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J. Howard Catlin diaries

2011-30-0

 Collection
Identifier: 2011-30-0

Scope and Contents

The J. Howard Catlin diaries (2011-30-0) consist of six pocket diaries kept by J. Howard Caltin in 1867, 1868, 1873, 1874, 1880, and 1892. Catlin's entries are brief and generally chronicle his daily activities. He regularly notes the weather, and in several of the diaries keeps a cash account of his personal spending. The six diaries are currently housed together in 3A Box 1a. Also housed in this location is an enlarged photocopy of the 1868 diary.

Dates

  • created: 1867-1892
  • Other: Date acquired: 02/04/2013

Creator

Biographical or Historical Information

J. Howard Catlin was born in March of 1847 to John and Laura Humanston Catlin of Northfield, Connecticut. As a young man he became involved with the Northfield Knife Company with his brother Franklin and he also became active in his community of Northfield; acting as a notary public during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In 1871 he married Josephine (Josie) Wooster of Connecticut, and the couple had two children. He passed away on March 30, 1933. The Northfield Knife Company was established in 1858 and soon became prosperous, producing the first cast iron handled knives in 1862. In 1865 ownership control of the company passed to Franklin H. and J. Howard Catlin of Northfield. The success of the company led the Catlin brothers to expand through the purchase of several of the area's smaller knife companies. The American Knife Company of Plymouth Hollow was purchased in 1865 and the Excelsior Knife Company of Torrington was purchased in 1884. The company's sucess was evidentĀ  at the 1901 Pan American Exposition where their exhibit displayed over one thousand different knife styles. In 1919 the Northfield Knife Company was sold to Clark Brothers Cutlery of St. Louis, Missouri, and the company was declared bankrupt in 1929.

Note written by

Extent

0.00 Linear Feet

6 bound pocket diaries. other_unmapped

Language of Materials

English

Source of Acquisition

Found in collection.

Related Materials

multi-part note content

Other Descriptive Information

This collection was processed with support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Title
J. Howard Catlin diaries
Date
02/04/2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Litchfield Historical Society Repository

Contact:
7 South Street
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield CT 06759
860-567-4501
860-567-3565 (Fax)