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Albert Elswick Collection
Collection, Ms B75
1639 – 1966
Rev. Albert Elswick, a genealogical researcher and historian by avocation, lived in Bridgeport in the 1950s and 1960s when he compiled and collected the materials in this collection. The cemetery records were copied by Elswick in situ and compared with earlier transcripts, if available. The card file listing deaths in the Parish of Stratfield/City and Town of Bridgeport up to 1860 was compiled from tombstone inscriptions, church records and newspapers. He purchased the manuscript and printed materials at country auctions, tag sales, rummage sales and used book shops. Elswick took many of the photographs himself to document the effects of urban renewal and the construction of Interstate 95. For more information about Elswick's collecting, see his letter in the collection file.
The collection consists of manuscript and printed material on a variety of subjects, transcriptions of records used in genealogical research, and newspaper clippings about topics related to Bridgeport History. The file headings used by the donor were retained. Newspaper clippings were copied and disposed. The Elswick manuscript and genealogical materials were organized into Series A, while the historical material, which is primarily newspaper clippings and photographs, were organized in Series B.
Manuscript materials include the shipping and personal papers, 1845-1863, of John Gould (1801-1871) of Fairfield. The bulk consists of bills of lading for a variety of vessels, including the Schooner Lynchburg, and a receipt for a burial plot. Folder 2 contains the railroad investment records of H. Nichols, 1847-1851. Included in this volume is an inventory of the estate of Charlotte Staples, 1872. Jonathan Smith was a carpenter. His account book, 1794-1804, is in folder 3. The Schooner Hero of Bridgeport carried a cargo of corn, oats, and rye to Boston, New York, Fall River, and Providence. The account of these voyages in 1834 are recorded in the day-book in folder 4.
Incomplete records of several Bridgeport organizations are arranged alphabetically. The Bridgeport Historical Society is represented by newsletters and clippings, 1958-1959. Correspondence and membership records, 1891-1899, illustrate the activities of the Bridgeport Scientific Society. The records of the Fairfield County Historical Society, 1881, 1893, consist of articles of association, a fundraising letter, and a handwritten genealogy of the Wheeler family.
A volume of transcriptions of the records of the Stratfield Congregational Church, 1695-1838, are followed by transcriptions of headstones in the Stratfield Cemetery. A third volume is entitled "Families residing within the present limits of the city of Bridgeport, 1639-1860." An over-sized volume contains copies of the registers of the Episcopal churches in Tashua, 1753-1894, Stratford, 1706-184, and Fairfield, 1785-1825.
Two Edwards family photograph albums and two Bible records are stored in box 2. Boxes 3 and 4 contain file cards arranged alphabetically by name of deceased and contain a copy of birth and death records for people buried in one of four cemeteries in Bridgeport. Birth, death and marriage dates are also recorded in a volume of transcribed vital records in box 5.
Historical information gathered by Rev. Elswick consists of newspaper clippings dating from 1945-1965, unless otherwise noted. Articles about various associations and clubs are supplemented by published booklets concerning the Franco-American Social Club, the Auxiliary Foreign Mission Society (1826) and the Bridgeport Fresh Air Association (1903). These are followed by articles about eh Barnum Museum and Phineas T. Barnum, obituaries and other articles of a biographical nature, information about Bridgeport businesses and industries, churches (including some brochures), ethnic groups, the fire department, and four folders of generic "history." The history folders include photographs, postcards, Elswick maps, and lists of train bands. Two folders of "landmarks" that probably fell to urban renewal include photographs taken by Rev. Elswick. Additional folders contain information on libraries, the Museum of Art, Science and Industry, the police department, the railroad, schools (including a few photographs), and theaters. A map of Bridgeport, a city manual and directory are also filed with the articles. Two folders on the Wheeler Mansion include swatches of fabric and wallpaper salvaged from the building when it was razed.
Manuscript materials include the shipping and personal papers, 1845-1863, of John Gould (1801-1871) of Fairfield. The bulk consists of bills of lading for a variety of vessels, including the Schooner Lynchburg, and a receipt for a burial plot. Folder 2 contains the railroad investment records of H. Nichols, 1847-1851. Included in this volume is an inventory of the estate of Charlotte Staples, 1872. Jonathan Smith was a carpenter. His account book, 1794-1804, is in folder 3. The Schooner Hero of Bridgeport carried a cargo of corn, oats, and rye to Boston, New York, Fall River, and Providence. The account of these voyages in 1834 are recorded in the day-book in folder 4.
Incomplete records of several Bridgeport organizations are arranged alphabetically. The Bridgeport Historical Society is represented by newsletters and clippings, 1958-1959. Correspondence and membership records, 1891-1899, illustrate the activities of the Bridgeport Scientific Society. The records of the Fairfield County Historical Society, 1881, 1893, consist of articles of association, a fundraising letter, and a handwritten genealogy of the Wheeler family.
A volume of transcriptions of the records of the Stratfield Congregational Church, 1695-1838, are followed by transcriptions of headstones in the Stratfield Cemetery. A third volume is entitled "Families residing within the present limits of the city of Bridgeport, 1639-1860." An over-sized volume contains copies of the registers of the Episcopal churches in Tashua, 1753-1894, Stratford, 1706-184, and Fairfield, 1785-1825.
Two Edwards family photograph albums and two Bible records are stored in box 2. Boxes 3 and 4 contain file cards arranged alphabetically by name of deceased and contain a copy of birth and death records for people buried in one of four cemeteries in Bridgeport. Birth, death and marriage dates are also recorded in a volume of transcribed vital records in box 5.
Historical information gathered by Rev. Elswick consists of newspaper clippings dating from 1945-1965, unless otherwise noted. Articles about various associations and clubs are supplemented by published booklets concerning the Franco-American Social Club, the Auxiliary Foreign Mission Society (1826) and the Bridgeport Fresh Air Association (1903). These are followed by articles about eh Barnum Museum and Phineas T. Barnum, obituaries and other articles of a biographical nature, information about Bridgeport businesses and industries, churches (including some brochures), ethnic groups, the fire department, and four folders of generic "history." The history folders include photographs, postcards, Elswick maps, and lists of train bands. Two folders of "landmarks" that probably fell to urban renewal include photographs taken by Rev. Elswick. Additional folders contain information on libraries, the Museum of Art, Science and Industry, the police department, the railroad, schools (including a few photographs), and theaters. A map of Bridgeport, a city manual and directory are also filed with the articles. Two folders on the Wheeler Mansion include swatches of fabric and wallpaper salvaged from the building when it was razed.
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