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Calvin E. Pratt papers

Call Number

1977.287

Dates

1852-1896, inclusive
; 1861-1886, bulk

Creator

Pratt, Calvin E.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet in one folder.

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

This collection consists of papers spanning 1852 to 1896 and documenting the personal life and military and law careers of Calvin E. Pratt of Brooklyn.

Biographical note

Calvin E. Pratt (1828-1896) was a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court and resided at 1489 Pacific Street in Brooklyn. He was born in Princeton, MA, and began studying law in 1849. He was admitted to the bar in 1852. Pratt later served with the National Guard of the State of Massachusetts and was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Worcester, MA before relocating to New York to continue legal practice. He married Susan Ruggles of Brooklyn in 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Pratt organized the 31st Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry, in which he was appointed Colonel. During the Battle of Mechanicsville in 1862, Pratt suffered a bullet wound to his left cheekbone, which would cause him much suffering throughout the ensuing decades and which was not removed until 1891. After the War, Pratt returned to practice law in Brooklyn, and in 1865 and 1866 he served as Collector of Internal Revenue for Kings and Queens Counties. In 1869, he was appointed a Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the Second Judicial District of New York State, a position he held until his death in Rochester, MA. Pratt was survived by his wife and several daughters.

Source

  1. "Justice C.E. Pratt Dead." New York Times, August 4, 1896. Accessed June 20, 2011. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0712FE355E10738DDDAD0894D0405B8685F0D3

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one folder by type.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of papers spanning 1852 to 1896 and documenting the personal life and military and law careers of Calvin E. Pratt of Brooklyn. Materials include business correspondence; military orders, reports, and correspondence, including letters from various individuals to United States Secretary of War Edwin Stanton endorsing Pratt; news clippings; biographical notes; Pratt's marriage certificate; a certificate designating Pratt a Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts; a printed speech delivered by Pratt at the 1885 reunion of the Army of the Potomac; memorial items; and Pratt's certificate of election to the New York State Supreme Court.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to users without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

Material in this collection is in the public domain. While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); Calvin E. Pratt papers, 1977.287, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Malcolm P. Aldrich, 1963.

Separated Materials

A medal and epaulets from this collection were transferred to the Center for Brooklyn History Art and Artifacts collection.

Collection processed by

Nicholas Pavlik

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-11-22 18:59:21 +0000.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Processing Information

Minimally processed to the collection level. This collection was originally arranged into eight folders along with multiple photocopies of the materials. The archivist determined the materials were in good enough condition that the photocopies were not necessary and discarded them. Without the photocopies the collection was able to be housed in one folder. Newspaper clippings were photocopied and the originals discarded.

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society

Container

Box: A0023 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201