Descriptive Summary
Alfred Geddes Papers1913-1921
, (Bulk 1940-1950)
MS 008
The language of the materials is English
2 linear feet (3 boxes)
Western Connecticut State University
Geddes, Afred T.
Ruth A. Haas Library
Geddes was appointed Dean of Men at Danbury State Teacher’s College in 1947 and served in that role until he retired in 1974. In 1939, he earned a Masters in education from Yale, and in 1955 received his Doctorate in Student Personnel from New York University. He joined the Army in the 1930s and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Geddes was a military history enthusiast and amassed a number of books on the subject. His papers contain personal materials from his career as an educator, soldier and military history collector.
Provenance
Donated to the Archives in 2002.
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
Ruth A. Haas Library
Special Collections and Archives
181 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810
Phone: 203-837-8992
Fax: 203-837-9108
E-mail: stevensb@wcsu.edu
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); The Alfred Geddes Papers; MS 008; box number; folder number;
Western Connecticut State University Archives
Historical/Biographical Note
Alfred Geddes dedicated his life to education. He spent most of his life in Connecticut and became a fixture in the city of Danbury.
Alfred Thomas Geddes was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on March 14, 1909, to William Geddes and Maryann Ryan Geddes. He was raised in New Haven, Connecticut, and lived there until he left to pursue his education. For most of his adult life, he lived in Brookfield, Connecticut.
In 1929, Geddes received his first college degree from Arnold College (in New Haven) where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in education from Boston University in 1932. In 1939, he earned his Masters in education from Yale, and in 1955 he received his Doctorate in Student Personnel from New York University.
His teaching career began shortly after he was finished at Boston University. His first teaching job was at Oliver Perry High School in Providence, Rhode Island. He moved on to the Hamden School system in Hamden, Connecticut. He served as a teacher in physical education at both schools. Geddes also worked as an administrator at the Southbury Training School in Southbury, Connecticut. In 1937, Geddes began his tenure at Danbury State Teacher's College, now known as Western Connecticut State University. He served as the Dean of Men from 1947 until he retired in 1974.
During his tenure as Dean of Men, Geddes met his wife, Claire Trisch. She served as the Dean of Women from 1946 until she retired in 1975. They worked side by side as Deans for several years before they got married in 1958. The Geddes worked as deans of the college while Ruth A. Haas was the president. In fact, they were two of the original administrators hired by Haas. When all three retired (Alfred in 1974 and Claire and Ruth Haas in 1975), it marked the end of an era in the history of the university.
Geddes joined the Army Air Corps in the 1930s and served in World War II. He left the military with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Besides serving in the war, Geddes was fascinated with military history, and collected books about military history. Geddes was also a member of several clubs including the Rotary Club of Danbury and the Yale Club of New York City.
Alfred Geddes died in Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut, on April 15, 2001, at the age of 92.
Scope and Content Note
The collection documents his interest in education from his time as a student in the late 1920s up to his retirement from WCSU in 1974. The military materials contain materials from his days serving in the army in the 1930s and 1940s and books on military history that he collected.
In this collection are letters, photographs (one of which is framed) and a photo album, clippings, college papers a theses, maps, books, manuals, magazines, pamphlets, a phonograph record, newspapers, and a WWII era service man's hat.
There are several photographs of Geddes in uniform, including the framed photograph. Several old photographs of his family are found in the photo album. Most of the publications in this collection are army-training manuals, although there are some that are non-military related. The newspapers in this collection are issues Geddes kept from his time in the Pacific in World War II. They primarily came from the Philippines. Primarily Geddes' college papers and thesis date to his time at both Yale and NYU, although some appear to be done for him by students or done as part of a group effort. There are some yearbooks in this collection as well. Two yearbooks are from Arnold College (including his graduating year, 1929). There is also a 1975 Western Connecticut State College yearbook signed by Jim Dyer for Claire. There is also a copy of the book
Henry Bernard: An Introduction, which was co-authored by Dr. Ralph Jenkins, the third president of this university.
The collection contains many newspaper and magazine articles that appear to have come from the
Danbury News-Times, the New York Times, and the Boston Herald and magazines like Life. However, it is not known from which paper or magazine all the clippings originated as many articles were clipped without identifying information such as title or date. The researcher is advised to double-check his or her research on these dates.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged topically.
The files are grouped into 2 series:
- Papers
- Books and Newspapers
Access Points
Subject Names:
Tisch, Claire.
Haas, Ruth A.
Geddes Family.
Subject Organizations:
Danbury State Teachers College.
Western Connecticut State University.
United States. Army. Air Corps.
Subject Topics:
Universities and colleges -- Administration.
United States -- History -- World War, 1939-1945.
Subject Places:
Danbury (Conn.)
Document Types:
Correspondence.
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.
Publications.
Clippings.
Books.
Related Material
Truman Warner Papers.
Separated Material
The collection included a issues of newspapers and magazines; however, these items were removed from the collection due to their poor condition. These items include: The
New York Times July 21, 1969, edition, the Boston Globe, News-Times, and Hartford Courant August 9, 1974, editions, and Life magazine November 23, 1936, November 18, 1946, and December 29, 1972 editions have been removed from this collection, but copies are available in the Haas Library.
Click here to view a list of books that were accessioned with this collecion. Books are now part of the Haas circulating collection.
Container List
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
Papers
1
1
Clippings (military)- various clippings dealing primarily w/World War II, obituaries, and magazine articles
undated
1
2
Clippings (education)- included in these are clippings aboutcollegiate sports, 1932 Boston University Commencement, and Dr. Robert M. Hutchins
1932-1973
1
3
Clippings (personal)- local people and book reviews
1945-1992
1
4
Letters and notes Geddes wrote while in the military
1938-1941
1
5
Army Extension Course certificates and tests by Geddes
1937-1941
1
6
Official letters Geddes received from the Army and War Department
1932-1942
1
7
Special Orders from the Army
1934-1942
1
8
Miscellaneous letters and manuals
undated
1
9
Various forms from the War Department
undated
1
10
Receipts of inventory purchases Geddes made
1941-1942
1
11
Maps of the war
undated
1
12
The Fighting Years book
1944
1
13
Manual, "Nuclear Weapons Employment," June 1959
1959
1
14
Manuals #1-
1943-1967
- "Connecticut Men of the United States Army," Nov 1-3 & Nov 3-5, 1945, "Fallout Protection for Homes with Basements," May 1967, "Bulletin of the U.S. Army Medical Department," 1943
1
15
Manuals #2-
1929-1931
- "Employment of the Cavalry," 1929, "Basic Field Manual Volume III: Basic Weapons," 1932, "Training Regulations: The Cavalry Rifle Squad," 1931, "Training Regulations: The Cavalry Rifle Platoon," 1931
1
16
Book- 6th Armored Division
1953
1
17
Bureau of Engineering and Construction manual
1945
1
18
Cavalry Operations manuals (1-30)
ca.1929
1
19-23
Military Training Regulations manuals
1922-1931
1
24-32
Military Reserve Officer magazine, February-October 1937
1937
1
33
Fragments from France, part 5 by Capt. Bruce Bairnsfather
1918
1
34
Fragments from France, part 6 by Capt. Bruce Bairnsfather
1918
1
35
The Bystander's Fragments away from France, vol. 2, no. 8 by Capt. Bruce Bainsfather
undated
1
36
Miscellaneous
1943-1992
-pamphlet "The World Federation System," sticker, "Still Serving: U.S. Army Retired," General Orders card, pamphlet "National Gettysburg Battlefield Tower," article "The World's Most Skilful Liar," (article about Joseph Goebbels), Fifth Air Force Christmas 1943 announcement, article "Under Fire with the Tenth U.S. Cavalry," article "Prejudice! Roadblock to Progress," article "The Last Horse Soldiers," two envelopes, jacket for the book
Soldier
1
*
-New Haven Grays, 1816-1876, Lucke, Jerome B.
1876
1
*
-The Menace from Moresby: A Pictorial History of the 5th Air Force in World War II, compiled by Sinton, Russell L., n.d. (ca 1946)
undated
2
37
Personal photographs
undated
2
38
Letters and postcards
1938-1988
2
39
Danbury State College "Class of 1960" program and photograph for Claire Geddes
2001
2
40
Illustration- "Danbury State Teacher's College"
1942
2
41-43
Cutter, Richard, "Over and Out; Sam's Story"
1999
2
44
Book of images of Danbury and surrounding towns
undated
2
45
Story of John F. Kennedy book
1964
2
46
Personal miscellaneous #1
undated
-handbook "The Mass on the Day of Marriage,"1955, certificate for Geddes, March 1942, Fiftieth anniversary diploma for James Geddes from the Mercersburg Academy (Mercersburg, Pennsylvania), October 1967, Memorial Service announcement from Yale (James Geddes), June 10, 1973, St. Joseph's Church service announcements (James Geddes), July 27, 1975
2
47
Personal miscellaneous #2
1934-1956
-cash receipt, May 31, 1939, flyer from
The Dehner Company, Inc. w/ order form and price list, August 7, 1936, papers w/ Asian writing, Greenwich Library bookwagon schedule, 1958-1959, report on a young men from the "New Jersey State Home for Boys," 1934-1936, parade orders "Danbury's New Look Celebration," November 15, 1956, article "Writing Man, Fighting Man," business cards, "Katten and Sons" uniform price list, envelope
2
48
Letters dealing w/ education
1929-1945
2
49-50
Yale Thesis- "The Health Program in the ElementarySchools of Connecticut"
1939
2
51
NYU Paper- "Introduction to Student Personnel Services in Colleges and Universities," (Dr. Cornehlsen, professor), December
1949
2
52
Outline for NYU thesis on Danbury State Teacher'sCollege- "A Study of the Personnel Services Program for Students in the Elementary Teacher Education Curriculum at Danbury State Teacher's College," May 14
1954
2
53
Papers from NYU by Geddes
undated
-"Testing and Student Personnel Work," (unknown date), "Organization and Administration Educational Guidance," (Dr. Cornehlsen, professor), January 1950, "In-Service Education for Faculty," (unknown date)
2
54
NYU Papers miscellaneous
1950
2
55
Danbury Elementary School source book
1973
2
56
1928 Yale Commencement book (two)
1928
2
57
Yale Club of New York City books, (1949-50, 1981)
1981
2
58
Danbury State Teacher's College and Danbury StateCollege program books, (1950-51, 1956-57, 1964)
1964
2
59
Boston University commencement 1932, Hamden HighSchool Program
1932
2
60
Teacher's Education Quarterly
1956
2
61
Lectures on Dr. Eliot's Five-Foot Shelf of Books, no. 8(education), 10 (drama), 11 (voyages & travel), and 12 (religion)
1913
2
62
CT Geology books w/ maps (see OS folder for maps)
1951-1954
-"Bedrock Geology of the Litchfield Quadrangle," 1951, "Geology of the New Preston Quadrangle," 1952, "Bedrock Geology of the Woodbury Quadrangle," 1954
2
63
New Jersey State Home for Boys 7th annual report
1934
2
64
New College catalogues
1939
2
65
Education miscellaneous
1928-1930
-Harvard University "Intramural Athletics," 1928-1929, B.U. "Athletic Regulations," 1929, Arnold College football schedule, 1928-1929, College baseball schedule, 1930, Boston University Athletic Council flyer, commencement card Sheffield Scientific School
Books and Newspapers
2
1
-Henry Barnard: An Introduction, Jenkins, Ralph Ph. D. and Gertrude Warner
1937
2
2
-Yale Club of New York City
1946-1947
2
3
-University Club
1961
2
4
-History of the Class of 1928: Sheffield Scientific School
1928
2
5
-Arnold College yearbooks
1927-1929
2
6
-Western Connecticut State College Yearbook,1975 (signed by Jim Dyer for Claire)
1975
2
7
-NYU Thesis "A Study of the Personnel Services Program for the Students in the Elementary Teacher Education Curriculum at Danbury State Teacher's College"
1955
2
8
-Yale Thesis "An Integration of the Extra School Agencies of a Community with the School Program"
1936
2
9
-Other Thesis "Guidance at the Secondary School Level," (Dr. Clyde Hill, professor)
undated
OS 3
1
Record- Dec 7, 1941
undated
OS 3
2
Photo album
undated
OS 3
3
Framed photograph of Geddes in uniform
undated
OS 3
4
Two photographs of Geddes regiment
undated
OS 3
5
Photograph of a class
undated
OS 3
6
"The World At War" map, February 1943 (map is seen in framed photograph)
1943
OS 3
7
Sheet music: "2nd Regiment of Connecticut National Guard"
undated
OS 3
8
Scrapbooks of space exploration and "Project Rescue"
undated
OS 3
9
Newspaper: The Courier Mail (Brisbane), April 30, May 3,7-9, 19, June 12, 1945.
1945
OS 3
10
Newspaper: The Sunday Mail (Brisbane), April 29, 1945
1945
OS 3
11
Philippine Press, May 8, 1945, Free Philippines, March15, April 25, 1945, Victory News, March 27, 1945, Manila Chronicle, April 21, 1945, Manila Daily Mail, May 10, 1945
1945
OS 3
12
The Tribune, (Manila, Philippines), February 8; March 29; April 5, 26, 28; June 7, 17, 1944.
1944
OS 3
13
Sunday Tribune, (Manila, Philippines), March 12;September 19, 26; October 31; November 14, 1944
1944
OS 3
14
Daily Pacifican, August 11-12, 25-26, 29-31, September 1,9, 12, 18, 23, 1945
1945
OS 3
15
The Commercial News, (Commercial High School, New Haven, CT), September 28, 1944
1944
OS 3
16
Maps from CT Geology books
undated
OS 3
17
Serviceman's hat
undated