascom and Charles Van Hise, but the substantive value of these letters is minimal.

Several memorial articles were written about Margaret as well as about William Francis; these are included in their respective series.

Unfortunately, the record is not as detailed for the children as for their parents. Little material remains that is pertinent to their adult years. While Katherine's papers sparsely document her adult life, William W. and Philip's lives after childhood are represented only by obituaries. The only material concerning Andrews' adulthood is the 1937 will of his second wife, Elizabeth Emerson. The material pertaining to the Allen children's childhood, however, is rather extensive. Margaret and William kept joint diaries about their children, beginning with the birth of Andrews in 1870. A wide variety of unusually sophisticated written and pictorial material produced by the children as youngsters is also contained in this series, as are the songs, puzzles, and anagrams that the entire family collected.

Material pertaining to the Allen, Andrews, Clarke, and Ware families, collateral relatives of the William F. Allen family, includes genealogical information on three of these Massachusetts families: the Allens, the Clarkes, and the Wares. Also includes numerous manuscripts, probably by Jane Andrews, as well as a petition concerning copyright laws signed by numerous nineteenth century literary figures.

Series: William Francis Allen

Correspondence

Outgoing, 1838-1878, undated

Incoming, 1850-1888

Diaries
Note: Written as letters to parents and wife.

Maine trip, 1853 July

European trip, 1854 September 7-1856 May 5

Beaufort County, South Carolina: typed transcript, 1863 November 5-1864 July 13
Access Restrictions: Use microfilm.
Note: Location of originals unknown.

Helena, Arkansas: typed transcript, 1864 September 15-1865 January 18
Access Restrictions: Use microfilm.

Autograph manuscript originals

Charleston, South Carolina: autograph manuscript originals and photocopy, 1865 April 14-July 10
Access Restrictions: Use microfilm.

Typed transcript, created 2009

Journals

Northeastern U.S. trip, 1849 July 31-1850 August 8

1853 July 1-1890 February 8

Notebooks

European trip, 1854-1856

1862-1864, 1871, 1886

Account books, 1856-1883

Grade books, 1867-1890

Diplomas and certificates
Scope and Content Note: Included are two diplomas from Harvard, 1851 and 1866, and a certificate as corresponding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1882.

Writings

As a child and a young man, 1840-1848

Manuscripts

Publications

Obituaries and memorial articles about William F. Allen, 1889-1890

Miscellaneous, 1788-1891

Photographs

Freedmen's quarters, Helena, Arkansas, 1864-1865
Physical Description: 2 photographs 
Note: Copied from an album owned by Allen.

Series: Margaret Andrews Allen

Correspondence, 1881-1923

Diplomas and certificates
Scope and Content Note: Included is a diploma from the Oswego Training School, undated; a diploma from the Putnam Free School of Massachusetts, 1857; a diploma from the Massachusetts State Normal School, 1863; and a certificate from the Madison Committee of the American Fund for French Wounded, 1919.

Journals of poetry, 1864-1865

Writings

Manuscripts, 1868, 1906, undated

Publications, 1868-1923

Material about Margaret A. Allen, 1884-1925

Series: Allen Children

Journals about the children, 1870-1887

Writings and drawings

Katherine

Correspondence, 1873-1924

Diplomas
Scope and Content Note: Included is a B.A. diploma from the University of Wisconsin, 1887, and a Ph.D. diploma from the University of Wisconsin, 1898.

Miscellaneous, 1879-1940

Andrews, 1888-circa 1937

William Ware, 1898

Philip Loring, 1907-1908

Series: Allen, Andrews, Clarke, and Ware Families

Genealogical information, 1775-1842

Allen Family, 1845-1890

Andrews Family writings

Cartes-de-visite portraits of family members
Physical Description: 24 photographs 

Part 2 (M70-189): Additions, 1850-1950
Physical Description: 609 photographs (4 boxes and 1 oversize folder) 
Scope and Content Note: Photographs include images of family members, houses, and locations in Wisconsin and New England, 1850-1950.

Interiors

Identified

Unidentified

Exteriors

Identified
Physical Description: (2 folders) 

Unidentified

Images of William F. Allen

William F. Allen and son, Will, in study

Joseph Allen

Newburyport views, etc.

William W. Allen

Albert Powers and Lucy Allen Powers Family

Margaret Andrews Allen

Katherine Allen

Mary Allen Johnson

Professors

Engravings

Identified portraiture

Women

Children

Men

Couples

Groups

Unidentified portraiture

Women

Children

Men

Couples

Groups

Painting of a child

Ephemera

Tintypes and other cased images

Cabinet cards

Women

Men

Cartes-de-visite

Printing block portrait

Miscellaneous