Table of Contents


Collection Overview

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content

Restrictions

Subject Headings

Administrative Information

Papers

Ogden Griswold Family papers

A Guide to the collection at the Connecticut Historical Society



Collection Overview

Repository: Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Connecticut
Creator : Griswold, Ogden
Title : Ogden Griswold Family Papers
Dates : 1802-1890
Extent : 0.75 linear feet (1 1/2 boxes)
Location: Ms 39920
Language: English

Biographical Sketch

Elisha Winchell (1778-1860) was a merchant in West Springfield, Mass. His wife Jerusha Morran Winchell was born in Suffield, Connecticut in 1802. Their children were Roland, Cynthia and Corinthia. Cynthia (1806-) married Ogden Griswold, a cousin, in 1827. Ogden Griswold was an iron merchant in Hartford, Connecticut. Their children were Ogden Dewitt (1829-1862), Elizabeth Cynthia (called Lizzie, b. 1832), Roland Eugene (b. 1834), Albert Elisha (b. 1837), Hubert Clinton (b. 1843) and Isabelle Louisa (called Belle, b. 1845). Lizzie never married. Ogden Dewitt married Mary Mallory in 1855 and had two children, neither of whom survived. Mary died in the late summer/early fall of 1862 and Ogden Dewitt reportedly was shot by his brother-in-law and died several months later.

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Scope and Content

The collection is organized by generation, with the Winchell family first, then members of the Griswold family, parents first followed by children in birth order.

Elisha Winchell is represented in these materials by deeds, dated 1802-1823. His wife Jerusha was administrator of his estate and her papers include these estate records and several letters, 1826-1827. Cynthia Winchell Griswold wrote several letters to her daughters when they were away from home, and also received a letter from her aunt or cousin Mindwell Winchell Griswold.

Father Ogden Griswold wrote letters to his son Ogden Dewitt regarding sales of their iron products, mostly in Boston and New York. Ogden D. was evidently a traveling salesman for his father early in his career. Father Ogden Griswold also wrote to his daughter Lizzie about business in general but mostly about family matters, 1845-1872. Odgen’s papers include a military discharge dated 1831.

Ogden Dewitt Griswold’s letters include a number to his wife, Mary, 1854-1862, and to his sister Lizzie, 1843-1859. His incoming correspondence, 1847-1862 appears to be business related. Mary is represented in the collection by letters from her friend Mary A. Booth, 1857-1862.

Roland Griswold, like his siblings, wrote mostly to Lizzie and his letters to her date 1850-1864. Friends and cousins wrote to Lizzie as well, and these letters form the bulk of the collection. They date from 1849-1882 and include correspondents Lavilnia Russel, John H. Olcott, James H. Russell, Uncle Hezekiah and Aunt Fanny. There are only three extant letters written by Lizzie to her family, 1852-1864. Hubert also wrote to sister Lizzie, 1852-1869, and his letters illustrate his growing proficiency in writing. Belle’s letters were written to her parents, primarily from New York City, 1882-1890, and to Lizzie, 1858-1885.

The final group of materials are a collection of essays, poems and prose written by Odgen Dewitt Griswold, all undated. There are religious essays, something he labels as "Lyceum themes", poetry and historical and philosophical essays.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions

Use of the material requires compliance with the Connecticut Historical Society's Research Center regulations.

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Subject Headings

Personal Names

Griswold, Cynthia Winchell, b. 1806.
Griswold, Elizabeth, b. 1832.
Griswold, Hubert Clinton, b. 1843.
Griswold, Isabelle Louisa, b. 1845.
Griswold, Ogden Dewitt, 1829-1862.
Griswold, Ogden, 1807-1883.

Family Names

Winchell family.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Item, Collection Title, Collection number (Box #, Folder #). Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Connecticut.

Processing Details

Collection was processed by Barbara Austen in 2007.

EAD Finding Aid created October 2014.

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Papers

Box Folder
1 1 Elisha Winchell deeds, 1802-1823
1 2 Jerusha Winchell administrator’s records and letters, 1826-1827, undated
1 3 Russell family receipts, letter and essay
1 4 Cynthia Griswold correspondence
1 5-11 Ogden Griswold outgoing letters, 1849-1872, undated
1 12 Ogden Griswold military discharge, 1831
1 13-14 Ogden Dewitt Griswold outgoing letters to his wife, 1854-1862, undated
1 15 Ogden Dewitt Griswold outgoing letters to Lizzie, 1843-1859
1 16 Ogden Dewitt Griswold incoming correspondence, 1847-1862
1 17 Mary M. Griswold incoming letters from Mary Booth, 1857-1862
1 18 Roland Griswold outgoing correspondence, 1850-1864
1 19-24 Lizzie Griswold incoming correspondence, 1849-1882 and undated
1 25 Lizzie Griswold outgoing correspondence, 1852-1864
1 26 Hubert Griswold outgoing letters to Lizzie, 1852-1869
1 27-28 Belle Griswold outgoing letters to her parents, 1882-1890 and undated
1 29-37 Belle Griswold outgoing letters to Lizzie, 1858-1885 and undated
Box Folder
2 1-3 Ogden Dewitt Griswold religious essays
2 4 Ogden Dewitt Griswold "Lyceum Themes"
2 5-6 Ogden Dewitt Griswold essays
2 7 Ogden Dewitt Griswold poems
2 8 Ogden Dewitt Griswold assorted writings
2 9 Unidentified family and non-family papers