HISTORICAL NOTE

The Punchard Free School Collection consists of material generated by Andover High School, 1856-1957. It was founded in 1856 as a secondary school, thanks to the generosity of Benjamin H. Punchard, who died in 1850. The Punchard bequest gradually proved insufficient to sustain the whole cost, until by 1910, (as decided retrospectively) it had become a public high school. In 1957 the name was changed officially to Andover High School.

The bulk of the material was given to the Society in 1980 and assigned Accession Number 1980.24. Copies of the programs and periodicals found among the miscellaneous manuscripts and the vertical files at the Society were added. Material from Bessie P. Goldsmith, whose father was principal of the high school, was also combined with this collection.

Related collections are Ms S 198, Monthly Reports, 1868-1885 (printed): Punchard Free School Alumni Association Papers, Ms S 199; The Bessie P. Goldsmith Papers,

Ms S 313; and the Myron E. Gutterson Papers, Ms S 662. Also Accession 1937.44 (architectural drawing-1851) and Also Accession 1961.123 (architectural drawing-1870).

When the collection was accessioned in 1980, 12 historical photographs and one post card accompanied the manuscripts. They have been separated.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The material consists chiefly of programs for prize essay contests; the Draper, J.W. Barnard and Goldsmith prizes; of commencement programs and of copies of student periodicals: The Punchard Ensign, The Punch Harder and The Punchardonian. The bulk of the material dates from 1880 to 1930. It has been divided into fifteen sections: Legal Status, Administration, Academic, Regulations, Prize Competitions, Commencement and Class Day, Festivals, Buildings, Historical Materials, Football, Nathan C. Hamblin (retired as Principal in 1941), the School Ode, the School Seal (1916), Student Periodicals, Material from other schools. A list of the separate photographs follows.

SEPARATED MATERIALS

Photographs (stores in historical photo collection)

1. First Punchard building, 1860
2. School building c. 1930.
3. School building c. 1940.
4. Mary A. Abbott, teacher 1888-1896
5. Mary H. Dean, teacher 1888-1902
6. Classes of 1887-1890
7. Class of 1904
8. Class of 1916
9. Class of 1917
10. Photo album, class 1917
11. Football, candid, 1924
12. Pageant, no date

Post card (Stored in post card collection) Interior (classroom)

Processed by Mary F. Morgan, November 1982.