Descriptive Summary
Hamilton Orgelman Papers1806-2001
, (Bulk 1918-1972)
MS 019
The language of the materials is English
8 linear feet (11 boxes)
Western Connecticut State University
Orgelman, Hamilton.
Ruth A. Haas Library
Hamilton Orgelman was born in Danbury, Connecticut, on October 17, 1889. Orgelman was best known for his work with the Boy Scouts of America. The collection documents Orgelman's career and contains periodicals, correspondence, bulletins, booklets, scrapbook, photographs and memorabilia. Included also are materials relating to his son, George Orgelman who worked in the aviation industry.
Provenance
Donated to the Archives in 2004.
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 Hamilton Orgelman Papers; MS 019; box number; folder number;
Western Connecticut State University Archives
Historical/Biographical Note
Hamilton Orgelman was born in Danbury, Connecticut, on October 17, 1889. He married Margarethe Augusta Lepper on April 26, 1915, and had two children, George H. and Jean Orgelman Cooper.
He was a mason by trade, an avid fisherman, accomplished woodsman and camper. He became an amateur photographer while using a 16mm movie camera to film the first Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington, D. C., in 1937. In his later years, Orgelman chronicled Danbury's urban renewal project by filming the demolition of old buildings and construction of the new landscape.
In his youth, Hamilton Orgelman was also an enthusiastic ice skater, both as a hockey player and racing skater, and raced in the Eastern United States Ice Skating Championships in 1925.
However, Orgelman was best known for his work with the Boy Scouts of America. His first exposure to the Boy Scouts came at about the age of 18 as he was plastering the ceiling in the basement of the Church of Christ in Danbury. In 1915 Orgelman became assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 2 and shortly thereafter Scoutmaster. In the mid 1930s, Troop 2 became Troop 22. His service to scouting totaled 46 years during which time nearly 500 boys passed through his troop.
When Orgelman became Scoutmaster of Troop 2 in 1916, he introduced the program of "pioneering scouting" whereby members of his troop learned how to survive in the fields and woodlands. The skills for survival included woodcraft, survival training, leadership and personal development, patriotism, and civic service. Orgelman was taught these skills while living with his great uncle and grandfather in Carmel, New York. Both men had served three years with the Union army during the Civil War with extensive field experience.
Hamilton Orgelman died on April 21, 1974, at the age of 84.
Scope and Content Note
The Hamilton Orgelman collection focuses on his association with the Boy Scouts of America, Danbury Troop 2 / 22, from 1914 to 1974. The collection consists mainly of BSA publications such as
Scouting magazine and other publications relevant to leadership, training, administrative and organizational manuals for adult leaders and Boy Scouts.
The collection spans from 1806 to 2001 with the bulk of the collection ranging from 1935-1972.
In addition to Boy Scout publications and memorabilia, the collection also contains a scrapbook (Box 4) which contains newspaper clippings, correspondence, and memorabilia of Orgelman's involvement with the BSA. Photographs of Troop 2/22 can be found in box 3, 9 and oversized box 2.
Orgelman's personal papers include information on Balmforth Avenue School. Mrs. Margarethe Lepper Orgelman, her sisters Mrs. Henriette Lepper Grinwold and Bertha Lepper, and her brother George Lepper were Miss Fanton's students at the Balmforth Avenue School in the 1900s. In addition to correspondence the files also contain photographs of Miss Adella Fanton's early classes (ca 1901-1903).
Photographs of Anna Hyatt Huntington house in Redding, Connecticut, chronicle the repair work done by masons on the chimneys of the house, presumably by the company Orgelman was associated with.
Margarethe Lepper Orgelman's childhood scrapbook can be found in box 8. There are several
Woman's World stories penned under Johnny Gruelle entitled "Uncle Johnny Gruelle's Page for Good Boys and Girls" between 1919 and 1921. The scrapbook also contains post cards, religious cards and magazine clippings of children, pets, and flowers.
George H. Orgelman's, son of Hamilton Orgelman, was a newsboy for the
Danbury Evening News from 1929 to 1936 when he graduated from Danbury High School. He occasionally wrote of his reminiscences of Danbury of long ago for the The News-Times. These articles are located in Oversized Box 1. The files also contain some information on his career at Chance Vought Airc
Series 1. Boy Scouts of America; Boxes 1-9 and Oversized Boxes 1-3; Arranged in alphabetical order.; Periodicals, correspondence, bulletins, booklets, scrapbook, and memorabilia.
Series 2. Personal; Boxes 3-5, 8 and Oversized Boxes 1-3; Arranged in alphabetical order.; Correspondence, photographs, periodicals, booklets, maps, programs, scrapbook and ; memorabilia.
Series 3. George H. Orgelman; Box 3, 5 and Oversized Box 1; Arranged in alphabetical order.; Reports, booklets, correspondence, and memorabilia.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged alphabetically within each series.
The files are grouped into 3 series:
- Series 1. Boy Scouts of America
- Series 2. Personal
- Series 3. George H. Orgelman
Access Points
Subject Names:
Orgelmans, Hamilton.
Orgelman, George H.
Huntington, Anna Hyatt.
Lepper, Margarethe Augusta.
Subject Organizations:
Balmforth Avenue School.
Boy Scouts of America.
Boy Scouts of America, Scatacook District.
Chance Vought Corporation.
Subject Topics:
Boy Scouts -- Connecticut.
Subject Places:
Danbury (Conn.)
Document Types:
Correspondence.
Photographs.
Publications.
Fliers.
Booklets.
Photographs.
Other Names:
Orgelman, George H.
Container List
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
Series 1: Boy Scouts of America
1
1
Air Scouting
1942
7
*
Annual Report (Eighth) of the BSA, April 15, 1918
1918
7
*
Annual Report (Tenth) of the BSA, April 8, 1920
1920
7
*
Booklet: Art, Merit Badge Series
1929
7
*
Booklet: As the Twig Is Bent…Craftsmanship Among Boys of High School Age
1933
7
*
Booklet: Connecticut Walk Book, Revised Edition with Ski Trails
1940
7
*
Booklet: Forest Fire Warden Manual, State of Conn.
1935
7
*
Booklet: Forest Trees of Connecticut
1929
7
*
Booklet: Forest Trees of Connecticut
1931
7
*
Booklet: Fundamentals of the Boy Scout Movement
undated
7
*
Booklet: Historic Tours of Soconyland
1925
7
*
Booklet: Household Handbook
1928
7
*
Booklet: How to Organize a Troop of Boy Scouts
undated
7
*
Booklet: How to Swim the American Crawl
1930
7
*
Booklet: Jamboree Trading Post Red Book
undated
7
*
Booklet: Jamboree-ing in Washington
1937
7
*
Booklet: Manual of Drill for Boy Scouts
1916
7
*
Booklet: The Pine Tree Patrol
1918
7
*
Booklet: Quiz Book for Boy Scouts
1927
7
*
Booklet: Red Cross Life Saving Methods
1932
7
*
Booklet: Rules and Driving Practices
undated
7
*
Booklet: The Scouting Program in Protestant Churches
undated
7
*
Booklet: Scoutmaster's Troop Program Note Book
1933
7
*
Booklet: Songs & Scouting
1930
7
*
Booklet: Swimming and Life Saving
undated
7
*
Booklet: 10 Squad Talks to Boys by 10 Famous Football Coaches
1930
7
*
Booklet: Troop Meeting Programs
1934
7
*
Booklet: Uniform Badges and Insignia
1933
7
*
Booklet: The Yucca Patrol Idea
undated
6
*
Book: The Big Book of Scout Craft
1929
6
*
Book: The Book of Woodcraft by Ernest Thompson Seton
1921
6
*
Book: Boy Scout Handbook
1963
6
*
Book: Camp Cookery by Horace Kephart
1919
6
*
Book: Games and Recreational Methods by C. F. Smith
1925
6
*
Book: Handbook for Boys
1942
6
*
Book: Handbook for Patrol Leaders
1929
, 1931
, 1944
6
*
Book: Handbook for Scoutmasters, Volume 1 & 2
1936
, 1938
6
*
Book: The "How" Book of Scouting
undated
6
*
Book: Prize-Contest Recitations, by Geo. T. Angell
1917
6
*
Book: Scout Field Book
1944
OS 2
*
Boy Scout Calendars (Norman Rockwell), 1931, 1932 (2c), 1933
1932-1933
1
2
Boy Scout-O-Rama, Official Souvenir Book, March 27 - 28, 1936
1936
3
Boys' Life, Our Magazine Since 1912
undated
OS 1
*
Boys Life, June 1937 (cover only)
1937
OS 1
*
The Boys World, November 21, 1931 - October 15, 1932
1931-1932
1
4
Camp Shearwood
1933
OS 2
*
Certificates
1923-1935
1
5
Correspondence
1919-1972
1
6
Danbury, Connecticut
ca.1910-1925
1
7
Emergency Service Training Plan Reference Materials
1941
1
8
First Annual Boy Scout Round-Up, Charter Oak Council, Souvenir Program, 11/20/1935
1935
1
9
Golden Jubilee Camporee, (5x7 b/w photograph), June 6, 1960
1960
1
5
Hikes
1933
1
10
Hoover, J. Edgar
1937
1
11
Jamboree, December 7, 1934
1934
1
12-14
Leadership Manual and Instructions
1936-1937
1
15
The Local Council Exchange, Equipment Number
1939
1
16
The Local Council Exchange, Equipment Number
1941
1
17
Memorial Day Parade and Track Meet, Under the auspices of the Fire Department and Boy Scouts of Ridgefield, Conn., Program, May 31, 1920
1920
1
18
Mid-Fairfield Council Annual Meeting
1936-1942
OS 2
Mid-Fairfield Council, Annual Report of the Scout Executive
1936
1
19
Mid Fairfield Council, Executives Annual Report
1940-1941
1
20
Mid-Fairfield Council, Annual Report
1944
1
21
Mid-Fairfield Council 1st & 2nd Annual Camporee
1933-1936
1
22
Mid-Fairfield Council 1946 Camporee, June 15-16, 1946
1946
1
22a
Mid-Fairfield Council News Bulletin
1936-1947
1
23-24
Miscellaneous
1917-1974
5
*
Miscellaneous Memorabilia
undated
1
25
National Council BSA
undated
Scoutmaster, September 1923; Specialization Course in Troop Committee, January 31, 1935; Specialization Course in Boyology, October 16, 1935; Pack Basket Construction Certificate, May 15, 1936; The Elements of Scoutmastership, Part 1, April 17, 1936; Advanced Certificate for Serving as an Officer in a Scout.
1
26
National Council Registration Cards
1926-1973
1
27
National Jamboree
1935
1
28
National Jamboree Clearance Certificate, July 9, 1937
1937
OS 3
*
National Jamboree Tour Information
1935
1
29-31
National Jamboree
1937
5
*
National Jamboree (small 3-ring binder w/notes)
1937
OS 3
*
National Jamboree Organization Manual, June 30-July 9, 1937
1937
5
*
National Jamboree Patch (2)
1973
5
*
National Jamboree Souvenir Snapshot Folder, August 3-9, 1973
1973
5
*
National Jamboree
1964
Penfield, NY, Troop 230, pins, insignias and neckerchief
OS 3
The National and World Jamborees in Pictures
1937
4
*
Newspaper Clippings
1898-1993
1
32
Norwalk
Council
1929-1930
OS 1
The Norwalk Hour, February 13, 1937
1937
1
33
Official Uniforms and Equipment for the 1937Jamboree
1937
7
*
Pamphlets: BSA Boy's Life Promotion Plans
1925
7
*
Pamphlets: BSA Minimum Requirements for Tenderfoot
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: Drill Manual arranged for Boy Scouts of America
1918
7
*
Pamphlets: Healthy Teeth
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: Information Folder on Church-Scout Award
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: Live and let Live
1936
7
*
Pamphlets: Mimetic Exercises for Boys
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: The Morse Code
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: Pocket Signal Disk for Instruction and Practice
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: Program for Installation of a Troop
1922
7
*
Pamphlets: Rope and Its Uses
1914
7
*
Pamphlets: Scout Helps: Requirements for the Tenderfoot Scout
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: Requirements for the Second Class Scout
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: Requirements for the First Class Scout
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: The Scoutmaster and His Troop
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: A "Share the Work Plan" for all Troop Committeemen
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: The Treatment of Athletic Injuries
undated
7
*
Pamphlets: The Troop Committee
1945
7
*
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly....A Profile
1942
9
*
Photographs
1920-1944
OS 2
*
Photographs: One 5 x 7 b/w image (framed)
1917
OS 2
*
Photographs: Four 10 ½ x 10 ½ scrapbook pages with b/w photographs
ca.1930
OS 2
*
Photographs: Two 8 x 10 b/w images (mounted)
1935
OS 2
*
Photographs: One 8 x 10 b/w image of Henry Dick & Son window display commemorating Troop 2 / 22's 25th Anniversary
undated
OS 1
*
Poster: Boy Scout Week, Feb. 8-14 (no year given)
undated
1
34
Roosevelt Memorial Pilgrimage Programs
1935-1936
, 1939
1
35
Rye-Me-Calendar
1919
1
36
Scatacook District Recognition Banquet Programs
1969-1985
1
37
The Scout Administrator, Equipment Number, Nov. 1935 (2c)
1935
1
38
The Scout Administrator (Literature of the BSA)
1936-1937
1
39
The Scout Administrator, Equipment Number, Nov. 1937
1937
1
40-41
Scouter, Fairfield County Council, March 1972-1982
1982
1
42-44
Scouter, Mauwehu Council
1968-1972
1
45
Scouting : April 15 - December 15, 1917
1917
1
46-49
Scouting : January 15 - December 26, 1918
1918
1
50-52
Scouting : January 2 - December 18, 1919
1919
1
53-54
Scouting : January 1 - December 23, 1920
1920
1
55
Scouting : January - December 1921
1921
1
56
Scouting : April - December 30
1922
1
57
Scouting : January 15 - December 1923
1923
1
58
Scouting : September - December 1925
1925
1
59
Scouting : January - December
1926
1
60
Scouting : January - August 1927
1927
1
61
Scouting : February 1930
1930
1
62
Scouting : December 1932
1932
1
63-65
Scouting : January - December 1933
1933
1
66-68
Scouting : February - December 1934
1934
1
69-72
Scouting : January- December 1935
1935
1
73-75
Scouting : January - December 1936
1936
1
76-78
Scouting : February - December 1937
1937
3
65-67
Scouting : January - December 1938
1938
2
1-3
Scouting : January - December 1939
1939
2
5-6
Scouting : January - December 1940
1940
2
7-12
Scouting : January - December 1941
1941
2
13-18
Scouting : January - December 1942
1942
2
19-24
Scouting : January - December 1943
1943
2
25-27
Scouting : January - December 1944
1944
2
28-30
Scouting : January - December 1945
1945
2
31-32
Scouting : January - May 1946
1946
2
33-35
Scouting : June - December 1947
1947
2
36-38
Scouting : January - July 1948
1948
2
39
Scouting : October - December 1949
1949
2
40-41
Scouting : January - May 1950
1950
2
42
Scouting : November 1951
1951
2
43
Scouting : February - April 1953
1953
2
44
Scouting : February 1954
1954
2
45
Scouting : March - April 1956
1956
2
46
Scouting : May - October 1958
1958
2
47
Scouting : April 1959
1959
2
48
Scouting : January - February 1960
1960
2
49
Scouting : December 1964
1964
2
50
Scouting : February 1965
1965
2
51-54
Scouting : January - December 1966
1966
2
55
Scouting : January - February 1967
1967
2
56-58
Scouting : March - December 1969
1969
2
59-61
Scouting : January - December 1970
1970
2
62-63
Scouting : March - December 1971
1971
3
1-3
Scouting : January - December 1972
1972
3
4
Scouting Equipment Number, Nov. 1921
1921
3
5
Scouting Equipment Number, Oct. 1923
1923
3
6
Scoutmastership Notes (Columbia Univ.)
1925-1926
4
Scrapbook
1935-1972
3
7-7a
Testimonial Dinner, November 6
1964
OS 3
*
Testimonial Guest Book and Hamilton Orgelman "Oggie" (bound correspondence), November 6, 1964
1964
OS 3
*
Testimonial/City of Danbury Proclamation, November 5, 1964
1964
OS 3
*
Testimonial/Lyndon B. Johnson 7x8 b/w photograph signed (mounted on board)
undated
3
7b
Testimonial/Scrapbook
1964
OS 2
*
Troop 1, 21, 22 Charters (certificates)
1923-1944
3
39
Troop 1, 2, 22, Charter Renewals
1926-1977
5
*
Troop 2, Record of Camp, August 1920
1920
5
*
Troop 2 Record (Membership and Finances)
1915-1918
5
*
Troop 2 Membership (small booklet)
undated
5
*
Troop 2 Misc. Notes (small ringed binder)
undated
OS 2
*
Troop 2 / 22 History
1992-1993
OS 2
*
Troop 2 / 22 History Notes
undated
3
9
U. S. Army Recruiting News, Special First Corps Area Edition, July 2, 1921 (highlights Camp Devens' C.M.T. Camp (Citizens' Military Training Camps), Massachusetts.
1921
3
10
The Victory Boy, September 27, 1918
1918
Series 2: Personal
OS 1
*
The Balance and Columbian Repository January 14, 1806 - July 29, 1806
1806
3
11-17
Balmforth Avenue School/Miss Adella Fanton
1901-1986
OS 2
*
Photographs of Adella Fanton's classroom, grades 7 and 8
1907-1908
3
17a
Biographical Information
undated
3
18
B.M.P.I.U. of America (Bricklayers, Masons & Plasterers International Union)
1916-1971
3
19
Correspondence
1964
3
20
Fishing Licenses
1918-1920
5
*
Fishing License (Angling License/Connecticut 1930)
1930
3
21
Fishing Notes
1927-1933
OS 1
The Girls' Companion, January 31, 1937 - February 21, 1937
1937
3
22
John Hancock Mutual Life Ins.Co. Booklets
1923-1932
The Flag of the United States
Mount Vernon, the Home of Washington
George Washington, First President of the United States
The Story of the Pilgrims
Patriotic Songs of America
Robert E. Lee, The Beloved General
3
23-32
Huntington, Anna Hyatt (b/w photographs)
ca.1955
3
33
Map-Bridgeport, Conn.
1923
3
34
Map-Connecticut (State Parks & Forests)
1939
3
35
Maps-Danbury
1916
, 1920
3
36
Miscellaneous
1914-1954
3
37
Notebook: Amounts Paid Out & BSA
1944-1961
3
38
National Sportsman, July 1920
1920
3
39
National Sportsman, April 1931
1931
3
40
Old Timers' Athletic Association of Greater Danbury, Ninth Annual Dinner Program, September 21, 1972
1972
3
41
Outers' Recreation, February 1924
1924
3
42-43
Programs
1900-1973
8
*
Scrapbook (Margarethe A. Lepper) (fragile)
ca.1919-1921
3
44
Taylor Opera House Programs
1911-1915
Series 3: George H. Orgelman
3
45
Chance Vought Aircraft, Inc.: Annual Report
1955
3
46-49
Chance Vought Aircraft, Inc.booklets
undated
A Guide to the Engineering Professions in the Aviation Industries, 1954
A Policy for Scientific and Professional Manpower, 1953
How to Improve Engineering-Management Communications, 1952
How to Improve the Utilization of Engineering Manpower, 1952
Income and Salary Survey, 1952
Industry's Stake in ASEE…A Message to Industrial Management, n.d.
Recruiting College Graduate: A Guide for CompanyInterviewers, 1953
What's in a name?
3
50
Careers at Chance Vought Aircraft
ca.1955
3
51
Chance Vought Aircraft
ca.1940
3
52
Chance Vought Move
1949
3
53
Chance Vought Move (2c)
1949
OS 1
*
Danbury News-Times
1999-2001
5
*
Line-O-Graph, 7 ½" and 9"
undated
3
54
Miscellaneous
1951-1968
3
55
A Plan for Organizational Development
1955
3
56-61
Recruitment of Engineering Manpower
1952-1956
3
62
Salary and Wage Administration, Policies and Procedures
undated
3
63-64
Tomorrow's Engineering
1954-1961