Collection 427
Halsey Family Papers, 1840 - 1999

Processed by Laura Poll

Edited by Carla Z. Tobias

Monmouth County Historical Association
70 Court Street
Freehold, New Jersey 07728

November 2002

Updated January 2004

The processing of the collection and creation of this finding aid was funded by generous donations from Halsey family members.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey
Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey (1896 - 1987), a New York City stockbroker, was a former mayor and councilman in Rumson. He was the son of Charles Thompson Day Halsey (1865 - 1923) and Euphemia Van Rensselaer Grubb (1870 - 1947), and grandson of Silas Condit Halsey (1829 - 1906). His father and grandfather, as well as other members of the family, were prominent New Jersey politicians in local and foreign affairs.

Halsey had a multitude of nicknames ("Rensy," "Van," "Hebe," "Skipper," "Buddy") each corresponding to a particular group of friends or family. Born in New York City on October 11, 1896, Halsey summered with his family in Sea Bright at their home "Easterly" from 1899 to 1905. They moved permanently to New Jersey in 1905, where they settled in Rumson in a house called "Briarwood" on Ridge Road. After attending Shrewsbury Academy in Red Bank and the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Halsey entered Princeton in 1914. Although he left in 1917 to join the Army with many of his classmantes, he still considered himself part of the Class of 1918. He was class president and one of the creators of the "Joe Norden" fictitious Princeton alum of the 1918 class whose antics were written about in the class notes of the Princeton Alumni newsletter. Later, Halsey was active on the Princeton Alumni Council from 1958 to 1961 and was a chairman of the $53 Million for Princeton University Project.

While in college, Halsey had summer jobs in Illinois at the American Lead & Zinc Company (1915) and in South Porcupine, Ontario, working in the gold mining camps (1916). He participated in an ROTC summer training camp at Princeton University, where he led the recruits as a drill instructor, instructed at Princeton Aviation Ground School, and attended the Officer's Training School at Camp Dix.

During World War I, Halsey joined the army's 309th Machine Gun Battalion, 78th Division as Second Lieutenant. In 1919, he was discharged ast a First Lieutenant after serving in England and France, where he spent six months after the armistice with his regiment waiting for transport home. He returned to the military during World War II to worth with the Office of Strategic Services, the United States' first centralized intelligence agency and predecessor to the CIA.

After World War I, Halsey joined the International Mercantile Marine Company, a shipping company. In 1920 he worked in Liverpool for the White Star Line, the company that ran such ships as the Olympic and the Titanic. He began working on Wall Street in 1922 as a partner in his father's brokerage firm, C.D. Halsey & Co., a New York Stock Exchange member.

In January 1924, Halsey married Ethel Horner Simmons (1896 - 1931) and had three children with her: Van R. Jr. (b. 1925), Stephen S. (b. 1927) and Elizabeth (1931 - 1936). Ethel, daughter of Charles Herbert Simmons and Elizabeth Eagle of Madison Avenue in New York City, was a member of the Junior League and attended the Porter School in Farmington, Connecticut. Two weeks after giving birth to daughter Elizabeth, she died, possibly of kidney malfunction. Elizabeth later died from a streptococcus infection when she was five. Halsey married Anne Winchester Grant (d. 1950) in 1933 and Elizabeth C. Riker (d. 1981) in 1951.

In 1937 Halsey joined the firm of Carlisle, Mellick & Company, an odd lot dealer which merged in 1941 with Jacquelin & DeCoppet to form the firm of Carlisle * Jacquelin. He was a Senior Partner, when he retired in 1966.

Halsey was very active in social and civic organizations. he held many offices and positions, including president of the Princeton Ivy Club (1925 - 1937), New Jersey State Republican Finance Committee member (1928 - 1940), Monmouth County Republican Finance Committee chairman and treasurer (1932 - 1940), Hill School trustee (1936 - 1945), Excelsior Savings Bank trustee (1937 - 1968), Local Defense Council chairman (1943 - 1945), Shade Tree Commission chairman (1948 - 1963), Oceanic Free Library (Rumson) trustee (1940) and president (1948 - 1954), and member of the Governor's Association of the New York Stock Exchange Firms (1953 - 1956).

In 1947 Halsey was elected to the Board of Managers of St. Luke's Hospital (New York City) and served as secretary, treasurer and vice-president of the board (1951 - 1970). He was president of both the Sea Bright Beach Club (1944 - 1947) and Rumson Country Club (1952 - 1954). He received the Brotherhood Award for Distinguished Service in the field of human relations from the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1966.

Halsey remained at Briarwood until 1954 when he sold it and moved with his third wife to a house on Osprey Avenue near the Avenue of Two Rivers, and later to one on Buena Vista Avenue, both in Rumson. His later years were spent yachting and gardening. Halsey traveled throughout Europe and the world on a series of cruises, many with his long-time friend, Jarvis Cromwell.

Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey died on July 17, 1987 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Middletown, New Jersey.

Charles Day Halsey
Charles Day Halsey (1900 - 1983), younger brother of Cortland Van Rensselear Halsey, was also a graduate of Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania (1917) and Princeton University (1921). Upon his graduation from Princeton, he worked briefly as an assistant to Robert W. Johnson, president of Johnson & Johnson of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Halsey was a veteran of both World Wars, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant of the Coast Guard Artillery in World War I and to Major in the New York State Guard 17th Infantry in World War II. Halsey married Helen Pendergast in 1923.

After World War II he worked in his father's corporation, C.D. Halsey and Company of Wall Street, and later became a stockbroker with Bache & Company (1952 - 1970). Halsey was its vice president and director when the firm became Bache, Halsey, Stuart & Shields, Inc.

Halsey was responsible for the merging of two hospitals into the Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospital, a teaching hospital in partnership with New York Medical College. He was president, chairman, and trustee of the Board for 31 years (late 1920s to mid-1950s). He was president and chairman of the United Hospital Fund of New York and served as vice president and director of the Greater New York Fund.

He was a member of several clubs, both in New York City and Princeton, as well as the Sea Bright Lawn, Tennis and Cricket Club. Charles Day Halsey died July 26, 1983.

Charles Thompson Day Halsey
Charles Thompson Day Halsey (1865 - 1923), nicknamed "Steve" and father of Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey, was raised in Newark, prepared for college at the Freehold Institute and graduated from Princeton University in 1886. After college he worked in the Engineers' Corps for the Department of the Pennsylvania Railroad until 1894.

With a $20,000 loan against his father Silas' estate, Halsey shifted his interests to Wall Street and formed New York Stock Exchange firm Toler & Halsey with Henry Pennington Toler, his Princeton roommate and best man at his wedding. The partnership of Toler & Halsey was terminated in 1901, when Toler was declared insane as his religious ferver grew extreme. The firm became C. D. Halsey & Company.

In 1895, Halsey married Euphemia (Effie) Van Rensselaer Grubb (1870 - 1947), and they had three children, Cortlant Van Rennselaer (1896 - 1987), Charles Day (1898 - 1982), and Elizabeth (1906 - 1974). After summering for years at the Jersey Shore, they moved in 1905 from New York City to year-round residence in Rumson, New Jersey.

Halsey was involved in the creation of the borough of Rumson and was one of the original incorporators of the town in 1907. He was on the first Borough Council, was the first police commissioner, and was on the first Rumson school board. In addition, Halsey was a founding member and treasurer of the board of the Monmouth County Agricultural Fair Association.

An interesting event in the life of Charles Halsey was the case of James M. Allgor and his public outcry against wealthy neighbors. Along with several other Rumson and Sea Bright politicians, who were dubbed the "Rumson Road Millionaires," Halsey was a target of harrassment and lawsuits of long-time Sea Bright resident Allgor. In 1906, Allgor had purchased a tract of highly desirable land known as West Side Park on Rumson Road on the west die of the Sea Bright draw bridge. Allgor stated he wanted to built a bungalow on the property but did not mention that he planned to use it as an ice cream parlor. For three years it was a thriving business.

When Allgor erected a bowling alley in the rear of the building, he was refused a license to operate such a business. Allgor retaliated by posting signs over the bungalow that it was "to rent for Negroes only" and that "this place will be open for the sale of ladies second-hand underwear." He began to hang men's and ladies' underwear from lines on his property, and wrote the names of prominent citizens and their wives on them. He erected a 150-foot long by 12-foot high board wall in front of his bungalow upon which he painted accusations and injustices done to him. After receiving a threatening letter if he did not dismantle the sign, Allgor began wearing a revolver from his belt.

In 1910 Allgor was arrested for maintaining at nuisance but the case was dismissed on appeal to the New Jersey Supreme Court. An agreement was signed in 1911 between Allgor and Halsey, in which Allgor agreed to stay out of Rumson for a year, convey his property to a trustee, and refrain from harassing and sending letters to any citizen of Sea Bright and Rumson. he was told to destroy all post cards and negatives of the bill boards, and in return he would receive $1,000.

Halsey worked on Wall Street until 1922, when he was diagnosed with cancer. Charles Halsey died in September, 1923 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark. His widow Effie married Sir Joseph White Todd (d. 1926) in 1925 and William Haskell (d. 1942) in 1938.

Silas Condit Halsey
Silas Condit Halsey (1829 - 1906), was the son of Samuel Halsey (1801 - 1884), one of the first leather manufacturers in Newark, and Mary Hutchings (no dates). His brother, George A. Halsey, was a New Jersey member of Congress.

Prior to the Civil war, Halsey was in the clothing business in Virginia, and later he opened the clothing firm of Halsey, Hunter & Halsey, which was located on Broad Street in Newark.

During the war, he was appointed an aide-de-camp to a Union general, bcame a major and made assistant Quartermaster General. After the war he continued in the clothing business and retired by 1875 to pursue travel and social interests. He attended the 1885 inauguration of President Harrison and was appointed to be United States Consul at Sonneberg, Germany from 1889 to 1893. He was a member of the honorary Essex Club and the Washington Association of Morristown.

Silas Halsey died June 12, 1906 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark.

Sources of Information
Gabrielan, Randall. Rumson. Dover, NH: Arcadia Publishing, 1996, pp. 22 - 25, 105. (mentions Briarwood and Allgor case)

Gabrielan, Randall. Rumson Vol II. Dover, NH: Arcadia Publishing, 1997, pp. 28 - 29.

Halsey, C.V. R., Jr. Of Good Courage: A Biography of My Father. Norwich, CT: Thames Printing Co., 1991

Halsey, J.L. & Halsey, E.D. Thomas Halsey and his Descendants in America. Morristown, NJ: The Jerseyman, 1895.

Halsey, Van Renssalaer. Reminiscences of Early Rumson, New Jersey. Rumson, N.J.: Oceanic Free Library, 1981.

History of Rumson, 1665 - 1944: A Collection of Historical Information by the Students of the Rumson High School, Rumson, NJ Interested Citizens of the Community, and the School Faculty, Asbury Park, NJ: Schuyler Press, 1944.

History of Rumson, New Jersey 1665 - 1965. Rumson, NJ: Rumson Improvement Association, 1965, p. 133 (Pach Bros. photo of Charles Jr. and Cortland in pony cart).

Pierson, D.L. Narratives of Newark (New Jersey) from the Days of its Founding, 1666 - 1916. Newark, NJ: Pierson Publishing Company, 1917

Robinson, Bill. Sea Bright Beach Club, 1895 - 1995: A Centennial History. Sea Bright, NJ: Sea Bright Beach Club, 1995.

Schnitzspahn, Karen L. An Album of Animal Companions. Red Bank, NJ: Coast and Pines Press, 1995, p. 57 (Pach Bros. photo of Charles Jr. and Cortland dressed in costumes for a children's parade).

Van Rensselaer, F. The Van Rensselaers in Holland and in America. New York: American Historical Company, 1956.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTES

This collection consists of personal papers, business records, photographs, and printed materials of the Halsey family of Rumson and Sea Bright, New Jersey. The bulk of the collection consists of the papers of Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey (1896 - 1987), dating mainly from 1914 to 1986. Other family members represented in this collection are Halsey's wife, parents, brother, and grandfather.

The collection is approximately 13 cubic feet in size and is housed in 29 boxes. The Halsey Family Papers are divided into nine series: I. Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey Papers, II. Ethel Horner Simmons Halsey Papers, III. Charles Thompson Day Halsey Papers, IV. Euphemia (Effie) Van Rensselaer Halsey Papers, V. Silas Condit Halsey Papers, VI. Halsey Family History and Genealogy, VII. Printed Material, VIII. Photographs, and IX. Charles Day Halsey Papers.

The Halsey Family Papers are significant in documenting the life of a prominent family of the affluent town of Rumson, Monmouth County, New Jersey during the 20th century. Subjects of interest to researchers are information about daily life and concerns of the time, gold mining, World War I in England and France, brokerage businesses, gardening, yachting, Princeton University and its Alumni Association, social debutantes, James M. Allgor, the United States Consul in Germany, and local and national politicians.

Series I. Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey's Papers begin in his mining years with his summer job in a gold mining camp in Ontario. There are technical reports of the Northern Ontario Mining Industry (1915), an annual report from the Ontario Bureau of Mines which includes a fold-out map of the area and a guilde to the working area from the Hotel Connaught (1915), a business brochure from the Tommy Burns Gold Mining Company camps of the Porcupine and the Brookfield in Nova Scotia, and information from American Lead & Zinc in Illinois. His diary includes postcards from the Porcupine area of Ontario.

Papers from his army years during World War I include diaries and journals that contain training notes, thoughts and sketches, routines and duties, military laws, and directions on how to use a machine gun, as well as articles about the war. There are also documents such as his passport and army papers, rosters, post cards from Europe and England, and publications and newspapers such as the American Daily Mail and the Camp Dix Pictorial Review.

Halsey's two dispatch cases, 1917 - 1919 (Box 15 / Folder 4), include a roster of the 309th Machine Gun Battalion, a French theatre program, his service record and discharge certificate, officer's record book, a letter from his mother, a hand-written note sent to U.S. soldiers from King George V with a seal of Windsor Castle, his medical reports, and French propaganda. Correspondence between him and his father during his years in the army can be found in "Personal Files - Correspondence - Charles Day Halsey."

Included in the subseries are items dated after his discharge when he began working in Liverpool with the White Star Line. his journal, 1921 - 1922 (Box 1 / Folder 9), includes writing about the government's immigration quota system and political topics, and contains photographs of ships, perhaps of the White Star Line.

There is one folder (Box 1 / Folder 15) containing mostly clippings relating to the Office of Strategic Services where he worked during World War II, as well as a British Security Manual from Washington, D.C. (May 1942).

Halsey's papers during his professional career include documents from jobs that he held during his lifetime, including time spent in his father's and then his own brokerage firms in New York City and Newark, and time spent after World War I in the International Mercantile Marine Company. There are New York Stock Exchange bulletins, annual reports, income tax returns and articles relating to the stock market and the company. For speeches that may have been business related, see "Personal Files - Speaking engagements."

The bulk of Halsey's papers are located in the Peraonal Files subseries. He was an avid gardener, yachtsman, and made notes in over 20 journals, diaries and notebooks throughout his life. There is a folder containing clippings of a biographical nature. Diaries of notes relating to the weather, visitors, books read, things to do, family members' health, money and income, doctors' appointments, and the deteriorating health of his third wife. Very little is recorded in 1987, the year of his death.

Folders containing certificates and awards include Halsey's diplomas from the Hill School (1914) and Princeton (1918), along with awards he received for various activities. There is a resolution awarded to him for his "long time dedication to community affairs and preservation of Rumson history" by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1983 and a certificate to allow the possession of "Firearms as Trophies from the European War" (1921).

The collection contains Halsey's clippings of anecdoes from magazines and newspapers. These clippings may have been sayings and quotes that caught his fancy for use in future speeches or articles that were of particular interest to him. There are also scraps of paper upon which he wrote favorite musings and limericks. Some notations are not credited. Most clippings are, as he described them on one folder: "More thoughts for inspiration, words to live by and phrases that I have liked." They are sorted by date when possible; undated clippings are grouped in the front. Of note in the clippings file is an oversized print from Illustrated Current News (v. 1, n. 4; January 7, 1914) of Sea Bright devastated from violent waves.

Correspondence includes letters between him and his father Charles Thompson Day Halsey from his junior year at Princeton through World War I, when Halsey was overseas in the army for two years, and then with his position with the White Star Line in Liverpool. The folder with general correspondence includes some letters written in French, and some from friends expressing condolences on his father's death. Other personal documents include a letter of restoration to communicant status in the church (Box 3 / Folder 2).

Funeral papers include instructions for his memorial service and a photograph that he wanted included in his obituary. The funeral notes include drafts written by Halsey of his obituary, photographs, various ideas for his funeral service, and a program from the funeral.

Included in Halsey's personal files are the legal papers of Euphemia P. Grubb deCerkez, an unidentified cousin of whose estate he was executor. These papers include a tax reserve statement, and the inventory and appraisal of the goods of Effie and Henry Bates Grubb, including "one Packard car for $2,500." A paper from the Ivy Club Executive Committee lists Archibald S. Alexander. For additional information on the Grubbs, see "Series IV. Euphemia (Effie) Van Rensselaer Grubb Halsey, Legal papers (Henry Bates Grubb)."

His gardening journals date to his time at Briarwood and record the various weather conditions, transplantings, plant and garden sketches, and notes of flower shows. There is an account of expenses for his move to Osprey Avenue in 1954, and problems encountered. There are also loose receipts and letters from nurseries with lists of what can be moved from Briarwood to his new house and general articles about gardening and advertisements for products.

Halsey was active in the Princeton Alumni Association, and these papers cover some of his fundraising activities. The fictional Joe Norden character is briefly documented, mostly for his demise. In one letter, Halsey is asked to "arrange for the murder of Joe Norden ... he should now be killed." Each Princeton class created a fictional student who would be written about in the class notes. These characters were usually outrageous and known only to their specific class.

A folder on the Root's Alumni Preceptorial includes letters with suggestions on what books to read, and minutes of meetings. At the Ivy Club they would read and discuss literature. Other Princeton papers include copies of the Princeton Alumni Weekly, guides and maps of the campus, pamplets for the chapel, members of the class council, letters, and financial and fundraising reports.

Also under the subseries of Personal Fiels are publications, including his A Little Collection of Thoughts (1976) along with notations that he made prior to its publication. There is also a copy of Reminiscences of Early Rumson (1981) and articles written about that publication. See "Series VII. Printed Material" for publications from his library that were part of the accession.

Many of the speaking engagements are noted on loose papers in Box 7 / Folder 1. See also "Professional Career - Carlisle & Jacquelin" (Box 2 / Folder 1) for menu and notes from Charles F. Samson anniversary dinner (1961).

Halsey kept travel diaries of places where he went, such as Stockholm, Moscow, Hamburg, Amsterdam, San Juan, Barbados, and the Caribbean. He took various cruises throughout the year. The entries are very brief, but include names of people he met, who sent well wishes, hotel bills, what he did, and meals he had.

The folder on writings and notations include loose items that were not part of notebooks, diaries, or journals. The earliest is a c. 1908 composition he wrote as a teenager about flying in the Wright Brothers airplane.

Series II. Ethel Horner Simmons Halsey Papers include clippings relating to her social activities as well as the engagement and wedding announcements of other socialites. Correspondence includes a letter to her parents from her husband Cortland thanking them for the wedding and a letter sent after Ethel's death to her mohter from Alexander Robey in which he proclaims a love for her he "dared not speak of." There is a letter written by Ethel in French to a friend and a letter to her father detailing her exciting social life.

Several diaries include writings on general topics of the time, social events she attended, who sent her flowers, trips abroad she made, and how late she slept the next morning. On August 15, 1913 Ethel mentions "Hebe," a nickname of Cortland's: "Great boy, he is." Her diaries contain various loose papers clippings of engagements and weddings, and photographs. In her diaries she notes "We could not see the interior [of Westminster Abbey] on account of preparation of King George and Queen Mary." Young Ethel observes, "We went here [the Crystal Palace and grounds] - A kind of Coney Island;" writes that Versailles is "a dear little place" and comments on the Mona Lisa: "I, myself, don't like it - the eyes are so cunning looking - follow you all over."

Scrapbooks include other similar clippings and momentos such as theater programs, ticket stubs, scippings of other debutantes, and articles about New York City activities. Postcards include images of the recreation room at the Debarkation Hospital on Lexington Avenue in New York, where Ethel may have worked as a Red Cross volunteer.

In Ethel's papers are memorabilia from her and Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey's wedding. in her wedding service booklet, she crossed out the vow "obey" and replaced it with the word "trust." There is also a gifts book in which the values of the presents are listed.

Also in this series are folders relating to the Simmons family history and genealogy, including funeral services for several members of the family.

Series III. Charles Thompson Day Halsey Papers includes correspondence, with invitations to various functions and social events, including an undated invitation from the Prince of Wales for a reception (Box 9 / Folder 5). A 1905 letter from Woodrow Wilson at Princeton University thanks him for his establishment of a prize for gymnastics at the university. his letters to his son Cortland during World War I are located in Cortland's "Personal Files - Correspondence" in Series I. There are several colorful dinner menus from the Waldorf-Astoria restaurant in New York City that were framed and hung at Briarwood.

Personal files of Charles Thompson Day Halsey include a receipt for a $300 membership fee from the Union Club in New York (1895), a program from a bell service in memory of Samuel Halsey (1901), and a menu (1905) from a dinner given by Halsey for the "East Coast Cinderellas" at the Union Club with the names of the diners listed. Also included are a few postcards with images from the Princeton class of 1885 that were used as announcements for the 1915 reunion.

Halsey's scrapbook (1893 - 1898) has clippings regarding his engagement and wedding, letters regarding his honeymoon to Atlanta by train, telegrams of congratulations for his son's birth, and ephemera and clippings of his social events.

Other items in this series include papers relating to his aunt Cornelia Utter Halsey in which can be found a 1914 article on the Halsey Memorial Window in the Central Presbyterian Church in Newark with an image of the window and the service program for its dedication.

This series also contains seven items relating to the Allgor case, including the legal agreement made between Halsey and James M. Allgor.

Series IV. Euphemia (Effie) Van Rensselaer Grubb Halsey Papers include clippings and information regarding the Grubb family and legal papers from Henry Bates Grubb. There are papers relating to her second husband, Sir Joseph White Todd, including his will, and a folder of information relating to her first marriage to Charles Halsey. There is also an autograph album that belonged to her close friend, Minnie Moore. This series also contains her DAR membership certificate (Box 26 / Folder 33) and the certificate of her marriage to Charles Halsey (Box 26 / Folder 34).

Series V. Silas Condit Halsey Papers include a calling card with the autograph of William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody and inscription, and calling cards written in German from Coburg. There are clippings that include recipes that probably belonged to his second wife, Nellie Price, as well as "Little Madge" newspaper columns that Nellie may have written. Also included is a two-page poem written for the "Halsey children" and signed "Gampie" and a handwritten mock-up of a business brochure for h is leather company.

Series VI. Halsey Family History & Genealogy includes general information, genealogical notes and a hand-painted Halsey coat of arms (Box 10 / Folder 10). Information on four of the Halsey homesteads include maps, descriptions and legal documents such as deeds, mortgages, contracts of sale, and blueprints. There is a Southampton Chamber of Commerce tourist booklet (1973) and The Halsey House Inventory Guide (1964) of the house's contents with color postcards of the interior and exterior tipped in.

On file are letters of inquiry to and from various family members regarding family history. Another folder contains special announcements of events such as engagements and weddings.

Series VII. Printed Materials contains publications that belonged to Cortland, Ethel and Charles. Included are such items as a 1916 auction catalog from Anderson Galleries of New York City of Frederic Halsey's Print collection, memorial programs including one from New Jersey Senator William Warren Barbour, and a history of the 78th Lightning Division in World War I. Also in this series is the 1946 program of memorial addresses delivered in Congress for Senator William Warren Barbour and an embossed bible presented to Halsey when he was elected Monmouth County Treasurer in 1939. The New York Times Mid-Week Pictorial (1915) contains photographs from war zones and portraits of notable men.

Series VIII. Photographs are broken down into images of the Halsey family and the Simmons family. Within the families the images are gbrouped according to topic, by album and whether individual portraits or group shots.

Photographs of Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey include images of him with various members of his family from infancy through late adulthood. There is a strip of uncut photographs from a photo booth, a passport shot, and a football pose. There are photographs from his mining years of mines and miners of the Penna-Beuton mine in Wisconsin (1915). The 1929 photograph album of the Laurens yacht contains a liquor price list, a handbook concerning the Intoxicating Liquor Act of 1927, and articles about its running aground (Box 21). There are images of notable people with whom Halsey was acquainted, such as Senator Alexander Smith, former Rumson mayors Senator William Warren Barbour and Congressman James C. Auchincloss, and Rumson mayor Louis Hague.

"A Gallery of Rogues" album contains images of Briarwood, friends and relatives, politicians, business associates, athletic teams, Halsey's maryoral certificate of election, and his appointment to second lieutenant in the US Army (Box 24).

Charles Thompson Day Halsey photographs range from age 6 months through adulthood, including a carte de visite (c. 1870) of him holding a pop gun. There is an interior shot of C.D. Halsey & Co. in the Mills Building on Broadway in New York City and a portrait of Charles dressed in his Essex Troop uniform. There is also an image of a mess wagon and ambulance given to the Army by Charles & Effie.

Photograph Album #12 "Seabright" (Box 27) was created by Charles Day Halsey between 1896 - 1899. It includes interior as well as exterior shots of summer homes in Sea Bright, whch were rented by the Halsey family before they bought "Easterly." There are photographs of the Sea Bright and Highlands landscape, as well as members of the Halsey family, including many of Cortland at play as a young child.

Silas Halsey photographs include Civil War friends of Silas, his wife and daughter and parents. Most interesting is a pair of daguerreotypes of Silas taken in the 1860s in which his torso makes up one image and his legs make up the other. An attached note written by Charles states: "He was too tall to go all in one picture."

Charles Day Halsey photographs include Photograph Album #13, "80th Birthday Surprise Party / Helen and Charles D. Halsey" (1979) (oversize loose folder 3).

Other images include Sir Joseph's London house and Morenish Castle, the Allgor billboard (c. 1910), various scenes of Briarwood and Easterly including its destruction by a storm in 1926, and the 1905 Red Bank Agricultural Fair. There are also complementary photographs of Samuel Halsey and his wife Mary Hutchings which are hand-tinted.

Simmons family photographs include images of Ethel from childhood at Grey Knoll in Stonington, Connecticut, with various girls' school groups, through adulthood. There are photographs of Ethel dressed as Winged Victory in a 1914 parade, posing in her World War I Red Cross uniform, her wedding portrait (1924) and with her two sons 1931. There is a postcard album from her 1911 trip to Europe which includes a ghostly image of the Hampton Court Palace Ghose (Queen Jane Seymour) and a postcard of the Cunard Line Lusitania.

Oversized photographs include images of the Neward Essex Troop (c. 1895), Hill School [Pottstown, PA] football and ice hockey teams (1913), the family members of the English branch of the Halsey family (1907), sports teams, the Knickerbocker Grays, Senator Warren Barbour and his wife on the steps of the Senate (1933), a baby picture of Cortland with an intricately cut mat board (1897), and the ship May and its crew in Cuba (1900).

A few negatives are in the collection, both color and black and white, original negatives and copy negatives. Some negatives have corresponding prints and some do not. images with negatives are so noted on the photo's folder.

Items separated from the collection include artifacts and printed materials. See Appendix B for a detailed listing.

Series IX. Charles Day Halsey's Papers include various clippings, letters, notes, obituaries, and memorials including a remembrance service program from Princeton University (1984). Military papers include his appointment to Captain and Major. personal papers include his resume and brief biographical sketch, an honorary degree of Doctor of Human Letters from New York Medical College (1952), a certificate of appreciation presented upon his retirement from Bache & Co. (1972), a volunteer award from the New Jersey Association for the Blind (1977), and his death certificate.

There are also items which belonged to his wife, Helen Pendergast, including her family genealogy, letters, invitations and a mock New York Times front page celebrating her 100th birthday (1998). Her papers also include inquiries made by her mother into the history of the Gilman family crest and an application for membership to the Daughters of the American Revolution. There is a bound compilation done by Elizabeth Satterthwaite (1927) regarding the Gilman family tree.

Provenance:
Acc. #2000.24; gift of Van R. Halsey, Jr.
Acc. #2003.17; gift of Charles D. Halsey

Restrictions: none

Size of Collection: 13 cubic feet; 29 boxes

Addendum:
The Stonington Historical Society in Stonington, Connecticut holds additional materials regarding the Simmons family, including items from donor Van R. Halsey, Jr.

CONSERVATION NOTES
The acidic newspaper clippings were photocopied onto acid-free bond paper, the copies filed with the collection and the original clippings returned to the donor. Photographs were removed from their frames, some of which were transferred to the Museum Collection.

Loose items found in journals, diaries, scrapbooks, photograph albums were removed and placed in a separate folder and filed next to the volumes. Acid-free items were placed over acidic items in these same volumes.

"A Gallery of Rogues" photograph album was put in its order c. 1970 by Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey, making its order significant. Due to the acidic nature of the original album, the contents were removed and archivally rehoused. The order has been preserved and a listing included along with a later narrative by Halsey's son.

Album #12 "Seabright" includes images put together by Charles Day Halsey, 1896 - 1899. The 25 pages had been removed from its oritinal album and placed in a modern 3-ring binder. Since this housing was not of an archival nature, the processing archivist removed the pages and placed them in their original order in an archival box.

Due to the acidic nature of the original album pages, Photograph Album #13, "80th Birthday Surprise Party / Helen and Charles D. Halsey," was photocopied to preserve the order of the photographs. The photographs were then removed, numbered, sleeved, and placed separately in Box 24 / Folder 2. The album was place din Oversized Loose Folder 3 along with the photocopies.

SERIES DESCRIPTION

The Halsey Family Papers are divided into nine series: I. Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey Papers, II. Ethel Horner Simmons Halsey Papers, III. Charles Thompson Day Halsey Papers, IV. Euphemia (Effie) Van Rensselaer Grubb Halsey Papers, V. Silas Condit Halsey Papers, VI. Halsey Family History and Genealogy, VII. Printed Material, VIII. Photographs, and IX. Charles Day Halsey Papers. The series represent order created by the processing archivist.

Series I. Cortland Van Resselaer Halsey Papers, 1905 - 1991, n.d.
70 folders (3.5 linear feet), 1 flat box, 6 oversized folders, 1 oversized unboxed folder.

Arranged chronologically by activity and within each activity, alphabetically by document type.

Includes mining brochures and maps, military diaries, newspapers, douments, legal and finanical papers, business reports and documents, appointment books, biographical information, certificates and awards, clippings, correspondence, diplomas, funeral papers, garden journals, notebooks, newsletters, publications, travel diaries, and writings and notations.

Series II. Ethel Horner Simmons Halsey Papers, 1900 - 1992, n.d. (bulk 1914 - 1935)
14 folders (7 linear inches), 2 flat boxes

Arranged alphabetically by document type and chronologically within each folder.

Includes clippings, correspondence, diaries, documents, postcards, scrapbooks, genealogie, and ephemera.

Series III. Charles Thompson Day Halsey Papers, 1890 - 1921, n.d.
12 oflders (5 linear inches), 1 flat box

Arranged alphabetically by document type and chronologically within each folder.

Includes clippings, correspondence, geneaogy, ephemera, postcards, a travel diary, scrapbook and writings.

Series IV. Euphemia (Effie) Van Rensselaer Halsey Papers, 1853 - 1989, n.d. (bulk 1912 - 1931)
7 folders (4 linear inches), 2 oversized folders

Arranged alphabetically by document type and chronologically within each folder.

Includes genealogy, legal papers, personal papers, correspondence, articles and documents, certificates, and ephemera.

Series V. Silas Condit Halsey Papers, 1861 - 1916, n.d.
4 folders (2 linear inches)

Arranged alphabetically by document type and chronologically within each folder.

Includes calling cards, clippings, correspondence, and invitations.

Series VI. Halsey Family History & Genealogy, 1897 - 1995, n.d.
9 folders (6 linear inches)

Arranged alphabetically by document type and chronologically within each folder.

Includes clippings, notes, charts, correspondence, bibliographies, and social announcements.

Series VII. Printed Material, 1860 - 1955, n.d.
17 folders (14 linear inches), 1 oversized unboxed volume

Arranged by owner's name and alphabetically by title or publication type.

Includes bibles, books, print collection auction catalog, memorial programs, and art gallery booklets.

Series VIII. Photographs, 1840 - 1986, n.d.
10 folders (1 linear foot), 9 flat boxes and one oversize loose folder.

Arranged by family and alphabetically by subject. Albums placed after arranged loose photographs.

Includes daguerreotypes, tintypes, cartes de visite, cabinet cards, snapshots, portraits, oversized and panoramic prints, and negatives.

Series IV. Charles Day Halsey Papers
6 folders (3 linear inches), 2 oversize loose folders

Arranged alphabetically by document type and chronologically within each folder.

Includes certificates, clippings, correspondence, documents, genealogy, memorials, and personal papers.

CONTAINER LIST

Box / Folder / Folder Title

Series I. Cortlant Van Rensselaer Halsey Papers (1896 - 1991)

Mining Years
1 / 1 / Daily Nugget (newspaper), 1916
1 / 2 / Diary, 1916
1 / 3 / Promotional brochure, c. 1916
1 / 4 / Surveying maps, 1912, 1914
1 / 5 / Technical reports, 1915

Army Years - World War I
1 / 6 / Articles, 1917, n.d.
1 / 7 / Diary and contents, 1918
15 / 1 / Dispatch case #1 and contents, 1917 - 1919
15 / 2 / Dispatch case #2, American Daily Mail (newspaper), 1918
15 / 3 / Dispatch case #1, Journal and contents, 1917 - 1919
15 / 4 / Dispatch case #2 and contents, 1917 - 1919
1 / 8 / Documents, 1921, n.d.
1 / 9 / Journals and their contents, 1921 - 1922
1 / 10 / Notes, n.d.
1 / 11 / Postcards (Europe and England), 1921 - 1922
OS Loose Folder 1 / Print "Notre Village", 1918
26 / 1 / Camp Dix Pictorial Review, 1919
1 / 12 / Flash (Newspaper of the 78th Lightning Division), 1919
1 / 13 / History of Company A, 309th Machine Gun Battalion, c. 1919
1 / 14 / Souvenirs, 1921 - 1922

Army Years -- World War II
1 / 15 / Office of Stragetic Services, 1942 - 1946

Professional Career
1 / 16 / Associates (list of names), 1982, n.d.
2 / 1 / Carlisle & Jacquelin - Carlisle DeCoppet & Co., 1957, 1965 - 1976, n.d.
2 / 2 / C.D. Halsey & Co., 1920
2 / 3 / International Mercantile Marine Co., 1922

Personal Files
2 / 4 / Appointment books, 1976 - 1979
2 / 5 / Appointment books and contents, 1980 - 1982
2 / 6 / Biographical information and clippings, 1944 - 1990
2 / 7 / Certificates and awards, 1918, 1983
26 / 32 / Certificates and awards, 1918, 1929
2 / 8 / Clippings (anecdotal and news), 1905 - 1980, n.d.
26 / 2 / Clippings, Illustrated Current News, 1914
2 / 9 / Collectibles and momentos, 1940, 1978, n.d.
14 / 1 / Correspondence, Charles Day Halsey, original letters, 1917 - 1918
14 / 2 / Correspondence, Charles Day Halsey, original letters, 1918 - 1922
14 / 3 / Correspondence, Charles Day Halsey, original letters, 1921, n.d.
14 / 4 / Correspondence, Charles Day Halsey, reproductions, 1917 - 1922
3 / 1 / Correspondence, General, 1918 - 1986, n.d.
26 / 3 / Diplomas, 1914, 1918, 1929
3 / 2 / Documents, 1909 - 1926, 1958
3 / 3 / Funeral papers, 1979 - 1988, n.d.
3 / 4 / Garden journal and contents, 1945 - 1949
3 / 5 / Garden journal, 1946
3 / 6 / Garden journal and contents, 1951 - 1961
3 / 7 / Garden journal and contents, 1982 - 1986
3 / 8 / Journals and contents, 1934 - 1939
3 / 9 / Journals, 1940 - 1949
4 / 1 / Journals and contents, 1950 - 1959
4 / 2 / Journals and contents, 1960 - 1969
4 / 3 / Journals, 1970 - 1979
4 / 4 / Journals and contents, 1980 - 1987
4 / 5 / Legal papers (Euphemia P. grubb deCerkez), 1972 - 1973
4 / 6 / Notebook and contents, 1913
5 / 1 / Notebook, 1932 - 1948
5 / 2 / Notebook and contents, 1949 - 1958
5 / 3 / Notebook and contents, 1958 - 1961
5 / 4 / Notebook, 1962
5 / 5 / Notebook and contents, 1962 - 1971
5 / 6 / Notebook and contents, 1969 - 1975
5 / 7 / Nootebooks, 1976, 1978
5 / 8 / Notebook and contents, 1976 - 1986
6 / 1 / Notebooks, 1980 - 1985
6 / 2 / Princeton University, Alumni Association, 1961 - 1988, n.d.
6 / 3 / Princeton University, Fundraising and scholarships, 1962, 1985, n.d.
6 / 4 / Princeton University, "Joe Norden" character, 1978 - 1979, n.d.
6 / 5 / Princeton University, Root's Alumni Preceptorial, 1964 - 1984
6 / 6 / Princeton University, Root's Alumni, Notes on the Psalms, 1963
6 / 7 / Publications, A Little Collection of Thoughts, 1976
6 / 8 / Publications, notebooks and contents, 1976
26 / 4 / Publications, Of Good Courage (book cover), 1991
13 / 10 / Publications, Of Good Courage, original manuscript (partial), n.d.
6 / 9 / Publications, Reminiscences of Early Rumson and related articles, 1981, 1990
6 / 10 / Publications, Rumson Country Club, 1948, 1979
6 / 11 / Publications, schedule of monthly payments and contents, 1951
7 / 1 / Publications, speaking engagements, 1927 - 1961, n.d.
7 / 2 / Publications, telephone address book, n.d.
7 / 3 / Publications, travel diaries and contents, 1946 - 1949
7 / 4 / Publications, travel diaries and contents, 1950 - 1952, 1954 - 1956
7 / 5 / Publications, travel notes, 1951 - 1980
7 / 6 / Publications, travel diaries and contents, 1960, 1962, 1965 - 1968
7 / 7 / Publications, writings and notations, 1908 - 1985, n.d.
7 / 8 / Publications, audiotape interview between CVRH and CVRH, Jr. (damaged), 1976

Series II. Ethel Horner Simmons Halsey Papers (1900 - 1992)
8 / 1 / Clippings, 1914, 1922 - 1932, 1949, 1992, n.d.
8 / 2 / Correspondence, 1908 - 1935, n.d.
8 / 3 / Diary and contents, 1911
8 / 4 / Diary and contents, 1913 - 1917
8 / 5 / Diary and contents, 1922 - 1923
8 / 6 / Documents, 1937
8 / 7 / Postcards (Red Cross), n.d.
16 / - / Scrapbook, 1915 - 1916
17 / - / Scrapbook, 1916 - 1918
8 / 8 / Silhouettes, n.d.
8 / 9 / Simmons Family history and genealogy, Eagle Family genealogy, n.d.
8 / 10 / Simmons Family history and genealogy, funeral services, 1900, 1992
8 / 11 / Simmons Family history and genealogy, Simmons family genealogy, n.d.
8 / 12 / Wedding, Ephemera, 1923 - 1924
8 / 13 / Wedding, gifts book and contents, 1924
8 / 14 / Wedding, service booklet, 1924

Series III. Charles Thompson Day Halsey Papers (1890 - 1921)
9 / 1 / Allgor Case, 1908 - 1911
9 / 2 / Clippings, 1900 - 1920
9 / 3 / Cornelia Utter Halsey Papers, 1914 - 1918
9 / 4 / Correspondence and invitations, 1905 - 1921
9 / 5 / Day Family genealogy, n.d.
9 / 6 / Dinner menus, 1901, 1905
9 / 7 / Farm journal, 1908 - 1909
9 / 8 / Personal files, 1890, 1895, c. 1905, 1918
9 / 9 / Postcards (Princeton 1885 reunion), 1915
29 / - / Scrapbook, 1893 - 1898
9 / 10 / Telegram code book, c. 1905
9 / 11 / Travel diary, 1905
9 / 12 / Writings, n.d.

Series IV. Euphemia (Effie) Van Rensselaer Grubb Halsey Papers (1853 - 1989)
9 / 13 / Emmaline (Minnie) Moore's autograph book, 1853

Grubb Family history and genealogy
9 / 14 / Clippings, 1912, n.d.
9 / 15 / Notebook and contents, 1893

10 / 1 / Legal papers (Henry Bates Grubb), 1919 - 1920, 1931, 1965
10 / 2 / Personal papers and correspondence, 1895, 1917, n.d.
26 / 33 / Personal papers and correspondence, 1895, 1917, n.d.
10 / 3 / Sir Joseph White Todd (1846 - 1926), 1926, 1989
10 / 4 / Wedding, 1895
26 / 34 / Wedding, 1895

Series V. Silas Condit Halsey Papers (1861 - 1916)
10 / 5 / Business papers, n.d.
10 / 6 / Calling cards and invitations, c. 1881 - 1900
10 / 7 / Clippings, 1861 - 1916, n.d.
10 / 8 / Correspondence, 1891, n.d.\

Series VI. Halsey Family History and Genealogy
10 / 9 / Clippings, 1897, 1925, 1951 - 1989, n.d.
10 / 10 / General Information, 1897 - 1928, 1966 - 1984, n.d.

Homesteads
10 / 11 / Briarwood (Rumson, NJ), 1927 - 1995
10 / 12 / Gaddesden (Hertfordshire, England), n.d.
10 / 13 / Southampton (Long Island, NY), 1922, 1964 - 1967, 1973, n.d.
10 / 14 / Van Cortlandt Manor (Croton-on-Hudson, NY), 1969, n.d.

10 / 15 / Letters of inquiry and responses, 1944 - 1996, n.d.
10 / 16 / Reference sources, n.d.
10 / 17 / Social announcements and events, 1901, 1920, 1953 - 1956, 1980 - 1987, n.d.

Series VII. Printed Material (1860 - 1955)
Cortland Van Rensselaer Halsey
11 / 1 / Barrack Room Ballads (Kipling), n.d.
11 / 2 / Diary of Private Prayer, A (Baille) and contents, 1955
11 / 3 / Essays & Discourses (Van Rensselaer), 1861
11 / 4 / Frederic R. Halsey Print Collection Auction Catalog and contents, 1916
11 / 5 / History of the 78th Division in the World War (Meehan, ed.), 1921
11 / 6 / Memorial programs, Barbour, William Warren, 1946
11 / 7 / Memorial programs, Van Rensselaer, Catherine Ledyard, 1883
12 / 1 / Memorial programs, Van Rensselaer, Cortlandt, 1860
12 / 2 / New Testament and contents, n.d.
OS Loose / New York Times Mid-Week Pictorial, 1915
12 / 3 / Presentation bible, 1939
12 / 4 / Soldier's Manuscript, A (Winant) and contents, 1929
12 / 5 / Songs from Books (Kipling), 1920

Ethel Horner Simmons Halsey
12 / 6 / Idylls of the King (Tennyson), n.d.
12 / 7 / Macbeth Gallery booklets, 1926 - 1927
13 / 1 / Mr. Punch's Pocket Book and ocntents, 1871
13 / 2 / New Testament (book) and contents, n.d.

Charles Thompson Day Halsey
13 / 3 / Sesquidecennial Record of the Class of 1885 (Princeton University) and contents, 1901

Series VIII. Photographs (1840 - 1986) - Photo #209 - #583
Halsey Family
24 / 1 / "A Gallery of Rogues" album (38 items), n.d.
28 / - / Cased photos (6 items), c. 1840 - 1860
24 / 2 / Group shots (108 items), c. 1886 - 1986
24 / 3 / Homesteads and exterior shots (86 items), c. 1890 - 1940
24 / 4 / Individuals (49 items), c. 1867 - 1969
25 / 1 / Individuals (75 items), c. 1867 - 1969
25 / 2 / Mining (30 items), 1914 - 1916
25 / 3 / Yachts and ships (28 items), 1900, 1948, 1958
18 / - / Photograph album #1, "The Grand Tour" (Europe), 1905
18 / - / Photograph album #2, Europe, Bonnie Brook Farm (Stilllwater, NJ), Haiti and Jamaica, 1905 - 1906
19 / - / Photograph album #3, Sea Bright, 1901
20 / 1 / Photograph album #4 and contents, family, 1923, 1926 - 1930, n.d.
20 / 2 / Photograph album #5 and contents, "Crow's Nest" (yacht), 1941
21 / 1 / Photograph album #6 and contents, "Laurens" (yacht), 1929
21 / - / Photograph album #7, travel, n.d.
21 / - / Photograph album #8, "Easterly" (Sea Bright), "Bonnie Brook" Farm (Conn.), c. 1900
21 / 2 / Photograph album #9 and contents, "Easterly" (Sea Bright), c. 1905
22 / - / Photograph album #10, "Briarwood" (Rumson), c. 1906
22 / - / Photograph album #11, portraits, 1862 - 1865
27 / - / Photograph album #12, Sea Bright, 1896 - 1899
OS Loose Folder 3 / Photograph album #13, Helen Halsey 80th birthday, 1979

Simmons Family
25 / 4 / Group shots (21 items), 1911 - 1960
25 / 5 / Individuals (45 items), 1890 - 1924
23 / 1 / Postcard album and contents, 1911
23 / 2 / Photograph album and contents, 1911 - 1913
25 / 4 / Negatives (40 items), 1930 - 1931, n.d.
26 / - / Oversized (35 items), 1895 - 1945
OS Losee Folder 2 / Photo #414, c. 1890
Panoramic Box 1 / Panoramic Prints (4 items), #523 - #526, 1905, 1918

Series IX. Charles Day Halsey Papers (1921 - 1999)
Helen Pendergast Halsey
13 / 4 / Gilman Family history and genealogy, clippings and notes, 1921 - 1938, n.d.
13 / 5 / Gilman Family history and genealogy, Satterthwaite compilation, 1927
13 / 6 / Personal papers, 1996, 1999
OS Loose Folder 4 / Personal papers, mock NYT front page, 1998

13 / 7 / Memorials, 1983 - 1984
13 / 8 / Military papers, 1942, 1944

Personal Papers
13 / 9 / Personal papers, c. 1965 - 1988
27 / - / Certificates, 1952, 1972
OS Loose Folder 4 / Honorary degree, 1952

APPENDIX A
Halsey, Van Rensselaer-Grubb and Eagle-Simmons Families Genealogies
Please see the printed finding aid in the MCHA Library and Archives for this information.

APPENDIX B
Separation Record
Please see the printed finding aid in the MCHA Library and Archives for this information.