Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Hill Family Papers and Publications
Date(s)
Extent
1.00
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Hill family came to the Midwest in the years before the Civil War, living in both Iowa and Minnesota. James Jeremiah Hill was married twice: his first wife, Sarah Hyde, bore him many children, but only two survived, being Gershom Hyde Hill (born 1846) and James Langdon Hill (born 1848). Both of these sons would graduate from Iowa College in 1871. Sarah Hyde Hill died in 1852. James J. remarried a year later to Sarah Harriman, who bore James six children. The eldest, George Frederick, would graduate in the class of 1881 at Iowa College. This collection contains works of James Jeremiah, Sarah Hyde, Sarah Harriman, the two oldest boys, Gershom and James Langdon, and James Langdon’s wife.
James Jeremiah, a minister from the east coast, is well known for his contribution to begin Iowa College, putting down the first dollar to start it. His son Gershom became a doctor, and worked for many years at the State Hospital for the Insane in Independence, Iowa. Most of his works represented here are related to his work with the mentally ill.
James Langdon was the most prolific writer in the family, boasting a collection of works three volumes in size. He became a minister like his father, and many of his works concern themselves with either the history of Iowa College or morality. There is also a book that James L. was putting together of his family’s genealogy.
Both of James Jeremiah’s wives are represented in the collection, although Sarah Harriman’s “Life and Work of James J. Hill in Minnesota and Iowa, 1853-1870” is by far the more substantial of the two.
James Langdon Hill’s wife also wrote a history of sorts, entitled “Memories”, commemorating her husband’s death in 1931. In it are stories, anecdotes, and some Hill genealogy.
Name of creator
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The collection consists primarily of printed materials, and a few letters of correspondence. Gershom Hyde or James Langdon Hill authored the bulk of the collection. Most of their works are in the form of pamphlets, small books, and occasionally typed manuscripts.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Open for research.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
The materials in the collection were dispersed throughout the larger Iowa Room collection until they were integrated into a single collection in May, 2002.
Immediate source of acquisition
Created from materials already in Special Collections.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Grinnell College (Subject)
- Grinnell, Josiah Bushnell (Subject)
- Grinnell, Julia Chapin (Subject)
- Hill, Gershom Hyde (Subject)
- Hill, James Jeremiah (Subject)
- Hill, James Langdon (Class of 1871) (Subject)
- Hill, Sarah Harriman (Subject)
- Iowa Band (Subject)
- Hyde, Sarah (Subject)