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Offered here is a pair of original 1945 typed letters signed by Russell Leigh Jackson, Director of The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, addressed to Robert W. Lull, a Newburyport collector and dealer in historical books, autographs, and manuscripts.
Both letters are typed on attractive official Essex Institute letterhead bearing the institution’s circular seal and are personally signed in ink by Jackson.
January 9, 1945 Letter
In this longer letter, Jackson writes to Lull shortly after assuming leadership of the Essex Institute:
“I have succeeded Howard Corning as executive Director of the Essex Institute…”
He encourages Lull, a former member, to renew his association with the Institute and notes their earlier dealings in historical manuscripts.
Most interestingly, Jackson recalls:
“…you did sell me a letter written by Benjamin Leigh a number of years ago…”
He then asks Lull to continue keeping him in mind for other material relating to the Leigh family, providing a revealing glimpse into Jackson’s collecting interests and the acquisition of historical manuscript material.
Jackson also mentions that he was formerly a Newburyport resident and invites Lull to visit him at the Institute.
January 11, 1945 Letter
The second letter is a brief follow-up thanking Lull for his response and inviting him to visit Salem.
Jackson adds:
“We have some duplicates that I would like to have you look over.”
This is particularly interesting from a rare-book and manuscript trade perspective, suggesting that Lull may have been consulted regarding duplicate historical materials held by the Essex Institute.
Russell Leigh Jackson
Russell Leigh Jackson was a Massachusetts historian, author, museum and library administrator, and longtime figure associated with the Essex Institute.
He became director of the Institute in the 1940s, succeeding Howard Corning, and was involved in the preservation, interpretation, and acquisition of materials relating to the history of Salem and Essex County.
Jackson was also the author of historical works including The Physicians of Essex County, published by the Essex Institute in 1948.
His correspondence reflects the Institute’s active role in acquiring manuscripts, books, family papers, and other materials documenting the history of northeastern Massachusetts.
Robert W. Lull
Robert W. Lull was a Newburyport, Massachusetts-based dealer and collector specializing in old, rare, curious, and out-of-print books, autographs, manuscripts, local histories, and related historical material.
Operating from 1 Chapel Street, Newburyport, Lull supplied both private collectors and historical institutions with manuscript and printed material.
His activities place him within the early-20th-century American antiquarian book and autograph trade, and correspondence involving him survives in a number of institutional and private collections.
These letters are especially interesting because they document his direct relationship with the Essex Institute and Jackson’s previous purchase from him of an original Benjamin Leigh manuscript letter.
The Essex Institute
The Essex Institute was founded in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1848 through the merger of the Essex Historical Society and the Essex County Natural History Society.
It became one of New England’s most important regional historical organizations, maintaining extensive collections of:
- Manuscripts and family papers
- Rare books
- Genealogical material
- Decorative arts
- Maritime history
- Natural-history collections
- Historic buildings and houses
The Institute also published the long-running Essex Institute Historical Collections.
In 1992, the Essex Institute merged with the Peabody Museum of Salem to form today’s Peabody Essex Museum.
Historical Interest
Together, these two letters provide an unusually nice snapshot of the relationship between a major New England historical institution and a private antiquarian dealer.
The correspondence touches directly upon:
- Historical manuscript collecting
- Institutional acquisitions
- Duplicate archival material
- The Benjamin Leigh family
- Essex County history
- Newburyport antiquarian book dealing
- The transition in Essex Institute leadership from Howard Corning to Russell Leigh Jackson
Both letters are original period pieces from January 1945, during the closing months of World War II.
Condition
Both letters show expected age toning and light handling wear consistent with documents of this period. Please review the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
Sold together as a related two-letter archive.
