Special Collections Finding Aids

Abstract Correspondence; excerpts from diary (1892-1909) of George L. Dunning, laborer and farm superintendent of Amenia and Sharon farm; genealogical material; term papers; biography of Eben Whitney Chaffee by W.C. Hunter; two interviews with H.L. Chaffee; and brochures relating to Oriente, a community planned for Nicaragua, of which E.W. Chaffee was president.

Abstract Typed summary of interview (4 leaves) with Leonard Sackett which concerns the Chaffee family, and F.H. and George N. Smith, brothers who homesteaded north of Amenia, N.D. Includes mention of work at Amenia and Sharon Land Co., rules for hired men including church attendance, the Smith brothers' farm partnership, their terms in the N.D. and S.D. legislatures (F.H. elected to S.D. legislature, George N. to N.D. House, F. Paul to N.D. House), losing the S.D. farmland in the 1920s, business...

Abstract Typed summary of interview with Hiram Drache concerning the Chaffee family and life in Amenia, N.D. Includes mention of Herbert F., Carrie T., and Eben Chaffee, other Chaffee family members, the death of H.F. Chaffee, the hotel managed by his parents, the Chaffee's disapproval of dancing and card games, the burning of the grain elevators at Amenia, N.D.

Overview This collection contains information about the photograph, the photographer, Nybakken, and several news clippings about the photograph.

Scope and Contents Typed summary of interview with Hiram Drache concerning the Chaffee family and the Amenia and Sharon Land Company.

Abstract Typed summary combining two interviews with Leonard Sackett concerning his years while working for Robert Reed of the Amenia and Sharon Land Company. Describes his duties, the Amenia Hotel and its boarders, buildings on Amenia and Sharon Land Co. properties, bathing and laundry facilities, wages, Amenia and Sharon grain elevators, with mention of Edmund Gowland, his son Russell, and Carrie (Mrs. H.F.) Chaffee.

Abstract Typed copies of two poems, "A Yankee farmer in the new west" and "A legend of Hitchcock's corner," from his Three score and ten and extracts from his diary covering March 1885 to August 9, 1925 concerning activities in his life and various Chaffee family members.

Overview This collection contains the records pertaining to the 1924 crops that have records for variety of crops including wheat, barley, flax, oats, corn, and clover. The collection is arranged by section number. The records include receipts, and notes on how much of each crop was purchased.

Abstract Typed summary of first interview (12 leaves) with Leonard Sackett includes mention of the Chaffee family, Helendale Farm, description of a round grain elevator at Amenia, handling grain, his uncle, Cornelius Reed, who worked at the Amenia grain elevator, plows and grain binders used at Amenia and Sharon, Amenia store, description of various sections of Amenia and Sharon land, Robert and John Reed buying cattle and sheep, raising sheep at the Amenia and Sharon, the Reed-Sargent farm partnership...

Overview This collection contains a small autobiography of William Guy, Sr., some correspondence, and a biography of his wife.