Minnie Gresham Machen notebook

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS-0172

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection is formed by the holographic notebook of Minnie Gresham Machen. It is one bound volume with entries dated, 1874- 1904. Although the notebook covers a span of thirty years, there are relatively few entries for that amount of time. The writings in the notebook deal largely with religious subjects, but there are references to the poet, Sidney Lanier.

The notebook begins with a lengthy description of a charismatic, religious service led by a minister named as Father Taylor, serving at the Seamen's Church in Boston, 1852. Two sermons of Father Taylor are recounted. This account is in the handwriting of someone other than Mrs. Machen. Persons attending the service identified themselves as Harvard Law School students, close friends, and Virginians. It is likely that these early pages of the notebook were written by Minnie Gresham Machen's husband, Arthur Webster Machen (1827-1915), a lawyer whose birthplace was Virginia.

Following the church narrative are Mrs. Machen's writings that include a few religious meditations and a family remembrance. Mrs. Machen noted that one essay, "The Art of Self Control," was later published in The Central Presbyterian. Of interest are Mrs. Machen's thoughts about Sidney Lanier. She copied into her notebook an extract from a letter written to Lanier's biographer, Edwin Mims. Mrs. Machen referred to Lanier's difficulties in the Reconstruction period and his later proposal to offer a lecture series on Shakespeare for women (eventually given, 1878-1879). Mrs. Machen's final entry in 1904, is a reflection on the nobility of poetry.

Dates

Creation: 1874-1904

Creator

Machen, Minnie Gresham (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information.

This collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical Note

Mary Jones "Minnie" Gresham Machen (1849-1931) was a writer of religious literature. She was the daughter of John J. Gresham and, most likely, was born in Virginia. She married Arthur Webster Machen (1827-1915) who was born at Walney, Fairfax County, Virginia. Minnie and Arthur Webster Machen resided in Baltimore city where Mr. Machen practiced law.

Mrs. Machen contributed articles to The Southern Presbyterian, The Central Presbyterian, and published The Bible in Browning in 1903. She was acquainted with the poet, Sidney Lanier, and his wife, Mary Day Lanier. Mrs. Machen attended a series of Shakespeare lectures presented by Lanier at the Peabody Institute, 1878-1879. When Edwin Mims was researching his biography of Sidney Lanier, he asked Mrs. Machen to record her reminiscences. Her impressions were used in Mim's published biography, Sidney Lanier (1905).

Mrs. Machen was the mother of Arthur Webster Machen (1877-1950), a Baltimore lawyer; John Gresham Machen (1881-1937), a Presbyterian minister and religious writer; and Thomas Gresham Machen (1886-1975), a Baltimore architect. The three men received their undergraduate degrees at The Johns Hopkins University.

Extent

0.167 Cubic Feet (1 volume)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Minnie Gresham Machen (1849-1931) was a writer of religious literature in Baltimore, MD. The collection consists of a volume with entries dated 1874-1904 with relatively few entries. The writings in the notebook deal largely with religious subjects, but there are references to the poet, Sidney Lanier.