Finding Aid 05

Chatham Historical Society
Genealogical and Personal Manuscript Collection
Louise Killam Donham Papers

Volume: 1.8 Linear Feet
Provenance: Papers came from the estate of Louise Donham, donated by Priscilla Donham in 2009.
Processed by: Mary Ann Gray 2009, Vincent Cheney 2012

Biographical Note

Louise Donham, born Louise Killam, was the daughter of Mrs. G. R. S. Killam of Providence, RI and Chatham, MA. She married Paul Donham, son of Dean and Mrs. Wallace B. Donham of Boston and Chatham. Paul and Louise owned homes in Cambridge and Concord, but were also summer residents of Chatham. Paul’s parents were also summer residents of Chatham, his father having been the second Dean of Harvard Business School (1919-1942).

Scope and Content Note

These boxes contain the papers of Louise Killam Donham, mostly concerning her collection of architectural photography. The photography is organized by various traits the homes have and come from all over Cape Cod. There are also papers on the subject of Chatham and events there. All information was donated in the form of scrapbooks. Most photography is still contained within the scrapbooks while other information has been lifted. Newspapers have been copied to conserve them.

Box 270 (1)
Donham Scrapbooks

1. Scrapbook of Towns, Lighthouses, Mills, Old Houses-Spoiled, Landscapes
2. Scrapbook of Types of Cape Cod Houses and Stores
3. Scrapbook of Doors + Windows, Gingerbread, Towers, Summer Cottages
4. Scrapbook of Outbuildings, Public Buildings, Details + Ornaments

Box 271 (2)
Donham Scrapbooks

1. Copies of Towns, Lighthouses, Mills, Old Houses-Spoiled, Landscapes
2. Copies of Doors + Windows, Gingerbread, Towers, Summer Cottages
3. Copies of Types of Houses and Stores
4. Copies of Outbuildings, Public Buildings, Details: Barns and Sheds, Fences

Box 272 (3)
Donham Scrapbooks

1. Cape Cod house, Saconesset Homestead, Bow roof, ¾ Cape, ½ Cape, “Small” house, Square tops, Hip Roofs, Hamlin Farm, New England Farmhouse, Salt Boxes, “Narrow House”, Greek Revival – Victorian, Camp Meeting Houses, Stores, Gothic
2. Barns, sheds, ells, privies, churches, town halls, meeting halls, windmills, weathervanes, gazebos, benches, misc.
3. Copies of Doors + Windows, Gingerbread, Towers, Summer Cottages
4. Copies of Towns, Lighthouses, Mills, Old Houses-Spoiled, Landscapes

Box 368 (4)
Donham Family Papers

1. Alice Stallknecht White
2. Port Fortune
3. Chatham Garden Club
4. Donham Family
5. Chatham Fishermen/Coast Guard
6. Everett Eldredge and Son
7. Monomoy Point Gunnery Range
8. Celebrations in Chatham
9. Town Meeting
10. Monomoy Disaster
11. Doc Keene
12. Elizabeth Stearns
13. Perpetual Calendar
14. Pendleton and Fort Mercer
15. Letter from Ben Howland to Sears Atwood