Margaret Cook Durbin Harper papers

Collection

Identifier: D.57

Staff Only

Biographical/Historical note

In the summer of 1878, Margaret Cook (Durbin) Harper opened Sea Shore Cottage at Atlanticville, New Jersey "to afford a Summer Resort for the young working women of New York, who are in need of rest and recreation, with but a limited time to spare and insufficient means to pay the charges at the usual resorts".

Margaret Cook (Durbin) Harper (1830-1886) was the wife of Fletcher Harper, Jr. of Harper Brothers. She was prominent in many philanthropic endeavors. Besides founding the Sea Shore Cottage, she established with her sister-in law, Hannah (Peck) Harper, the Harper Industrial School on the Bowery. Mrs. Harper was also a long time supporter of the Young Women's Christian Association.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains a scrapbook of newspaper clippings about the Cottage. Also letters to Mrs. Harper from Julia F. Thompson (superintendent of the Cottage), well-wishers and a few women who had stayed at the Cottage.

Creator

Harper, Margaret Cook Durbin, 1830-1886 (Person)

Dates

Creation: 1878-1885

Language of Materials

English

Extent

1 box(es)

Access

The Margaret Cook Durbin Harper Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was the gift of Mrs. Harper Sibley, March 1976.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Margaret Cook Durbin Harper Papers, D.57, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester