Bannerman family papers

Transcription

1 2210 Last updated on March 26, Manuscripts and Archives Department

2 Table of Contents Summary Information...3 Biography/History...3 Scope and Contents... 4 Arrangement...5 Administrative Information... 5 Related Materials... 5 Controlled Access Headings...5 Collection Inventory Page 2 -

3 Summary Information Repository Hagley Museum and Library: Manuscripts and Archives Department Creator Bannerman family. Title Bannerman family papers Call number 2210 Date [inclusive] Extent 1.8 linear feet Language English Abstract Francis Bannerman ( ) was a Brooklyn, N.Y., ship chandler who began selling Civil War military surplus as a side line. His son Francis ( ) developed a three-generation dealership in military surplus and military antiques serving sportsmen and collectors. He also built a private arsenal on an island in the Hudson Highlands that is now a romantic ruin. This collection consists of Bannerman?s personal papers, travel diaries and financial documents concerning Bannerman?s Island. Biography/History Francis Bannerman ( ) was a major purveyor of military goods to sportsmen and collectors in New York City, a business his family operated for three generations. Bannerman orginally worked for his father, who had purchased surplus military goods at scrap prices in the demobilization at the end of the Civil War. Bannerman went into business for himself in October - Page 3 -

4 1872, selling potatoes and apples in season, as well as hardware purchased at government surplus auctions. Bannerman prospered and moved his store from Brooklyn to Manhattan in 1897, turning it into a showpiece museum of modern and antique weaponry and military memorabilia. To store his vast quantities of arms and ammunition, Bannerman bought Pollepel Island in the Hudson River Highlands in 1900 and erected Bannerman's Island Arsenal and a summer residence patterned after the castles of the family's native Scotland. On January 1, 1917, Bannerman conveyed the business to his sons Francis ( ) and David ( ) as Francis Bannerman Sons. In 1958, David's son Charles S. Bannerman ( ) incorporated the business, but he was a relatively passive representative of the family interest, the dayto-day affairs being in the hands of career employees. The business was downsized and moved to Long Island the following year. Pollepel Island was sold to the state in 1967, but the buildings were gutted by fire in Scope and Contents The collection includes the incoming personal correspondence from the last year of Francis Bannerman's life and a series of diaries covering his trip to Ireland for his marriage and some of his annual voyages to Europe and Asia, which doubled as vacations and buying trips. The diaries are reasonably full accounts of accommodations, sites visited, and other observations. Another important section of the collection deals with Bannerman's Island, including mortgages, taxes, and papers covering the sale of the Island to the state in 1967 and the subsequent fire. There are also notes for Charles Bannerman's history of the Island and a large group of news clippings. Most of these deal with the Island, the fire or the Bannerman firm. A few pieces were apparently collected by Francis Bannerman on topics he found interesting, including the 1903 assassination of King Alexander and Queen Draga of Serbia. One of the most interesting pieces in the collection is an agreement of 1915 confirming an 1872 prenuptual agreement between Francis and Nelly Boyce Bannerman, in which Bannerman acknowledges his wife's right to half his assets as the equal partner in all his labors. It describes the circumstances of their marriage, his refusal of a dowry, their early hardships, and the many tasks performed by himself and his wife when starting in business. Among the miscellaneous pieces are Bannerman's certificate of membership in the Free and Accepted Masons, his New Testament and dictionary, a booklet of rules for the Brooklyn Latin School which Bannerman's sons attended, and an 1857 deed of assignment of William Talbscott & Co. of Liverpool. - Page 4 -

5 Arrangement Arranged alphabetically by subject and genre. Administrative Information Manuscripts and Archives Department Related Materials Related Material Francis Bannerman Sons, Inc. records (Accession 2185), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library Francis Bannerman Sons, Inc. photographs (Accession ), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library Separated Material Bannerman family photographs (Accession ), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library Controlled Access Headings Geographic Name(s) - Page 5 -

6 Pollepel Island (N.Y.). Bannerman family papers Personal Name(s) Bannerman, Charles S., Bannerman, Francis, Bannerman, Nellie Boyce Subject(s) Antenuptial contracts. Arsenals--New York (State). Bannerman's Island Arsenal (Fishkill, N.Y.). Brooklyn Latin School (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.). China--Description and travel. Diaries. Europe--Description and travel. Great Britain--Description and travel. Japan--Description and travel. Married women--employment. Private schools--new York (State)--New York. Surplus military property. - Page 6 -

7 Collection Inventory Abstract of Title to Brooklyn Property. 1 Box Bills and Receipts, Catalogs, Certificate of Membership in the Masons, New Testament. 1 Correspondence - "As-Ay", Correspondence - "Baa-Baq", Correspondence - "Caa-Caq", Correspondence - "Dir-Dz", Page 7 -

8 Correspondenee - "Ea-Ek", Correspondence - "Fa-Fh", Correspondence - "Ga-Gd", Correspondence - "Haa-Ham", Correspondence - "Ka-Kd", Correspondence - "Laa_Laq", Correspondence - "MeA-McC", Correspondence - "Sa-Sb", Diary, Trip Across Atlantic with wife, Nellie, diary. 2 - Page 8 -

9 Trip Across Pacific, diary. 2 Trip to Europe, diary. 2 Trip to Europe (England, Scotland etc.), diary. 2 Trip to Ireland, Marriage to Nellie Boyce, diary. 2 Partnership Agreements (Wife and Sons), Passports, Bannerman Island - General, Bannerman Island - Mortgages, Indentures, Sale of Bannerman Island, Bannerman Island - School and State County Taxes, Page 9 -

10 Brooklyn Latin School Rules and Regulations, Deeds and Title Reports for 501 Broadway, Manhattan, Francis Bannerman & Sons: Articles of Partnership Agreement. 4 Francis Bannennan & Sons: Miscellaneous. 4 Histories and Agreements, Newspaper Clippings. 1 Box Story of Bannerman Island, book. 4 Box Webster's Handy Service Dictionary. 4 William Talbscott & Co. Assignment Liverpool, Page 10 -