Special Collections Research Center
Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor family papers
MS 00338
/repositories/2/resources/9693
3.75 Linear Feet
9 Hollinger boxes
Circa 1899-1977
English
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor family papers were donated by the grandchildren of Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor.
Arrangement
The Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor Family Papers collection is arranged in two series; Series I. Correspondence, and Series II. Personal Papers. Series I. contains three sub-series: Correspondence to and from Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor, Wayne Chatfield-Taylor Correspondence, and Family Correspondence.
Biographical / Historical
Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor was born May 17, 1895, to George Preston Blow and Adele Matthiessen, in Chicago, Illinois. Blow married Wayne Chatfield-Taylor, a federal serviceman to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1917, and the couple had four children, Hobart, Richard, Rose, and Adelaide. Ms. Chatfield-Taylor was an architect enthusiast, helping to restore up to 30 historic buldings in her lifetime. In addition to her interest in preservation, Ms. Chatfield-Taylor was a member of the Colonial Dames of America, the United Nations War Reflief, the Home for Incurables, and co-founded the National Women's Democratic Club in the 1930s. Leaving behind 16 gradnchildren and 5 great grandchildren, Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor passed away on August 31, 1977 at the age of 82 in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Preferred Citation
Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor family papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
Content Description
Correspondence belonging to Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor and Wayne Chatfield Taylor; discusses Wayne's role with the American Red Cross in Europe; the couple's courtship, engagement, and marriage; business papers relating to Chicago Investors' Corp stock purchase; and family correspondence throughout most of the twentieth century.
Conditions Governing Use
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
American Red Cross--History--World War II period
Courtship--1910-1920
Letters (correspondence)
Series I. Correspondence /repositories/2/archival_objects/594247November 19, 1899- December 5,1977EnglishScope and ContentsThe correspondence series contains letters between Adele Blow Chatfeild-Taylor, Wayne Chatfield-Taylor, family members, and various associates. The contents of the correspondence refer to Adele's childhood, such as drawings and holiday greetings, social event invitations, romantic correspondence between her and Wayne Chatfield-Taylor, and messages to and from her children and extended family.
Correspondence to and from Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594248circa November 19, 1899- December 5, 1977Scope and ContentsCorrespondence to and from Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor discussing various topics including her engagement to Wayne Chatfield-Taylor, invitations to ceremonies and events, general greetings, travel plans, and messages to her mother during her childhood about her daily life. A significant amount of the letters are between Adele and her husbnad Wayne Chatfield-Taylor, and they detail their friendship, courtship, and romantic sentiments.
General correspondence is arranged alphabetically by last name.
"A" General /repositories/2/archival_objects/594252Undated11"B" General /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942531917-197612Adele Mattiessen Blow /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942541901-191313George Preston Blow /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942551900-191114George W. Blow /repositories/2/archival_objects/594256191115"C" General /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942571917-197616"D" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942581917-197617"E" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942591917-197718"F" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942601917-197619"G" General /repositories/2/archival_objects/594261circa 1917-1976110"H" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942621916-1976111"K" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/594263circa 1917-1976112Helen H. King/repositories/2/archival_objects/594264Undated113"L" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/594265circa 1917-1976114Dorothy Lee/repositories/2/archival_objects/594266circa 1976-1977115"M" General /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942671911-1976116Fannie Mae Mattiessen/repositories/2/archival_objects/594268Undated 117Frederick Mattiessen/repositories/2/archival_objects/594269UndatedFolder contains one black and white photograph of an adult woman with a child, and two dogs.118"O" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942701977119"P" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942711917120"R" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/594272circa 1917121"S" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942731920-1976122"T" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942741917-1977123Hobart C. Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942751916-1917124Richard Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942761933-1961125Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5942771916126Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594278circa 1916227Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942791917228Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942801917Folder contains multiple photos. One photo is of a stable, and has been marked with drawings. A second photo is of a Yorktown cottage, with the Yorktown monument in the background. There is a collage of photos depicting an unidentified individual standing with and riding a horse. In the collage there is also a photo of a baby, identified in one photo as Hobie, being fed and held by two different women. The last photo in the collage is of an unidentified woman standinging near a chair.229Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942811917Folder contains a black and white photo of a woman with two dogs. There is another woman in the background, both of whom are unidentified.230Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942821917231Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942831917232Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942841917233Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942851917234Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942861917235Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594287circa 1917236Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5942991917Folder contains a black and white photo of a Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor as a young girl. The date is unknown, but it looks to have been taken during a colder season, with snow in the background and Adele bundled in layers of clothing.337Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943001917Folder contains multiple photos, all of which are black and white. One photos depicts a nature scene, with mountains in the background. A second photo is of an unidentified town near the shore, with multiple buildings, and hills in the background. A third photo shows a body of water with a small village in the background, with an unidentified man in the right corner. This photo was taken in Italy. The fourth photo depicts Saint-Malo, France with its old wall structures.338Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943011918Folder contains multiple black and white photographs presumably of the Chatfield-Taylor family. There is a black and white photo of an unidentified woman and baby sitting on a shaded porch There are multiple photogrpahs of Otis Chatfield-Taylor, an infant identified as AT, as well as an older gentleman and young woman along with young children. The photographs look to have been taken around the yard and on the patio of a large home.339Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943021918Folder contains multiple black and white photographs. The first photogrpah is of a garden with a plant stand in the center. There are then a collection of photographs, one of which depicts a baby identified as Hobie, being held by a nurse. A second photogrpah in the collection shows an unidentified man holding a young girl in a small pond, and the third photograph depicts an unidentified woman, a baby, and a young girl standing in a garden in front of a large house. A final phot depicts the same unidentified man and young girl in the pond, now looking at the camera.340Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943031918Folder contains a photograph of Adele Blow Chatlfield-Taylor and Wayne Chatfield-Taylor's son, Hobart, at twelve weeks old. The photo is adhered to a letter, and is cut in a diamond shape. The folder also contains a small handmade photo album of photos of Hobart Chatfield-Taylor at fifteen weeks.341Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943041918Folder contains multiple photographs of various individuals. A small black and white photo depicts two unidentified women standing close together on what looks to be nature path. The collage of photgrpahs adhered to light blue paper depict Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor both alone and with baby Hobart Chatfield-Taylor, identified as Hobie, and a man identified as Fred wearing a uniform. There is a newspaper collage that contains two black and white photos, and it is unclear whether they are newspaper cutouts or photographs of known associates.342Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943051918343Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943061918344Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943071918345Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943081918-1919Folder contains photographs adhered to paper along with newspaper clippings. Multiple images look to be newspaper clippings, rather than photographs. One is of a laughing infant laying on a pillow, while a woman watches over the child, and the other is a candid photo of what looks to be a young woman in a chair, both of which are faded. A third photo depicts two smiling young women sitting on a bench sharing a newspaper.346Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943091919347Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943101919448Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594311circa 1920-1929449Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594312circa 1920-1929450Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594313circa 1920-1929451Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594314circa 1920-1934452Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943151921-1922453Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943161923454Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943171925455Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943181926456Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943191927457Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943201927458Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943211927459Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594322circa 1927460Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/594323circa 1927-1937561Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/594324circa 1927-1937562Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943251928563Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943261929564Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943271929565Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594328circa 1929566Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594329circa 1930-1934567Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943301930568Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943311931569Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594332circa 1931-1932570Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943331932571Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943341932572Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943351932673Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943361933674Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594337circa 1935-1945675Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594338circa 1935-1945676Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594339circa 1935-1945677Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594340circa 1935-1945678Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594341circa 1935-1945679Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594342circa 1935-1945680Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594343circa 1937-1938681Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943441937682Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943451939783Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943461940784Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943471940785Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943481940786Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943491947787Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943501962788Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/594351Undated789"W" General/repositories/2/archival_objects/594352circa 1917-1976790"Y" General /repositories/2/archival_objects/5943531909791Unidentified Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943541899-1917792Unidentified Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/594355circa 1941-1977793Unidentified Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/594356Undated794Correspondence to and from Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/594357March 2, 1902-May 27,1944Scope and ContentsCorrespondence to and from Wayne Chatfield-Taylor includes congratulations to Mr. Chatfield-Taylor on his engagement to Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor, as well as business correspondence surrounding the investment banking firm of Field, Glore & Company Inc. Childhood letters to Wayne Chatfield-Taylor's grandparents detail his daily life as a student, as well as political correspondence between Wayne and his father, Hobart Chatfield-Taylor.
Correspondence to Wayne Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943641915-1932895Correspondence to Wayne Chatfield-Taylor from Grandparents/repositories/2/archival_objects/594366circa 1902-1903896Correspondence between Wayne Chatfield-Taylor and Hobart Chatfield-Taylor/repositories/2/archival_objects/5943671912-1944Folder contains a newspaper clipping.897Correspondence between Wayne Chatfield-Taylor and Rose Farwell/repositories/2/archival_objects/594368circa 1915-1920898Correspondence between Wayne Chatfield-Taylor and Marshall Field /repositories/2/archival_objects/594868circa 1932899Unidentified correspondence to and from Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/594369circa 1915-19198100Unidentified correspondence to and from Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/59437019178101Unidentified correspondence to and from Wayne Chatfield-Taylor /repositories/2/archival_objects/59437119178102Family Correspondence /repositories/2/archival_objects/594372circa March 10, 1917- August 16, 1977Scope and ContentsThe family correspondence contains writings between the members of the Blow and Chatfield-Taylor family. Correspondence congratulates Adele and Wayne on their engagement, discusses the runaway marriage of Robert Chatfield-Taylor, and other general family affairs.
Family Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/594373circa 1917-19778103Family Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/594374circa 1932-1977Folder contains multiple colored photos of various people. The photos were taken outdoors on what looks to be a patio.8104Unidentified Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/59437519768105Series II. Personal Papers /repositories/2/archival_objects/594376circa 1901- August 3, 1977Scope and ContentsThis series consists of business papers, photogrpahs, newspaper clippings, and various other materials that detail Adele Blow Chatfield-Taylor's life. The newspaper clippings commemorate her grandfather, Frederick Matthiessen, as a key builder of La Salle-Peru Township school. Personal notes includes a list of kin, hand-drawn maps, and sheets of stationary. Colored photographs depict unidentified children, an older couple and young children, and a bride. The series contains both Wayne Chatfield-Taylor's personal writings and unidentified wrtitings, along with Yale records.
Adele Blow Writings/repositories/2/archival_objects/594377Undated 9106Blank Cards and Envelopes/repositories/2/archival_objects/594378circa 1903-1976Folder contains an envelope with a hair net inside.9107Business Papers /repositories/2/archival_objects/594379circa 19329108Drawings /repositories/2/archival_objects/594380circa 19019109Newspaper Clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/594381circa 1974-19779110Notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/594382Undated9111Photographs/repositories/2/archival_objects/594383circa 19769112Unidentified Writings/repositories/2/archival_objects/594384Undated9113Wayne Chatfield-Taylor Writings/repositories/2/archival_objects/594385circa 19159114Yale Records /repositories/2/archival_objects/594386circa 1915-1916Folder contains a dark, black and white photograph of five men posed to look at the camera9115