ASA B. HUTCHINSON AND FAMILY:

Asa B. Hutchinson was the son of Jesse and Polly Hutchinson of New Hampshire. One of fourteen children, Asa and his syblings Judson, John, Jesse, and Abby began singing in public despite the disapproval of their father. The quartet of brothers began to make money singing at churches and religious meetings, eventually touring through eastern cities including Boston and New York. As their success grew they also toured in Europe, north of Ohio and east of the Mississippi. Jesse quit singing to manage the business affairs and was replaced by sister Abby. They wrote much of their own music and sang songs about temperance, the abolition of slavery, and women's suffrage. They popularized closed four-part harmony and are considered to be some of the first uniquely American popular music performers.

After the quartet broke up the brothers eventually formed their own family singing groups. Three of the brothers also helped to found the Minnesota town of Hutchinson in 1855. Asa married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Chase and they had four children: Abby who married Samuel G. Anderson, Frederick Chase, Oliver Dennett, and Ellen. Asa Hutchinson died in Hutchinson in 1884.

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The papers include bills and accounts (1851-1884) kept by Hutchinson while he was in Lynn, Massachusetts, in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and in Leadville, Colorado, where he invested in real estate and mines; letters written by Abby Hutchinson Anderson and her husband, Samuel G. Anderson, mentioning railroad speculation; songs, programs, and clippings for family concerts; wills, deeds, and other family memorabilia; data on Minnesota temperance activities; resolutions of the Hutchinson Townsite Company (1855); and accounts of Oliver D. Hutchinson, a merchandise dealer in Hutchinson (1885-1891).

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Access Restrictions:

Microfilmed originals are closed to general use.

Microfilm production:

Reels 1 and 2. Microfilm. Saint Paul, MN : Minnesota Historical Society, 1938.

Reel 3. Microfilm. Minneapolis, MN : H. A. Rogers Co. for the Minnesota Historical Society, 1945.

Reel 4. Microfilm. Saint Paul, MN : Minnesota Historical Society, 1983.

Microfilm is available for sale or interlibrary loan from the Minnesota Historical Society.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Asa B. Hutchinson and Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Microfilm Production:

The originals of microfilmed materials were loaned for copying by W. S. Clay, Hutchinson, Minn.; Mary Anderson, St. Paul, Minn.; and Mrs. Lyman Wakefield, Minneapolis, Minn.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 4694; 4722; 4734; 4849; 4908; 5977; 5979

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 990017324540104294

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Ballads -- United States.

Grocery trade -- Minnesota.

Land titles -- Registration and transfer.

Mines and mineral resources -- Colorado.

Pharmaceutical industry -- Minnesota.

Prices -- United States.

Railroads -- Minnesota.

Taxation -- Minnesota -- McLeod County.

Temperance -- Societies, etc.

Temperance -- Minnesota.

Persons:

Anderson, Abby Hutchinson.

Hutchinson, Oliver D.

Organizations:

Hutchinson Family (Singers)

Hutchinson Townsite Company.

Places:

Hutchinson (Minn.)

Leadville (Colo.)

Lynn (Mass.)

New England -- Description and travel.

Document Types:

Account books.

Concert programs.

Songs -- United States.

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