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U.S. Presidential Inauguration Memorabilia

The collection consists of materials from the U.S. Presidential Inaugurations of 1933 to 1985 (excluded are the inaugurations of 1945, 1953, 1965, and 1977). Among the items are: inaugural programs, some of which are signed, numbered and bound; invitations to inaugural events; badges of committee members; license plates, tickets to events, programs of events, inauguration guide books and assorted other items. The Presidents represented in the collection are: George W. Bush, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Franklin D.

Town of Colton Collection

On April 12, 1843 Colton became the 27th town of St. Lawrence County. In 1842 Colton village was called Matildaville when Abel Brown and his son James moved from Parishville to the west side of the Racquette River. Colton is named for Jesse Colton Higley, a pioneer who settled on the east side of the Racquette River and was instrumental in the formation of the township, serving in every public office available. Colton was the site of many sawmills, a potato starch factory, and one of the largest tanneries in the state. 

Thousand Islands Collection

The Thousand Islands are located on the St. Lawrence River between the United States and Canada, just east of Lake Ontario. The actual number of islands is actually closer to two thousand, with the official count standing at 1,793. The larger islands are inhabited throughout the year but a few are too small to be inhabited, most of the islands feature summer homes ranging from rustic cottages to mansions, and a couple of castles (Boldt and Jorstadt). This region has the longest undefended international boundary on earth.

Thomas Purves Collection

Thomas Purves was born on September 28, 1785 in Whitebank, Scotland. He brought his family to the United States in 1819 hoping to work for the Parish family at the iron works in Rossie, NY. He received a cold reception from Parish's agent and instead went to work for Governor Ogden in Waddington, NY as a gardener. He died January 12, 1853 in Waddington.

Thomas John Carlisle Papers

Thomas John Carlisle was born October 11, 1913 in Plattsburgh, N.Y. and died August 17, 1992. He was educated at Williams College, Union Theological Seminary, and was ordained as a United Presbyterian minister in 1937. He was the author of a number of books of religious poetry, as well as a tutor and teacher various colleges. He wrote the lyrics to "Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One" and "Two Famous Men", and contributed more than 1500 articles and poems to newspapers, religious and literary publications and magazines.

Sunderland Family Correspondence

Darwin W. and John R. Sunderland, brothers from Rensselaer Falls, NY, were the sons of Albert and Prudence Sunderland. Both served in the Union Army during the Civil War. 

Darwin, who was born in Addison, Vermont, was a private in Company C of the 106th infantry regiment of the New York State Volunteers. He served in the Union army from August 6, 1862 until he died in combat on May 12, 1864 near Brandy (Spottsylvania), Virginia at the age of 23. 

Sudds Family Photographs

William F. Sudds (1843-1920) was born in England but grew up in Gouverneur, N.Y. In his youth, Sudds taught himself to play several instruments, as his family was not able to afford lessons for him. He attended Boston Conservatory and composed musical scores and piano instruction pieces published by Oliver Ditson & Co. and other publishers. Sudds also ran a successful music shop in Gouverneur. The family had a summer home in Chippewa Bay, N.Y.

The albums in this collection were transferred from the Brush Art Gallery to the University Archives in 1998.

Stillwater Club Records

The Stillwater Club was founded by a group of men from Canton, New York on May 13, 1893, as a hunting and canoeing club; from its first days, the club showed an interest in conservation as a way to preserve its deer herds for future hunters and its trout for future fishermen.

The notebooks contain such items as membership lists, payments for lodging at the club, lists of deer taken, club by-laws, and financial reports. The photographs are of members with the deer they shot, wildlife, guides, caretakers and cooks. Also included is a map of club lands.