The collection consists mainly of family memorabilia and ephemera spanning the 1910s through the 2000s, including photos, cards, letters and miscellaneous family papers. These items give a glimpse into the daily activities of a middle class family in rural northern New York. Many business records from Mayhew Wholesale Candy and Tobacco Company are also part of the collection.
Portrait of the Mayhew family.
Collection Overview
Karl M. Mayhew Jr. was proprietor of Mayhew Wholesale Candy and Tobacco Company in Canton for many years. He was born in Ridgetown, Ontario, moved to Canton as a young boy, graduated from Canton High School in 1934 and St. Lawrence University in 1938. During World War II Mayhew served with the 95th Division, serving in France, Germany and England. Following the war, Mr. Mayhew joined his father’s candy and tobacco business. He married Bette Limpert Mayhew in 1946. He died in 1994. While in business, Mr. Mayhew was active in the Stillwater Hunting Club, the Masons, Eagle Scouting and was a director of Canton Savings and Loan. Bette Mayhew was born in Illion, NY and attended Illion High School and Cornell University. She was a Home Economics teacher at Madrid-Waddington Central School, was Canton town historian and was involved with the Canton Figure Skating Club, Canton Garden Club, and Grace Episcopal Church. The Mayhews had four children, Stella and Grayce, Jim and Karl III.
Items in the collection were donated in 1998 by Bette C. Limpert Mayhew.