Annie Cooper Boyd Collection

The Annie Cooper Boyd collection, left to the historical society by Annie’s daughter Nancy Boyd Willey in 1998, contains a variety of objects, photographs, art work, diaries, ledgers, letters, and clothing that illustrate the life of this remarkable woman and her family. The collection includes the writing desk of Annie’s great grandfather Caleb made by him in 1797; ledgers, bills and letters kept by Annie’s father, William Cooper; letters to and from Annie’s daughter Nancy Willey; and travel pamphlets, legal documents, missionary work papers, and various correspondences between family members.

The bulk of the collection contains objects from Annie’s life (1864-1941), including hundreds of Annie’s paintings, drawings and watercolors; several family photo albums, including tintypes and daguerreotypes; Annie’s numerous diaries and ledgers from 1880-1903; transcriptions of Annie’s diaries; letters to and from Annie throughout her lifetime; historical booklets, postcards, and calling cards with Annie’s illustrations; and several pieces of Annie’s clothing from the late 1800s.