| Creator/Compiler | Merritt Jesse Gay [b.1922-d.1989] |
| Repository | Dyer Library Archives & Special Collections |
| Inclusive Dates | 1931-1957 |
| Bulk Dates | 1936-1949 |
| Collection Size | 4 linear feet |
| Bio/Hist. Notes | Merritt Jesse Gay was
the only child of Irving and Adelia Gilbert Gay. Born to older parents
in 1922, he lived in West Scarborough on the family poultry farm until
his early adult years. He attended the Saco public schools and
graduated from Thornton Academy in 1941. He described himself as
intelligent, but lazy. The fact that his mother died in 1940, during
his high school years, may have influenced his decision to stay on the
farm instead of attending college. He helped his father with the farm
chores, but his chief interest was maintaining all of the machinery that was necessary to run a farm. He was baptized as a Baptist and was a regular church attendee at Saco Baptist Church on Main Street. His interest in theology and his involvement with the church may emanate from his grandfather who was a preacher. Periodically he wrote comments to the pastor about his Sunday sermons. He also wrote notes to family and friends about his faith. He was asked to be a deacon of the church but declined commenting that he did not feel worthy of the position. He enjoyed helping with the weekly broadcast of the services on a local radio station. These duties gave him the opportunity to work with the remote amplifiers, and signal transmission gear. He was also involved with the church youth group. When his father died in 1954, Merritt wrestled with the responsibilities of running the farm alone. He sold the cows and continued with the poultry business. Their housekeeper, Mrs. Marcia Berry continued to stay with him Monday through Thursday helping with the household chores. A year later he abandoned farming and decided to pursue a college education. He was concerned by the fact that there had been a 15-year educational lapse between high school graduation and trying to pursue a college degree. To address this deficiency he decided to take refresher courses at Portland Junior College. Testing determined that he had an IQ of 122, and so he could immediately start matriculating. After one successful academic year, he felt prepared to move on. He applied to Bates, and also had an interview at M.I.T. In the end he decided to attend Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was determined to study engineering. Apparently he only attended classes for a year. In 1962, he started working for Raytheon in Waltham Massachusetts. He lived in various towns outside of Boston, but always went home to his farm for the weekends. He commuted by bus and was dropped off within walking distance of home. He retired from Raytheon in 1987 after 25 years of employment. Merritt lived a good and frugal life. His family made do, recycled, and saved for the future. For example, he did not see the necessity of buying a new car when he could keep repairing his Studebaker and “terraplain”. He loved to tinker with machinery. In one instance he helped to repair his neighbor’s television in spite of the fact did not own one himself. He re-used every scrap paper, even the backs of cat food labels to write lists and drafts of letters. He had extraordinary handwriting which family and friends commented upon. He appreciated his Maine roots and the connection he felt to the state imparted by the land that he and his father farmed. He never married and commented to others about his inability to feel comfortable with women. In all of his correspondence the only reference to his mother is in a remark where he mentions, “Ödimly remembering her”. Although he had no siblings his father had seven brothers so Merritt had numerous aunts, uncles and cousins living nearby. He was fascinated by technology and experimented with radios, televisions, microphones and cameras. Some of his photography can be viewed in the book Saco Now and Then written by Peter N.Scontras published in 1994. This fascination with radio waves led him to participate in the Aurora project which was a research study examining the effect of solar flares on radio transmission conducted by Cornell University. He lived on the Gay farm until his death in 1989. He drowned at age 67 on Old Orchard Beach after Hurricane Hugo. His obituary states that he was a farmer and a member of the Audubon Society and other conservation organizations. His cousin Jim Leary, a neighboring farmer inherited his estate. Currently the property is used for hay production and the old house still stands. |
| Scope/Content Notes | The
Merritt Jesse Gay collection contains personal papers, and business
records, as well as personal artifacts. Included are school accounts,
first drafts of correspondence, church memorabilia, newspaper
clippings, bank accounts, business receipts, farming literature and
farm production records. Merritt and his father Irving ran a poultry farm in West Scarborough Maine. The majority of the material in this collection concerns the Gay Farm. Of interest is a paper stencil used to mark egg boxes, day journals of farm expenses, daily records of milk and egg production and receipts for poultry. In addition there are Extension Service pamphlets concerning farming from the University of Maine dating from 1931to 1937. Personal correspondence includes holiday, birthday and get-well cards received during his father’s illness and condolence cards for Irving’s death in 1954. Included is a diary Merritt wrote in 1955 about his daily spring activities. He seemed to be an active correspondent and kept all his first draft responses to personal letters. These are written on various types of scrap paper such as the back of an envelope, church program and even the backside of cat food labels. Obviously this demonstrates the Gay family’s frugality. Merritt’s penmanship is beautiful and was frequently commented upon. His letters refer to his father’s illness, life on the farm, educational concerns, theology and social activities. One particular letter from a cousin out in California (dated November 7, 1948) wanting to know the possibility of farming in Maine as that seemed a good way to make a living. Howeer, Merritt replied back with a “NO,” that farming in Maine was very difficult and it would not be a good idea. This letter gives the reading an idea of what the economic and social climate was like in Saco, Maine. He attended Thornton Academy and saved newspaper clippings about former students and school activities. Possibly he attended the 1945 graduation exercises because he has tickets and a commencement program. After working on the farm for 15 years and the subsequent death of this father he began to inquire about furthering his education. His notes consist of inquiries made to different institutions, as well as letters sent to family and friends regarding his decision to attend Portland Junior College. It is of interest that he made inquiries to the Devry Technical correspondence program about pursuing certification in radio engineering. Clearly he had an abiding interest in radio frequency, and would spend 25 years at Raytheon a company that manufactures radar and other radio frequency apparatus for the military. Among the business records is a 1909 Beverly Bank checkbook, single and double entry ledgers, bank records from The York National Bank and The Saco National Bank. Irving Gay’s banking records from The York National bank of Saco were transferred to Merritt upon the death of his father. In addition Merritt briefly kept a journal of daily expenses. Also among his affects are shopping lists and market sales receipts. Newspaper clippings encompass world and local activities reported in the Portland Press Herald and the Biddeford Daily Journal. Merritt saved newspaper reports about events at his church, Thornton Academy and notices about friends. He also saved the daily cartoon” Out Our Way” and ‘The History of Maine” series. Merritt was a member of the United Baptist Church of Saco and helped with the radio broadcasts of the services. He saved a few of the Sunday church programs from 1953 to 1956, a membership list, 1946 annual report, letterhead stationary, postcard concerning church affairs and supporting religious literature. Legal correspondence indicates that Merritt benefited from the death of two relatives. His uncle was a bank vice-president in Beverly Massachusetts and left him $850. Later he inherited the contents of his cousin Scott Starbird’s house in Saco. One of the most significant letters in this collection is the original written by his cousin living in California. She is interested in returning to Maine with her husband and two small children and buying a farm. Her husband is an accountant and Marji is an office worker. Merritt’s response is informative and blunt as he describes the Maine economic and moral conditions in the 1950’s. Good land prices were high, experience was essential, and he was not interested in a farm partnership. He indicated that his cousin’s concerns about California would not be obliterated by a move to Maine. He noted that there was polio, alcohol and prostitution in Saco also. Merritt’s personal affects include a vest, glasses, candlestick, business stamp, wooden puzzle, nail clippers and comb. A hairpin and gold chain necklace may have belonged to his mother because they were with a book inscribed to her. |
| Provenance | Donated by Richard Manning" His address is 401 Seaside Avenue in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. This same person also donated the Irving J. Gay Collection as well. Not unlike his father’s collection (Irving Jesse Gay), there are not accession and no Deed of Gift papers. |
| Restrictions | Unrestricted |
| Series Descriptions | Series 1. Correspondences.
These folders contain numerous cards and letters, both personal and
business. Included in this series are mailing addresses.These letters
give us a clear picture of life on the Gay Farm. Clerly, kMerritt was
aprolific writer. Series 2. Personal Journals. This series contains Merrit’s personal journals. An early one from his childhool. This small book was used to scribble, practice letters and short journal entries. Another is a personal memo tablet that Merritt used to practice writing thank you notes. Lastely, Merrit’s personal journal, handwritten on loose leaf papers dating April 11, 1955 through June 14, 1955. Papers & Documents [1944-1955] Series 3. Geneaogy. Here are handwritten notes showing the Gay Family pedigree tree. Series 4. Miscellaneous papers. In this series, we can see that Merritt was extremely frugal and meticulous man. He kept scraps of papers and used them to write lists, notes, and drafts of letters. Series 5. Photographs. Single photograph of Merritt’s father, Irving Jesse Gay, ca. 1950 Series 6. Gay Farm Business Records. These folders contain a number of subseries concerning the dailing operation of the Gay Farm including production notes, bank records, receipts, etc. Series 7. Bank Records. This series includes cancelled checks, deposit slips and bank statement Series 8. Newspaper Clippings. This folder contains cartoon, local and world events from the Portland Press Herald and Biddeford Daily Journal. Series 9. Church Papers/Religious Writings. This folder contains information from the United Saco Baptist Church. Includes religious tracts and dogma. Series 10. Ephemera. These are various advertising art from the 1940s that Merritt collection for scrap paper. Although not relevant to his papers, it is an interesting collection of local advertising in the Saco area. Series 11. Artifacts. These are the personal affects of Merritt Gay, such as a comb, vest, etc. |
| Organizaton of Series | Series 1. Correspondence [1931-1957]
Series 3. Genealogy Series 4. Photographs [1950] Series 5. Miscellaneous personal papers [1944-53 Series 6.Gay Farm Business Records [1904-7]]
Series 8. Newspapers clippings [n.d-1956] Series 9. Church/Religous papers [1938-56] Series 10. Ephemera [n.d.-1957] Series11. Artifacts [n.d.] |
for Merritt Jesse Gay Finding Aid