Weir collection

The Weir collection consists of four series: Personal papers, Financial papers, Estate papers, and Miscellaneous.

Series I, Personal papers, contains nine folders of incoming correspondence to Robert Weir, 1863-1930, as well as one folder of outgoing correspondence, 1874-1924. The earliest letters in the collection were addressed to Robert Weir from his mother, Eliza Johnson Weir. She spoke of normal day-to-day happenings, and also expressed concern for his safety amid the rumors of troop movements near his residences in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Between 1882 to 1889, the bulk of Robert Weir's incoming correspondence is from his wife, Fannie, during occassions of their separation. She often addresses him as "Darling Robin" or "Precious Husband", and signs herself as "Birdie" or "Baby." Fannie's letters are very affectionate, and she often exclaims at the "sweetest" letters she receives in return. There are also letters to Robert from his young daughters- Florence, Edith, and Janet, circa 1880s. This series also contains letters of condolence sent to Robert after the death of his wife in 1890.

Weir's outgoing correspondence contains three letters he wrote to Fannie in 1870, the year before their marriage. The remainder of the folder contains miscellaneous outgoing business letters.

This series also contains numerous folders of miscellaneous incoming correspondence addressed to Robert Weir, both from friends and from associates from his charitable endeavors. On August 21, 1928, the Mathide Vasel, Principal of the Blind Girls' School in Changsha, Hunan, China thanks him for sending money for their support. She writes, "The girl for whom you have been paying all the years died last year. So I would like to tell you that this support is now for another girl, who has come to our school lately. I shall be very thanksful if you would agree to this. The name of this girl is Lo Pao-chen, foreign name Alwine." She continues to say that they hope to convert the child while she is young, "and be a real Christian girl." In the same folder are several letters from Hom Lee, a friend from missionary work, in Shanghai, circa 1926-1929.

The remainder of Series I contains miscellaneous family papers belonging to the Weir family, such as poetry, calling cards, newspaper clippings, recipes and prescriptions, and school reports. There are three reports on the progress of Robert Weir, circa 1863 to 1864, all of which award high remarks in scholarship, attendance, and conduct. There are also several locks of hair, some of which are labeled. One lock wrapped in paper belonged to Weir's sister who died in infancy: "Mary Olivia, born on the 16th of December 1850, died on the 4th of April 1851."

Series II, Financial papers, makes up the bulk of the collection. It contains correspondence between Weir and his stockbroker, H. A. Riedel, concerning his interests in various mining ventures in the Western United States and Mexico. This correspondence primarily spans the 1920s and includes various reports on mining companies. Several folders in box 2 contain just these reports with little to no correspondence included. There are also a number of stock certificates for these mining companies, as well as some miscellaneous finance and transportation companies.

Series II also contains a large quantity of receipts, primarily kept by Robert Weir from 1863 through 1930. Most receipts are for the household, such as groceries and dry goods, as well as clothing. One receipt for 1870 charges $3.00 for "making and trimming one pair of pants." These receipts span the entirety of boxes 3-4. Additional receipts in box 5 belong to Catherine Cushing (Robert Weir's mother-in-law), as well as receipts related to her estate, of which Weir was the executor.

Series III, Estate papers, contains documents relating to the adminstration of the estates of various Weir family members, including Catherine Cushing, as well as Robert Weir Sr., Isabel Weir, and Eliza Johnson Weir.

Series IV, Miscellaneous, contains the remainder of the collection. These include various deeds and indentures circa 1816-1879, printed materials, missionary pamphlets, ration books, and obsolete currency, such as Confederate bills.