George Francis Dow

Wakefield, New Hampshire, 1868 - 1936, Topsfield, Massachusetts

Biographyhttp://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n50026976
George Francis Dow, one of the leading historians
and antiquarians of New England, died at Topsfield,
June 5, 1936. He was born at Wakefield, N. H.,
January 7, 1868, the son of George Prince and Ada
Bingham (Tappan) Dow. After an education in public
and private schools, in 1885 he entered the wholesale
metal business in Boston, with the firm of Farrar,
Simpson & Co., where he rose steadily in the esteem of
his firm. Always endowed with strong leanings toward
local and Essex County history, in 1898 he retired from
commercial activities and was elected secretary of the
Essex Institute of Salem, of which he had been a member
for six years. For twenty years, as director of its
museum and editor of its publications, he gave a large
part of his life to this important institution and
notably increased its prestige throughout the country.
It was during his term of office that he aided in bringing
out the many valuable volumes of vital records of
Essex County, and edited the four volume "Diary of
William Bentley," because of its broad scope of subjects
and unusual index, one of the most valuable of
early New England diaries.
In 1918 he retired as an officer of the Essex Institute,
and in the following year was elected curator of the Society
for the Preservation of New England Antiquities.
Here he officiated for the remainder of his life, serving
as curator, director of its museum, and editor of its
nationally known magazine, "Old-Time New England."
In 1894 he founded the Topsfield Historical Society,
serving as secretary and treasurer of the Society, and
1936.] Obituaries 125
editor of its publications. When the "Parson Capen"
house came into the posssssion of the Society, he was in
charge of the restoration. Because of his knowledge of
early New England architecture he was often consulted,
and had charge of the restoration of a number of eighteenth
century houses for individuals and historical
societies throughout New England. He also designed
the Pioneers' Village at Salem. In 1922 he organized
the Marine Research Society at Salem and edited its
long and valuable series of publications. As an author
he wrote or edited the following volumes: "The Holyoke
Diaries," 1911; "Two Centuries of Travel in Essex
County," 1921; "Sailing Ships of New England" (with
John Robinson), 2 volumes, 1922-1924; "Pirates of the
New England Coast," 1923; "Domestic Life in New
England," 1925; "Whale Ships and Whaling," 1925;
"The Arts and Crafts in New England," 1927; "Slave
Ships and Slaving," 1927; "The Diaries and Letters of
Benjamin Pickman," 1928; "The Sailing Ships of New
England," 1928; "Every Day Life in the Massachusetts
Bay Colony," 1935. He also contributed many articles
to historical and literary magazines.
Mr. Dow was a member of the Massachusetts
Historical Society, the New England Historic Genealogical
Society and many other historical organizations.
To the American Antiquarian Society he was elected
in 1910 and was one of its most useful members. He
invariably attended its meetings and contributed to
its Proceedings in 1922 a paper on "William Bentley,
the Salem Diarist." He married, June 1, 1920, Miss
Alice G. Waters, for many years librarian of the
Essex Institute, who survived him. The writer of this
sketch has claimed him as a valued friend for many
years. His enthusiasm for historical research and his
unbounded zeal and activity were a source of encouragement
to all those with whom he was brought in
contact.
c. s.B.
Obituary in American Antiquarian Society October 1936

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Last Updated8/7/24

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