Babbitt family papers

1994-15-0

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: 1994-15-0

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Papers relating to the Babbit family, including Eleanor Babbitt (1898-1994) and Col. Samuel H. Fisher (1867-1957). Col. Fisher's daughter Margaret Crossette Fisher married Eleanor Babbitt's brother Theodore Babbitt on June 17, 1922, in Litchfield. The papers include photographs and documents pertaining to Sheldon Tavern; drawings, invitations, etc. from Lilac Hedges; legal documents; birth and marriage certificates; family photographs; papers pertaining to Eleanor Babbitt and the Aircraft Warning Service in Litchfield during World War II; tax returns for Samuel H. Fisher and Margaret Sargent Fisher (his wife); pamphlets and newspaper clippings; and other materials. Eleanor Babbitt was born in Colorado Springs, Colo. and moved to New York as a youth. She later owned and operated a book store there. She obtained a private pilot's license in the late 1920s which she used in the 1930s. In 1938, she moved to Litchfield. She was an active volunteer, first serving as a plane spotter for the aircraft warning system in Northfield during World War II and later with the Litchfield Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. She also was a trustee of the Gilbert Library in Northfield and served on the board of the Litchfield Historical Society. She died in 1994. Col. Samuel H. Fisher was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from Yale University in 1889 and Yale Law School 1892. He practiced law in Washington, D.C., and New Haven. In 1916, he became the personal counsel for Mrs. Stephen V. Harkness and her son Edward S. Harkness, a position he held until Fisher retired in 1931. He was a member of the Yale Corporation from 1910-1925 and a member of boards of corporate and charitable institutions. After he retired, he helped organize the Connecticut Highway Safety Commission in 1936, was the Connecticut Defense Administrator from 1940-1943, and performed other public service for the state and federal government. He married Margaret Sargent Fisher of New Haven in 1895. They moved to Litchfield in 1920. He died in 1957. Series 1-2 are housed in Box 1. Series 3-5 are housed in Box 2. Series 6 is housed in Oversize Box 9A; and account books (1953-1957) are housed in 3B Box 90.

Dates

created: 1895-1972
Other: Date acquired: 01/01/1994

Creator

Babbitt, Thomas (Person)

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

Eleanor Babbitt was born in Colorado Springs, Colo. and moved to New York as a youth. She later owned and operated a book store there. She obtained a private pilot's license in the late 1920s which she used in the 1930s. In 1938, she moved to Litchfield. She was an active volunteer, first serving as a plane spotter for the aircraft warning system in Northfield during World War II and later with the Litchfield Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. She also was a trustee of the Gilbert Library in Northfield and served on the board of the Litchfield Historical Society. She died in 1994. Col. Samuel H. Fisher was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from Yale University in 1889 and Yale Law School 1892. He practiced law in Washington, D.C., and New Haven. In 1916, he became the personal counsel for Mrs. Stephen V. Harkness and her son Edward S. Harkness, a position he held until Fisher retired in 1931. He was a member of the Yale Corporation from 1910-1925 and a member of boards of corporate and charitable institutions. After he retired, he helped organize the Connecticut Highway Safety Commission in 1936, was the Connecticut Defense Administrator from 1940-1943, and performed other public service for the state and federal government. He married Margaret Sargent Fisher of New Haven in 1895. They moved to Litchfield in 1920. He died in 1957.

Note written by

Extent

1.25 Linear Feet

3 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

The collection is arranged in seven series: 1. Eleanor Babbitt papers 2. Col. Samuel H. Fisher papers 3. Sheldon Tavern 4. Publications 5. Miscellaneous 6. Oversize 7. Accruals

Source of Acquisition

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Babbitt

Method of Acquisition

Gift

Accruals and Additions

Also includes 2004-14-0, 2013-42-0. 2016-29-0, 2016-50-0, 2019-100-0, 2019-108-0, and 2020-18-0 were added after the earlier donations had been processed and will be listed as a separate accrual series.

Related Materials

See also the Samuel H. Fisher Collection, 1961-25-0 and museum objects, 2013-42-1-17.

Other Descriptive Information

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

Processing Information

Additions to the collection have been made over time (see accruals note). Time constraints make reprocessing unrealistic, so the additions since 2016 have been listed under Series 7, Accruals with oversized material stored with other oversized material from this collection.