Guide to the Nichols Family Papers
Open for research.
James Nichols, son of Abiel and Fidelia Nichols, was born in Berkeley, Massachusetts. After attending Phillips Academy Nichols graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York in 1835. He then attended Andover Theological Seminary from 1835-1837 and returned to Union College in 1838 to teach until 1841. In that year he married Sarah Jane Hastings, of Heath, Massachusetts, who had been attending Utica Female Academy. After their marriage James Nichols was appointed principal of Kingston College where he remained until he obtained a position at Utica Female Academy in 1842. A year later Nichols began preaching in Oneida and was ordained by Albany Presbytery in 1845. He continued preaching until 1850 when he was appointed principal of the Synodical Academy in Geneseo. He served there until 1858 when he was appointed as Master at a boys school in Rochester. Nichols became an army chaplain during the Civil War and subsequently died of fever in 1864.
The papers primarily consist of James Nichols and Sarah Jane Hastings Nichols correspondence written to each other and family members. The correspondence reflects school and family experiences. There are a few certificates, school reports and a sermon written by James Nichols.
SERIES I: JAMES NICHOLS, 1829-1853
SERIES II: SARAH JANE HASTINGS NICHOLS, 1836-1848
Collection processed and finding aid prepared 1988:
Kristin L. Gleeson, Associate Archivist
Charlotte Hyorth, Volunteer
| Box | Folder | Description | |
| 1 | 1 | Finding Aid to Record Group 232 | |
| SERIES I: JAMES NICHOLS, 1829-1853 | |||
| 1 | 2-13 | Correspondence, 1832-1853 | |
| 1 | 14-15 | Undated correspondence, circa 1835-1839 | |
| 1 | 16 | Miscellaneous family correspondence, 1836-1852 | |
| 1 | 17 | Miscellaneous certificates, reports and sermon, 1829-1849 | |
| SERIES II: SARAH JANE HASTINGS NICHOLS, 1836-1848 | |||
| 2 | 1-7 | Correspondence, 1836-1848 | |
| 2 | 8-13 | Undated correspondence, circa 1838-1841 |