Atwood Case
Atwood-Carlton Pictures
Wooden frame
Velvet Grid
11" x 10 /12" with twelve 2 x 2" /12"
Ca. 1864
This collage represents the Atwood-Carlton family (click here for IDs). It is within a wooden frame with twelve metal framed daguerreotypes surrounded by a velvet grid. At least four photographs were done by S. Shattuck of Lowell Mass.
The Daguerreotype was invented in 1839 by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre. They are a positive image on a copper plate, which was polished, often with a silver coating. The technology was succeeded by the less expensive Ambrotype and Tintype.
The dating of this collage was aided by the two cent stamps on the reverse. From 1864 to 1866, the US Government taxed photographs. The two cent stamp was for photographs selling for less than twenty-five cents.
W.2008.13.11.5
Stool
Wood
Reddish Brown
1850
The four-legged stool is marked "Daniel Atwood Jr" (1822-1902) on the bottom. Two of the legs were repaired with metal nails. Daniel and his wife Caroline (1821-1911) moved to Westford in the 1850s, and ran a farm off Concord Rd. When Daniel retired from farming in the 1880s, he built the family home on 4 Graniteville Rd. His son, also Daniel (1850-1931), stayed on the family farm.
W.2008.13.3.1
Sampler
Textile-Linen
Ca. 1820
A sampler textile with sewn letters of the alphabet. It was wrought by Daniel's wife Caroline (Carlton) Atwood, who was born in Orange, NH.
W.2008.13.1.2
Group Photograph
Black and White
Taken Before 1935
The group photo shows women from multiple Westford families, including Atwood. Sisters Sarah Caroline "Carry" Atwood (1853-1945), Lillian "Lilly" Atwood (1856-1940), and Mary "May" Atwood (1860-1951) are there. The three sisters, who never married, stayed in Westford throughout their lives.
Others identified are Mrs. Patterson (with her mother and daughter),Mrs. Ada Day, Mrs. Roudenbush, Miss Loker, Mrs Felch, Mrs. Janet Wright, Mrs. Zina Ingalls, and Mrs. Alice Lambert. Ada is related to Marilyn Day, who donated the picture. William Roudenbush served as a principal of the Westford Academy (high school) for twenty-five years. The high school now runs out of another building, but “his” building is now the town’s community center, which was named after him.
Marilyn Day Collection
W.2000.89
Program
Paper
12"x11"
1928
Centennial program of the past Union Congregational Church in Westford, MA. It lists the Atwood sisters (Sarah, Lillian, and Mary), while Mary ("May") is listed as a Deaconess. The family was known to be active members of this church.
The organization began as the First Parish Church, and was founded prior to the 1729 founding of Westford, according to the organization's website. The presently used meetinghouse, at the common, was built in 1794. The organization split into two after 1826, and the historic building pictured on the program was built in 1829 at the other side of the town common. The then two organizations started to come back together in the 1930s, and became the First Parish Church United of Westford by 1955. No longer needing two buildings, the 1829 building was purchased by the Westford Historical Society in December 1998, and leased by the Parish Center for the Arts.
W.2008.13.12.1
Music Cabinet
Wood with brown laminate
Brass hinges
51 1/2" x 20 1/2" x 13 3/4"
Undated
The cabinet is from the Atwood House. There are seven shelves inside. The object possibly stored much of the music played by Mary Atwood, who was known for her music.
W.2008.13.1.5
Wallet
Black leather
3 1/4" x 5” (folded)
1900
The leather wallet has several compartments under the flap. It is stamped in gold “May Atwood,” who was also known as Mary.
W.2008.13.6.36
Quilt
Textile
91" x 91" (Unfolded)
Ca. 1845-1851
This quilt was presented to Caroline (Carlton) Atwood (1821-1911) by her friends from New Hampshire when the Atwood family moved to Westford in the 1850s. It has 42 squares of white muslin. In spite of the aged condition, the names of 41 friends and of Caroline’s three sons are still visible on the fabric. “Written 25th of October 1851” is also visible.
W.2008.13.6.39
Medical Bag
Leather, black
1900
Black cowhide medical bag used by Grace (Atwood) Millett (1889-1971). Grace was a nurse in the town, and practiced from 1912 to as late as 1954. Grace's uncle, Edward Atwood (1848-1925), was a doctor, who practiced primarily in Dayton, FL. The bag was also used for general travel, used by her aunt Lillian Atwood for a trip on the White Star Line ship Adriatic to Liverpool. The trip occurred prior to the ship's scrapping in 1934. The travel stickers are visible on the bottom of the bag.
W.2008.13.6.14
Afghan
Textile
Aprox. 60x45"
After 1960
Hand crocheted granny square afghan with multi-colored squares and black edging. Found in Atwood House. Attributed to Grace (Atwood) Millett, who may have made it in the 1960s.
W.2008.13.2.8
Crochet Work
Textile
Aprox. 2 3/4" diameter
Undated
Twelve crocheted diamonds attributed to one of the Atwood sisters (Sarah, Lillian, or Mary). They were made to be sewn together in a coverlet (bedspread).
W.2008.13.2.2
Flag
Machine stiched
27" x 46 (flag)
60" (Wood Pole)
Between 1902-1912
This US flag from the Atwood House is attached to a wood pole. It has 46 stars, showing it was made prior to the statehood of Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii.
W.2008.13.17
Picture
Watercolor
Wood Frame
Undated
The framed watercolor by William Atwood Millett (1922-2007) is a depiction of the artist’s studio at 4 Graniteville Rd. It shows various paintings there, along with a wood stove and the artist’s tools.
Bill Millett, born in Brockton, MA, was the last of the family to live in Westford. He was the son of Grace (1889-1971) and Nathan Walton Millett (1871-1955). Bill served during WWII in the US Navy, and was professionally trained to be an artist in Paris after his honorable discharge in 1946. He lived in the family home in Westford on and off throughout his life, traveling to places such as Hampton Beach, NH, to paint. He signed much of his artwork "Millet," a more traditional spelling of his surname. He did not sell his later works, but after their discovery in the family home after his death, many were exhibited by Westford's Parish Center for the Arts and Guild of Boston Arts between 2012 and 2013. The Atwood Collection are items from Bill's estate.
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