The boards may be rubbed, and the tips of the spine are quite chipped with loss of leather, and the front board is almost detached, but this artifact has survived 166 years, and the information it contains is living history. This handwritten manuscript piece connects Holyoke's educational system back to its roots.On a lead from Cliff McCarthy of the Springfield History Museum, and a generous donation from Mr. Michael Robbins of Brookline, MA in the memory of his Grandfather, Jared Beebe, Owner of Holyoke's Farr Alpaca, Company, the Holyoke History Room was able to acquire from Main Street Books in Amherst, MA this 11" x 9" (small quarto) ledger. It is bound in contemporary paper-covered boards with leather spine, contains 86 leaves of lined paper, 14 of which are completed in ink holograph. Fourteen pages are completed in neat ink holograph, likely in the hand of John G. Palfrey, Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Pages 1-4 consist of the "Preamble and Constitution," March 9, 1844. Other signatures include Samuel H. Walley, Jr., Speaker (1844-1846); Jonah Quincy, Jr. President; and Geo. N. Briggs (seven-term Governor of Massachusetts, 1844-1851).
In the "Records of the Proprietors of Ireland Academy" April 25,1844- Feb 19,1847. The text lists the names of the Executive Board: Benjamin Willard, Cyrus Frink, Pelitiah Ely, Warren Chapin, Edwin H. Ball and Russell
Ely and the minutes of the meetings 1844-1847.
Of most interest to Holyoke
Researchers is the second section of the ledger which includes the 1859 Records of Attendance of The 1st Baptist Sabbath School, Holyoke. Twelve leaves of manuscript text and graphs which list the names of the teachers, the scholars, dates of 
Sabbath School meetings and the number present are tabulated. The text lists Newton Day, Superintendent; Stephen Rand, Assistant; Enoch Ashley,Librarian; Stephen B. Rand, Secretary.
So, if this article has piqued your interest, please stop by the Holyoke History Room, located at Holyoke Community College and ask to see the Baptist Sabbith School book.
Photographs © 2010 Taylor Hendrick.
