Biographical Note - Schenectady County Historical Society

[Pages:87]Larry Hart Collection Dates: 1792- 2004

Volume: approx. 51.87 cf. Creator: Larry Hart

Larry Hart (1920-2004) - Biographical Note

Larry Hart, born Clarence William Hart, was the third child of Harry and Everill Hart. He was born at their Barrett Street home on March 17th, 1920. Hart attended Schenectady public schools as a boy and went on to attend Union College in 1940. He worked while attending Union, before leaving to join the armed services. Larry Hart served with the 357th Squadron, Eighth Air Force in Europe during World War II, beginning in 1943 with the position of aerial photographer and photo reconnaissance technician. Larry Hart married Ruth Brooks on April 24th 1943. The couple had two children, Bonnilyn (Bonnie) and Alan. Alan went on to write a biography of his father entitled Larry Hart, My Dad. The Harts lived on Droms Road, in the Town of Glenville. Upon leaving the Air Force, Hart became a full time photographer and reporter for the Union-Star, Schenectady, NY, beginning in 1945. He later became a reporter for the Schenectady Daily Gazette in 1960 where he remained a columnist, officially retiring in October 1980 but continuing to write free-lance. His farewell note was published of March 20, 2000. A political reporter, Hart is probably best known for his historical column, "Tales of Old Dorp" which first appeared in the local section of the Daily Gazette on May 14 1974 and ran through the 1990s. Larry Hart became involved with the Schenectady County Historical Society and served as both President (1965-1968 and 1979-1981) as well as trustee (starting in 1962), a position he held for 21 years. Hart also held the positions of historian for Schenectady County, beginning in 1970 and historian for the city of Schenectady beginning in 1971. In one article, Hart attributes his interest in local history to his mothers influence on his childhood. Larry Hart passed away on February 10th, 2004, at the age of 83.

Description of the Larry Hart Collection

The Larry Hart Collection is more than 52 boxes of research files, photographs, documents and records about Schenectady covering the whole of the 20th century as well as earlier eras. Larry As the city and county historian Larry Hart was able to collect a large variety of materials relating to the local area. Researchers will find a large quantity of photographic material and negatives, Harts research files and audio visual material. The collection is arranged by record format and then topically or by date. This collection is a great tool for the researcher interested in local research topics, local oral history, views of Schenectady and the surrounding area. Subjects covered include American presidents, the American Civil War, ALCO, G.E Company, Charles Steinmetz, oral history, urban renewal and historic preservation. The researcher will find oral histories, 19th and 20th century photo of Schenectady, Harts research files on a wide range of topics, and unique artifacts from Schenectadys past. This collection is an excellent source for local history and genealogy relating to the Schenectady area.

Groups of records and Series in the Larry Hart Collection:

1. Audio/Visual Materials 2. Books 3. Correspondence 4. Documents 5. Magazines 6. Maps 7. Newspapers 8. Oversized Materials 9. Pamphlets 10. Photographs 11. Postcards 12. Research Files 13. Scrapbooks 14. Slides 15. Negatives

Series Descriptions

1. Audio/Visual Materials: A collection of 93 cassettes, 44 reel to reel, 9 film and 10 VHS, collected throughout Harts life, but the bulk of the collection between the 1960s-1990s. Most of the cassettes seem to have been recorded by Larry Hart himself. Primarily this collection focuses on interviews and oral histories of the local area and the recording of historic events in the area of Schenectady. Topics include: Recordings of several presidential speeches (not recorded locally); WGY radio; Mayor George Lunn; Charles Steinmetz.

Volume: 4 boxes and additional reels, approx. 3.63 cf.. 2 boxes: 16 ? x 12 ? x 10 inches, 1 box: 12 ? x 6 ? x 4 inches, 1 box: 15 ? x 8 ? x 5 inches, additional reels: 11 ? x 11 ? x 8 ? inches

2. Books: A collection of books spanning a variety of topics including local history, Schenectady and the greater Mohawk valley as well as the American Civil War. Several of the books were gifts and some are inscribed by the author. Some of the collection has been shelved and books belonging to the collection have been tagged with HART above the call number. Duplicate books have been interfiled with duplicate books but marked with yellow tags to indicate that they are a part of the Larry Hart Collection.

Volume: 110 titles, occupying approximately 4 3 ft shelves, approx. 10.8 cf.

3. Correspondence: A collection of letters, both received by and sent by Larry Hart. These letters are divided into two major categories: Local and genealogical questions, which are organized in alphabetical order by sender, with dates ranging from 1966-2000 and Schenectady City/County Historian- Monthly and Annual Reports, which are organized by date, dates ranging from 1970-1985.

Volume: 1 Box, approx. 0.38 cf., 12 ? x 10 ? x 5 inches

4. Documents This collection is a variety of documents which covers a wide variety of local topics. The collection also includes 58 documents from Richmond New Hampshire, town of Cheshire, dating 1792-1826 and relating to Benjamin and David Perry. Items of interest include: A press-pass for the Ringling Bros. circus, 1954; an Erie Canal Sesquicentennial envelope; A dance card from the eighth annual ball of Ira Van Buren Lodge, 1904; 3 war ration books owned by Hart and his family

Volume: 1 Box, approx. 0.57 cf., 12 ? x 15 ? x 5 inches

5. Magazines: This collection includes several editions of various magazines. The collection includes of national and local interest. The collection represents several of Larry Harts lifelong research interests, such as the Civil War and American presidents. The collection also includes issues of Life Magazine and several local periodicals, the Periscope from the first issue in 1915 through February of 1926, Schenectady Works News, Mohawk Valley USA Topics of interest include: The American Civil war in New York; Eisenhowers death; Kennedys death; Landing on the moon; The 355th fighter group assn. Mustang

Volume: 1 box, approx. 1.19 cf., 16 ? x 12 ? x 10 inches

6. Maps: A collection of copies and original maps of Schenectady County and the surrounding area, Erie Canal and the Adirondacks Volume: 2 boxes, approx. 1.98 cf., 32 ? x 23 ? x 3inches and 37x 5 ? x 5 ? inches

7. Newspapers A collection of originals and copies of newspapers, all locally issued except a copy of the New York Tribune about the sinking of the Titanic Topics include: Original 1803 Western Spectator; copies of the first issue of the Gazette in 1894; Union Star 1945 about the war in Japan

Volume: 1 box, approx. 1.33 cf., 32 ? x 23 ? x 3 inches

8. Oversized Materials A collection of documents relating to local history and Larry Harts personal achievements, several certificates which were presented to Hart for his work as well as a scrapbook of his WWII experiences. Also reflects his wider interests in history with Civil war material. Topics include: WWII scrapbook pages from Harts time in the Air force; Jack Dempsey fight poster; Wooden cigar box lid sketched on by Steinmetz; layout pages for book covers

Volume: 1 box, approx. 0.89 cf., 24 ? x 21 x 3 inches

9. Pamphlets A collection of pamphlets, covering a variety of topics ranging to include local history, Schenectady city, county and New York State as well as national.

Some of the collection has been shelved and pamphlets belonging to the collection have been tagged with HART above the call number. Duplicate pamphlets have been interfiled with duplicate pamphlets but marked with yellow tags to indicate that they are a part of the Larry Hart Collection.

Volume: 90 titles occupying approximately 1.7 ft of a shelf, approx. 1.36 cf.

10. Photographs The Larry Hart Photograph collection contains mostly black and white pictures dating from the late 1800s to the 1990s with a primary concentration between the 1940s and the 1990s. It is arranged according to topics, which seem to correlate with the themes of his "Old Dorp" newspaper articles. The collection also contains photographs and letters which people have contributed and documents pertaining to some of the events. Very few photographs are labeled as to the event or credited to the photographer. Volume: 20 boxes, approx. 7.60 cf., 12 ? x 10 ? x 5 inches each Oversized photographs are also included in this collection, many of which have been enlarged from smaller prints and several of which are framed. A large collection of Carman School class photographs are among the oversized pictures.

Volume: 5 boxes and additional frames, approx. 6.51 cf., 1 box: 25 x 19 ? x 2 ? inches, 1 box: 15 ? x 11 ? x 3 ? inches, 2 boxes: 16 x 13 x 2 ? inches, 1 box: 25 x 20 ? x 3 inches, additional frames: 29 ? x 20 ? x 11 inches

11. Postcards: Collected by Larry Hart, this collection includes both color and black and white postcards as well as some photo postcards. A number of postcards have handwritten messages, are stamped by the Post Office, and include the name of the addressee. The dates on the postcards range from the early 20th century up to the 1980s.

Topics include: Holidays: Thanksgiving, St. Patricks day, Valentines day, Christmas and New Years; Various Schenectady city sites including General Electric, American Locomotive Co., parks, the circus fire of 1910 and Union college ; Schenectady county sites including Albany, Rotterdam and Amsterdam; Out of area sites including Washington D.C. and New York City and views of the Hudson River.

Volume: 2 boxes, approx. 0.39 cf., 12 x 7x 4 inches each

12. Research Files A collection of documents, newspaper articles and notes, sorted by topic. These files contain topics of local, state and national importance. Many of the topics were most likely compiled for Larry Harts "Old Dorp" articles.

Topics of possible research interest include: ALCO; Susan B. Anthony; Barbers; Baseball; Brooklyn; Carnegie Hall; churches; Civil War; Dutch; Gazette; Halloween; Indians; Lynching ; George Lunn; Markers; Eliphalet Nott; Presidents; Red Cross; Rexford; Stamps; Vale Cemetery; Wall Street; World War II; Joseph Yates

Volume: 10 boxes, approx. 11.77 cf. collectively, 12 ? x 15 ? x 10 ? inches each

13. Scrapbooks This is a collection containing 20 scrapbooks and photo albums. The albums are a variety of sizes and in varying conditions. Most of these albums were compiled by Larry Hart but seven scrapbooks were compiled by others. Two of the albums were compiled by Clarence Hart, the name Larry Harts parents gave him at birth. Sometime after World War II he legally changed his name to Larry Hart. Currently only one album has a contents list.

Volume: occupy a 3 ft shelf, approx. 2.4 cf.

14. Slides: Collected by Larry Hart, this collection includes both color, as well as black and white photos. Besides photos, the collection also includes several illustrations and maps, in both color and black and white. Some of these slides are sorted and labeled by the location of the photographs. Several are labeled in pencil individually on the actual slide, identifying the exact location. Dates of these slides seem to be the 1950-1980s with subjects ranging from approximately the late 19th to 20th century.

Volume: 1 Box, approx. 0.11 cf., 11 x 6 ? x 2 ? inches

15. Negatives A collection of negatives, presumably taken by Larry Hart throughout his lifetime. The collection is a compilation of both black and white as well as color negatives, in a variety of sizes, including 4 x 5 inches, 1 ? x 2 inches and 1 ? x 1 inches. Topics include: Transportation; fires; car accidents; deaths; Rotary club event; several Schenectady buildings and streets

Volume: 1 Box, approx. 0.96 cf., 26 x 8 ? x 7 ? inches

Box/Folder/Item Listing, by Series

1. Larry Hart Collection ? Audio/Visual Materials

Cassettes: 1. Schenectady Songs etc. 2. SIDE I Bruno and Carrie Wacholz-Curts house Old Frog Alley SIDE II Cucumber Alley, Porter Games Rules, Fred V. Auchenpauen April 23 1977 3. Last Mans club dinner at Mohawk club sat. April 2, 1977- dinner with seven remaining members of Schenectadys last mans club (WWI) 4. History of Rexford Park, tape 2 5. Frog Alley: Fred V. Auchenpaugh 4/28/77, Erie Canal and Irish: Lew McCue 7/17/61 &7/17/62 (TWO COPIES) 6. SIDE I Cecile Brooks Funeral 3/6/ 94 SIDE II America- Ray Charles 7. SIDE I "This Storied Land"- Lowell Thomas10/05/90 SIDE II "Schenectady" by Modernaires S-key-neck-T-A-D-Y 78 rpm Columbia 1950s 8. SIDE I Interview with Platt Carman July 19 1974 SIDE II Henry Schaffer Interviewed Fri Oct. 11 1974 11am. Wall St. office 9. Buddy Rich (dad at hospital 1-9-71) 10. Our Schenectady, recorded in Proctors theatre 1/24/95 Soloist: Judi Merriam Composer: J.W. Van Laak 11. Contact WGY 6/8/83 12. SIDE I Elmer Ave School, Mrs. Congress First Grade, singing Schdy song June 19, 1978 SIDE II Neil B. Reynolds 1/31/89 13. SIDE I Old Frog Alley Hotels SIDE II Frog Alley April 23, 1977 14. History of Rexford Park: tape 1 by Lou Lansing 12/5/80 15. Dora E. Hayes 1/28/79 Scotia village history 16. "Dimensions" WGY on Mohawk River LL 17. SIDE I Official opening of city history center at city hall 11/18/51 SIDE II center opening continued, Lesseps Robson talk 5/7/52 18. Drs. Whitney, Coolidge, Langmuir, Hall 12/12/51 19. SIDE I "Steadfast, sure love" Rev. James E. Mulligan, III First Baptist Church Scotia, New York 9/4/83 Text: Isaiah 55:3 SIDE II Interview J.C. McDermott and home 29 Neal St Scotia Thursday June 22 1989 20. SIDE I Women in history: colonial days: Larry Hart interv. w/ Mrs. Marie Cormack Feb 26 1968 Science: Larry Hart interv. With Miss Katherine Blodgett 8/29/72, Blodgett interview SIDE II continued Mrs. Marjorie Featherstonhaugh at Niskayuna Historical Society on early Schenectady 1965 21. Salvation army band 1977 22. SIDE I Schenectady Massacre Reenactment WGY Feb 8 1940 SIDE II Bicentennial Program at SCHS Mrs. Marianne Brown and Larry Hart 1/12/74 23. SIDE I Speeches of Sir Winston Churchill- excerpts from Winston Churchills most famous speeches in early 1940s SIDE II Churchill continued, Speeches by F.D. Roosevelt, J.F. Kennedy, H.S. Truman- JFK inaugural address Jan 20 1961 as 35th President, Harry S. Truman VE speech May 8, 1945

24. Larry Hart talk at Trinity United Methodist Churchs 75th anniversary Sept. 27, 1981

25. WGY Contact Talk show 7/9/82 Bob Cudmore, host and Larry Hart guest. 26. This storied land narrated by Lowell Thomas 27. The daily Gazette story 28. SIDE 1 "Chalkdust memories" Clifton Vrooman, moderator Sat. March 11,

1967 SIDE 2 "Chalkdust Memories" continued, Dedication Vrooman Room 2/10/68 29. SIDE I Interview with Joseph S. Hayden about Steinmetz 2/3/72 SIDE II William Efner- Lesseps Robson continued 5/7/52, public opening of city history center at center in city hall Jan 20 1952 30. SIDE I Larry Hart talk at Alplaus fire hall Monday March 28, 1977, Italian night Oct. 10 1979 SIDE II Historical society meeting, Italian night continued 31. Mildred Higgins, 90, at her home 193, Saratoga rd. Scotia. Saturday September 20 1986, one son, died Feb 1 1992, electric fan in background 32. SIDE 1 WGY contact talk show 7/9/82 continued SIDE 2 With Steve Fitz, host 6/28/74 33. SIDE 1 Interview with Frank A. Lage, one of first GE apprentices- 100 years on April 14, 1884 2/2/84 SIDE 2 Last Mans club dinner 54th annual meeting at post 1092 Saturday evening March 31, 1984 34. SIDE I Emil Remscheid interview by Larry Hart 5/7/71 (Steinmetz) SIDE II Remscheid continued Nicholas Dinardo 10/25/71 35. Annual meeting SCHS Wednesday April 11, 1979 Dr. J. Dean Dystra, speaker 36. SIDE I Dr. Coolidge speaks to fellowship winners 1970, Dr. James Stokley interviews Dr. Coolidge 1954, Dr. Coolidge at 90 yrs WRGB Interview 1963 SIDE II Dr. Coolidge at 90 yrs WRGB Interview 1963 37. SIDE I "Schenectady in Early 1900s" Old Timers Panel Dec. 11, 1965 Clifton Vrooman, moderator, with Jacob M. Frankel, Walter Reagles Saturday afternoon meeting at Schenectady Co. Historical Society SIDE II "Schenectady in Early 1900s" continued, Kittie West Music Box and Edison phonograph, Dr. E.F.W. Alexanderson interview with Larry Hart March 30, 1973 38. SIDE I Cecile Rhein, Secretary to Dr. C.P. Steinmetz, interviewed by Larry Hart 11/29/71 SIDE II Miss Rhein continued, Edward A. Rice on WGY 1/20/72 39. Midge Hayden interview at her house Vischer Ferry 3/15/75 40. Hotel Van Curler 60th Anniversary 5/6/85 Larry Hart Talk on Schenectady and Hotel Van Curler 41. A Historical society "when we were young" Nov. 21 1987 Saturday at 2 pm 42. Schenectady (S-key-Neck-T-A-D-Y) the Modernaires 43. SIDE I Edward A. Rice interviewed 1-20-72 at his home, 601 Bedford Rd. 3:30-4pm, He was WGY violinist for many years, since 1922 inception Steinmetz voice 1922 SIDE II AA-State Street December 1972 Renovation front of Carl Co. Jay and State St. "George Washington in Schenectady" Larry Hart talk Historical society Aux. Feb 28, 1973 44. SIDE I Socialism in Schenectady and progressive movement "The Lunn Era" metrofair seminar at Union College Saturday Sept 30 1972, Doctor Neal Allen,

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