University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Earling, Albert J., 1848-1925.

Papers, 1901-1948.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection BP

1.3 cubic ft. (3 archives boxes, and 1 oversize box)


ABSTRACT: Collection includes the papers of Albert Earling, president of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway Company; his daughter, Harriet Earling Dake; and Lawrence Fitch, Mrs. Dake's first husband. The greater part of the collection concerns Mrs. Dake's social and civic interests, including files on the Fatherless Children of France and the Woman's Club of Wisconsin. There are also clippings relating to Mrs. Dake and the Earling and Fitch families, and genealogies of the Earling, Fitch, and Tilton families. There is some biographical information on Albert Earling and a few business letters. Correspondents include William Rockefeller, Theodore Roosevelt, and Herbert Hoover.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The Albert J. Earling Papers include the papers of Mr. Earling, his daughter, Mrs. Dake, and Lawrence Fitch. There is one folder of biographical material relating to Mr. Earling and there are a few business letters filed with the general correspondence. Two letters from William Rockefeller, January 16 and 17, 1906, refer to the finances of the Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul Railroad Company. Lawrence Fitch is represented in the collection by one folder of miscellaneous business papers, 1912-1915, and the minutes of the board of directors of the Western Malleables Iron Company, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, 1914-1924.

In addition there are letters in the collection addressed either to Mr. Earling, Mr. Thwaits, or Mrs. Dake. All except the Masters and Aid letters are found with the general correspondence, while the former are with the correspondence relating to the Fatherless Children of France (box 2). The June, 1920, Herbert Hoover correspondence relates to an unsuccessful attempt to nominate Hoover for the Presidency at the Republican national convention of 1920.

Theodore Roosevelt - Nov. 9, 1900
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. - Dec. 6, 1915, Jan. 17, 1916
Herbert Hoover - June 2, 1920, June 23, 1920, Dec. 23, 1920, Feb. 28, 1921, March 9, 1921, March 1, 1929, May 14, 1938
Edgar Lee Masters - June 5, 1917
George Ade - July 17, 1917

The greater part of the collection concerns Mrs. Harriet Earling Dake's social and civic interests. The collection includes correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and subscription lists for the Fatherless Children of France, 1917- 1920, financial records of the Milwaukee Service Club, 1926-1948, and minutes and financial records of the board of directors of the Woman's Club of Wisconsin, 1943-1945. There are also clippings relating to Mrs. Dake and the Earling and Fitch families and genealogies of the Earling, Fitch, and Tilton families.


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Albert J. Earling, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Earling, was born at Richfield, Wisconsin, on January 19, 1848. In 1866, having received a common school education, Mr. Earling began his career with the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company as a telegrapher. He advanced through various positions with this company and became president of the Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul Railroad Company, 1899-1917, and chairman of the board, 1917-1919. He was the moving spirit in the extension of the Milwaukee Road from the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast.

In 1871, Mr. Earling married Margaret Peebles. Their children were Harriet, George P., and Sherburn M. Mr. Earling died on November 10, 1925.

Harriet Earling (1877-1962) was married three times; in 1899 to Milwaukee businessman, Lawrence Fitch (1874-1924), by whom she had two children; in 1927 to Milwaukee attorney, Frederick G. Thwaits (1871-1944); and in 1947 to Milwaukee real estate broker and art collector, Walter Dake, who died in 1958.

Mrs. Dake attended the Ogontz School, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, before her marriage to Lawrence Fitch in 1899. Upon his heath in 1924, she became president of the Western Malleables Iron Company, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. She was very active in Milwaukee's social and civic affairs. She founded the Milwaukee Service Club in 1912 and was president of the Woman's Club of Wisconsin from 1943 to 1945. During World War I, Mrs. Dake, then Mrs. Fitch, organized and directed the Fatherless Children of France project in the Milwaukee area. She was also instrumental in forming Foster Mothers of America, an organization designed to care for war orphans. For these activities, the French government awarded her the Legion of Honor medal.

Mrs. Dake died in October 1962, at her summer home at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:
Earling, Albert J., 1848-1925. Papers, 1901-1948. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection BP. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Woman's Club of Wisconsin.  (UWM Manuscript Collection 221)

ACQUISITION: Presented by John Earling Fitch of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin in June 1966.


MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:
MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION BP BOXFOLDER
Beaver Dam Malleables Iron Company, Business Papers, 1912-1914 16
Belgium Diary, Unidentified Author, 1916-1917 [volume 3] 3
Correspondence, 1903-1944 14
Earling, Albert J., Biographical Material, 1925-1938 13
Earling and Fitch Families, News Clippings, 1920-1928 [volume 1] 2
Fatherless Children of France, Correspondence, News Clippings, and Ephemera, 1917-192024
Fatherless Children of France, News Clippings, 1918-1919 [volume 6] 3
Fatherless Children of France, News Clippings, 1920 [volume 7] 4
Fatherless Children of France, Wisconsin Subscription Lists, 1918 23
Fitch, Lawrence, Business Papers, 1912-1915 15
Fitch, Mrs. Lawrence, News Clippings, 1921 12
Genealogies, Earling, Fitch, and Tilton Families, 1911-1937, undated 11
Italy Diary, Unidentified Author, 1918 [volume 4] 2
Milwaukee Service Club, Financial Papers, 1926-194821
Statistics from All Railroad Annual Reports, 1901 [volume 2] 2
Western Malleables Iron Company, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Board of Directors, Minutes, 1914-1924 [volume 5] 3
Woman's Club of Wisconsin, Board of Directors, Minutes and Financial Papers, 1943-194522

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Last edited on Wednesday, December 28, 2005.
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