Uriah and Anne Balkam letters

Collection

Identifier: MC039

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of eight letters, including three written between February and August 1864. One is addressed to Balkam's wife from "Mitchell's Station." The others concern Balkam's request for a leave of absence and are addressed "near Petersburg." There is also an undated letter written to Uriah Balkam from his wife, Anne; two letters to Anne Balkam written after Uriah's death concerning the sale of their house; and one letter written from New Orleans in 1849 from Anne to her mother. There are also photocopies and transcripts for most of the letters.

Dates

1849 - 1877

Creator

Balkam, U. (Uriah), 1812-1874 (Person)

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The collection is the physical property of Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library. Bates College holds literary rights only for material created by College personnel working on official behalf of the College, or for material which was given to the College with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission from rights holders for publication or other purposes that exceed fair use.

Historical Note

Uriah Balkam (1812-1874) was born in Robbinston, Maine, near Calais, on March 27, 1812. He was the youngest of nine children. He graduated from Amherst College in 1837 and from the Bangor (Maine) Theological Seminary in 1840.

His first pastorate was in Union, Maine. He subsequently became pastor of the Congregational Church in Wiscasset, Maine. In 1855 he accepted a call to become pastor of the Pine Street Congregational Church in Lewiston, Maine, and served there until 1870 when he retired.

Balkam was married twice. His second wife was Anne S. Longfellow.

Balkam served as Chaplain of the 16th Maine Regiment during the Civil War campaign of 1864 in northern Virginia.

In 1867, Balkam was awarded an honorary degree from Bates College and in 1873 he was elected "Cobb Professor of Logic and Christian Evidences" at Bates College.

Balkam died in March 1874 after falling from a horse.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Letters written between Uriah Balkam and his wife Anne while he served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Also includes some letters written after Uriah's death concerning the sale of his house and a letter from Anne to her mother written from New Orleans in 1849.

Organization and Arrangement

The letters are in chronological order.

Acquisition and Custody Information

Found by construction workers in the summer of 1997 during renovations to a Bates-owned house at 31 Frye Street. Accession No.: 97-001.

Processing Information

Processed by Sean Monahan, 1997.

Final arrangement and description by Kurt Kuss, Special Collections Librarian, 1999.

Finding aid updated by Pat Webber, 2023.