Collections : [Connecticut Museum of Culture and History]

The collection consists entirely of letters written by Siebert to his wife Josephine in West Hartford, Connecticut. They are arranged chronologically.

The accession record for this collection indicates that Newton C. Brainard donated the collection in 1980. However, Brainard died in 1964. That accession record also indicates the gift consisted of three boxes. Only two boxes were found under that number.

This collection contains the correspondence of Newton C. Brainard, a Past President of the Connecticut Historical Society, as well as the correspondence of Thompson Harlow, former Director of CHS, all of which relates to their research on the origins of the seal of the city of Hartford that was reportedly first used on a diploma bestowed upon Hector Lewis St. John Crèvecoeur (1735-1813) in 1785 by the mayor of Hartford. There are also research notes, an exhibit placard, newspaper articles, and pictures of the original Hartford seal. The collection also contains an embossing of the seal itself.

This collection is gathered from several purchased sets of papers. The bulk of the collection, containing Scovell’s correspondence, financial records and papers pertaining to the Brig Dolphin, was purchased in one group. Additional papers, many relating to other ships owned and/or captained by Scovell, came from other collections. The papers have been arranged chronologically.