Articles from The Historian, September - November 2006
Judith A. Handelman, Editor
Society Partners with Seth Kaller; Documents Exhibition Opens Sept. 20
The Society has announced a partnership with Seth Kaller, Inc., of White Plains, a leading historical document dealer. Kaller will mount several exhibitions featuring original historic documents at the Society Museum, and will also provide documents for use in the Society's education programs during the coming year. His first exhibition, “Documents That Shaped America”, will open at the Society Museum on Wednesday, September 20, 7-9 p.m. and will run through January 20, 2007.
"The partnership with Kaller will allow the Society to display historical documents that heretofore were not available for public viewing", accord-ing to Society President Bill Doescher; "all of the documents have historical significance. We plan to have special receptions for a host of Scarsdale and other interested groups during the year, so that visitors can get an 'up close and personal' view. American history buffs will absolutely love it!"
Over the course of the year, the exhibitions will include original letters of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Albert Einstein, along with original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, drafts of the Bill of Rights, and documents on the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and Slavery. Kaller has said that most of the documents will be for sale, though some will be borrowed from clients specifically for the exhibitions. This year, Kaller had showings at Greenacres and Heathcote schools, and the students were as fascinated by questions of value and preservation as they were by the history.
The second exhibition, “Turning Points: Lincoln, Slavery and the Civil War” will run from February through May; the third, “The War for Independence”, will be on view from June to September.
The exhibitions will include original letters of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Albert Einstein, along with original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, drafts of the Bill of Rights, and documents on the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and slavery.
Kaller has said that most of the documents will be for sale, though some will be borrowed from clients specifically for the exhibitions. This year, Kaller had showings at Greenacres and Heathcote schools, and the students were as fascinated by questions of value and preservation as they were by the history. The exhibitions will be protected by Knight Security of Scarsdale.
Kaller to Present Fall Lecture Oct. 18
“Turning Points: Documents that Shaped America” is the topic of our Fall Lecture, that will be given by Seth Kaller on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m. at the Scarsdale Library’s Scott Room. His talk will be preceded by a brief business meeting, including the election of trustees.
Seth Kaller has been an acknowledged leader in the field of historic documents since 1989, building major museum collections for clients. He is a member of the Manuscript Society, the Antiquarian Bookseller's Association of America, and the Young Leadership Board of Seeds of Peace.
Kaller, whose company's slogan is ''History You Can Own!'', acts largely as an agent for museums, either directly or, more frequently, for individuals who eventually donate their collections. He also sells directly to private collectors and corporations.
He has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for acquisition of Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" manuscript. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the New York Sun, Lifestyles Magazine and Forbes Magazine and interviewed by ABC, CNBC, Fox, Bloomberg Radio and C-SPAN.Kaller's acquisitions for clients have included John Hancock's letter announcing the Declaration of Independence, George Washington's 1796 State of the Union Address detailing his response to the Whiskey Rebellion, Benjamin Franklin's signed copy of U.S. Constitution, Lord Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown, Thomas Jefferson letters on religion, the press, and government, Robert E. Lee's farewell to his troops.
A graduate of University of Pennsylvania, Kaller lives in Scarsdale with his wife Lyn.
Fall Foliage Race Oct. 15 -- Including Kids and Dogs!
Two popular new features will again be included in our 26th Annual Fall Foliage Run and 20th "Walk for Fun" on Sunday, October 15: a Kids’ Race and a Dogs’ Race. The 2.5K (1.55-mile) walk, the 1.5K Kids’ Race and the Dogs’ race start at 2:30 p.m., and the 5K run at 3 p.m., rain or shine, at the I.H.M. parking lot. Registration forms will be sent to members and all previous entrants. Extra forms can be obtained at Society headquarters and from most race sponsors. The pre-registration deadline is Monday, October 9. Until then, entry fees will be $15 for adults, $13 for under-18's. Race-day registration, for an additional $2, will be accepted at the Society, 937 Post Rd., corner Boulevard, starting at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 15. There will be a 50% discount for those with NEW memberships of $50 or more.
At post-race ceremonies, trophies will be presented to the man and woman who finish first overall, and awards to the first three Run finishers in each age group. Stanley Newhouse Trophies will be awarded to the first Scarsdale Master (50 & over) male and female 5K run finishers Ribbons will be presented to all walkers.
Sponsors include the Scarsdale Recreation Department, Balducci's, Bear Naked Granola, Coca Cola/Dasani, Coldwell Banker, DeCicco Marketplace, Efficiency Printing, Equinox, HSBC Bank, Sotheby's Real Estate, Adam Krajchir, Metro Sports Magazine, Prudential Centennial Realty, Scarsdale Antiques Running Club, Prudential Centennial Realty, Scarsdale Improvement Corp., Scarsdale Spencer Pharmacy, Scarsdale Sports, Scarsdale Youth Soccer Club, Shari's Rolling Pooch Parlor, Dr. Robert Silverman, Shire Family Chiropractic, Starbucks, Dr. Andrew Tepper, Trader Joe's,Weinberg Nature Center, Westchester Road Runners, White Cleaners, Wilson & Sons Jewelers, and volunteers from the Arthur Manor and Drake-Edgewood Neighborhood Associations.
Our Museum exhibition of documents from Seth Kaller will be open on race-day, as will the Cudner-Hyatt House. The Weinberg Nature Center Zoo will visit 2-4 p.m. For additional information, or to volunteer to help, phone the office, 723-1744.
Popham descendant visits Scarsdale, aided by SHS Board
Jim Boulden grew up in Baltimore; he is a reporter for CNN in London. He describes below his visits to Scarsdale, home of his ancestors, this spring, aided by Historical Society Board members Barbara MacDonald and Carolyn Mehta:
I have travelled to Scarsdale a few times over the past 25 years, but the trips have become few and far between since I moved to London in 1990. When I come here, I do feel I am coming home.
My fourth great-grandfather William Popham made Scarsdale his home when he built “The Locusts” on the Post Rd c.1787. He wanted to live next to his wife's father, Judge Richard Morris. Both their homes survive, as do those of my Olssen family. Add to that my family's deep connection with the founding of St. James the Less Church and you can see why I come 'home' when I can.
My mother's paternal grandparents lived the early part of their lives in Scarsdale during the 1860's. Emily Rollinson Olssen (1860--1937) and Sherbrooke Popham Bleecker (1852-1919), represent my last connection to the village, as both families moved away by the 1870's. Only the Pophams hung on longer. Emily's father, the Rev. William Whittingham Olssen, was the rector of St. James from 1851-1871.
My two trips to Scarsdale this spring gave me a chance to get inside two of the homes. The owners showed me around the Olssen-Bennett Home on Elmdorf Dr. for over an hour, despite holding a major family gathering at the time. They had many questions for me about the construction of the house; I could guess answers about some of them, thanks to the memoirs of Emily's life in Scarsdale which I am currently editing for publication.
The highlight was a tour and lunch at St. James's first rectory on Rectory Lane with the current owner, Joan Frankle. The visit was kindly arranged by Barbara MacDonald and Carolyn Mehta. The Frankles have beautifully restored the home; we spent considerable time debating which side of the house was the front and how many floors there used to be. Joan then told us that builders fixing one window discovered several pieces of silverware. One fork has an 'O' on the handle; Joan graciously handed me the fork and said it must have belonged to my family and it rightfully belonged to me.
When making connections to the past, you never know when it might touch you while making new friends.
Intern works with Day Camp; helps develop docent program
The Education Department sponsored two high school interns this year: Liza Van Gundy from Scarsdale H.S. and Molly Labelle from Edgemont H.S. They worked with school groups and did curatorial and archiving research; both did wonderful jobs. Liza stayed on as a paid intern during the summer, when she helped run the Day Camp program and worked with Krossman and Sherman to create a Student Docent program to train high school students about how to teach youngsters. A National Merit Scholar, Liza is now attending Yale.
Curator’s Corner by Mimi Sherman
Hooray for my Volunteers! Thanks to:
-Tobey Zuckerman, the Hyatt letter transcriptions have reached the end of 1905. We know that the Hyatts married in 1906, and so there must be interesting letters coming up. This fall may see installation of a new computer where the transcriptions can be entered;
-Liza VanGundy, intern/volunteer extraordinary for figuring out the key to the relationship between the old glass slides and many of our prints. Soon we’ll be able to start offering reproductions of images in the SHS collection. Her assistance with an assortment of tasks will be missed as she goes off to Yale to pursue her History major;
-Dorothy Pandaleon as the review of the textile collection continues;
-the knowledge and skill of Jane Stanley, retired librarian, the stacks in the main library will soon be completely within our Dewey decimal system, with cards.
Anyone willing to commit a couple of hours a week can help with projects like object inventory, preparations for accession/deaccession committee meetings, housekeeping in the historic rooms of CHH. Just leave me a message at 723-1744.
Grapefruit Sale in November
Our 24th Annual Sale of Ruby Red Grapefruit will be in November! Order forms will be mailed in late October. The 20-pound boxes, of 18-22 grapefruits each, will be available for pick-up December 12-16, just in time for holiday gift-giving.
Prices will be included in our November mailing. The deadline for orders is Tuesday, Nov. 29.
Holiday Workshop
The Society will hold a Thanksgiving workshop for children on Friday, November 10, (Veterans Day) 10 a.m. - noon. Watch your mail for fliers announcing the dates of more workshops!
Dutch Bulb Delivery
Please note our “Dutch Bulb Delivery Service”! The Society will deliver your bulbs, ordered in our Spring 2006 Sale, to your home, between October 3 and 6. Please phone our office, 723-1744, if you prefer to pick them up at the Society.
Dates to Remember
Seth Kaller Documents Exhibition opening
Wednesday, September 20, 7-9 p.m., Preview/Reception
Fall Foliage Run & Walk
Sunday, October 15; Walk, Kids’ & Dogs’ Races 2:30 p.m., Run 3 p.m.
Dutch Bulb DELIVERY
October 3-6; WE WILL DELIVER TO YOUR HOME. Phone 723-1744 if you prefer to pick up
Annual Meeting and Fall Lecture
Wednesday, October 18, 8:15 p.m., Scarsdale Public Library
Seth Kaller: “Turning Points: Documents that Shaped America”
Grapefruit Sale
Starts Nov. 1; Order deadline Nov. 29. Order forms will be mailed last week of October; pick-ups Dec.12-16
Thanksgiving Workshop
Friday, November 10 (Veterans Day), 10 a.m. - noon