All Items 40 Collection 1 Archives & Special Collections 40 Contributor 9 Nelson, Arthur W., 1880-1958 9 Nelson, Elmer H., 1878-1930 5 Amherst College 3 Brooks, Sidney, 1813-1887 2 Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.) 2 Leland, John, 1807-1864 2 Brown, John, 1800-1859 1 Charity Fund (Amherst, Mass.) 1 Vaill, Joseph, 1790-1869 1 show more 4 show fewer Location 3 Amherst 3 Massachusetts 3 White Mountains (N.H. and Me.) 3 Topic 20 Juvenile fiction 33 Adventure and adventurers 23 Imaginary places 19 Imaginary wars and battles 10 Pictorial works 4 Description and travel 3 Finance 3 Flags 3 Funds and scholarships 3 History 3 Hunting 3 Juvenile literature 3 Land settlement 3 Agriculture 2 Camping 2 College students' writings, American 2 Indians of North America 2 Knowledge and learning 2 Naval battles 2 Phrenology 2 show more 15 show fewer Part Of 3 Nelson Family Juvenilia Collection of Pamela Russell and Murray McClellan 35 Amherst College Early History Collection 3 Sidney Brooks (AC 1841) Papers 2 Genre 13 Booklets 40 Children's literature 35 Children's art 3 Fragments 3 Account books 2 Robinsonades 2 Subscription lists 2 Catalogs (documents) 1 Correspondence 1 Essays 1 Financial records 1 Lectures 1 Sketch maps 1 show more 8 show fewer Joseph Vaill memorandum with details regarding subscribers to Amherst College funds, 1841-1844 Vaill, Joseph, 1790-1869 Joseph Vaill, Trustee and General Agent of Amherst College, booklet labeled as "Private Memorandum Amherst College" with details regarding subscribers to Amherst College funds and their subscriptions. Included in the booklet are mentions of "Book No. 1" and "Book No. 2," presumably other account books, and there are notes in which Vaill clarifies certain details in those books with information included in this booklet. Details provided include donor names, amounts of subscriptions, notes on donors or their subscriptions such as when he can call on a subscriber again, and often the residence of donors. In a note on the back of the booklet Vaill states that there is little hope of making up their subscription fund unless the times become more favorable. The information in the booklet likely pertains to the one hundred thousand dollar subscription fund. Joseph Vaill memorandum with details regarding subscribers to Amherst College funds, 1841-1844 Phrenology Brooks, Sidney, 1813-1887 Sidney Brooks essay regarding phrenology. This essay is presumed to be related to Brooks' studies at Phillips Academy or Amherst College. Phrenology Sidney Brooks lecture on phrenology Brooks, Sidney, 1813-1887 Sidney Brooks lecture regarding phrenology. Brooks writes at the beginning of the document that he is complying with the invitation of "this Hon. body" to deliver a lecture on the topic. This lecture is presumed to be related to Brooks' studies at Phillips Academy or Amherst College. Sidney Brooks lecture on phrenology Thirty thousand dollar fund subscription booklet, 1822-1827 Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.) Collegiate Charity Institution subscription booklet for the fund known as the Thirty Thousand Dollar Subscription. The booklet includes introductory text dated June 28, 1822. A table of columns printed with headings for subscribers' names, residences, sums to be paid each year, and amounts paid for years 1823-1827 is given and is filled in with the appropriate details, handwritten. Most of the subscribers noted in the booklet are from Conway, Massachusetts and "Conway" is written on the front and back covers in an unattributed hand. There are also two financial notes on the back of the last page of the booklet, both signed by John Leland, Treasurer of Amherst College, 1820-1835, and Financier of the Charity Fund, 1826-1833. Thirty thousand dollar fund subscription booklet, 1822-1827 Volume of records kept by John Leland regarding Amherst College finances and funds, 1821-1835 Leland, John, 1807-1864 A bound volume containing financial records of John Leland, Treasurer of the College, 1820-1835 and Financier of the Charity Fund, 1826-1833. The book includes loosely inserted booklets along with an account book and bound letters, reports, expense records, and fund subscription registers all pertaining to Amherst College finances. John Leland is presumed primarily responsible for the content, though Samuel F. Dickinson, John J. Jones, Rufus Graves, and Sally Ames (on behalf of a Mite Society) are contributors to individual documents in the volume. Also included is a letter dated 1888 from George S. Cheney to Mr. Seelye (presumably Julius Hawley Seelye) regarding a booklet of subscription records from Boston subscribers. Subscription registers included may pertain to the Charity Fund or the subscription fund commonly called the Thirty Thousand Dollar Subscription. The compiled records were bound together at an unknown later date "at the expense of Frank W. Stearns." Volume of records kept by John Leland regarding Amherst College finances and funds, 1821-1835 Settlement on Round Continent. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 of a story about the colonization of the fictitious Round Continent. James Vertigo voyages to Round Continent and establishes a prosperous colony there. After some time, the inhabitants are threatened by Indians and the hero Donald Ferry saves the day. The final page does not seem to follow the narrative and it is possible that a portion is missing. It is unclear which of the Nelson brothers is the author. Settlement on Round Continent. Chapter 2 Book depicting military uniforms An unattributed catalog of military uniforms from the countries of the Nelson brothers' fictional world. Each uniform is illustrated in full color and accompanied by a detailed description of the uniform and its cost. The uniforms of many notable characters created by the Nelson brothers are described in this catalog, including William Little, Burt Green (sometimes referred to as Birt) and Ethan Allen. Book depicting military uniforms Five years in the White Mountains, volume 2 Nelson, Elmer H., 1878-1930 This second volume of "Five Years in the White Mountains" picks up the story of the three brothers' outdoor adventures at the beginning of their second year in the mountains. The volume is incomplete, featuring only the beginning of a story entitled "Lost in the Mountains." In the story the narrator and his two brothers headed upstream to go hunting but soon lost their bearings after pursuing a rabbit one of them had shot and only wounded. Forced to make camp for the night, the story ends abruptly with two of the boys trying to put the third one at ease about the loneliness of sleeping in the woods at night. The book is unattributed but it has been inferred that Elmer Nelson, the author of volume 1, is the creator. Five years in the White Mountains, volume 2 A partridge Nelson, Elmer H., 1878-1930 An account by Elmer Nelson of a time when a family cat brought a dead partridge into their home. Their uncle found the bird and Elmer removed the tail feathers to make a fan. The story includes a detailed physical description of partridges. A partridge The America [sic] family Robbinso [sic] Nelson, Elmer H., 1878-1930 An adventure story written by Elmer Nelson that was inspired by works like Swiss Family Robinson (1812) and Robinson Crusoe (1719). In the story, the characters Jimmy and Alice go sailing and spot an island. They decide to explore the island and encounter sharks and monkeys as they go about securing food and shelter. Arthur Nelson wrote a second volume that continues this story, which is labeled on the cover as volume 2. Although there is no volume number on this story by Elmer Nelson, it has been inferred that it is volume 1. The America [sic] family Robbinso [sic] The rough it club, or, The famous gulf city club Attributed to William Little, the alter ego of Arthur Nelson, "The Rough Club" tells the story of a rivalry between the Red Bud Boys and the Gulf City Club and takes place in the imaginary world of the Nelson brothers. Hutch Harvard is the leader of the Red Bud Boys and Jimmy Allen (son of the Nelson brothers' character Ethan Allen) leads the Gulf City Club, also known as the Rough It Club. The story follows two main narratives. First is the tale of Jimmy Allen and the Rough It Club pursuing a bank robber. The Rough It Club pursues the outlaw over one thousand miles and is aided along the way by a whaling ship and a schooner from Big Continent. The Rough It Club is able to sneak up on and board the criminal's vessel and bring it back to Gulf City. The second narrative follows the rivalry between the two clubs. The rivalry begins with a boat competition and escalates to a battle by the end of the book. The cover indicates it was "published by Green and Little," the Nelson brothers' fictitious publishing house representing the alter egos of Elmer and Arthur Nelson respectively, and the book features both color and pencil drawings. The rough it club, or, The famous gulf city club Horse rase [sic] This booklet begins with a story by one of the Nelson boys about a horse race won by their character Ethan Allen. The next piece in the booklet is a poem about their home town of Goshen, New Hampshire, written by Elmer Nelson. The third piece, entitled "A Valentine" is unusual for the Nelson brothers because the story is told from a girl's perspective. This unattributed story is followed by a poem by William J. Little about the importance of their work and play in the hay of their grandfather's barn. The booklet ends with a bit of self promotion as the Nelson brothers describe the difficulties of writing as a line of work, but then go on to describe themselves, and their alter egos William Little and Bert (sometimes referred to Birt or Burt) Green, as being among the world's best writers of history and adventure. Horse rase [sic] Nelson brothers fragments from a story about Forest Continent Three sections from an unidentified work by one of the Nelson brothers largely concerning the settlement of the fictional Forest Continent. The work begins with a fragment describing the settlement of Forest Continent. The story picks up at the end of a conflict between Long Continent and Big Continent and the settling of Forest Continent. John Little and Samuel Green lead an expedition to check on the settlement and they discover only a few remaining colonists who they lead to the coast and New Poplington. Later, New Poplington is purchased by Ethan Allen of Big Continent. This is followed by chapter 2, titled "United Division. Other Settlements," which tells of the roles of Burt Green (sometimes referred to as Birt), Ethan Allen and William Little on Forest Continent after its colonization by Big Continent, Long Continent and Round Continent. This chapter describes in detail the land holdings and trade between the three major areas on the new Forest Continent. Chapter 3 titled, "The Blacks. Their Tribes and Customs," describes the history of "the blacks" on Forest Continent and the conflict and battle between them and the settlers. The chapter ends abruptly and appears to be unfinished. Nelson brothers fragments from a story about Forest Continent Nelson brothers fragment from a story about Clumfield's Land Four pages of an unidentified story by one of the Nelson brothers that includes the last page of the first chapter and the first three pages of chapter 2, "The Party Arrive". The story revolves around Clumfield of the imaginary Black Archipelago and the discovery of Clumfield's Land. At the beginning the adventurers must face Indians and unknown lands. After the formation of the colony, the people are ruled by an evil president. The character Jim Jinks eventually pursues and hangs the ousted president. Nelson brothers fragment from a story about Clumfield's Land An adventure on Red Rover An illustrated story by William J. Little (the alter ego of Arthur Nelson) in which two boys, Walter Allen and Otho Strong, are held captive in a cave for five days by the ferocious birds inhabiting the mining island of Red Rover. Eventually the boys are rescued by Elmer Green and Arthur Little. The cover reads, "published by Green & Little," one of several fictitious publishing companies created by the Nelson brothers, and based on the alter egos of Elmer and Arthur Nelson. An adventure on Red Rover At the mast This story by an unidentified Nelson brother tells of a sea battle occurring in 1898 between the fictional Chipewa and Big Continent navies. Though undermanned and out-resourced, the Chipewa forces are led by the formidable Captain Harry Nelson. After substantial preparation of their cruiser, the "New York," the crew hopes to finally encounter a Big Continent squadron. After a few quiet days at sea, enemy ships approach at dawn and fire on the New York. Nelson and his men return fire with thirteen-inch guns and prepare for further combat. At this point the story ends abruptly, having set the reader up with expectations for more brave and daring exploits by Captain Nelson and the crew of the New York. At the mast Nelson brothers booklet of flags The Nelson brothers created three booklets with labeled color drawings of flags from their imaginary world. This volume features the flags of various yacht clubs and steamship lines, as well as flags for specific ships from merchant and battle fleets. Initials under the drawings appear to indicate the geographic area associated with the flag. Nelson brothers booklet of flags Adventures on the scud Nelson, Arthur W., 1880-1958 A real-life story written by Arthur Nelson that describes his and his brother's struggle to maintain their boat against melting ice as they cross a river with a load of cargo. After the boat is hit by timbers, the boys are left with no other choice but to repair their boat with some helpful donations from the townspeople. Adventures on the scud History of Long Continent Nelson, Arthur W., 1880-1958 One of several fictional histories written by the Nelson brothers to document the development of the imaginary world they were creating. Written by Arthur Nelson, this history describes battles and other key events in the history of Long Continent. Two full-page color illustrations have been taped into the fold on smaller scraps of paper. The first is captioned "William J Little" and the second is captioned "Birt S Green" (sometimes referred to as Burt), the alter egos of Arthur Nelson and Elmer Nelson, respectively. Walter Nelson's alter ego, Ethan Allen, is not pictured although he and his men are described as having fought bravely. History of Long Continent Nelson brothers booklet of flags The Nelson brothers created three booklets with labeled color drawings of flags from their imaginary world. The flags in this volume are labeled only with initials, making it hard to say with precision which continent, island, fleet or other part of their imaginary world the flags are meant to represent. Using a variety of symbols and formats, the Nelson brothers have created a series of flags that serve as interesting visual aids for understanding their imaginary world. Nelson brothers booklet of flags
