Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
Henry Colvin Brewster papers
Brewster, Henry Colvin, 1845-1928
A.B84
/repositories/2/resources/575
1 box(es)
1884-1927
English
.
Biographical/Historical note
Henry C. Brewster (1845-1928), banker, politician, civic leader, was born in Rochester, New York, the son of Simon L. and Edith Colvin Brewster. He entered the Traders National Bank in 1863, and followed his father as president in 1899. He organized the Genesee Valley Trust Co. and in 1893 became the founder of the Alliance Bank of Rochester. He was a member of several historical societies, including the Society of Mayflower Descendants, the Society of Colonial Wars, and the Sons of the American Revolution. In 1894 he was elected to represent the 31st District of New York and served in the 54th and 55th Congresses. He represented New York in the Republican National Convention of 1900.
Brewster was married in 1876 to Alice Chapin, a daughter of Louis and Rachel Lawrence (Shepard) Chapin of Rochester. They had two daughters, Rachel A. and Edith C. For many years they lived at 353 East Avenue. (This address became 901 East Avenue after the street renumbering of 1911.)
Access
The Henry Colvin Brewster Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Edith Colvin (Brewster) Russell (Mrs. Alexander Russell), March 26, 1957.
Use
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Henry Colvin Brewster Papers, A.B84, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Scope and Contents
The Henry Colvin Brewster papers consist of six folders of papers related mostly to Brewster's family, including genealogies, correspondence with family members, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia of their lives. Notable among the items is a diary of Mrs. Rachel L. (Shepard) Chapin.
Politicians
Bankers
Correspondence
Diaries
Brewster, Henry Colvin, 1845-1928
Chapin, Rachel Shepard
Chapin family genealogy/repositories/2/archival_objects/127736111. Booklet - "Appreciation of Calvin Chapin, D.D.," [1763-1851] of Rocky Hill, CT, by Rev. Edwin P. Parker./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277432. Booklet - "The Chapin Gathering," an account of a Chapin family reunion held in Springfield, MA, Sept. 17, 1862. All appear to be descendants of Samuel and Cicely Chapin, who had 7 children, one of whom was Japhet. "Louis Chapin, a descendant of Japhet, is an elder in the Second Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY." "Rev. Calvin Chapin, a descendant of Japhet, was president of Union College, and died at Rocky Hill, CT, 1851." The register of those attending lists Louis Chapin, Louis S. Chapin, and 8 other Chapins from Rochester./repositories/2/archival_objects/127744Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/127737121. Invitation to Miss Brewster, 45 So. Clinton St., "compliments of the gentleman of the Sans Souci;" Friday, Jan. 15-?/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277452. Invitation to HCB, as a delegate to the annual convention of ABA, Chicago; Sept. 67, 1893./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277463. Letter to Mrs. HCB from Florence C. Newell, 28 Portsmouth Terrace, appointing her as delegate to the National Congress of the DAR; Feb. 20, 1897./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277474. Letter to HCB, 353 East Ave., from editor of yearbook of the Sons of the American Revolution; May 27, 1898./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277485. Invitation to HCB, to a banquet for Ferdinand W. Peck, Commissioner General of USA to the Paris Universal Exposition of 1900, by the American Chamber of Commerce of Paris; Oct. 5, 1898./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277496. Postcard to HCB, an invitation to hear the City Manager Plan, by H.M. Waite of Dayton, OH; Feb. 15, 1915./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277507. Letter to HCB from New York State Bankers Association, congratulating him on 53 years of service to the Traders National Bank; Sept. 19, 1921./repositories/2/archival_objects/127751Diary of Mrs. Rachel L. (Shepard) Chapin (Mrs. Louis)/repositories/2/archival_objects/12773813Scope and ContentsThis is a small leather notebook, "compliments of the James Cunningham Co." Mrs. Chapin records the election of her husband as president of Monroe County Savings Bank, Jan. 8, 1884; her husband's death, Aug. 1, 1894; her brother George's death, Aug. 8, 1894.
Newspaper clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/127739141. "69 Years of Banking Completed by Traders National"/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277532. "'Dean' of City Bankers Quits after 60 Years"/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277543. "Dinner to Rochester Bankers" (HCB and Charles F. Pond)/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277554. "For a Smallpox Hospital - George Eastman Offers Rochester a Site in Fashionable Quarter" (HCB's home on East Ave. directly opposite)/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277565. Newspaper photo of the "Old Brown House" of Abel Chapin - "Famous Tavern on Old Chicopee St."/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277576. "When Stagecoach Ran on East Avenue"/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277587. Clipping re: nomination of HCB to House of Representatives/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277598. "Alexander Russell and Miss Editha Colvin Brewster United in Marriage"/repositories/2/archival_objects/127760Pictures/repositories/2/archival_objects/127740151. "Rochester in 1826 - showing the first Court House"/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277612. Photo of about 30 men - souvenir of the visit of President Harrison… to Kodak Park, Memorial Day, 1892" (includes Frederick Douglass)/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277623. Photo of 7 young men, with notation "I think these are the young men of Traders Bank" (3 identified, including HCB)./repositories/2/archival_objects/127763Memorabilia/repositories/2/archival_objects/127741161. Rochester Chamber of Commerce Identification Card, issued to HCB./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277642. Card issued by Traders National Bank [1892] signed by HCB, Cashier./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277653. Article by HCB on the Federal Reserve Act./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277664. Copy of article in Rochester Daily Herald, Apr. 10, 1905 - "Charter [of Traders National Bank] Re-extended"/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277675. The Society of the Genesee: Roster. Mrs. HCB listed as a non-resident member./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277686. Invitation from the Rochester Bar Association and the Rochester Historical Society to a memorial service for John Mastick, "the pioneer lawyer of Rochester," Sept. 16, 1922./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277697. Article - "Free Coinage in a Nutshell" - remarks of HCB in House of Representatives, Feb. 6, 1896./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277708. Program of Forefathers' Day, South Congregational Church, Dec. 17, 1922./repositories/2/archival_objects/1277719. Program of Forefathers' Day, Dec. 18, 1927./repositories/2/archival_objects/12777210. "Advance proofs of two rare broadsides presented to Mrs. Alice S. Brewster by the George Washington Foundation."/repositories/2/archival_objects/127773a. "The Effect of Principle - Behold the Man"/repositories/2/archival_objects/127776b. "The Love of Truth - Mark the Boy"/repositories/2/archival_objects/127777Stickpins and ribbons/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277421Stickpins/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277741. NSA 1905/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277782. Delegate - ABA Chicago 1909/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277793. Guest ABA, Chicago, 1909./repositories/2/archival_objects/127780Ribbons/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277751. W.C.A. Cincinnati, Oct. 1885/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277812. Delegate Continental Congress, DAR, 1900/repositories/2/archival_objects/1277823. Presentation Committee, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Reception for Prince Henry of Prussia, Mar. 5, 1902./repositories/2/archival_objects/127783