The University of Massachusetts Amherst
Robert S. Cox Special Collections & University Archives Research Center
CredoResearch digital collections in Credo

Abbe, Edward H.

Edward H. Abbe Papers

1828-2004
22 boxes 28.5 linear feet
Call no.: MS 736
Depiction of Ed Abbe in Bora Bora, 1987
Ed Abbe in Bora Bora, 1987

Born in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1915 and raised largely in Hampton, Va., Edward Abbe seemed destined to be an engineer. The great nephew of Elihu Thomson, an inventor and founding partner in General Electric, and grandson of Edward Folger Peck, an early employee of a precursor of that firm, Abbe came from a family with a deep involvement in electrification and the development of street railways. After prepping at the Rectory and Kent Schools, Abbe studied engineering at the Sheffield School at Yale, and after graduation in 1938, accepted a position with GE. For 36 years, he worked in the Industrial Control Division in New York and Virginia, spending summers at the family home on Martha’s Vineyard. After retirement in 1975, he and his wife Gladys traveled frequently, cruising both the Atlantic and Pacific.

Ranging from an extensive correspondence from his high school and college days to materials relating to his family’s involvement in engineering, the Abbe collection offers an in depth perspective on an educated family. An avid traveler and inveterate keeper, Ed Abbe gathered a diverse assemblage of letters, diaries, and memorabilia relating to the history of the Abbe, Peck, Booth, Gifford, and Boardman families. The collection is particularly rich in visual materials, including albums and photographs, depicting homes, travel, and family life over nearly a century.

Background on Edward H. Abbe

Edward H. Abbe was born in March of 1915 in Syracuse, New York. His father, Harry Allen Abbe, worked as an engineer until his premature death in 1919 at age 35. Elsie Mayhew Peck Abbe, Edward’s mother, was the daughter of the businessman Edward Folger Peck and his wife Mary Booth Peck. Edward Folger Peck, Edward’s grandfather, introduced the two men who would found General Electric. As an adult, his grandson Edward Abbe would make his 36-year career with this same company. One of its founders, family friend Elihu Thomson, would marry into the Peck family and be remembered by Ed Abbe as Uncle Elihu. In addition to his pivotal role in the founding of General Electric, Edward Folger Peck conducted numerous business ventures primarily in transportation industries. Perhaps it was this influence from his grandfather that drove Ed Abbe’s lifelong fascination with trains. William, or Bill, Abbe was born to Harry Allen and Elsie Peck Abbe in 1916, only one year after Edward’s birth. Bill would go on to become a successful artist and educator remembered primarily for becoming the first teacher of Fine Arts at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire until his death in 1983.

When Edward was young, he moved with his mother and brother from New York to Virginia, but always spent most of his summers at the family cottage on Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts. These vacations allowed Ed to compile a large collection of books, newspapers, photographs, and other material related to Martha’s Vineyard over the years. His lifelong interest in trains grew during these years, and Edward began collecting parts for his model train set. This train set would become one of Ed’s most prized possessions and was quite valuable. Edward attended the Rectory School in Pomfret, Connecticut and Kent School in Kent, Connecticut before being admitted to Yale University where he received his bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1938. It had always been expected that Ed would attend Yale, since his father had graduated from Yale in 1905 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Immediately after his graduation, Edward sailed to England on board the Queen Mary with his best friend Ralph for a road trip around the British Isles using a small vehicle with essentially a lawnmower sized motor. It was on this trip where Ed first met his future wife, Gladys Howard, on board the Queen Mary to be trained in directing a boys’ choir and to visit her English/Scottish relatives. Despite their initial fondness for one another, Edward and Gladys communicated very little before 1945 largely because Edward worked long weeks for General Electric as part of the war effort during World War II. Bill Abbe also contributed to the war effort, putting his skills to good use as an artist for the United States military. As the war wound down, Edward married Gladys Howard in New York in 1945 where Gladys worked as a music teacher. Together they had one daughter, Carolyn, and later adopted a son, David. Gladys, a pianist of such talent that she could simply fake chords for pieces she forgot to practice as a child, would continue to teach and perform music for the remainder of her life. When their children were still very young, Edward and Gladys moved from New York to Virginia after a relocation of Edward’s General Electric department.

Edward worked in Roanoke, Virginia for the vast majority of his career with General Electric and lived there after his retirement until 1991. From 1991 to 2001, Edward and Gladys lived permanently on Martha’s Vineyard, where they had continued to vacation. Edward and Gladys entertained many local residents with their musical talents during their time on Martha’s Vineyard. They are perhaps most well-known for entertaining at church and community functions as the Gracious Jazz Band, a musical group whose members, according to Ed, had to be over 80 years old and never practice. Ed and Gladys decided to move to Easthampton, Massachusetts in 2001 in order to live closer to Carolyn Abbe, their daughter. In 2004, after a gradual decline in health, Gladys Abbe passed away at age 89. Edward has remained busy investigating his family history and spending time with his children and grandchildren. With the help of family history researcher and writer Lisa Lipshires, Ed authored three self-published books: Ready About Hand Alee: Sailing Through Life, Love, and Family; Riding the Wave of Electrification: The Life of Edward Folger Peck; and Making a Joyful Noise: The Life of Gladys Howard Abbe.

Scope of collection

At the heart of the collection lies the history of the Abbe and Peck families, both quintessential American families of hard-working innovators and inventors. Edward H. Abbe’s papers range from materials relating to his lifelong interests, especially his extensive collection of information about trains and the history of Martha’s Vineyard, and his 35-year career with General Electric, including his patent received for the automated handling system that he helped design, to materials from Kent School and Yale University where he attended school. The broader history of the Abbe family is captured, too, in items that relate to Bill Abbe’s art career, such as his World War II map of France that he drew for the military, and documents related to Gladys Abbe’s social work and musical skills. Gladys was instrumental in educating local school children in music. She also worked for charitable organizations such as Toys for Tots and even established the nonprofit assistance organization Help, Inc.

The Peck family, from which Edward is descended through his mother, is featured in papers and photographs documenting the activities of various family members during the 1800s and 1900s. Among these items are materials related to Edward Folger Peck’s business and personal life as well as information about his friend, brother-in-law, and one of the founders of the General Electric Company, Elihu Thomson. Finally, a large number of photograph albums created by Edward Abbe or other family members add a visual aspect to the historical record of both families.

Series descriptions

Contains papers and items directly related to Edward H. Abbe’s personal and professional life from his childhood to his retirement and beyond. The majority of material from Edward’s younger years is from his schooling at the Rectory School in Pomfret, Connecticut, Kent School in Kent, Connecticut, and Yale University. In addition to his letters home, Edward corresponded with Father Sill of Kent School and kept a great deal of information about his various Yale University class reunions. This series also contains material related to Edward’s 36-year career with General Electric. Edward gave many reports and talks for the company and also received one patent for an automated Article Handling System. Throughout his life, Edward collected material related to his interests in cars, boats, and especially trains such as photos, articles, and brochures. Especially noteworthy are documents and photos about Edward’s personal train set and the model train catalogs he collected as a child, like the original copies of Lionel train catalogs. Edward also collected numerous booklets, articles, and other materials about the history of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts where he vacationed with his family as a child and lived for 10 years as an adult. Other items come from Edward’s many travels, particularly the various cruises that he took with his wife Gladys after his retirement.

1724, 1883-2004

The material in this series comes from or contains information about the Abbe family beyond Edward. Especially prominent are Edward’s brother, Bill, and his wife, Gladys. Documents about Bill Abbe’s various art exhibits and photos of his work are included, as well as a unique map of France that Bill drew when he was an artist with the military during World War II. The material about Gladys Howard Abbe reflects her many accomplishments. She was well educated in music and education, but also devoted much time and energy to volunteer social work such as Toys for Tots and establishing the nonprofit charitable organization, Help, Inc. For these efforts the Roanoke Merchants Association awarded Gladys with the Mother of the Year in Arts and Sciences in 1966. This series also shows the many activities that Gladys and Edward Abbe participated in as a couple. After meeting on board the Queen Mary in 1938, Edward and Gladys began exchanging love letters in 1945. They enjoyed working at their church and within the wider communities of Roanoke, Virginia and later Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. In their 80s, Edward and Gladys even played free concerts to help raise money for their church or just to provide entertainment as the “Gracious Jazz Band,” an effort recognized in several newspaper articles. The remainder of this series includes genealogical information about the Abbe family and material about Edward’s children (Carolyn and David), father (Harry Allen Abbe) who died at only 35 years of age, and mother (Elsie Peck Abbe) after her marriage to Harry Abbe.

This series details the lives of members of the Peck family, relations of Edward Abbe on his mother’s side. Information about the genealogy and activities of Peck family members is included, with a significant amount about the famed businessman Edward Folger Peck. Edward Peck led a very active professional life and was involved in groups such as the National Electric Light Association and Citizen’s Electric Illuminating Company. His business connections included C. Loomis Allen until Allen became surrounded by scandal in 1918 and Elihu Thomson, a co-founder of the General Electric Company who married into the Peck family. On a personal level, correspondence between Edward Peck and his various family members, like the love letters he exchanged with Mary Booth who later became his wife, is included in the series. Diaries and account books describe the everyday lives and finances of various Peck family members, such as the Civil-War era diary of Charles Peck and the diaries kept by Mary Booth Peck from the 1920s to the mid-1940s. Some geographically-focused information details the activities of the Peck family in places like Hampton, Virginia, New Britain, Connecticut, Brooklyn, New York, and Schenectady, New York. This series also contains information about the wider genealogy of the Peck family, such as information about the Hart, Booth, Boardman, and Gifford families related to the Peck line. Some photos throughout the series show Peck family members from the 1800s-1900s in family, social, and professional settings.

The final series is made up exclusively of photograph albums. These albums range from the late 1800s to the 1990s and include family photos, photos of trips, and photos of various locations like Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts and Roanoke, Virginia. Most of the albums belonged to Ed and Gladys Abbe, but some earlier albums were created by Ed’s mother Elsie Peck Abbe, by his aunt Katherine Peck Gifford and by his father, Harry Allen Abbe.

Inventory

Series 1. Personal
1907-2009
Automobile Information
1924-2001
Box 1: 1
Birthday
1934-1936
Box 1: 2
Boyhood Memorabilia
ca.1923-1996
Box 1: 3
Boyhood Sketchbook
ca.1927
Box 1: 4
Boyhood Sketches
ca.1920s-1930s
Box 1: 5
Certificates and Membership Cards
ca.1922-1985
Box 1: 6
Childhood Memorabilia: Hampton, Virginia
1922-1993
Box 1: 7
Childhood Obituaries
1952-2003
Box 1: 8
Childhood Photos
ca.1920s
Box 1: 9
Correspondence to Edward Abbe
ca.1944, undated
Box 1: 10
Finances
1937-2005
Box 1: 11
Finances, Record Book
1930s-1950s
Box 1: 12
Food
ca.1970s-2006
Box 1: 13
Freddie Bartholomew Memorabilia and Correspondence
1935-1936
Box 1: 14
General Electric: Article About
1940
Box 1: 15
General Electric: Automation Proposal and Studies
1957-1958
Box 2: 1
General Electric: Awards
1964-1974
Box 2: 2
General Electric: Certificate, Professional Business Management Course
1959
Box 33:
General Electric: Early Correspondence
1937-1940
Box 2: 3
General Electric: First Job
1937-1954
Box 2: 4
General Electric: History Booklets
1917-1953
Box 2: 5
General Electric: History Booklets
1978-1983
Box 2: 6
General Electric: Later Work
1939-1999
Box 2: 7
General Electric: Measuring Tools and Stencils
undated
Box 2: 8
General Electric: Notebook
undated
Box 2: 9
General Electric: Patent
1962-1965
Box 2: 10
General Electric: Photographs
1944-1975
Box 2: 11
General Electric: Proposals and Reports
1959-1965
Box 3: 1
General Electric: Published Papers
1947-1959
Box 3: 2
General Electric: Research for a Proposed Patent, Reversing Plugging Control with Dynamic Braking
1945-1956
Box 3: 3
General Electric: Retirement
1974-2007
Box 3: 4
General Electric: Retirement Book
1975
Box 34:
General Electric: Talks and Presentations: programs, speeches, papers, correspondence
1945-1970
Box 3: 5
General Electric: Unpublished Papers
1954
Box 3: 6
Humor Pieces
undated
Box 3: 7
Information on Friends: Obituaries and Weddings
1943-2008
Box 3: 8
Interests: Auctions of Toys and Trains
1969-1990
Box 3: 9
Interests: Auctions of Toys and Trains, Mail
1990
Box 3: 10
Interests: Automobile Trivia: books, newspaper, article, pictures
ca.1937-1980s
Box 3: 11
Interests: Boats, Pictures and Photos
1981-2004
Box 4: 1
Interests: Boats, Trivia
1971-1996
Box 4: 2
Interests: Bridges
1975
Box 4: 3
Interests: Canadian Trains
1977
Box 4: 4
Interests: Collector’s Catalogs and Magazines- Trains, Cars, Boats
1933- 1989
Box 4: 5
Interests: European Trains
ca.1970s
Box 4: 6
Interests: Ives Catalogs- Reproductions and Originals
ca.1930s-1970s
Box 4: 7
Interests: Lathrop Train Exhibit
2004
Box 4: 8
Interests: Lionel Train Catalogs
1939-1982
Box 4: 9
Interests: Lionel Train Catalogs: Record
1947
Box :
Interests: Märklin Model Railroad
ca.1982-1986
Box 4: 10
Interests: Model Railroads
1939-1975
Box 4: 11
Interests: Model Railroads, Stationery
undated
Box 4: 12
Interests: Oswego, NY Railroad History, 1848-1995
ca.1975-1995
Box 4: 13
Interests: Railroad Stations
1969-1999
Box 4: 14
Interests: Railroad Trivia, Newspapers
1939-2005
Box 4: 15
Interests: Railroad Trivia, Magazines and Articles
ca.1930s-1980s
Box 5: 1
Interests: Railroad Trivia, Other
ca.1930s-1980s
Box 5: 2
Interests: Train Fan Trips
1968-1977
Box 5: 3
Interests: Train Fan Trips, Independence Limited III
1975
Box 5: 4
Interests: Train Pictures
ca.1970s-1990s
Box 5: 5
Interests: Trains of Northeast Corridor
1939-2007
Box 5: 6
Interests: Trains, Excursion Advertisement and Menu
undated
Box 26: 5
Interests: Trains, Menu
undated
Box 26: 5
Interests: Trains, Record of Train Sounds
1947
Box 5: 7
Interests: Trains, Trains Album of Photographs Nos. 6 and 17
1944, undated
Box 29: 2
Interests: Trolley Cars
ca.1960s-1980s
Box 5: 8
Interview in Newspaper
2005
Box 5: 9
Kent School, Athletics: Photo
ca.1931
Box 29: 3
Kent School, Diploma
1934
Box 26: 1
Kent School: Father Sill and Dr. Parker Dooley
1936-1966
Box 5: 10
Kent School: Information
undated
Box 5: 11
Kent School: Memorabilia
1930-1934
Box 5: 12
Kent School: Memorabilia
1929-1971
Box 6: 1
Kent School: Reunions
1990-1999
Box 6: 2
Kent School: Reunions, Fiftieth
1983-1984
Box 6: 3
Letters: Family Members
1921-1931
Box 6: 4
Letters: Father Sill of Kent School
1935-1941
Box 6: 5
Letters: Grandparents
1925-1936
Box 6: 6
Letters: Mother
1925-1934
Box 6: 7
Letters: Mother (from Yale)
1934-1935
Box 6: 8
Letters: Mother (from Yale)
1936
Box 6: 9
Letters: Mother (from Yale)
1937-1938
Box 6: 10
Letters: Mother
1939
Box 6: 11
Letters: Mother VI, to and from
ca.1943
Box 6: 12
Martha’s Vineyard: 300 Year History, Booklets and Magazines
1904-1940s
Box 7: 1
Martha’s Vineyard: 300 Year History, Journals
2002-2008
Box 7: 2
Martha’s Vineyard: 300 Year History, Newspapers
1939-1942
Box 7: 3
Martha’s Vineyard: 300 Year History, Newspapers
1986-1999
Box 7: 4
Martha’s Vineyard: 300 Year History, Newspapers
1999-2001
Box 7: 5
Martha’s Vineyard: 300 Year History, Other Memorabilia
ca.1930s-2000
Box 7: 6
Martha’s Vineyard: 300 Year History, Photographs
undated
Box 7: 7
Martha’s Vineyard: 300 Year History, Photographs, Large
undated
Box :
Martha’s Vineyard: Abbe and Peck Families
undated
Box 7: 8
Martha’s Vineyard: Calendar and Photograph
1999
Box 26: 7
Martha’s Vineyard: Hart Haven and Hart Family, Current Events of the World
1919-1996
Box 7: 9
Martha’s Vineyard: Hart Haven and Hart Family, Information
ca.1930s-2007
Box 7: 10
Martha’s Vineyard: Hart Haven and Hart Family, Photos
ca.1900s-2001
Box 7: 11
Martha’s Vineyard: Hurricanes
1944-2005
Box 7: 12
Martha’s Vineyard: Jaws
1974
Box 7: 13
Martha’s Vineyard: Legendary Figures
ca.1970-2008
Box 8: 1
Martha’s Vineyard: Natural History
1966-2004
Box 8: 2
Martha’s Vineyard: Natural History, Photo
2002
Box 8: 3
Martha’s Vineyard: Postcards
1907, undated
Box 8: 4
Martha’s Vineyard: Steamer Ships, Newspapers
1974-2007
Box 8: 5
Martha’s Vineyard: Steamer Ships, Other
ca.1980s-2000s
Box 8: 6
Music: Cassette List and Equipment Information
1937-1991
Box 8: 7
Music: Organ Information
1942-2009
Box 8: 8
Music: Record Catalogs from England Trip
1938
Box 8: 9
Patches
ca.1930s-1940s
Box 33:
Pins
ca.1930s-1950s
Box 36:
Performances Attended
1935-1941
Box 8: 10
Performances Attended
1942-1944
Box 8: 11
Performances Attended
1945-1948
Box 8: 12
Performances Attended
1949-1954
Box 8: 13
Performances Attended
undated
Box 9: 1
Photographs
1937-2007
Box 9: 2
Photograph Collage, Clambake
undated
Box 29: 1
Postcards from Family Florida Trip
1931
Box 9: 3
Program, Ziegfeld Theatre
ca.1928
Box 9: 4
Rectory School Memorabilia
1928-1929
Box 9: 5
Ribbon
1961
Box 9: 6
Sailing
1967-1998
Box 9: 7
Stamp Collection Summary
1991
Box 9: 8
Stamps, HD&W
undated
Box 30:
Travel: Abbe Memorabilia
1939-2009
Box 9: 9
Travel: Aegean Odyssey
1993
Box 9: 10
Travel: American Canadian Caribbean Line (ACCL) Cruises
1998-2008
Box 9: 11
Travel: Australia Cruise, Photo
1987
Box 9: 12
Travel: Bareboat Cruising
1972-2009
Box 9: 13
Travel: Belize Cruise
1996
Box 9: 14
Travel: Bermuda Cruise
2008
Box 9: 15
Travel: Boyhood Trips
ca.1920s-1940s
Box 9: 16
Travel: Boyhood Trips, Photos
1920s
Box 9: 17
Travel: Caicos-Nassau Cruise
1997
Box 9: 18
Travel: Delta Queen Cruise
undated
Box 9: 19
Travel: England, Photojournal
1938-1939
Box 10: 1
Travel: England, Planning
1938
Box 10: 2
Travel: European Grand Tour
1970
Box 10: 3
Travel: Greek & Turkish Islands
1998
Box 10: 4
Travel: Hampton and Roanoke, Virginia
2004
Box 10: 5
Travel: Jazz Cruise
2002
Box 10: 6
Travel: Labrador-Newfoundland
1999
Box 10: 7
Travel: Maps for Trips and Cruises
ca.1990s-2005
Box 10: 8
Travel: Maps for Trips and Cruises, AAA
1961-1998
Box 10: 9
Travel: Maps for Trips and Cruises, World Map
1922
Box 10: 10
Travel: New England Islands
1994
Box 10: 11
Travel: Orinoco River Cruise
1993
Box 10: 12
Travel: Panama Canal
1993
Box 10: 13
Travel: Panama Cruise
1995
Box 10: 14
Travel: Trinidad-Panama Cruise
1999
Box 11: 1
Travel: Virgin Islands
1998
Box 11: 2
Travel: Virgin Islands Cruise
1990
Box 11: 3
Toy Catalogs and Instruction Books
1924-1932
Box 11: 4
Volunteering, Boy Scouts
ca.1942-1947
Box 11: 5
Volunteering, Boy Scouts: Certificate
ca.1940s
Box 26: 6
Writings
ca.1977-1989
Box 11: 6
Yale, Degree: Bachelor of Engineering
1938
Box 29: 7
Yale, Exhibitions
1937-1938
Box 11: 7
Yale, General Information
1938-1991
Box 11: 8
Yale, Graduation
1937-1938
Box 11: 9
Yale, Graduation Program
1938
Box 26: 2
Yale, Memorabilia
1934-1938
Box 11: 10
Yale, Records and Memorabilia
1932-1997
Box 11: 11
Yale, Reunion
1963-1983
Box 11: 12
Yale, Reunion
1988-1993
Box 11: 13
Yale, Reunion Photographs
1958, 1968
Box 26: 8
Yale, Reunions: 45th, 50th, 55th
1983-1993
Box 12: 1
Yale, Reunions: 60th
1993
Box 12: 2
Series 2. Abbe Family
1724, 1883-2004
Abbe, A. Parker
1908-1958
Box 12: 3
Abbe, A. Parker: Bible
1894
Box
12: 4
Abbe, A. Parker: Paddle
1907
Box
33:
Abbe, A. Parker: Photos
1908-1980
Box
12: 5
Abbe, Bill: Artwork and Exhibits, Newspapers, Photos, and Other Ephemera
1940s-1980s
Box
12: 6
Abbe, Bill: Artwork and Exhibits, Papers
1940-2004
Box
12: 7
Abbe, Bill: Artwork and Exhibits, Photograph Album
1981
Box
12: 8
Abbe, Bill: Biographical Information
1938-1989
Box
12: 9
Abbe, Bill: Boat Memorabilia
1930s-1960s
Box
12: 10
Abbe, Bill: Boat Memorabilia, Photograph
undated
Box
12: 11
Abbe, Bill: Buddy L. Toy Parts
undated
Box
12: 12
Abbe, Bill: Christmas Cards
1930s-1981
Box
12: 13
Abbe, Bill: Coins
1964-1965, undated
Box
12: 14
Abbe, Bill: Collections and Donations
1990-2005
Box
12: 15
Abbe, Bill: Correspondence to
1938-1983
Box
12: 16
Abbe, Bill: Drawings and Designs
1920s-1992
Box
12: 17
Abbe, Bill: Drawings and Designs, World War II Map of France
1945
Box :
Abbe, Bill: Drawings and Designs, Yale Song Books
1970s
Box
13: 1
Abbe, Bill: Financial and Legal Papers
1941-1983
Box
13: 2
Abbe, Bill: Fun
1972, undated
Box
13: 3
Abbe, Bill: Items from Relatives
1980s
Box
13: 4
Abbe, Bill: Letter from former Student as Banner
1963
Box
33:
Abbe, Bill: Letters to and from Edward Abbe from Rectory School
1928-1931
Box
13: 5
Abbe, Bill: Letters to Edward Abbe during World War II
1941-1945
Box
13: 6
Abbe, Bill: Letters to Family Members
1920s-1930s
Box
13: 7
Abbe, Bill: Medal, St. Paul’s School
undated
Box
36:
Abbe, Bill: Obituaries, Notices
1983-2000
Box
13: 8
Abbe, Bill: Official Papers
1922-1949
Box
13: 9
Abbe, Bill: Photos
1920s-1980s
Box
13: 10
Abbe, Bill: Photos, Large
1920s-1980s
Box
13: 11
Abbe, Bill: Photo with Commentary
undated
Box
26: 3
Abbe, Bill: Posthumous Exhibit, Rectory School
1991-1992
Box
13: 12
Abbe, Bill: Posthumous Exhibits and Sales
1985-1989
Box
13: 13
Abbe, Bill: Posthumous Exhibits and Sales
1991-2000
Box
13: 14
Abbe, Bill: Protégés and Friends
1974-2005
Box
13: 15
Abbe, Bill: Retirement
1981
Box
13: 16
Abbe, Bill: Retrospective Exhibit, Old Sculpin
1997-1999
Box
13: 17
Abbe, Bill: Sketchbook
1920s-1930s
Box
13: 18
Abbe, Carolyn
1946-2009
Box
14: 1
Abbe, Carolyn: Family Photographs
1940s-1970s
Box
14: 2
Abbe, Carolyn: Trips to Afghanistan
1972
Box
14: 3
Abbe, Dakkan: Photos
1970s-1980s
Box
14: 4
Abbe, Dakkan: Wedding
2003
Box
14: 5
Abbe, David and Cindy
1967-1986
Box
14: 6
Abbe, David and Cindy, Photographs
1950-1980s
Box
14: 7
Abbe, Elsie Peck
1913-1956
Box
14: 8
Abbe, Elsie Peck: List of Wedding Gifts
1913
Box
14: 9
Abbe, Elsie Peck: Photographs
1891-1954
Box
14: 10
Abbe, Elsie Peck: Ration Cards
1943-1945
Box
14: 11
Abbe, Elsie Peck: Recipe Book
1920s
Box
14: 12
Abbe, Elsie Peck: Wedding Journal
1913
Box
35:
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Awards and Commendations
1966-1990
Box
14: 13
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Biography
undated
Box
14: 14
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Certificates and Diplomas
1914-1944
Box
14: 15
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Family History
1934-2007
Box
14: 16
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Family Papers
1884-1978
Box
14: 17
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Family Photographs
1800s-1989
Box
15: 1
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Funeral Service and Obituaries
2004
Box
15: 2
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Memorabilia
1935-1998
Box
15: 3
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Musicals and Concerts
1940s-2003
Box
15: 4
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Newspaper Article
1990
Box
28: 9
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Photographs, Early
1914-1960s
Box
15: 5
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Photographs, Late
1960s-2000s
Box
15: 6
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Schooling Information
1938, undated
Box
15: 7
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Scrapbook
1930
Box
35:
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Scrapbook Contents
1945
Box
15: 8
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Social Work
1956-1998
Box
15: 9
Abbe, Gladys Howard: Song Lists
undated
Box
15: 10
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Birth of Daughter
1946
Box
16: 1
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Correspondence
1938-1945
Box
16: 2
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Departure from Roanoke and Martha’s Vineyard
1990-2001
Box
16: 3
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Gracious Jazz Band
1994-2002
Box
16: 4
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Love Letters
1945 Mar-Apr
Box
16: 5
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Love Letters
1945 May
Box
16: 6
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Love Letters
1945 June-July
Box
16: 7
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Memorabilia
1933-1996
Box
16: 8
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Musical Performances
1938-2001
Box
16: 9
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Photographs
1945-2000s
Box
16: 10
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Photographs, Christ Church in Roanoke, Virginia
1991
Box
16: 11
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Possessions
1969
Box
16: 12
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Possessions, Videotape of William Abbe Trust House
1994
Box
36:
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Queen Mary
1938, 1997
Box
16: 13
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Queen Mary Photographs
1938
Box
16: 14
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Roanoke History
1970s-1980s
Box
16: 15
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Social Work and Awards
1950-2001
Box
17: 1
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Sympathy Cards Edward Received after Gladys’s Death
2004
Box
17: 2
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Sympathy Cards
2004
Box
17: 3
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Sympathy Cards
2004
Box
17: 4
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Travels
1986-1996
Box
17: 5
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Travels, 45th Anniversary
1990
Box
17: 6
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Wedding
1945
Box
17: 7
Abbe, Gladys and Edward: Wedding Anniversary Book
1995
Box
36:
Abbe, Harry Allen: Degree and Diploma
1902, 1905
Box
29: 6
Abbe, Harry Allen: Flood of 1907 Information (copies)
undated
Box
18: 1
Abbe, Harry Allen: Photographs in Case
ca. 1885-1910
Box
30:
Abbe, Harry Allen: Photograph, Yale Class
1905
Box
27: 3
Abbe, Harry Allen: Photos
1883, undated
Box
18: 2
Abbe, Harry Allen: Yale Memorabilia and Obituaries
1905-1930
Box
18: 3
Abbe, Harry and Elsie Peck: Furniture
undated
Box
18: 4
Abbe, Harry and Elsie Peck: Wedding and Honeymoon
1913
Box
18: 5
Cottage: Construction
1929-2003
Box
18: 6
Cottage: Photograph Album
1981
Box
18: 7
Cottage: Photographs
1930s-1980s
Box
18: 8
Drafting Set, Partial
ca. 1885-1910
Box
33:
Drafting Sets
ca. 1910
Box
32:
Estates: A. Parker Abbe
1959-1963
Box
18: 9
Estates: Abbe Family
1923
Box
18: 10
Estates: Deed for Virginia Home, Elsie Peck Abbe
1919
Box
18: 11
Estates: Elsie Peck Abbe
1916-1962
Box
18: 12
Estates: Nellie Abbe
1930-1940
Box
19: 1
Estates: Sale of Virginia Home to Elsie Peck Abbe
1918-1922
Box
19: 2
Estates: William P. Abbe
1983-1984
Box
19: 3
Genealogy
1800s-2003
Box
19: 4
Genealogy Photocopies
undated
Box
19: 5
Items of Historical Significance: Newsweek and Life magazines about the Assassination of John F. Kennedy
1963
Box
27: 1
Items of Historical Significance: New York Herald Tribune about New York World’s Fair
1939
Box
28: 10
Items of Historical Significance: Newspapers, New York Times 75th Anniversary
1926
Box
29: 4
Items of Historical Significance: Newspapers, World War II, Moon Landing, Challenger Explosion
1945, 1969, 1986
Box
27: 2
Knife
1905
Box
33:
Land Grants
1724, 1828
Box
26: 4
Letter, Nellie P. and A. H. Abbe
undated
Box
19: 6
Memorabilia
undated
Box
19: 7
Obituaries
ca. 1915-1999
Box
19: 8
Photograph Album
undated
Box
19: 9
Photographs
1800s-1900s
Box
19: 10
Photographs
ca. 1875-1915
Box
19: 11
Photographs, Encased
ca. 1875-1890
Box
30:
Photographs, Large
ca. 1875-1915
Box
20: 1
Photographs, Large
ca. 1875-ca. 1915
Box
20: 2
Photographs, Abbe Hardware Store in New Britain, Connecticut
undated
Box
27: 4
Photographs, Summer Ramblings Connecticut
1800s
Box
20: 3
Photocopies of Abbe Family Information
1904-1972
Box
20: 4
Series 3. Peck Family
1879-2008
Boardman-Peck Family
1895-1991
Box 20: 5
Booth Family
1882-1949
Box
20: 6
Booth Family, Photographs
1800s
Box
20: 7
Booth Family, Photographs, Encased
1800s
Box
30:
Case with Money Holder and Calling Card
1800s
Box
31:
Davis, Emerson, Rev. Dr.
1855-1929
Box
20: 8
Estates: Peck Family
1938
Box
20: 9
Estates: Peck, Edward Folger
1930-1945
Box
20: 10
Estates: Peck, Mary Booth
1934-1945
Box
20: 11
Estates: Sale of Peck House in Schenectady, New York
1919
Box
20: 12
Genealogy: Mayhew-Peck
1900s
Box
20: 13
Genealogy: Peck Family
1915, 1939
Box
21: 1
Genealogy: Peck Family, Chart
1981
Box
29: 5
Gifford Family
ca. 1915-2004
Box
21: 2
Gifford Family, Photographs
ca. 1915
Box
21: 3
Gifford Family, Photograph, Large
undated
Box
28: 2
Hart Family Genealogy Chart
undated
Box
28: 3
Hart Family Genealogy Chart, Large
1985
Box :
Information: Peck Family
1884-2002
Box
21: 4
Information: Peck Family (copies)
1855-1921
Box
21: 5
Letters, Written by Mary Booth Peck (copies)
1932
Box
21: 6
Moore, John
1985
Box
21: 7
Obituaries, Funeral Booklets, and Death Certificates
1900-1944
Box
21: 8
Peck, Charles: Diary
1861-1862
Box
21: 9
Peck, Edward Folger: Accident
undated
Box
21: 10
Peck, Edward Folger: American Electrical Works
1887-1891
Box
21: 11
Peck, Edward Folger: Birthday, 50th
1911
Box
21: 12
Peck, Edward Folger: Business and Colleagues
1884-1956
Box
21: 13
Peck, Edward Folger: Business and Colleagues, C. Loomis Allen
1918
Box
21: 14
Peck, Edward Folger: Business and Colleagues (copies)
1885-1956
Box
21: 15
Peck, Edward Folger: Citizen’s Electric Illuminating Company
1890s
Box
21: 16
Peck, Edward Folger: Clubs and Associations
1913-1941
Box
21: 17
Peck, Edward Folger: Clubs and Associations, National Electric Light Association
ca. 1885
Box
21: 18
Peck, Edward Folger: Clubs and Associations, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
1893
Box
28: 6
Peck, Edward Folger: Correspondence, Elsie Peck
1892-1906
Box
21: 19
Peck, Edward Folger: Correpsondence, Family Members
1879-1918
Box
21: 20
Peck, Edward Folger: Correspondence, Mary Augusta Booth before Marriage
1882, undated
Box
22: 1
Peck, Edward Folger: Correspondence, Mother
1880-1904
Box
22: 2
Peck, Edward Folger: Correspondence, Oliver Peck
1906
Box
22: 3
Peck, Edward Folger: Electricity, Humor
1893, undated
Box
22: 4
Peck, Edward Folger: Funeral
1930
Box
22: 5
Peck, Edward Folger: Life Insurance Information
1920, undated
Box
22: 6
Peck, Edward Folger: Photographs
1861-1920
Box
22: 7
Peck, Edward Folger: Photographs, Clambake
undated
Box
28: 7
Peck, Edward Folger: Photographs, Large
early 1900s
Box
28: 8
Peck, Edward Folger: Photographs, National Electric Light Association
1891
Box
22: 8
Peck, Edward Folger: Photographs, National Electric Light Association, Large
1891
Box
28: 1
Peck, Edward Folger: Articles, Letters, and Photographs (copies)
ca. 1885-1915
Box
22: 9
Peck, Edward Folger: Watch Information
undated
Box
22: 10
Peck, Edward Folger: World’s Fairs
1904, undated
Box
22: 11
Peck, Edward Folger and Mary (Minnie): Daily Prayer Books
1877, undated
Box
22: 12
Peck, Edward Folger and Mary Booth: Account Books
1915-1932
Box
22: 13
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Address Book
1902
Box
22: 14
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Childhood
ca. 1890
Box
22: 15
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Diary
1911-1912
Box
22: 16
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Europe Trip, Letters from Friends
1907
Box
22: 17
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Europe Trip, Letters Home
1907 July-Sept
Box
22: 18
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Europe Trip, Letters Home
1907 Sept-Oct
Box
22: 19
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Europe Trip, Notebook with Sites Visited
1907
Box
23: 1
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Europe Trip, Passenger Lists and Souvenirs
1907
Box
23: 2
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Europe Trip, Postcards
1907
Box
23: 3
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Europe Trip, Postcards
1907
Box
23: 4
Peck, Elsie Mayhew: Europe Trip, Postcards III
1907
Box
23: 5
Peck, Katherine D.: Childhood
1908
Box
23: 6
Peck, Katherine D.: Photographs
early 1900s
Box
23: 7
Peck, Mary Booth: Account Book
1932-1944
Box
23: 8
Peck, Mary Booth: Diary
1921-1924
Box
23: 9
Peck, Mary Booth: Diary
1925-1933
Box
24: 1
Peck, Mary Booth: Diary
1941-1944
Box
24: 2
Peck, Mary Booth: Europe Trip, Letters
1892
Box
24: 3
Peck, Mary Booth: Europe Trip, Programs and Postcards
1892
Box
24: 4
Peck, Mary Booth: Letter from Hellen Blow, Housekeeper
1931
Box
24: 5
Peck, Mary Booth: Photos
ca. 1885-1915
Box
24: 6
Peck, Mary Booth: Scrapbook of European Trip
1892
Box
32:
Peck, Mary Booth: Scrapbook of Items related to Edward Folger Peck’s Career
1880-1915
Box
34:
Peck, William E.
1871-2008
Box
24: 7
Peck Family in Brooklyn, New York
1884, undated
Box
24: 8
Peck Family in Hampton, Virginia
ca. 1915-2007
Box
24: 9
Peck Family in Hampton, Virginia: Newspapers
1934-1947
Box
24: 10
Peck Family in Hampton, Virginia: Photographs and Postcard
ca. 1915
Box
24: 11
Peck Family in New Britain, Connecticut
1900-2009
Box
24: 12
Peck Family and Abbe Family in Schenectady, New York
1904-2002
Box
24: 13
Photographic Portrait of Elsie Peck
1902
Box
24: 14
Photograph, Front Street House, Schenectady, NY
undated
Box
28: 5
Photograph, Lowell Road House, Schenectady, NY
undated
Box
28: 4
Photographs, Copies
1890s-1925
Box
24: 15
Photographs, Scrapbook
ca. 1885-1915
Box
24: 16
Photographs, Small
ca. 1875-1935
Box
25: 1
Photographs, Large
ca. 1875-1920
Box
25: 2
Portraits
1890s-ca. 1915
Box
25: 3
Schenectady History
undated
Box
25: 4
Schoolwork Possibly by E.F. Peck or Mary B. Peck
ca. 1885
Box
25: 5
Social Life
1880-1913
Box
25: 6
Thomson, Elihu: Awards and Articles About
1920s-1984
Box
25: 7
Thomson, Elihu: Family Members
1937, undated
Box
25: 8
Thomson, Elihu: Obituaries
1937
Box
25: 9
Thomson, Elihu: Photograph
1922
Box
25: 10
Thomson, Elihu: Swampscott Historical Society
1938-1990
Box
25: 11
Thomson, Elihu: Writings and Cards
1894-1934
Box
25: 12
Thomson, Mary Louise Peck
1917
Box
25: 13
Thomson Family: Obituaries
undated
Box
25: 14
Vacations
1921
Box
25: 15
Series 4. Photographs
ca. 1890-1995
Photograph Album
ca. 1885-1930
Box 39
Photograph Album
1903
Box
39
Photograph Album
1904
Box
39
Photograph Album
1905-1909
Box
39
Photograph Album
1907
Box
39
Photograph Album
1909-1928
Box
39
Photograph Album
1910-1911
Box
39
Photograph Album
1910-1913
Box
39
Photograph Album
1912-1920
Box
39
Photograph Album
1918-1920
Box
39
Photograph Album
1927-1945
Box
39
Photograph Album
1928-1934
Box
39
Photograph Album
1928-1937, 1941-1945
Box
37
Photograph Album
1929-1935
Box
37
Photograph Album
1936-1942
Box
37
Photograph Album
1945-1955
Box
37
Photograph Album
1950-1965
Box
37
Photograph Album
1967-1968
Box
37
Photograph Album
1968-1969
Box
37
Photograph Album
1970
Box
38
Photograph Album (part 1)
1970-1972
Box
40: 1
Photograph Album (part 2)
1970-1972
Box
40: 12
Photograph Album
1972
Box
38
Photograph Album (part 1)
1973-1976
Box
40: 3
Photograph Album (part 2)
1973-1976
Box
40: 4
Photograph Album (part 3)
1973-1976
Box
40: 5
Photograph Album (part 1)
1977-1980
Box
40: 6
Photograph Album (part 2)
1977-1980
Box
40: 7
Photograph Album
1977
Box
38
Photograph Album (part 1)
1980-1983
Box
40: 8
Photograph Album (part 2)
1980-1983
Box
40: 9
Photograph Album (part 1)
1983-1985
Box
40: 10
Photograph Album (part 2)
1983-1985
Box
40: 11
Photograph Album (part 3)
1983-1985
Box
40: 12
Photograph Album (part 4, loose photographs)
1983-1985
Box
40: 13
Photograph Album
1983-1984
Box
40: 14
Photograph Album
1986
Box
40: 15
Photograph Album
1987
Box
38
Photograph Album (part 1)
1991-1994
Box
40: 16
Photograph Album (part 2)
1991-1994
Box
40: 17
Photograph Album
1992
Box
38:
Photograph Album (part 1)
1993
Box
40: 18
Photograph Album (part 2)
1993
Box
40: 19
Photograph Album (part 3)
1993
Box
40: 20
Photograph Album
1993
Box
40: 21
Photograph Album (part 1)
1993
Box
40: 22
Photograph Album (part 2)
1993
Box
40: 23
Photograph Album
1994
Box
40: 24
Photograph Album (part 1)
1995
Box
40: 25
Photograph Album (part 2)
1995
Box
40: 26
Photograph Album (part 1)
1995
Box
40: 27
Photograph Album (part 2, loose items)
1995
Box
40: 28

Administrative information

Access

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Acquired from Edward H. Abbe, 2012.

Separated Material

Books that came with the Edward H. Abbe Papers were removed from the collection and will be cataloged separately. These books include:

  • 1905 Annual: Schenectady High School
  • Chamberlain, Samuel. Martha’s Vineyard: A Camera Impression (New York: Hastings House, 1941)
  • Christ Episcopal Church Roanoke, Virginia 1892-1942
  • Christ Episcopal Church Roanoke, Virginia 1892-1961
  • Class Book 1905, Yale University
  • Davis, Emerson, Rev. Dr. The Franklin Intellectual Arithmetic: For the Use of Schools (Springfield, MA: G & C Merriam, 1832)
  • Day by Day (St. Paul’s School, 1976)
  • Decennial Record Class of 1905 Sheffield Scientific School compiled by William McK. Barber (1916)
  • Ellsberg, Edward, Commander. On the Bottom (New York: Literary Guild of America, Inc., 1929)
  • Extracts from the Memorial of Captain Thomas Abbey compiled by Alden Freeman (Enfield, CT: Magnani & McCormick, 1975)
  • Family Prayer and Record Book, Abbe and Parker Families
  • Five Year Record Class of 1905 Sheffield Scientific School Yale University compiled by William McK. Barber (New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse, & Taylor Press, 1910)
  • Havemeyer, Loomis and Dudley, Samuel W. The Engineering Heritage at Yale 1852-1957 (New Haven: 1959)
  • Hill, Henry Chase. The Wonder Book of Knowledge (Philadelphia: John C. Winston Co, 1921)
  • History of the Class of 1938 (New Haven: Yale University, 1938)
  • History of the Class of 1908 Yale College Vol. 1 edited by Walter G. Davis, Jr. (New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., 1908)
  • Kent School Yearbooks (1930 and 1934)
  • Memorial of Captain Thomas Abbey (East Orange, NJ: Abbey Printshop)
  • Miller, John A. Men and Volts at War: The Story of General Electric in World War II (New York: Bantam Books, 1947)
  • Official Guide Book: New York World’s Fair (New York: Exposition Publications, Inc., 1939)
  • Quarter Century Record Class of 1905 Sheffield Scientific School compiled by G. Gifford Symes (New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., 1930)
  • Rectory School Alumni Directory Book (White Plains, New York: Bernard C. Harris Publishing Co., 1986)
  • Smith, Richard R. History of the Class of 1908 Yale College (Cornwall, New York: Cornwall Press, 1940)
  • The 1934 Pioneer: 100th Commencement Number edited by Helen M. Lockwood (1934)
  • Thomson, Elihu. The Mountain Top (Boston, 1937)
  • Turner, Harry B. The Story of the Island Steamers (Nantucket: Inquirer and Mirror, 1910)

Processing Information

Processed by Jaimie Kicklighter, 2013.

Language:

English

Copyright and Use (More information )

Cite as: Edward H. Abbe Papers (MS 736). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Search terms

Subjects

  • Electrical engineers
  • Martha’s Vineyard (Mass.)–Description and travel
  • Roanoke (Va.)–Description and travel

Names

  • Abbe family
  • Boardman family
  • Booth family
  • General Electric
  • Gifford family
  • Kent School–Students
  • Peck family
  • Rectory School–Students
  • Yale University–Students

Genre terms

  • Diaries
  • Letters (Correspondence)
  • Photographs

Link to similar SCUA collections

Gift of Edward Abbe, Mar. 2012

Subjects

Abbe familyBoardman familyBooth familyElectrical engineersGeneral ElectricGifford familyKent School--StudentsPeck familyRectory School--StudentsYale University--Students

Contributors

Abbe, Edward HAbbe, Gladys HowardAbbe, William ParkerPeck, Edward FPeck, Mary Booth

Types of material

DiariesLetters (Correspondence)Photographs