Plainfield Families Finding Aid - Local History Department

Table of Contents

Descriptive Summary

Administrative Information

Biographical Notes

Scope & Content Note

Series Arrangement & Description

Index Terms

Container Listing

Plainfield Families,1796-1993.

Gilman Family portrait, 1916.

Processing of this collection was made possible through
a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission.

Descriptive Summary


Title:	Plainfield Families, 1796-1993.
Creator:	Various
Size:	2.5 linear feet Comprised of 3 boxes: 1 records box 1 document box 1 oversize box
Repository:	Plainfield Public Library, Local History Department, 800 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
Abstract:	The Plainfield Families collection documents several families who resided in Plainfield during the 19th and 20th centuries. Dates span from 1796 to 1993, with bulk dates from 1900 to 1946. Record types include: manuscripts, speeches, letters and postcards, journals, report cards, certificates and diplomas, deeds, ephemera, clippings, and photographs.
Language:	The records are in English.

Administrative Information

Access & Restrictions

The Plainfield Families collection is available for research.

Access is restricted to materials prepared by the Local History department staff. All materials must be viewed in the Plainfield Room and may not be removed to another area of the library without permission of the Library Director or designee. Materials must be handled carefully and kept in order. Materials must not be leaned upon, altered, folded, ripped, or traced upon. Marks may not be added or erased from materials. Materials must be returned directly to Local History department staff and inspected before the researcher leaves the Plainfield Room.

One photocopy may be made (by Plainfield Public Library staff) of each document for the purpose of research; official Local History departmental reproduction fees may apply. Permission to publish must be obtained by the Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees as delegated to the Library Director. Permission to publish does not constitute a copyright clearance. The researcher is responsible for further copyright restrictions. The Plainfield Public Library is not responsible for the misuse of copyrighted material.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item; Date (if noted); "Plainfield Families,” Series, Box and Folder Number; Local History Department, Plainfield Public Library, Plainfield, New Jersey.

Acquisition Information

Portions of the collection were donated in 2007, 2015, and 2017 by John Grady.

Processing Information

Finding aid content follows the guidelines suggested by Describing Archives: A Content Standard. The processing of this collection was made possible through a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission.

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Biographical Notes

We do not have biographical information for all of the families contained within this collection.

J. Herbert Case
James Herbert Case was born in Plainfield in 1906. He was a board member of the Plainfield Public Library,
and resigned in 1926. He died in New York in 1965.

Frederic W. Cook
Frederic W. Cook was the Superintendent of the Plainfield Schools until his death in 1944. He was active with many civic and welfare organizations in Plainfield, and was also a member of the Plainfield Public Library board of trustees.

Alexander Dickson family
Local Plainfield family. Alexander Dickson (Alex S.) owned Netherwood Garage, which was located at 1001 South Avenue. The family also resided at that address. He and his wife, Marie, had a daughter, Sophia (Sophie) Tarvers, and son, Alex Donald. In 1938, Sophia was an assistant physical director at the YWCA, and was later employed as the supervisor of physical education for the Plainfield School System. She eventually became a teacher and resided at 905 Sterling Street with her mother, brother Alex and his wife Elinor (they later moved out of Plainfield). Alex S. died sometime around 1956. Sophia retired in the 1970s.

Alexander Gilbert
Alexander Gilbert was Mayor of Plainfield from 1891 to 1896. He also worked as a New York City banker and president of the New York Clearing House. He resided at 318 West 8th Street.

Charles Gilman family
Charles Gilman was a civil engineer and pioneer of reinforced concrete. Among many activities and board seats, he was a member of the Plainfield Board of Appeals in 1938. Charles married twice; his first wife died in 1934. In 1935, he married his second wife, Marion Smith Carter of Westfield. He was with Massey Concrete Products for 45 years, and an Elder in the Crescent Avenue Church in Plainfield.

Roger Gilman, also an engineer, was a director of the New York Port Authority in 1957.

Karl Gilman was a Navy Seaman; Third Assistant Engineer on the Flying Clipper.

Bernard and Ruth MacDonald family
Local Plainfield family. There is no biographical information available about this family. Bernard and Ruth were brother and sister.

Augustus L. C. Marsh (1865-1942) family
Augustus Marsh was an architect and designer of many of Plainfield's public buildings. He was a noted bicyclist in his youth. He resided in Plainfield with his wife Grace E. and their daughter Molly. His parents were Richard and Anna Robinson Marsh.

Mary E. Roth family
Mary E. Roth was a teacher and principal at the Eleanor G. Hewitt School for 44 years. She was the daughter of Martin and Mary Zimmer Roth, and the aunt of Eleanor Zweifel. Raymond Roth was a painter. Martin was a shoemaker in Plainfield at 120 Exchange Alley. Mary was survived by her brother, G. Fred Roth.

Arthur E. and Grace Emmons Smith family
Arthur E. Smith, Sr. was married to Grace L. Emmons in 1905; she died in 1969. She was a member of Trinity Reformed Church and Fellowship Circle of Kings Daughters, among other associations. She organized the first auxiliary of Boy Scouts at Monroe Methodist Church in Plainfield. She was survived by two sons: Arthur E. Jr. of Long Island, and Robert E. of Plainfield, and a daughter, Mrs. William O. Grant of St. Petersburg. Maria Louise Brown Emmons Smith, daughter of Arthur Smith, Jr. and Jane Foster. William C. Smith was a Civil War veteran.

Mason Whiting Tyler family
Mason Whiting Tyler was born in Massachusetts in 1840. In 1869, he married Miss Eliza M. Schroeder. The couple had two sons: William Seymour and Cornelius Boardman. The family moved to Plainfield in 1871, where Tyler maintained a personal library collection of rare and valuable works. He resided at 525 West Seventh Street. During his lifetime, he was involved with many civic organizations including two terms on the Plainfield Common Council. He was a co-founder and Vice President of the board of directors of the Plainfield Public Library, and one of the first trustees of Muhlenberg Hospital. Colonel Tyler died on July 2, 1907, just nine months after his beloved wife. He bequeathed $10,000 to the Library with the stipulation that the investment income be used for the purchase of books chosen by the Library Board. Honoring a personal interest of Tyler’s, the Board selected books that dealt with United States history and Americana – many of which remain in the collection today.

William Van Norden family
Local Plainfield family who resided on Lyman Place. William (Sr.) was a physician; his wife Agnes M. was a teacher. They had three children, Frederick, Marguerite and William Jr.

Otis Whitford family
Otis Whitford was a dentist and married to Mabel; they lived on Evergreen Avenue. Otis was also involved with the YMCA They also resided at 318 E 6th for a time.

Albert Whitford was president of Plainfield Grocery & Supply. He was married to Ella Whitford. They lived on Lenox Avenue with Lucy Whitford. Lucy Whitford was a school nurse and Paul A. Whitford was a clerk.

Ernest C. Whitford was secretary of Plainfield Grocery & Supply; he lived on East 6th Street with Myron Whitford, a salesman.

Henry J. Zweifel family
Henry J. Zweifel worked at PSE&G. as a Collector and book keeper (according to the 1935 Plainfield City Directory).

Eleanor R. Zweifel worked as a Clerk at TSN Bank in Plainfield, but resided in Scotch Plains (According to the 1962 PCD).

Miss Florence Zweifel, twin sister of Eleanor, was a clerk at the Plainfield Trust Company, and formerly with Permaseal Products. She graduated from PHS and Drake Business College.

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Scope and Content Note

The Plainfield Families collection includes a variety of record types and span from 1873 to 1988, with bulk dates of 1900 to 1946. The collection is composed of manuscripts, speeches, letters and postcards, journals, report cards, certificates and diplomas, deeds, ephemera, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Certificates include those for births, baptisms, and marriages. Education records include reports cards and diplomas. There is a family tree for the Emmons (Smith) family. There are also a large number of loose photographs and negatives.

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Arrangement and Description

The Plainfield Families collection is arranged by surname into 14 series. New series will be added as items are donated to the collection; these items will not be in alphabetical order. Each series is contained in one folder unless otherwise noted.

Series 1: Herbert J. Case, 1926.
Series 2: Frederic W. Cook, 1944, undated.
Series 3: Dickson family, 1920-1988.
Series 4: Alexander Gilbert, 1907.
Series 5: Gilman family, 1904-1980 (3 folders).
Series 6: MacDonald family, 1932.
Series 8: Marsh family, 1905.
Series 9: Roth family, 1900, undated.
Series 10: Smith family, 1905-1980.
Series 11: Tyler family, 1830-1946 (6 folders).
Series 12: Van Norden family, 1890-1929 (2 folders)
Series 13: Whitford family, 1922-1946 (2 folders)
Series 14: Zweifel family, 1929-1954.
Series 15: Talmadge family, 1869-1930 (2 folders)
Series 16: Beardsley family, 1925-1950
Series 17: Van Oss family, 1993
Series 18: Cartledge family, 1883
Series 19: Ladd family, 1979
Series 20: Josephine Lapsley, 1930s-1960s
Series 21: Warn(e) family, 1796-1838
Series 22: George Coyne, 1948-1949
Series 23: Stillman family, 1861-1862
Series 24: Stewart family, 1860s-1971 (3 folders)
Series 25: Atterbury family, 1920s
Series 26: Drinkwater family, 1929-1954
Series 27: Briton Oliver Smith, 1930s
Series 28: Van Fleet family, undated
Series 29: John H. Van Winkle, 1901

See Container List below for itemized detail.

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Index Terms

People:

Atterbury, Albert Hoffman
Atterbury, Emma Baker
Cartledge, Anne
Cartledge, John
Case, J. Herbert
Clausel, Ida Stewart
Cook, Frederic W., 1886-1944.
Cook, Irene Bell Wright, 1886-1944
Coyne, George
Dickson, Alexander Donald
Dickson, Sophia Travers
Drinkwater, Carrie K.
Drinkwater, Herbert Allen
Drinkwater, Rachel
Emmons, Grace (Smith family relative)
Gilbert, Alexander
Gilman, Charles
Gilman, Roger
Lapsley, Josephine
MacDonald, Bernard
MacDonald, Ruth
Marsh, Augustus L. C.
Roth, Mary Eleanor
Smith Arthur E.
Smith, Briton Oliver
Smith, Robert Emmons
Smith, William C., Sr.
Stewart, Elinor C.
Stewart, Percy
Stillman, Eddie
Stillman, George
Stillman, Luty
Tyler, Col. Mason
Tyler, Eliza M.
Van Norden, Agnes M.
Van Norden, Frederick C.
Van Norden, Marguerite
Van Norden, William E. Jr.
Van Norden, William E. Sr.
Van Winkle, John H.
Whitford, Albert
Whitford, Ernest
Whitford, Otis T.
Zweifel, Eleanor
Zweifel, Florence
Zweifel, Henry
Zweifel, Marguerite

Organizations:

Muhlenberg Hospital
Plainfield Public High School
Plainfield Public Library
Woodhull and Martin
Wood Brook Farms

Places:

Plainfield (N. J.)

Subjects:

Manuscripts, American--New Jersey--Plainfield
Plainfield (N. J.)--History

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Related Items

Biographical sketch of Dea. Timothy Boardman, 1885.
GEN 929.2 BOA [folder 23]

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Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

This collection consists of paper documents and photographs that do not require any additional technology for access.

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Container Listing

** = oversized items housed in Box 3

Box	Folder	Personal/Family Name	Items	Dates
1	1	Case, J. Herbert	PPL Board Book (illuminated)	1926
	2	Cook, Frederic W. (1886-1944) Augustus Nasmith Jr.	Tribute items (speeches and ephemera), 1 clipping (obit), 1 publication (The Plainfields), 4 PHOTOS	1944, undated
	2a	Cook, Irene Bell Wright (1886-1944) Augustus Nasmith Jr.	Birth certificate transcript, obit and memorial service program, biography, drawn portrait	1942, 1972, 1979
	3	Dickson Family** Sophia Tarvers Dickson Alexander Donald Dickson (1932) Alexander S. Dickson Dorothea C. Ericksen	Sophia typed poem, grammar school diploma (in Folder 22), confirmation certificate, Alexander Donald Font Roll and confirmation certificates, Alexander S. receipt, copy photos of Alexander S. as chauffeur, Ericksen cemetery deed, photo of Sophie Dickson basketball team**	1917-1988
	4	Gilbert, Alexander	Commemorative dinner booklet	1907
	5	Gilman, Charles Roger Gilman	PHOTOS and negatives	1904-1980
	6	Gilman Family continued	PHOTOS
	7	Gilman Family continued	Letters and clippings
	8	MacDonald, Bernard and Ruth	Nature Club certificates	1932
	9	Marsh, A.L.C.	Woodhull and Martin affidavit, July 11, 1905	1905
	10	Roth, Mary Eleanor**	Clippings, birth certificate, baptism certificate**	1900, undated
	11	Smith, Arthur E.** Robert Emmons Smith William C. Smith Grace Emmons	Letters, PHOTOS, ephemera, clippings, baby journal, PHS report cards, Muhlenberg letter and photos, marriage certificate, Emmons family tree	1905-1980
	12	Tyler, Col. Mason	Library and Community Council memorial books. (cage items)	1905
	13	Tyler, Col. Mason	Board will executor booklet, ancestral tablet- blank. (cage items)	1907
	14	Tyler , Eliza M.	Deed – southeast side of Seventh Street	1830
	15	Tyler Family	Deed – Margaret P. Main	1898
	16	Tyler Family**	Deeds and bonds, map**	1830-1946
	16A	Tyler - Wood Brook Farms	Wood Brook Farms deeds and records	1944
	17	Van Norden, William Marguerite William E. Frederick Agnes	Remembrance card, 1890. ephemera, clippings, (Hershey candy wrapper), postcard of Babcock Building’s “Ritz table for High School students,” PHS graduation certificate, English class notebook, Jekyll and Hyde character part – handwritten; house at 329 Lyman Place PHOTO	1890 -1929
	18	Van Norden Family	“The Mystical Journal” handwritten stories by child. Van Norden children in costume for “Queen Esther” play, 1901 PHOTO	1901-1905
	19	Whitford, Otis T. Albert Whitford Ernest Whitford	Ephemera, telegram, clippings, PHOTOS	1922-1946, undated
	20	Whitford, Otis T.	Typed tributes to him and clippings, 1942	1942
	21	Zweifel Family Florence Henry Marguerite Eleanor	Remembrance cards (various family members), clipped obits, baptism and confirmation certificates, 8th grade diploma, PHS diploma (cased), 1943, PHOTOS	1923-1954
	22	Dickson, Sophia	Grammar School diploma, June 1924	1924
	23	Tyler Family	Timothy Boardman Tyler biographical sketch (929.2 BOA)	1889
	24	Talmadge Family	Photo, letters, invitations, calling cards	1869-1930
	24a	Talmadge Family continued	Typed genealogy	Undated
	25	Beardsley Family	1412 Evergreen Ave. - History, photos, builder and general contractor receipts, note with figures written by A.P. Beardsley, property appraisal	1925, 1950
	26	Van Oss Family	226 East 9th St. – letter about blueprint donated to library	1993
	27	Cartledge Family	Executors’ deed between John and Anne Cartledge (executors of James A. Falkner) and Kezia A. Todd concerning property in Plainfield	1883
	28	Ladd Family	Printed wedding thank you note	1979
	29	Lapsley, Josephine	Postcards sent to Josephine Lapsley at 114 Crescent Ave.	1930s-1960s
	30	Warn(e) Family	Bible records	1796-1838
	31	Coyne, George	Jersey Boys’ State certificate, receipt for 1949 PHS yearbook, typed yearbook quotes (found inside donated 1949 yearbook)	1948-1949
	32	Stillman Family	Letters to and from George [Stillman], NY, and Eddie and Luty Stillman, RI; receipt for coal from Levi Hetfield, Plainfield	1861-1862, undated
	33	Stewart Family	Wedding invitations for Ida Stewart and Louis Clausel and Louise Clausel and Guido Mino; Louise Mino correspondence	1916-1971
	34	Stewart Family continued	Watercolor painting of 563 W. 8th St. (Percy Stewart’s house); “Prayers of Hope and Gladness” by Elinor C. Stewart	1925, undated
	35	Stewart Family continued	PHOTOS of family	1860s-1950s
2	1	Atterbury, Albert Hoffman Emma Baker Atterbury (wife)	PHOTOS of 922 Hillside Avenue house and gardens, Albert and Emma Atterbury; calling card for Mademoiselle Escoffier	1920s, undated
	2	Drinkwater Family Herbert Allen Drinkwater Carrie K. Drinkwater Rachel Drinkwater	Autograph album, application to Department of Building for house relocation, contract for house sale, estate appraisal papers	1929-1937, 1954
	3	Smith, Briton Oliver Margaret Smith (wife)	PHOTOS of Briton and Margaret Smith, their house at 820 Third Place, interior of home in Montreal	1930s, undated
	4	Strong Family Lauren McCready	Scans, copy photos, letter, blank Christmas cards	1989, 2002, undated
3		Smith Family	Maria Louise Brown Emmons family tree	Undated
	1	Tyler Family	Stelle Avenue map	Undated
	2	Pittis Family	Blueprint, storefronts	1964
	3	Van Fleet Family	Family tree	Undated
	4	Pittis Family	Map of owned lots	Undated
	5	Smith Family	Marriage certificate	1905
	6	Roth Family	Baptism certificate	1900
	7	Van Winkle, John H.	Benefit certificate from the Royal Arcanum of Plainfield	1901
	8	Dickson Family	Photo, Sophie Dickson & girls basketball team	1928

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