Summary Information
Albert J. Earling Papers
1885-1948
- Earling, Albert J., 1848-1925
Milwaukee Mss BP
1.2 c.f. (3 archives boxes and 1 flat box)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Records of Earling, president, 1899-1917, and chairman of the board, 1917-1919, of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad Company, of his daughter Harriet (1877-1962) and of her three husbands, businessman Lawrence Fitch (1874-1924), lawyer Frederick G. Thwaits (1871-1944), and real estate broker and art collector Walter Dake (died 1958), all of Milwaukee. Earling's papers include railroad reports and statistics, 1901, a few business letters including two from William Rockefeller in 1906 concerning the railroad company's finances, and a folder of biographical materials. Fitch is represented by miscellaneous business papers, 1912-1915, and minutes of the board of directors of the Western Malleables Iron Company, Beaver Dam, Wis., 1914-1924. The major part of the collection concerns Harriet Earling's civic and social interests including the Fatherless Children of France, 1917-1920, the Milwaukee Service Club, 1926-1948, and the Woman's Club of Wisconsin, 1943-1945. Several letters in 1920 pertain to an unsuccessful attempt to nominate Herbert Hoover for the Presidency at the Republican National Convention. Among the other correspondents are Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Herbert Hoover, Edgar Lee Masters, and George C. Aid. The collection contains genealogical data on the Earling, Fitch, and Tilton families.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil000bp ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Albert J. Earling, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Earling, was born at Richfield, Wisconsin, on January 19, 1848. In 1866, having received a common school education, Mr. Earling began his career with the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company as a telegrapher. He advanced through various positions with this company and became president of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul Railroad Company, 1899-1917, and chairman of the board, 1917-1919. He was the moving spirit in the extension of the Milwaukee Road from the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast.
In 1871, Mr. Earling married Margaret Peebles. Their children were Harriet, George P., and Sherburn M. Mr. Earling died on November 10, 1925.
Harriet Earling (1877-1962) was married three times: in 1899 to Milwaukee businessman Lawrence Fitch (1874-1924), by whom she had two children; in 1927 to Milwaukee attorney, Frederick G. Thwaits (1871-1944); and in 1947 to Milwaukee real estate broker and art collector Walter Dake, who died in 1958.
Harriet attended the Ogontz School, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, before her marriage to Lawrence Fitch in 1899. Upon his death in 1924, she became president of the Western Malleables Iron Company, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. She was very active in Milwaukee's social and civic affairs. She founded the Milwaukee Service Club in 1912 and was president of the Woman's Club of Wisconsin from 1943 to 1945. During World War I, Harriet, then Mrs. Fitch, organized and directed the Fatherless Children of France project in the Milwaukee area. She was also instrumental in forming Foster Mothers of America, an organization designed to care for war orphans. For these activities, the French government awarded her the Legion of Honor medal.
Harriet Earling Dake died in October 1962, at her summer home at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Scope and Content Note
The Albert J. Earling Papers include the papers of Mr. Earling, his daughter Harriet, and Lawrence Fitch. There is one folder of biographical material relating to Mr. Earling and there are a few business letters filed with the general correspondence. Two letters from William Rockefeller, January 16 and 17, 1906, refer to the finances of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad Company. Lawrence Fitch is represented in the collection by one folder of miscellaneous business papers, 1912-1915, and the minutes of the board of directors of the Western Malleables Iron Company, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, 1914-1924.
In addition there are letters in the collection addressed either to Mr. Earling, Mr. Thwaits, or Harriet Earling. All except the Masters and Aid letters are found with the general correspondence, while the former are with the correspondence relating to the Fatherless Children of France (box 2). The June 1920 Herbert Hoover correspondence relates to an unsuccessful attempt to nominate Hoover for the Presidency at the Republican National Convention of 1920.
Other correspondents of interest include:
- Theodore Roosevelt
- Nov. 9, 1900
- Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
- Dec. 6, 1915; Jan. 17, 1916
- Herbert Hoover
- June 2, 1920; June 23, 1920; Dec. 23, 1920; Feb. 28, 1921; March 9, 1921; March 1, 1929; May 14, 1938
- Edgar Lee Masters
- June 5, 1917
- George Ade
- July 17, 1917
The greater part of the collection concerns Harriet Earling's social and civic interests. The collection includes correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and subscription lists for the Fatherless Children of France, 1917- 1920, financial records of the Milwaukee Service Club, 1926-1948, and minutes and financial records of the board of directors of the Woman's Club of Wisconsin, 1943-1945. There are also clippings relating to Harriet Earling and the Earling and Fitch families and genealogies of the Earling, Fitch, and Tilton families.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by John Earling Fitch, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, June 1966.
Processed by Jack T. Erickson, February 1967.
Contents List
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Correspondence, 1903-1944
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Box
3
Volume
3
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Belgium Diary, Unidentified Author, 1916-1917
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Box
2
Volume
4
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Italy Diary, Unidentified Author, 1918
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Genealogies, Earling, Fitch, and Tilton Families, 1911-1937, undated
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Box
2
Volume
1
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Earling and Fitch Families, News Clippings, 1920-1928
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Albert J. Earling
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Biographical Material, 1925-1938
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Box
2
Volume
2
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Statistics from All Railroad Annual Reports, 1901
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Lawrence Fitch, Business Papers, 1912-1915
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Beaver Dam Malleables Iron Company, Business Papers, 1912-1914
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Box
3
Volume
5
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Western Malleables Iron Company, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Board of Directors, Minutes, 1914-1924
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Harriet Earling Fitch/Thwaits/Dake
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Box
1
Folder
2
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News Clippings, 1921
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Fatherless Children of France
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Correspondence, News Clippings, and Ephemera, 1917-1920
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Box
3
Volume
6
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News Clippings, 1918-1919
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Box
4
Volume
7
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News Clippings, 1920
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Wisconsin Subscription Lists, 1918
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Milwaukee Service Club, Financial Papers, 1926-1948
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Woman's Club of Wisconsin, Board of Directors, Minutes and Financial Papers, 1943-1945
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