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Collections of Frank Bolles’s papers are at the Tamworth NH Historical
Society (MSs and papers); at the Harvard University Archives (Pusey Library); at
Rauner Special Collections Library at Dartmouth (MS and papers); at the American
Antiquarian Association); and in the library of a Bolles descendent (MS and
papers). A much smaller amount of material is at the Chocorua Library and the
Cook Memorial Library in Tamworth NH.
(1.) Biographical information is publicly available only in some biographical
dictionaries, often available at public libraries. Best is the American
National Biography Online. Or, in Lach, Edward L. (date?) American
National Biography, ed. by John A. Garraty, Mark C. Carnes, vol 3 (Oxford
UP, newer edition), p. 131-2.
Unfortunately, other bio information is not readily available, but the search is
rewarding.
(2.) The best biography (unpublished) was written by his widow: Elizabeth Swan
Bolles (ca. 1902). The Life of Frank Bolles as told in his letters and
journals. About 500 MS pages, with photos. (The original is with a Bolles
family member. Typed copies are at Tamworth Historical Society, at the Harvard
Archives, and in possession of Bolles descendants.)
(3.) An excellent memorial article written the year of his death by a Harvard
colleague and from Harvard's perspective is the following: Thayer, William. R.
(1894). "Frank Bolles." Harvard Graduates Magazine, 2(#7)(March 1894);
366-372. This journal is available at the Pusey Library and copies of the
article are in most of other locations above.
(4.) A memorial and brief bio information were published by the Nuttall
Ornithological Club, from the naturalist's perspective: Hoffman, R., W.
Brewster, C. F. Batchelder, & C. T. Carruth. (1894)." Memorial of Mr. Frank
Bolles [by Nuttall Ornithological Club]." Auk, 11(2): 184-185. And,
Batchelder, Charles F. (1937). An Account of the Nuttall Ornithological Club
1873-1919. (Cambridge MA: Nuttall Ornithological Club Memoir No. VIII).
(5.) An author with Tamworth knowledge wrote an interesting article with local
color details:
Hill, Mabel. (1897). "A latter-day pioneer--Frank Bolles." The Granite
Monthly, Oct. 1897, 196-204. (Copies are at Tamworth Historical Society, at
the Harvard Archives, and in possession of Bolles descendants.)
(6.) His boarding school, Dean Academy, devoted a large part of an issue to
biographical information, on the 25th anniversary of his graduation, adding
school-related information: [Editors]. (1902). "Frank Bolles, Dean, [Class of]
1877." Dean [Academy] Megaphone, 2(4, April), 38-42. And other articles
in that issue. (Copies are at Tamworth Historical Society, at the Harvard
Archives, and in possession of Bolles descendants.)
(7.) Bolles's daughter Evelyn wrote a shortened biographical article based on
her mother's "Life." It was in large part published in the New Hampshire
Audubon Quarterly: -- Evelyn Bolles Phenix. (1931?). "Frank Bolles 1856-1894
[Memoir by daughter]." MS, 7 pp. (Copies are at Tamworth Historical Society, at
the Harvard Archives, and in possession of Bolles descendants.) And, Evelyn
Bolles Phenix. (1961). "Frank Bolles, New Hampshire Naturalist." New
Hampshire Audubon Quarterly, 14 (#2; April 1961): 42-45.
(8.) Two family members gave a presentation in 1991 on Bolles's various
accomplishments, and compiled their notes: Alan Phenix. (1991). "Frank Bolles:
Naturalist and Chocorua Leader. Part Two." Notes for lecture delivered on
September 18, 1991 at the Tamworth NH Historical Society. MS. And, L. A. Wiesner
(1991). "Frank Bolles, Naturalist and Chocorua Leader (Part One: Biography)."
Notes for lecture delivered on September 18, 1991 at the Tamworth NH Historical
Society. (Copies at Tamworth Historical Society and with family members.)
(9.) I have recently completed two documents about Bolles. The first is a 6300
word article that is in press and will appear in the December 2002 issue of
Appalachia, the conservation and mountaineering journal of the Appalachian
Mountain Club. The second is in draft and is about three times as long. It is
tentatively titled "Frank Bolles of Chocorua and Cambridge" and it may be
published in some form in the next year or so. A draft copy of the second is at
the Tamworth Historical Society and with Bolles family members.