Edgar B. Van Winkle collection
2010-364-0
Scope and Contents
The Edgar B. Van Winkle collection consists of research files, correspondence, and a speech. Van Winkle and his wife Mary Speiden Van Winkle had an interest in the family of Litchfield doctor Daniel Sheldon and the papers include correspondence, research, and a speech about him and members of his family. The collection has memorials written by Van Winkle to George S. Greene, John Croes, and John Mitchell, members of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S. A., and speeches Van Winkle gave before the Military Order and Union College in 1915. The collection also contains four rewards of merit given to Van Winkle's mother Hannah Beach Van Winkle and one given to David Grant, all circa 1830s, and a card with "Caledonian Quadrilles" of the Utica Lancer Club, undated.
Dates
- created: circa 1830s, 1903-1915
- Other: Date acquired: 06/10/2010
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Biographical or Historical Information
Edgar Beach Van Winkle (1842-1920), civil engineer, was born in New York City. He was the son of Edgar Simeon Van Winkle and Hannah Starr Beach, who was born in Goshen, Conn. Edgar Van Winkle received the degree of A.B. from Union College in 1860 and the degree of C.E. from Union College in 1861. He married Elizabeth Mitchell, daughter of Judge William Mitchell, in 1876. They had five children: Mary Starr Van Winkle, Elizabeth Mitchell Van Winkle, Capt. Edgar Beach Van Winkle, Jr., Grace Louisa Van Winkle and William Mitchell Van Winkle. His wife died in 1894. He married Mary Flower Speiden, daughter of William Speiden of New York, in 1899.
As a civil engineer, Beach was employed on the extension to the Croton water works for the City of New York, 1861-1862. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was promoted to captain. In 1865, he resumed professional civil engineering work for the city of New York. He was a member of the firm of Croes, Church & Van Winkle. From 1878 to 1884, he was chief engineer of the Department of Public Works, New York City. He was also employed at various times by the Erie railroad and the Shepaug Valley railroad.
He was involved with numerous professional, military, and civic organizations including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S., and the Litchfield Village Improvement Society.
Note written by
Extent
0.21 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Method of Acquisition
Gift; found in collection
Accruals and Additions
This collection consists of individual items donated by Edgar B. Van Winkle, Edgar B. Van Winkle Jr., William Mitchell Van Winkle, and unknown donors.
Existence and Location of Originals
multi-part note content
Other Descriptive Information
This collection was processed with support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Subject
- Sheldon, Daniel, 1750-1840 (Person)
- Sheldon family (Family)
Genre / Form
Geographic
- Title
- Edgar B. Van Winkle collection
- Author
- Leith Johnson
- Date
- 06/10/2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Litchfield Historical Society Repository
7 South Street
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield CT 06759
860-567-4501
860-567-3565 (Fax)
archivist@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org