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Charles Andrews Heath Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Midwest-MS-Heath

Scope and Content of the Collection

The diaries of Charles Andrews Heath comprise the bulk of the collection, and consist of 66 volumes spanning the years 1880-1949. In the diaries, Heath discusses the Haymarket Riot, the World's Columbian Exposition, the World's Parliament of Religions, and many other Chicago-related events, as well as the Galveston flood, politics, and several wars.

There are also typed excerpts of the diaries, typed transcripts of letters Heath's family wrote to him during a 1912 European trip, photographs of Heath and his family, including several from the European trip, documents related to properties Heath owned, and other items related to Heath and his family.

Dates

  • Creation: 1880-1999

Creator

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Charles Andrews Heath Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Charles Andrews Heath Papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Biography of Charles Andrews Heath

Chicago businessman, founder and president of Continental Seed Co.

Charles Andrews Heath was born December 24, 1860, in Curtisville (now Interlaken), a village in the town of Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. His parents were Theodore Selden Heath, a clockmaker, and Mary Eveline Slocum Heath. Charles Andrews Heath attended Williams College, graduating in 1882, and around this time met and married Jennie June Greene. The Heaths left Massachusetts shortly after for Chicago, where Charles Andrews Heath went to work for the Dickinson Seed Company. He later founded his own business, the Continental Seed Company, after 37 years with Dickinson. Charles Andrews and Jennie Heath had two children: Albert Greene, born 1888, and Alice, born 1892. Alice Heath married Harold Frank and the couple had one child, Gloria, born in 1926.

Beginning in 1880, Charles Andrews Heath kept diaries until 1949, just after his 90th birthday. After his wife Jennie died in 1925, Heath continued to work and provide financial support for his children and their families. Charles Andrews Heath died in 1959, a few months short of his 100th birthday.

Extent

2.7 Linear Feet (7 boxes)

Abstract

Chicago businessman, founder and president of Continental Seed Co. Includes Charles Andrews Heath's diaries, 1880-1949, with typed excerpts, which discuss the Haymarket Riot, the World's Columbian Exposition, the World's Parliament of Religions, the Galveston flood, several wars, and many Chicago related events. There are also typed transcripts of 1912 European trip letters from Heath's wife Jennie and children Alice and Albert, photographs of Heath and his family, including the European trip, and documents related to properties Heath owned.

Organization

Papers are organized in the following series

Series 1: Family Papers, 1893-1999
Boxes 1-2
Series 2: Charles Andrews Heath Diaries, 1880-1949
Boxes 3-7

Collection Stack Location

1 21 3

Provenance

Gift, Gloria Frank, 2006, 2008-2010.

Processed by

Kelly Kress, 2010.

Acknowledgements

This inventory was created with the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this inventory do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Title
Inventory of the Charles Andrews Heath Papers, 1880-1999
Status
Completed
Author
Kelly Kress
Date
©2009.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512