Search Results

Source:

Culture and the Arts, Division of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

Larson, Mary E.  Search this

Former owner:

Culture and the Arts, Division of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

Larson, Mary E.  Search this

Extent:

2 Cubic feet (4 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Black-and-white photographs

Clippings

Guest lists

Ledgers (account books)

Letters (correspondence)

Notes

Scrapbooks

Date:

1880-1990

Summary:

The collection relates to the Slover Family of puppeteers, and documents their lives and activities as they traveled the country with their show.

Content Description:

The collection relates to the Slover Family of puppeteers, and documents their lives and activities as they traveled the country with their show. The collection includes photographs, including photographs from their earliest days when they were traveling in wagons; guest books; a manuscript for a memoir from the matriarch of the family; a ledger, 1916-1932, listing what the box office take was in each location the show was performed; a notebook containing content of the shows, jokes, etc.; a scrapbook containing photographs and other things; letters; clippings and articles; and printed music.

Provenance:

Donated by Mary E. Larson to the Division of Culture and the Arts, National Museum of American History, in 2004.

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

manuscripts  Search this

Puppeteers  Search this

Puppets  Search this

Traveling theater -- United States -- 19th century  Search this

Traveling theater -- United States -- 20th century  Search this

Genre/Form:

Black-and-white photographs

Clippings

Guest lists

Ledgers (account books) -- 20th century

Letters (correspondence)

Notes

Scrapbooks

Citation:

Slover Puppeteer Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.1464

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1464

Creator:

Meigs, Montgomery C., 1816-1892  Search this

Photographer:

Russell, Andrew J., 1829-1902  Search this

Names:

Pension Building  Search this

Post Office Building (Washington, D.C.)  Search this

United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)  Search this

Extent:

12.5 Cubic feet (27 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Drawings

Albums

Clippings

Photographs

Scrapbooks

Place:

Georgia

West Point (N.Y.)

Washington (D.C.)

Date:

1870 - 1890

Summary:

The collection documents Mongomery C. Meigs, an Army officer, engineer, architect, and scientist. Meigs's papers include scrapbooks and photographs relating primarily to his work on the Pension Building and the Washington Aqueduct in Washington, D.C. but also his interest in politics, military affairs, construction, Native Americans, inventions, real estate, and financial matters.

Scope and Contents:

The collection documents, Mongomery C. Meigs, an Army officer, engineer, architect, and scientist. Meigs's papers include scrapbooks and photographs relating primarily to his work on the Pension Building in Washington, D.C., an extension to the Post Office Building, the Washington Aqueduct, Cabin John Bridge, and the dome of the United States Capitol. The scrapbooks reflect Meigs's interests in politics, military affairs, construction, Native Americans, inventions and technology, real estate, and financial matters.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into two series.

Series 1, Scrapbooks, 1870-1890

Series 2, Photographs, 1850-1885

Biographical / Historical:

1816, May 3, Born, Augusta, Georgia

1832, Entered United States Military Academy, West Point, New York

1837, Second lieutenant, Corps of Engineers. Surveyed Upper Mississippi River

1838, Survey engineering work, Delaware River

1839, Duty at army headquarters, Washington, D.C.

1841, Married Louisa Rodgers (died 1879)

1843-1852, Stationed in Detroit, Michigan, until return to permanent duty in Washington, D.C.

1852, Supervised construction of the Washington aqueduct for Great Falls, Virginia and various United States Capitol improvements, including a new and larger dome

1861, June Appointed Quartermaster General, United States Army

1865, April 15, Present at the death of Abraham Lincoln

1867, Postwar illness and trip to Europe

1882, Retired from the United States Army. Began engineering work on the Pension Office Building, Washington, D.C.

1892, January 2, Died, Washington, D.C.

*Biographical Chronology courtesy the Library of Congress, Montgomery C. Meigs Papers, 1799-1892 (bulk 1849-1892)

Related Materials:

Materials at the Archives Center, National Museum of American History

William R. Hutton Papers (AC0987)

Materials at the National Museum of American History

Several curatorial divisions hold material culture related to Montgomery C. Meigs.

Division of Culture and the Arts

Armed Forces History

Division of Home and Community Life

Division of Medicine and Science

Division of Work and Industry

Materials at Other Organizations

Library of Congress, Manuscript Division

Montgomery C. Meigs Papers, 1799-1892 (bulk 1849-1892)

Army officer, engineer, architect, and scientist. Correspondence, diaries and journals, notebooks, family papers, military papers, drawings and plans, scrapbooks, and other papers relating primarily to Meigs's work in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, his service as Quartermaster General during the Civil War, and family matters.

Provenance:

Parts of the collection were donated by Dr. Paul L. Smith on January 8, 1971 and Mr. and Mrs. Mayo S. Stuntz on March 8, 1974. Other sources are unknown.

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Bridges -- Washington (D.C.)  Search this

Architecture -- Washington (D.C.)  Search this

Civil engineers  Search this

Civil engineering  Search this

Architects  Search this

Tunnels  Search this

Reservoirs -- Washington (D.C.)  Search this

Water-supply  Search this

Washington Aqueduct  Search this

Engineering  Search this

Architecture  Search this

Hydraulic structures  Search this

Engineers  Search this

Genre/Form:

Drawings -- 19th century

Albums

Clippings -- 1850-1900

Photographs -- 19th century

Scrapbooks

Citation:

Montgomery C. Meigs Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0984

See more items in:

Montgomery C. Meigs Papers

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0984

Creator:

Maertz, J.F., Department Store (Milwaukee, Wis.).  Search this

Stanley-Brown, Joseph, 1858-1941  Search this

Keystone View Company  Search this

Rau, William H.  Search this

Extent:

8 Cubic feet ((29 boxes))

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Stereographs

Lantern slides

Place:

Milwaukee (Wis.)

California

Date:

1887-1930

bulk 1900-1930

Summary:

Collection consists of lantern slides and stereographs produced by several companies: Keystone View Company, Better America Lecture Service, Incorporated, American Press Association, J. Stanley-Brown, William H. Rau, and J. F. Maertz Department Store. The lantern slides were primarily intended to be used for educational presentations about the United States, other countries, history, and society. Many of the slides and stereographs are accompanied by descriptive text and in some instances by small cards--one card for each slide--and in other instances directly on the back of a stereoview. The majority of images were taken from 1900 to 1930.

Scope and Contents:

The collection consists of lantern slides and stereographs primarily designed for use in audio-visual educational presentations about the United States, other countries, history, and society. Many of the slides and stereographs are accompanied by descriptive text. In some instances on small cards--one card for each slide-- and in other instances printed directly on the back of a stereoview. A few of the lantern slides, particularly the ones of the J. F. Maertz Department Store of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are advertisements for consumer products. The majority were taken from 1890 through 1930. While the collection as a whole is in good general condition, some lantern slides, stereographs, and text cards are missing, and some of the lantern slides are cracked.

The collection will appeal to researchers examining the course of nineteenth-century social history broadly, especially how lantern slides were marketed to educators to teach geography, social studies, science, history and reading. The lantern slides as artifacts will be of interest to those who study material culture.

Series 1, Keystone View Company Lantern Slides and Stereographs, undated, is divided into seven subseries: Subseries 1, #1-#600, undated; Subseries 2, H-1 to H-300; Subseries 3, Biblical, undated; Subseries 4, Santa Barbara, California, undated; Subseries 5, Roads, undated; and Subseries 6, Miscellaneous, undated.

The series depicts scenes from around the United States and the rest of the world. Each image is intended to be characteristic of its location and in most cases is accompanied by a text card that describes the scene and gives the geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the location. Many of the glass lantern slides have corresponding stereoviews and in these instances two box numbers are given.

Subseries 1, #1-#600, undated, is arranged in order by the numbers on the image. Views #1-261 are arranged in a rough geographic order beginning in Maine and proceeding down the Atlantic Coast, through the former Confederate states, into the Midwest and Plains states, the mountain West states and the West coast, and ending in the territories of Alaska and Hawaii and the Panama Canal. Views #262-346 begin in eastern Canada, proceed across Canada and move through Mexico and Central America into the Caribbean, thence the length of South America and the Antarctic. Views #347-554 begin in the British Isles and move through Northern and Southern Europe and into Central Europe and then Russia, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Far East. Views #556-592 begin in North Africa and cover the length of the continent and a few areas in the Pacific. The series concludes with views of several planets, President McKinley reviewing Civil War heroes (1899), and the work of a Mexican artist (1900).

Subseries 2, H-1 to H-300, undated, is arranged in order by the numbers on the image. H-1 to H-258 depict scenes and sites of American history beginning with several images of indigenous peoples and proceeding, roughly chronologically, through major events and locations to about 1925. Images H-259 to H-300 document a range of localities and activities across the country in the mid-1920s, including major buildings in Washington, D.C., industrial activities, and modern agricultural practices.

Subseries 3, Biblical, undated, shows religious art works and rural scenes.

Subseries 4, Santa Barbara, California, undated, contains two images. One is pastoral with a Franscican friar, the other a fountain.

Subseries 5, Roads, undated, includes three images of roads, one with a person on horseback, the other two depicting wagons.

Subseries 6, Miscellaneous, undated, contains lithoprint stereographs, each with a short description, depicting scenes such as landmarks in the United States; news events in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; warfare; domestic scenes and scenes of foreign countries.

Series 2, Hillis Better America Lecture Service lantern slides, undated, is divided into 12 subseries: Subseries 1, Ability Lecture Slides, undated; Subseries 2, Bolshevism Lecture Slides, undated; Subseries 3, Builders Lecture Slides, undated; Subseries 4, Equality Lecture Slides, undated; Subseries 5, Fathers Lecture Slides, undated; Subseries 7, General Lecture Slides, undated; Subseries 8, Poverty Lecture Slides, undated; Subseries 9, Property Lecture Slides, undated; Subseries 10, Republic Lecture Slides, undated; Subseries 11, Socialism Lecture Slides, undated; and Subseries 12, Miscellaneous Lecture Slides, undated.

This series consists of lantern slides produced by Newell Dwight Hillis' Better America Lecture Service Incorporated. Newell Dwight Hillis (1858-1929), was a noted clergyman, lecturer and author. The Better American Lecture Service sought to make better Americans and to inspire greater loyalty to American institutions. Better America Lecture Service rented the lecture manuscript and slides to churches, societies, schools, and patriotic organizations. Slides were sent in a tin box and contained suggestions for publicity arrangements. (Nevada Educational Bulletin, December 1920).

Hillis published more than twenty volumes including collections of his sermons, inspirational works, and a novel. In addition, many of Hillis addresses were published and distributed as pamphlets. The slides were intended to be used for lectures on subjects such as socialism and equality. The slides generally consist of text, drawings, images of persons, paintings, and landscapes. A few slides in each set are missing, and there is no text accompanying any of the slides. The series is arranged into twelve subseries alphabetically by topic.

Series 3, American Press Association lantern slides, undated, is divided into ten subseries: Subseries 1, General Images, undated; Subseries 2, Coffins and soliders, undated; Subseries 3, Mexican War, undated; Subseries 4, Niagara Falls Conference, undated; Subseries 5, Pancho Villa and Major Gonzales, undated; Subseries 6, Parade, undated; Subseries 7, Refugees, undated; Subseries 8, Warships, undated; Subseries 9, West Virginia Mine Explosion, undated; and Subseries 10, Women March for Votes (Suffrage), undated.

The series consists of lantern slides from the American Press Association depicting news events from early twentieth century history (e.g., Mexican War; Ludlow Colorado strike; suffragettes; Gettysburg veterans; various ship disasters). Each slide has a caption with a brief description of the scene. Many slides are cracked; one is completely broken and is in a folded paper. There are also approximately fifty slides with scenes of events associated with the Mexican-American War, most with short captions identifying the scenes. Many of these slides are cracked.

Series 4, J. F. Maertz Department Stores advertisement lantern slides, early 1920s, is divided into thirteen subseries: Subseries 1, Bathrooms, undated; Subseries 2, Children's shoes and clothing, undated; Subseries 3, Dress goods, undated; Subseries 4, Dress patterns, undated; Subseries 5, Hosiery, undated; Subseries 6, House furnishings, undated; Subseries 7, House wares, undated; Subseries 8, Ladies' Home Journal, undated; Subseries 9, Shoes, undated; Subseries 10, Store advertising, undated; Subseries 11, Underwear, undated; Subseries 12, Women's clothing, undated; and Subseries 13, Miscellaneous, undated.

The series consists of lantern slides showing advertisements used in J.F. Maertz Department Store catalogs for consumer goods. Slides are categorized by type of goods, including children's shoes and clothes, bathroom needs, dress patterns, men's wear, shoes, house furnishings, house wares, Ladies' Home Journal, and underwear.

Series 5, J. Stanley-Brown and E. H. Harriman lantern slides, undated, is divided into nineteen subseries: Subseries 1, Alaska-California scenes, undated; Subseries 2, Animal life, undated; Subseries 3, Artifacts, undated; Subseries 4, California/Franciscan life, undated; Subseries 5, California Indians, undated; Subseries 6, California mission exteriors, undated; Subseries 7, California mission interiors, undated; Subseries 8, Eskimos,undated; Subseries 9, Franciscans, undated; Subseries 10, Indians, undated; Subseries 11, Landscapes, undated; Subseries 12, Maps, undated; Subseries 13, Mission interiors, undated; Subseries 14, Seascapes, undated; Subseries 15, General images (#1-7;10), undated; Subseries 16, General images (#11-14; 16-17; 19-20), undated; Subseries 17, General images (#21-30), undated; Subseries 18, General images (#31-33; 36-40), undated; and Subseries 19, General images (#42; 45-50), undated.

The series contains lantern slides, each labeled with the names of distributors, "J. Stanley-Brown, 1318 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, D.C. and E.H. Harriman, 1 East, 55th Street, New York." The slides, some with captions, depict maps; landscapes; seascapes; Eskimos; animal life; Franciscan dwellings; Indians of California; California missions and Franciscan life. There are slides depicting various scenes of California missions and scenes of indigenous Alaskans. Some slides are cracked.

Series 6, Miscellaneous Stereographs, 1894-1907, is divided into seventeen subseries: Subseries 1, American Series, 1887; Subseries 2, C.H. Graves Publisher, 1907; Subseries 3, Griffith and Griffith, 1894; Subseries 4, Pesko Binocular Company, 1907; Subseries 5, William H. Rau Publisher,undated; Subseries 6, Domestic scenes,undated; Subseries 7, Military, undated; Subseries 8, Miscellaneous, undated; Subseries 9, Places--Asia, undated; Subseries 10, Places--Cuba, undated; Subseries 11, Places--Egypt, undated; Subseries 12, Places--France, undated; Subseries 13, PLaces--Germany, undated; Subseries 14, Places--Italy, undated; Subseries 15, Places--Monte Carlo, undated; Subseries 16, Places-- Palestine, undated; and Subseries 17, Places--United States, undated.

The series consists of lantern slides and stereoviews from distributors that include the American Series; Griffith and Griffith; Pesko Binocular Company; William H. Rau Publisher; and the Universal Photo Art Company.

The stereographs related to domestic and military issues and geography are dated circa 1905, and copyrighted by H. C. White, and distrbuted by World Series.

The stereo views produced by William H. Rau, a publisher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, show parades and other ceremonies at Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) encampments and Elks conventions held in Philadelphia. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army who served in the American Civil War.

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into six series.

Series 1: Keystone View Company Lantern Slides and Stereographs, undated

Subseries 1, #1-#600, undated

Subseries 2, H-1 to H-300, undated

Subseries 3, Biblical, undated

Subseries 4, Santa Barbara, California, undated

Subseries 5, Roads, undated

Subseries 6, Miscellaneous, undated

Series 2, Hillis Better America Lecture Service Lantern Slides, undated

Subseries 1, Ability Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 2, Bolshevism Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 3, Builders Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 4, Equality Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 5, Ftahers Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 7, General Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 8, Poverty Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 9, Property Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 10, Republic Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 11, Socialism Lecture Slides, undated

Subseries 12, Miscellaneous Lecture Slides, undated

Series 3, American Press Association Lantern Slides, undated

Subseries 1, General Images, undated

Subseries 2, Coffins and Soliders, undated

Subseries 3, Mexican War, undated

Subseries 4, Niagara Falls Conference, undated

Subseries 5, Pancho Villa and Major Gonzales, undated

Subseries 6, Parade, undated

Subseries 7, Refugees, undated

Subseries 8, Warships, undated

Subseries 9, West Virginia Mine Explosion, undated

Subseries 10, Women March for Votes (Suffrage), undated

Series 4, J. F. Maertz Department Store Advertisement Lantern Slides, early 1920s

Subseries 1, Bathrooms, undated

Subseries 2, Children's shoes and clothing, undated

Subseries 3, Dress goods, undated

Subseries 4, Dress patterns, undated

Subseries 5, Hosiery, undated

Subseries 6, House furnishings, undated

Subseries 7, House wares, undated

Subseries 8, Ladies' Home Journal, undated

Subseries 9, Shoes, undated

Subseries 10, Store advertising, undated

Subseries 11, Underwear, undated

Subseries 12, Women's clothing, undated

Subseries 13, Miscellaneous, undated

Series 5, J. Stanley-Brown and E.H. Harriman lantern slides, undated

Subseries 1, Alaska-California scenes, undated

Subseries 2, Animal life, undated

Subseries 3, Artifacts, undated

Subseries 4, California/Franciscan life, undated

Subseries 5, California Indians, undated

Subseries 6, California mission exteriors, undated

Subseries 7, California mission interiors, undated

Subseries 8, Eskimos, undated

Subseries 9, Franciscans, undated

Subseries 10, Indians, undated

Subseries 11, Landscapes, undated

Subseries 12, Maps, undated

Subseries 13, Mission interiors, undated

Subseries 14, Seascapes, undated

Subseries 15, General images (#1-7;10), undated

Subseries 16, General images (#11-14; 16-17; 19-20), undated

Subseries 17, General images (#21-30), undated

Subseries 18, General images (#31-33; 36-40), undated

Subseries 19, General images (#42; 45-50), undated

Series 6, Miscellaneous Stereographs, 1887-1907

Subseries 1, American Series, 1887

Subseries 2, C.H. Graves Publisher, 1907

Subseries 3, Griffith and Griffith, 1894

Subseries 4, Pesko Binocular Company, 1907

Subseries 5, William H. Rau Publisher, undated

Subseries 6, Domestic scenes, undated

Subseries 7, Military, undated

Subseries 8, Places-Asia, undated

Subseries 9, Places-Cuba, undated

Subseries 10, Places-Egypt, undated

Subseries 11, Places-France, undated

Subseries 12, Places-Germany, undated

Subseries 13, Places-Italy, undated

Subseries 14, Places-Monte Carlo, undated

Subseries 6.15, Palestine, undated

Subseries 6.16, Places-United States, undated

Subseries 6.17: Miscellaneous, undated

Historical:

Lantern slides are hand-drawn, painted, or photographic images on glass, intended for viewing by projection; often made in sets. Photographic lantern slides were introduced in the United States by 1850 and popular through World War I; commonly 3.25 x 4 in. (9 x 10 cm.) with a black paper mask, a cover glass, and taped edges. Thesaurus of Graphic Materials

Stereographs consist of two nearly identical photographs or photomechanical prints, paired to produce the illusion of a single three-dimensional image, usually when viewed through a stereoscope. Typically, the images are on card mounts, but they take the form of daguerreotypes, glass negatives, or other processes. Stereographs were first made in the 1850s and are still made today. They were most popular between 1870 and 1920.

In 1851 stereo daguerreotypes were exhibited for the first time to the general public at the London International Exhibition (Crystal Palace). Shortly thereafter, American photographers began making stereographs. One of the first American photographic firms to produce stereographs was the team of William and Frederick Langenheim. The Library owns a set of their early stereoviews of American cities on the East Coast.

By 1860 both amateur photographers and publishing firms were making stereographs. The major stereo publishers sold their views by mail order, door-to-door salesmen, and in stores. Stereographs were sold individually and in boxed sets.

Stereographs are usually mounted. They were typically published with caption information printed under the image or on the back of the mount. The mount also provided information about the publisher, photographer, and sometimes the series or a list of views available from the photographer or publisher.

Stereographs were collected by many middle-class families in the late 19th century. People acquired stereographs of tourist sites they had visited, as well as exotic locales that they would only experience through the wonder of the stereoscope. Viewing stereographs was a common activity, much like watching television or going to the movies today. Stereoviews were also used as an education tool in classrooms. (Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Online Catalog, Stereograph Format)

The Division of Cultural History at the National Museum of American History assembled a collection of miscellaneous lantern slides and stereographs beginning in 1943. Other collection contents were acquired over many years in unrecorded transactions.

Several distributors and publishers of stereographic images are represented in the collection. One of the most prominent was the Keystone View Company of Meadville, Pennsylvania. Founded by Benneville Lloyd Singley (d.1938), a former Underwood & Underwood salesman, Keystone became a major distributor of stereographic images. From 1892 through 1963 it produced and distributed both educational and comic/sentimental stereoviews and stereoscopes used to see the images in 3-D. By 1905 it was the world's largest stereographic company. In 1963 Department A (stereoviews sold to individual families) and the education departments were closed, but Keystone continued to manufacture eye-training stereographic products as a subsidiary of Mast Development Company. In 1972 Mast closed the Meadville manufacturing site.

All of Keystone's manufacturing was done in Meadville, but branch offices were in New York, St. Louis, San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, Chicago, Toronto, Canada and London, England. Salesmen and photographers were scattered around the world, and the company offered 20,000 different views.

Selling stereoviews and lantern slides to schools was a field pioneered by Underwood & Underwood, and for several years Underwood & Underwood and Keystone were competitors for the growing educational market. According to the 1953 Keystone Sales Manual the more aggressive sales methods and the more progressive editorial policies of the Keystone View Company soon made it the acknowledged leader in the industry, and Underwood & Underwood decided to give up the contest.

Between 1915 and 1921 Keystone View Company purchased the negatives of nearly all of its competitors. They also continued to have staff photographers travel the world, so that by 1935 Keystone had approximately two million stereoscopic negatives.

Keystone View Company produced stereographic sets up through the mid-twentieth century, and had a stereoscopic photographer on staff until at least 1955.

References

Thesaurus of Graphic Materials, (2007), http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/tgm1/ (accessed February 10, 2011).

Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Online Catalog, Stereograph Format, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/stereo/background.html (accessed February 14, 2011).

Related Materials:

Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Underwood & Underwood Glass Stereograph Collection, 1895-1921, (AC0143)

Other Institutions with Materials

University of California, Riverside/California Museum of Photography

George Eastman House

Temple University

Brooklyn Historical Society

Provenance:

Donated to the Department of Anthropology, United States National Museum by Mrs. Joseph Stanley-Brown, through Mrs. Herbert Feis, in 1943.

The Division of Cultural History (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) at the National Museum of American History assembled a collection of miscellaneous lantern slides and stereographs beginning in 1943. Other collection contents were acquired over many years in unrecorded transactions. An unknown portion of the collection transferred to the Archives Center, date unknown.

Restrictions:

Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected lantern slides and stereographs must be handled with gloves.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: reproduction fees may apply.

Genre/Form:

Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Stereographs -- 1900-1950

Stereographs -- 1900-1910

Photographs -- Lantern slides -- 1900-1950

Lantern slides

Citation:

Division of Cultural History Lantern Slides and Stereographs, dates, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0945

See more items in:

Division of Cultural History Lantern Slides and Stereographs

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0945

Creator:

General Electric Company  Search this

Gotti, Mary Beth  Search this

Information, Technology and Society, Div. of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Extent:

5 Cubic feet (22 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Travel diaries

Advertisements

Diaries

Blotters (writing equipment)

Business records

Manuals

Lantern slides

Stock certificates

Stereographs

Scrapbooks

Photographs

Date:

circa 1890s-1969

Summary:

The collection documents the technology of lighting and various business aspects of the General Electric Lighting Division throughout the 20th century and consists of correspondence, bulletins, price lists, business record books, stock certificates, sales and advertising materials, scrapbooks, photographs, and lantern slides.

Scope and Contents:

The collection consists of approximately five cubic feet of correspondence, bulletins, price lists, business record books, stock certificates, sales and advertising materials, scrapbooks, photographs, and lantern slides. The collection documents the technology of lighting and various business aspects of the GE Lighting Division throughout the twentieth century.

Series 1, Historical Background Materials, 1910-1969, contains documentation on the history of the National Electric Lamp Company and the development of the incandescent lamp. The European Diary of 1928 is a narrative written by three General Electric employees—Samuel Doane, Chief Engineer, Joseph Kewley, Sales Manager, and George Osborn, Sales Manager. This narrative describes their business trip to Europe in the spring of 1928. It contains black-and-white photographs, menus, brochures, maps, postcards, and drawings detailing their travels in Paris, Nice, Milan, Venice, Berlin, Amsterdam, and England. The Record of Accomplishment, 1969, is a chronological listing (time line) of various events and/or accomplishments within General Electric.

Series 2, Executive Records, 1903-1955, consists of correspondence, annual reports, and technical standardization notices. The technical standardization notices were created by the Standardization Committee. This committee made decisions on how to facilitate and increase sales, improve quality, cheapen cost, and further the interests of the members of the Lamp Association. The reports cover a variety of subjects such as packing boxes, felt washers, high candle power lamps, and tabulating machines. Many of the reports contain black-and-white photographs. The Lamp Committee Reports seek to detail the demand for incandescent lamps and their improvements.

Series 3, House Organs, 1919-1959, contains documentation on in-house publications for General Electric. The Stimulator, 1919-1920, promoted "lighting profits and cemented friendliness, cooperation, progress, and quality." The Lamp Letter, 1947-1950, was published by the Lamp Department and dealt specifically with lamp-related issues. The Lamp Department Bulletin, 1947-1950, was produced for GE personnel and dealt with a variety of issues from sales to lamp types to licensing issues. The See Better—Work Better Bulletin, 1959, was published by the Lamp Division as a service to industrial and commercial lamp users.

Series 4, Sales and Advertising Materials, 1910-1955, includes price lists for lamps from both General Electric and other companies, manufacturers' schedules, data books, sales notebooks for sales representatives, and Edison Mazda Lamp advertising cards. The advertising cards are approximately 3" x 6" and are in color. They contain ad slogans such as "His Only Rival," "Satisfied Customer," Edison's Dream Comes True," "Have You Electricity?" and "I like Lots of Light."

Series 5, NELA School of Lighting Records, 1920-1930, documents the school, now known as the GE Lighting Institute, for training sales people and customers in the proper application of various lighting products. The records contain quarterly reports and general and lighting course descriptions.

Series 6, Business and Stock Records, 1890-1912, contains record and minute books and stock certificates from other lamp companies. The record books contain correspondence, resolutions, stockholder information, and committee reports.

Series 7, Scrapbooks and Photographs, 1890s-circa 1950, contains one scrapbook from 1923 with black and white photographs, clippings, correspondence, charts, telegrams, and booklets documenting General Electric's Nela Park location. The photo albums contain black and white photographs of staff, lamps, bulbs, tubing, tabulating, filaments, lead wires, stems, mounts, and lighting installations. The scrapbook and photo albums have indices.

Series 8, Lantern Slides, 1880-1950, consists of glass plates of Edison, images of people in the work place, and lighting equipment.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into eight series.

Series 1, Historical Background Materials, 1910-1969

Series 2, Executive Records, 1903-1955

Subseries 1.1, Correspondence, 1909-1922

Subseries 1.2, Annual Reports, 1949-1955

Subseries 1.3, Technical Reports, 1903-1935

Subseries 1.4, Standardization Committee, 1903-1908

Subseries 1.5, Lamp Committee, 1909-1935

Series 3, House Organs, 1919-1959

Series 4, Sales and Advertising Materials, 1914-1953

Subseries 4.1, Miniature Mazda Lamps, 1914-1935

Subseries 4.2, Large Mazda Lamps, 1914-1934

Subseries 4.3, Carbon Lamps, 1915-1922

Subseries 4.4, Miscellaneous, 1914-1953

Series 5, NELA School of Lighting, 1920-1930

Series 6, Business and Stock Records, 1890-1912

Subseries 1, Business Records, 1890-1912

Subseries 2, Stock Records & Certificates, 1890-1912

Series 7, Scrapbooks and Photographs, 1890s-circa 1950

Series 8, Lantern Slides, 1880-1950

Biographical / Historical:

Established in 1911, Nela Park (named for the National Electric Lamp Association) in Cleveland, Ohio, has through the present day served as both administrative headquarters and research laboratory for the development and sale of General Electric's (GE) lighting products. In the years following Thomas Edison's electric lamp invention (1879) many companies began to make and sell lighting devices. A merger of Edison Electric and Thomson-Houston Electric in 1892 created GE, which quickly grew to dominate the market. Westinghouse and several much smaller companies struggled to compete. These smaller lamp companies could not afford engineering and research facilities on a scale comparable with those of General Electric.

The National Electric Lamp Company was organized on May 3, 1901, by Franklin S. Terry (Sunbeam Incandescent Lamp Company), and Burton G. Tremaine, H. A. Tremaine and J. Robert Crouse (all from Fostoria Bulb and Bottle Company and Fostoria Incandescent Lamp Company). Terry suggested that the small companies band together to operate an engineering department, conduct lamp research and development, improve manufacturing methods, and build better lamp-making machinery. He further proposed to raise capital from and share patents with GE. This built upon an earlier organization, the Incandescent Lamp Manufacturers Association, organized by GE in 1896. The new National Electric Lamp Company was a holding company in which—unknown even to many of the smaller companies' executives—GE held a controlling (75%) interest. In 1911, GE's involvement with National became public during anti-trust proceedings. GE then purchased the outstanding stock and absorbed the smaller companies by converting them into divisional units.

Thomas Edison had, in 1882, moved his company's lamp manufacturing operation from the Menlo Park laboratory to a new facility in East Newark (Harrison), New Jersey. Named the Edison Lamp Works, this plant became the main administrative and sales facility for Edison Electric's and later GE's, lamp business. Research moved to Edison's new West Orange laboratory. In 1900, after the merger, GE established a research lab in Schenectady, New York. After forming National, Terry and B. G. Tremaine consolidated the administrative functions of that company in Cleveland and by 1910 were actively seeking space for a new office and laboratory campus. They selected a site along Euclid Avenue that was then on the outskirts of town. This became Nela Park (the "Company" had changed to "Association" in 1906). In addition to the National buildings, GE began moving its directly-owned lamp operations to Cleveland after the 1911 settlement. From 1925 through 1930 the various departments at Harrison moved to Nela Park, with the sales department being one of the last to move. GE's lighting research was carried out at both Nela Park and Schenectady.

A focal-point at Nela Park is the GE Lighting Institute, formerly known as the Nela School of Lighting. Organized by the Illuminating Engineering Section of the Engineering Department in 1921, the Lighting Institute continues to train sales people and customers in the use and proper application of various lighting products.

For additional information about Nela Park, General Electric and the National Electric Lamp Company see:

Arthur A. Bright, Jr., The Electric Lamp Industry, MacMillan, 1949.

Harold C. Passer, The Electrical Manufacturers, 1875-1900, Harvard University Press, 1953.

Leonard S. Reich, "Lighting the Path to Profit: GE's Control of the Electric Lamp Industry, 1892-1941," in Business History Review Vol. 66, pages 305-34.

Hollis L. Townsend, A History of Nela Park: 1911-1957, published by General Electric.

Related Materials:

Materials in the Archives Center

William J. Hammer Collection (AC0069)

Separated Materials:

The Division of Work and Industry (Electricity-related collections) hold several artifacts. See accession numbers: 33,407; 43,120; 68,492; 232,822; 1997.0388 and 1998.0231.

Provenance:

The collection was donated to the Division of Information Technology and Society (now the Division of Work and Industry) by Mary Beth Gotti, Manager of the General Electric Lighting Institute on March 22, 2001.

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Electricity  Search this

Electric lighting  Search this

Genre/Form:

Travel diaries

Advertisements

Diaries -- 19th century

Blotters (writing equipment)

Business records

Diaries -- 20th century

Manuals

Lantern slides

Stock certificates

Stereographs

Scrapbooks

Photographs -- 19th century

Citation:

General Electric Nela Park Collection, dates, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0789

See more items in:

General Electric NELA Park Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0789

Collector:

Cultural History, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Cultural History, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Author:

Toussaint Louverture, Francois Dominique, 1743-1803  Search this

Extent:

8 Items

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Paintings

Correspondence

Watercolors

Holographs

Signatures (names)

Portraits

Place:

Haiti

Date:

1801-1805

undated

Scope and Contents:

Eight items relating to the Haitian slave revolt leader Toussaint L'Ouverture: a manuscript letter signed by him (accompanied by translation), and seven portraits of him (two watercolors and five prints).

Letter, cat. no. 1980.0679.08:,Manuscript, 1 sheet, pre-printed official letterhead stationery, to Mr. Tobias Lear, general agent of U.S. trade in Santo Domingo, 25 November 1801, in which he thanks Lear for a translation of a letter concerning obtaining a horse for him. Toussaint Louverture emphasizes several times that the color of the horse is of no significance as long as the horse is swift.

Arrangement:

1 series.

Biographical / Historical:

Haitian slave revolt leader. Alternate spelling of name: L'Ouverture.

Provenance:

Source of acquisition unknown.

Restrictions:

Unrestricted research access on site by appointment.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Slavery -- Haiti  Search this

Haiti -- History -- Revolution, 1791-1804  Search this

Prints -- 19th century  Search this

Genre/Form:

Paintings

Correspondence -- 1800-1810

Watercolors

Holographs

Signatures (names)

Portraits

Citation:

Toussaint Louverture Collection, undated and 1801-1805, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0781

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0781

Creator:

Spillman Engineering Corporation  Search this

Misklea, M. Francis  Search this

Allan Herschell Co.  Search this

Hershell-Spillman Company  Search this

Collector:

Cultural History, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Cultural History, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Extent:

2 Cubic feet (6 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Letters (correspondence)

Advertisements

Design drawings

Clippings

Stereographs

Scrapbooks

Photographs

Date:

1879-1956

Scope and Contents:

Miscellaneous documents, catalogs, scrapbooks, photographs and printed material relating to the carousels and other amusement park rides of the Allan Herschell Company (which earlier in its existence was called the Herschell-Spillman Company and the Spillman Engineerng Corporation).

Arrangement:

1 series.

Biographical / Historical:

Employee of the Allan Herschell Company, which manufactured amusement park rides.

Provenance:

Donated by Francis Misklea in 1974.

Restrictions:

Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Merry-go-round art  Search this

Amusement rides  Search this

Amusement ride equipment industry  Search this

Merry-go-round  Search this

Genre/Form:

Letters (correspondence) -- 1850-1900

Advertisements

Design drawings

Clippings

Stereographs

Scrapbooks

Photographs -- 19th century

Photographs -- 20th century

Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century.

Citation:

M. Francis Misklea Carousel Collection, 1879-1956, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0665

See more items in:

M. Francis Misklea Carousel Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0665

Creator:

Field, Cyrus  Search this

Hall, Charles Francis, 1821-1871  Search this

Franklin, John, 1786-1847  Search this

Royal Geographic Society.  Search this

Everett, Edward, 1794-1865  Search this

Correspondent:

Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878  Search this

Extent:

3.5 Cubic feet (12 boxes)

Culture:

Eskimo/Inuit  Search this

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Business cards

Letters (correspondence)

Navigation charts

Notebooks

Scrapbooks

Ships' logs

Place:

Arctic regions -- Discovery and exploration

Nunavut

Date:

1858-1871

Summary:

The collection documents Hall's Arctic exploration.

Scope and Contents:

Diaries, journals, notebooks, scrapbooks, business cards, correspondence, ships' logs, navigation charts and documents on Hall's Arctic exploration. The correspondence includes letters to and from Henry Grimmell, William Grimmell, J. Carson Brevoont, John Barrow, Cyrus Field, Edward Everett, Clement Markham, Joseph Henry, and the Royal Geographic Society.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into one series.

Biographical / Historical:

The Arctic explorer Charles Francis Hall was born about 1821, either Vermont or New Hampshire; there are very few details about his early life. He is most notable for spending over ten years in the Arctic among the Inuit, initially focused on locating evidence of the lost British Expedition under Sir John Franklin, and then, in two later expeditions, searching for the Northwest Passage and the North Pole.

Before becoming a polar explorer, Hall began as a blacksmith's apprentice at a young age in Rochester, NH. Sometime in the 1840's he married and moved westward eventually coming to Cincinnati, where Charles opened a business making engraving plates and seals, in 1849. Later he published a small newspaper in Cincinnati, The Cincinnati Occasional.

While publishing news stories of arctic expeditions related to the Franklin expedition, Hall became enamored with the idea of polar exploration. In 1857 he began collecting any material he could gather on the landscape and survival in the Arctic, previous expeditions, and John Franklin's expedition itself, while at the same time seeking financial support for his expedition.

After detailed preparation and a small amount of financial backing, Hall boarded a ship for Greenland, and then on to the "Terra Incognita" of the Arctic. Despite being an amateur explorer with very little support for his first expedition, Hall believed that by living amongst the indigenous Inuit people, a non-native could survive long periods living in the arctic. In May 1860, Hall arrived in Frobisher Bay, Canada and with not much more than a small boat and basic supplies, Hall met befriended local Inuit who took him in for the next two years.

Over those two years, Hall found little evidence of the Franklin expedition, but what he did find proved to be more valuable. While an avid and writer, Hall lived, learned and daily documented in his journals more about the Inuit people that any visitor before him. His journals describe Inuit society, traditions, oral histories, language and culture, as well as the skills necessary to survive in such an unforgiving climate. He also travelled and mapped much of the unknown Frobisher Bay area, correcting many previously incorrect maps that depicted area as an open strait, rather than a closed bay.

Once Hall returned to the United States, he began working on publishing his writings and preparing for a second expedition to Frobisher Bay. In 1864, he left for his second trip spending almost five years living amongst the Inuit, searching for the Franklin expedition and mapping unknown portions of the Arctic.

As soon as he arrived home in 1869, Hall began again planning his next and bigger expedition, but times had changed in the U.S. The Civil War was over and the United States government was now interested in polar exploration and the race to the North Pole. Gaining the attention of President Grant, Hall was appointed as joint commander of the Polaris Expedition.

Departing in 1871, the expedition began with critical problems. The "joint-command" of the expedition put Hall in direct conflict with the other two expedition commanders, each one believing they should have been appointed as sole commander. This eventually led to incredible disasters throughout the expedition, resulting in the total failure of the mission, loss of the ship, as well as the death of Charles Francis Hall. Hall died on the expedition in November 1871, possibly from poisoning by one of his co-commanders. His body was exhumed in 1969 and tested, revealing the presence of arsenic. While Hall claimed on his deathbed he had been poisoned by a crew member, many 19th century medicines contained arsenic.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Explorers  Search this

Indigenous peoples  Search this

Inuktut  Search this

Genre/Form:

Business cards

Letters (correspondence) -- 1850-1900

Navigation charts

Notebooks

Scrapbooks -- 19th century

Ships' logs

Citation:

Charles Francis Hall Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0702

See more items in:

Charles Francis Hall Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0702

Creator:

Watkins, J. Elfreth (John Elfreth), 1852-1903  Search this

Stevens, John, 1749-1838  Search this

Source:

Transportation, Division of, NMAH, SI.  Search this

Names:

Camden and Amboy Railroad.  Search this

Danville & Pottsville Railroad  Search this

Former owner:

Transportation, Division of, NMAH, SI.  Search this

Extent:

0.5 Cubic feet (2 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence

Place:

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

Date:

1808-1881

Scope and Contents:

The main component of this collection is a double-spaced typewritten document of 858 pages transcribed (apparently in 1903) from original records and consisting of correspondence, newspaper articles, technical descriptions, legal documents, and other material relating to John Stevens, his professional work and career. Some of the correspondence is between Stevens and his rival inventors, such as Robert Fulton, credited with producing the first steamboat.

Other documents in the collection are the orginal papers incorporating the Danville and Pottsville RR in 1831 and a carefully detailed survey and cost estimate of the Camden and Amboy RR in 1830.

Biographical / Historical:

John Stevens (1749 1838) of New York, inventor and engineer, graduated from King's College (now Columbia University) in 1768. Admitted to the New York Bar in 1771, he served as treasurer of New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. He became interested in steam powered navigation in 1787 and for the next fifty years was active in building and promoting steam boats and trains, securing numerous patents, and inventing such important developments as the screw propellor. He established the worlds first steam ferry, between New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey and later built the first operating steam locomotive in the United States Stevens secured a charter from the Legislature of Pennsylvania for the Pennsylvania Railroad, from Philadelphia to Lancaster County. Two of John Stevens' seven sons, Robert and Edwin were also prominent engineers and developers of transportation equipment who collaborated with their father.

Provenance:

Immediate source of acquisition unknown.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Steam engineers  Search this

Steam engineering  Search this

Steam-engines  Search this

Locomotive builders  Search this

Steamboats  Search this

Railroads -- 19th century  Search this

Locomotives  Search this

Genre/Form:

Correspondence -- 1930-1950

Citation:

John Stevens Collection, 1808-1881, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0333

See more items in:

John Stevens Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0333

Author:

Swatara Railroad Company  Search this

Donaldson, William  Search this

Swatara and Good Spring Railroad  Search this

Collector:

Agriculture, Divison of (NMAH)  Search this

Names:

Good Spring Railroad  Search this

Extent:

1 Cubic foot (3 vertical boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Financial statements

Receipts

Correspondence

Place:

Pennsylvania -- 19th century

Date:

1805-1894.

Scope and Contents:

Documents relating to the business of the Swatara Railroad Company of Danville, Pennsylvania and particularly of its president, "Judge" William Donaldson. Includes receipts, bills, contracts, operating statistics, financial statements and correspondence, filed chronologically by year.

Biographical / Historical:

The Swatara and Good Spring Railroad was incorporated in 1831 with Judge William Donaldson as president. Renamed the Swatara Railroad in 1841, it was one of several lines connecting the First Pennsylvania anthracite coal field via waterways to the East Coast. Until 1848 it was powered by horses and was extended and rebuilt periodically. In 1863, Donaldson sold his interest in the Swatara to the Philadelphia & Reading Co., which renamed it the Good Spring Railroad.

Provenance:

Immediate source of acquisition unknown.

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Coal mines and mining -- 19th century -- Pennsylvania  Search this

Railroads -- 19th century -- Pennsylvania  Search this

Anthracite coal industry -- 19th century -- Pennsylvania  Search this

Genre/Form:

Financial statements -- 19th century

Receipts -- 19th century

Correspondence -- 19th century

Citation:

Swatara Railroad Papers, dates, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0272

See more items in:

Swatara Railroad Papers

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0272

Author:

Wainwright Family  Search this

Collector:

Warshaw, Isadore, 1900-1969  Search this

Names:

Mayhew, Charlotte  Search this

Mayhew, Elisa (Eliza)  Search this

Wainwright, Elizabeth  Search this

Wainwright, Jonathan  Search this

Wainwright, Mayhew  Search this

Wainwright, Peter, Jr.  Search this

Wainwright, Peter, Sr.  Search this

Extent:

0.33 Cubic feet (1 box)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Family papers

Financial records

Correspondence

Papers

Legal documents

Place:

New York

Boston (Mass.)

Date:

circa 1777-1893

Summary:

The correspondence, financial and legal materials, writing and notes, and various other materials of the Wainwright family who lived in early 1800s New York.

Scope and Contents:

Most of the correspondence between members of the Wainwright Family dates from around 1800 to 1840. Early correspondence of Elisa Mayhew dates from around 1777 to 1800. Other correspondence is to members of the Wainwright family from friends and business associates. Included also, are financial and legal materials of the Wainwright family dating from 1804 through 1837 plus some undated writings and notes. Additionally, a group of other material dated 1804 1893 composed of correspondence, financial and legal materials of various people, perhaps unassociated with the family are included.

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into four series.

Series 1: Correspondence, circa 1777-1830

Series 2: Financial and Legal Materials, 1817-1819

Series 3: Writings and Notes, undated

Series 4: Other Materials, 1804-1893

Biographical / Historical:

In the early 1800's, Peter Wainwright Sr. of New York had two sons. Peter Jr., was a banker in Boston, and Jonathan Wainwright was a minister in New York. Jonathan married Elisa (Eliza) Mayhew, and they had two children named Elizabeth and Mayhew. Peter married Charlotte Mayhew (perhaps the sister of Elisa).

Provenance:

Collection purchased, August 1986.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Genre/Form:

Family papers -- 18th century

Financial records -- 19th century

Correspondence -- 1930-1950

Papers

Correspondence -- 18th century

Legal documents -- 19th century

Citation:

Wainwright Family Papers, 1777-1893, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0244

See more items in:

Wainwright Family Papers

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0244

Creator:

Bennett, Edwin, 1818-1908 (potter)  Search this

Edwin Bennett Pottery Company  Search this

Source:

Ceramics and Glass, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Former owner:

Ceramics and Glass, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Names:

Bennett, Edwin Huston  Search this

Bennett, James  Search this

Extent:

4 Cubic feet (6 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Business records

Photographs

Place:

Baltimore (Md.)

Date:

1844-1881

Scope and Contents note:

Early Bennett family histories, Edwin Bennett's autobiography, correspondence, 1914-1981, Bennett Pottery Company records, photographs, notebooks of clay and glaze formulae and other miscellaneous items, 1844-1981.

Includes 3 photographs related to the Baltimore fire, 1903-1905.

Arrangement:

Divided into 8 series: (1) Biographical, (2) Correspondence, (3) Bennett Pottery Co., (4) Catalogs, advertisements, stationary, etc., (5) Photographs, (6) Notebooks of formulae and receipts, (7)Printed Material, (8) Ledgers of the Seven Clay Co. (a subsidiary of Bennett Pottery Company).

Biographical/Historical note:

Bennett was the founder of the Edwin Bennett Pottery Company, Baltimore, Maryland which operated 1846-1936. Among the first wares produced were those for utilitarian purposes (e.g., mugs and plates). Bennett also experimented with clay bodies and glazes. Along with the company's subsidiaries, Edwin Bennett Company became one of the largest suppliers in the United States of hotel kitchen and tableware, chemical containers, public restroom fixtures, and roofing tiles.

Provenance:

Collection donated by Mrs. Portia M. Filbert, 1986, March.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Pottery  Search this

Fires -- Maryland -- Baltimore  Search this

Disasters  Search this

Potters  Search this

Ceramics manufacturing  Search this

Artisans  Search this

Genre/Form:

Business records -- 19th century

Photographs -- 1900-1950

Citation:

Bennett Pottery Company Records, 1844-1881, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0213

See more items in:

Bennett Pottery Company Records

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0213

Creator:

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company  Search this

Garrett, John W. (John Work), 1820-1884  Search this

Source:

Transportation, Division of, NMAH, SI.  Search this

Former owner:

Transportation, Division of, NMAH, SI.  Search this

Extent:

0.6 Cubic feet (2 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Business records

Place:

Baltimore (Md.)

Ohio River

Date:

1850-1880.

Scope and Contents note:

Includes lists of rail accidents, production and distribution of locomotives, and engine repair costs; reports on locomotive power, cost and performance, and purchases of locomotives and cars; and correspondence relating to these and other matters, all 1850-1880. Most correspondence is to Garrett from railroad supervisory staff. Includes a history of the operation of the railroad during the Civil War and additional correspondence concerning Ohio River bridges, trestles, and tunnels.

Arrangement:

Chronological arrangement.

Biographical/Historical note:

Garrett, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 1858-1884, was born in Baltimore, Maryland July 31, 1820. After working for his father's financially successful commission business, during which time he invested heavily in the B. & O. Railroad, he was elected a director in 1855 and president in 1858. Under his leadership the railroad made history during the Civil War by carrying out the first military rail transport. During peacetime the railroad prospered with Garrett as president. He died September 26, 1884.

Provenance:

Gift of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. through Lawrence W. Sagle, Public Relations Representative, in 1997.

Restrictions:

This collection has been combined with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Collection (NMAH.AC.1086)

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Railroads  Search this

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865  Search this

Repairing  Search this

Railroads -- Buildings and structures  Search this

Genre/Form:

Business records -- 19th century

Citation:

John W. Garrett Collection, 1850-1880, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0171

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0171

Collector:

Medical Sciences, Division of, NMAH, SI (National Museum of American History)  Search this

Medical Sciences, Division of, NMAH, SI (National Museum of American History)  Search this

Author:

Maryland. Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State  Search this

Extent:

0.33 Cubic feet (2 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Maps

Clippings

Patents

Pamphlets

Prescriptions

Paintings

Photographs

Scrapbooks

Notebooks

Correspondence

Certificates

Papers

Diplomas

Place:

Maryland

Date:

ca. 1740-1965.

Scope and Contents:

18th, 19th, and 20th century material deposited with the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland, chiefly relating to the practice of medicine in the state. Includes correspondence, papers, certificates, diplomas, patents, maps, notebooks, clippings, prescriptions, pamphlets, photocopies of documents, scrapbooks, photographs, and paintings.

Arrangement:

Divided into four series: (1) Correspondence, (2) Biographical, (3) Photographs, (4) Certificates.

Provenance:

Immediate source of acquisition unknown.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Occupation:

Surgeons  Search this

Topic:

Physicians  Search this

Medicine -- Societies, etc.  Search this

Medical sciences  Search this

Genre/Form:

Maps

Clippings

Patents

Pamphlets

Prescriptions

Paintings

Photographs -- 20th century

Scrapbooks -- 19th century

Notebooks

Correspondence -- 1930-1950

Certificates

Papers

Diplomas

Scrapbooks -- 20th century

Citation:

Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland Collection, ca. 1740-1965, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0114

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0114

Correspondent:

Paterson, George P., fl. 1850s  Search this

Irving, Washington, 1783-1859  Search this

Donor:

McKaig, W. Wallace  Search this

McKaig, W. Wallace  Search this

Source:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Former owner:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (8"x10")

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Letters (correspondence)

Correspondence

Place:

Sunnyside (Irvington, N.Y.) -- 1850-1860

Date:

1852-12-27

Scope and Contents:

Letter from Washington Irving, of Sunnyside, Irvington, N.Y., to George P. Paterson, apparently a friend or business associate. Irving wrote to thank Paterson for books he had sent him, which he notes arrived on Christmas morning. Fragile condition; torn or broken at folds into separate fragments.

Biographical/Historical note:

Major American author.

General:

Original catalog no. 64.160.

Provenance:

Collection donated by W. Wallace McKaig, September 5, 1963

Restrictions:

Very fragile condition, requires special care.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Gifts -- 1850-1860  Search this

Christmas -- Gifts -- 1850-1860  Search this

Acknowledgments -- 1850-1860  Search this

Books -- Gifts -- 1850-1860  Search this

Genre/Form:

Letters (correspondence) -- 1850-1860

Correspondence -- 19th century

Citation:

Washington Irving Letter, 1852, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0084

See more items in:

Washington Irving Letter

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0084

Collector:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Author:

Hereford, John W.  Search this

Extent:

0.15 Cubic feet (1 folder)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Letters (correspondence)

Place:

Virginia

Alabama

Tennessee

Date:

1827

Scope and Contents:

Letter, September 5, 1827, by Hereford, Meridianville, Madison County, Alabama, to his father in Shenandoah County, Virginia. It describes his family's journey from Virginia to Alabama with stops in several counties of Tennessee looking for places to settle, and visiting relatives.

Provenance:

Collection donated by Lavina Lancaster, August 18, 1983.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Genre/Form:

Letters (correspondence) -- 19th century

Citation:

John W. Hereford Letter, 1827, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0066

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0066

Collector:

Community Life, Div. of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

Sparnon, Kenneth H., 1895-1972  Search this

Donor:

Sparnon, Arabella S.  Search this

Sparnon, Arabella S.  Search this

Extent:

0.5 Cubic feet (3 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Scrapbooks

Clippings

Photographs

Place:

Rochester (N.Y.)

Syracuse (N.Y.)

Date:

1912-1961

Summary:

Kenneth Sparnon, entertainer, musician and arranger was also an orchestra leader and musical director of radio station WSYR in Syracuse and WHEC in Rochester, New York. This collection includes scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, photographs of himself and other performers, advertising, programs, some correspondence, and broadcast transcriptions (acetate).

Scope and Contents:

The Sparnon collection consists of four scrapbooks, some loose news clippings, a music cue sheet for a movie, a script for the orchestra to follow in a "strike" comedy routine used in September 1931, a folder of programs for events at which Sparnon played, and articles written by Sparnon concerning his work.

The scrapbooks contain advertisements of movies at which Sparnon played, radio schedules and announcements, and newspaper write-ups of Sparnon. The movie and play reviews, while he was in both Dover, N.J. and in Syracuse, cover both silent films and the early talkies. The vaudeville announcements include personalities such as Kate Smith, Burns and Allen, and Edgar Bergen and his friend, Charlie.

The four scrapbooks within themselves are not in chronological order. However the first one, 1912-1930 is arranged in four sections: news clippings, announcements, school recitals and programs, and letters of reference and appreciation.

The Sparnon Collection is of value to those interested in: the early film years, the synchronization of music with film, musical programs on radio, and the biography of Kenneth H. Sparnon.

Arrangement:

Arranged topically.

Biographical / Historical:

Kenneth H. Sparnon was born December 8, 1895 in Chatham, New Jersey. He was the son of the Reverend Robert 0. Sparnon, pastor of the West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in Rochester, New York from 1913 to 1916.

Sparnon grew up in Rochester. He studied harmony and theory at the New York Conservatory of Music and he studied piano and organ under James W. Bleecker, founder of the New York Settlement School of Music.

At the age of 14 Sparnon gave a piano recital in Carnegie Hall. In 1912 he was a piano instructor in Bayonne, New Jersey and continued to teach piano when he worked in Dover, New Jersey. He also was the organist at the Rochester Emanuel Church in this year. His first professional engagement was as church organist in Orange, N.J. About 1913-1914, he directed the West High School Orchestra in Rochester and was leader of the boy's glee club.

At seventeen, Sparnon was the youngest orchestra leader on the Loew's vaudeville circuit, conducting the pit band in Loew's Palace in Brooklyn. In 1918 he started work at the Baker Theater in Dover, N.J. and remained in Dover until late in 1929. The Baker Theater showed movies, vaudeville, and legitimate stage plays. After December 1924 Sparnon conducted the New Baker Theater Orchestra. Sparnon played at all performances of vaudeville and movies calling his performances "Picture Play Concerts" or "Orchestral Photo Play Concerts." He played between the acts when legitimate plays were performed.

Before the "talkies" Sparnon specialized in synchronizing music to the silent pictures, newsreels, novelties, and features. Sparnon played overtures when talking pictures appeared in 1928.

During the summer of 1924 Sparnon was pianist on the Keith vaudeville circuit. He also directed the Metropolitan Concert Trio at the Estonia-Minot House, a resort hotel in Asbury Park where he played programs in the mornings for the guests.

In 1924 Sparnon helped to form and was director of a 45 piece band in Dover, New Jersey. The band played at charity concerts, parades and other occasions. It played on Sunday afternoons in the park, at Memorial Day parades, New Year's Eve, and for the hospital fund-raising. It played as Sparnon's Concert Band into 1929. While in Dover, Sparnon also directed music for the Elks' Memorial Services for several years and played for other events including the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and at the 1929 local rally celebrating a Republican victory. In 1929, Sparnon played at the Saturday night dances held in the Bergen Building.

In 1926, Sparnon joined Radio Station WJZ in New York where he conducted the "Master Musician's Hour" for several years.

In 1930, Sparnon went to RKO Keith's in Syracuse where he led a group of 12 men for three years. They were known as "Ken Sparnon and his merry gang of RKOlians". As of that year, he had a library of 5,000 pieces of music which he had gathered because of his synchronization of motion pictures. Also, as of May 11,1930, Sparnon was an associate member of the National Academy of Music.

In Syracuse, Sparnon had a reputation for playing overtures with humor and novelty which were appropriate to the movie or the season. He did the unusual and the unexpected. One article described Sparnon's work as follows:

When Griffith made "Birth of a Nation", more than a tinkly, second-rate piano was needed to accompany it. So the theater orchestra was started. After that time, musical backgrounds (cueing) became essential for each film. Then came talkies which doomed the lavish orchestras. Some of the musicians went to work at the studios. Sparnon changed and when he went to Syracuse he gave the public what was almost an extra vaudeville act. His experience in synchronization was valuable for the vaudeville acts. His music also helped in the transition to the movie setting pace and mood.

In Syracuse, Sparnon played on Radio Station WSYR with the RKOlians from Keith's. On May 25, 1930, he also became Master of Ceremonies on Monday nights and Wednesday nights for the "Little Theater of the Air". Sparnon continued in radio for many years. When he started he went on radio to get wider exposure so that the people would then come to see him in person. Perhaps because of his experience with the movies, he was famous for timing out every show in the plotted period.

In Sept. 20, 1931, Sparnon said that "...there will always be music in the theater... the public will always want to see artists in the flesh." This remark alluded to movie theaters with vaudeville shows.

Sparnon married his harpist, Arabella Simiele, in July 1935. He was one of the first radio orchestra directors to feature the harp with all types of music from classical to jazz.

In September 1932 Sparnon became director of the RKO Palace Theater Orchestra in Rochester. In June 1933, he accompanied Arthur Tracy, "the Street Singer," on tour. On June 8, 1933 Sparnon was made musical director of Radio Station WSYR in Syracuse.

He also conducted the "Ken Sparnon String Orchestra" which was carried on the NBC Blue Network coast-to-coast. He had the string ensemble in Syracuse from 1934-1937. He also played dinner music from Schraff's Restaurant in Syracuse three times a week which was carried over the NBC network.

Sparnon became program director of Rochester Radio Station, WSAY in 1937. Sparnon was made the musical director of Radio Station WHEC in Rochester on February 23. Between 1937 and 1941 Sparnon played the "Twin Keyboards" with Matt Pierce over WHEC. Between 1937 and at least 1944 Ken Sparnon and his string orchestra played over WHEC. From 1938 to Oct. 3, 1946 Sparnon was with Radio Station WHEC. Among his programs, he conducted the Gold and Silver Orchestra on Sunday nights at 6:45 p.m. for people celebrating their anniversary. On July 7, 1939, while he was still at WHEC (which was a CBS affiliate), Sparnon opened at the Hotel Seneca Grill in Rochester. In August 1940, Sparnon directed and produced "This is My Land", a new series from Rochester on CBS. During World War II, Sparnon produced shows for service personnel.

While he was in Rochester, Sparnon was a member and on the board of directors of the Rochester Musician's Association, Local 66, American Federation of Musicians.

On October 3, 1946 Sparnon joined the station relations staff of Broadcast Music, Inc. to provide special service to musical directors and managers of BMI-licensed stations. BMI set up a model radio station library. Sparnon was placed in charge of the course on the organization and maintenance of such libraries at the participants' radio stations.

In 1959, Mr. and Mrs. Sparnon moved to Roanoke, Virginia where he was Eastern Regional Director of Station Relations for BMI.

In May 1965 Sparnon retired from BMI and he and his wife moved to Sarasota, Florida. He died on June 16, 1972 after a 10 month illness.

Provenance:

Collection donated by Arabella S. Sparnon, Febuary 18, 1981.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Vaudeville  Search this

Radio -- 1910-1970  Search this

Musical arrangers  Search this

Theater -- 1910-1970  Search this

Musicians  Search this

Genre/Form:

Scrapbooks -- 20th century

Clippings -- 20th century

Photographs -- 19th century

Citation:

Kenneth H. Sparnon Collection, 1912-1961, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Arabella S. Sparnon.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0064

See more items in:

Kenneth H. Sparnon Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0064

Creator:

Gist, Joshua (merchant)  Search this

Source:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Former owner:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Extent:

0.15 Cubic feet (2 folders )

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence

Manuscripts

Account books

Place:

Maryland

New York (N.Y.) -- 18th century

Westminster (Md.)

Date:

1769-1822.

Scope and Contents note:

Account book of Joshua Gist, Westminster, Maryland, and others,including general account for the purchase and transportation of agricultural products, lists of muster rolls for the Militia of Maryland, 1794-1798. Also, miscellaneous notes of financial obligations, 1769-1800; and a letter, 1798, concerning payment for construction of fortifications of New York Harbor.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically by subject.

Provenance:

Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Domestic Life in 1997 (NMAH Acc. 1997.3022).

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Agricultural products  Search this

Militia -- 1790-1800 -- Maryland  Search this

Fortification  Search this

Military administrative -- 1790-1800  Search this

Muster rolls -- 18th century -- Maryland  Search this

Genre/Form:

Correspondence -- 18th century

Manuscripts -- 19th century

Manuscripts -- 18th century

Account books -- 18th century

Citation:

Joshua Gist Account Book & Related Materials, 1769-1822, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0044

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0044

Source:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Creator:

Herder Cutlery, Inc.  Search this

Names:

Clarenbach and Herman Herder.  Search this

Herder Cutlery, Inc.  Search this

Herder-Fine Cutlery.  Search this

L. Herder and Son.  Search this

Herder Family  Search this

Herder, Charles  Search this

Herder, Herman  Search this

Herder, Leopold  Search this

Former owner:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Extent:

3 Cubic feet (5 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Place:

Philadelphia (Pa.)

Date:

1836 - 1976

Scope and Contents:

The collection documents through corporate records, correspondence, financial records, news clippings, personal papers, photographs, and sales records of several Herder family cutlery businesses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into seven series.

Series 1: Corporate Records

Series 2: Financial Records

Series 3: Sales Records

Series 4: Photographs

Series 5: Clippings

Series 6: Correspondence

Series 7: Herder Family

Biographical / Historical:

The Herder Family had several cutlery businesses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Charles Clarenbach and Herman Herder, 606 Arch Street; L. Herder and Son, founded 1871 by Herman's son Leopold, the elder of two sons; Herder-Fine Cutlery, founded by younger son, Charles, 830 Arch Street; and Herder's Cutlery, Inc.

Separated Materials:

Artifacts related to this collection include ice skates, steel punches, stamps, grinders, scissors, shears, store signs, a grinder's stool, claim tags, honing stones, and razor blades. See accession 1983.0406.

Provenance:

Herder's Cutlery, Incorporated, through Lynn Herder Walker, Secretary-Treasurer, 1997.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Cutlery trade  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs -- 19th century

Citation:

Herder Cutlery Collection, 1847-1980, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0050

See more items in:

Herder Cutlery Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0050

Creator:

Anderson, Poul  Search this

Kallesoe, Line  Search this

Source:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Former owner:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Extent:

0.15 Cubic feet (1 folder; 2 letters, 27.5 cm. x 22 cm.)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Letters (correspondence)

Family papers

Place:

Denmark -- emigration -- 19th century

Date:

1866

Scope and Contents note:

Two letters from Line Kallesoe, a Danish immigrant in Philadelphia, to her sister Emma in Denmark, discuss Line and her children's poverty after the death of her husband.

Biographical/Historical note:

According to Poul Anderson, the donor and translater of the letters, apparently Peter Kallesoe, a sailor, left Denmark to seek his fortune in the United States, his wife and children to join him later. Family tradition says that he became involved in contraband running, was caught, and died in prison. Not knowing of his death, his wife Line and children arrived in the United States, and encountered the poverty which she describes in the letters. On the voyage to the United States, the ship's mate, named Anderson, fell in love with Line's daughter Techla, and eventually married her, becoming the donor's ancestor.

Provenance:

Collection donated by Poul Anderson, 1977, July.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Domestic relations -- 19th century -- U.S.  Search this

Emigration and immigration -- 19th century  Search this

Poverty -- 19th century -- U.S.  Search this

Genre/Form:

Letters (correspondence) -- 1860-1870

Family papers -- 1860-1870

Citation:

Line Kallesoe Correspondence, 1866, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0042

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0042

Collector:

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Wilcox, Nathaniel Greene, Colonel  Search this

Domestic Life, Division of (NMAH, SI).  Search this

Extent:

0.1 Cubic feet (2 folders)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence

Legal documents

Clippings

Place:

Illinois -- 19th century

Date:

ca. 1843-1892; 1921.

Scope and Contents:

Correspondence with Nathaniel Greene Wilcox family; legal documents; newspaper clippings, including the July 3, 1860 issue of THE RUSHVILLE TIMES, illustrated with articles and editorials about the 1860 presidential candidates.

Arrangement:

Divided into three series: (1) Correspondence; (2) Legal documents; (3) Newspaper clippings.

Biographical / Historical:

Wilcox was a colonel in the Army, residing in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Provenance:

Immediate source of acquisition unknown.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Electioneering -- 1869-1970  Search this

Presidential candidates -- 1860-1870  Search this

Family -- 1840-1900  Search this

Genre/Form:

Correspondence -- 19th century

Legal documents -- 19th century

Clippings -- 19th century

Citation:

Nathaniel Greene Wilcox Collection, ca. 1843-1921, Archives Center.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0030

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0030