1844-1891
Guide to the Collection
Abstract
This collection consists of diaries kept by Charles Breck of Milton, Mass., and by his son Charles Edward Cushing Breck.
Biographical Sketches
Charles Breck was born 11 January 1798 in Medfield, Mass., the son of Edward and Sarah (Vose) Breck. Educated in the public schools, Breck worked as a farmer, wool puller, and tanner before taking up a career as surveyor, insurance agent, and town official in Milton, Mass. In 1827, he married Mary A. Blanchard, with whom he had two children, Mary E. and Charles. In 1837, he was first elected to the Milton Board of Selectmen, beginning a 51-year stretch in various town offices, including serving as the town's treasurer for 34 years. He was also active as an officer of the First Congregational Church of Milton and as director and agent for the Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Co. From January 1849 until December 1888, he kept a daily record of temperatures outside his home at sunrise and 1 p.m. These observations were published in Annals of the Astronomical Observatory of Harvard College, vol. 43 (1901). Breck died in Milton on 18 July 1893.
Charles Edward Cushing Breck was born in Milton, Mass., on 8 May 1834, the son of Charles Breck and his wife Mary. Educated in the Milton public schools, at the age of 21, he took up land surveying with his father. He married Mary S. Stone of Belmont, Mass. in 1857, with whom he had three daughters. In 1862, he enlisted in Company B of the 45th Massachusetts Regiment and served until the end of the war. After his return, he farmed for a few years and, in 1870, formed a partnership with Herbert T. Whitman as civil engineers and surveyors. The firm did a large amount of work on steam railroad engineering. After the dissolution of the firm in 1885, Breck continued as a surveyor and civil engineer. He also served on the school committee in Milton. Breck died on 29 January 1899.
Sources
Curtis, Joseph H. and Channing Howard. "Obituary: Charles E. C. Breck." Journal of the Association of Engineering Studies¸ vol. 25, no. 2 (Aug. 1900), p. 107-108.
Rand, John Clark, compiler. One of a Thousand: A Series of Biographical Sketches of One Thousand Representative Men Resident in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1888-89. Boston: First National Publishing Co., 1890.
Collection Description
This collection comprises 38 volumes of diaries kept by Charles Breck of Milton, Mass., 1844-1891 (with gaps), and six volumes of diaries kept by his son Charles Edward Cushing Breck, 1855-1871 (with gaps). The elder Breck's diaries note his personal and professional activities as a surveyor, insurance agent, and town official in Milton. The diaries kept by Charles Edward Cushing Breck record his professional activities as a civil engineer in the town of Milton and the maintenance of his farm. The collection also includes one volume of daily weather observations probably kept by Charles Breck, 1873-1880.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mrs. G. Townsend Remler, May 1996.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. Charles Breck diaries, 1844-1891
Arranged chronologically.
II. Charles Edward Cushing Breck volumes, 1855-1880
Arranged chronologically.
Preferred Citation
Charles Breck diaries, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.