Flora Hale Foster family papers
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Abstract
Documents, correspondence, and ephemera compiled by and relating to the family of Flora Hale Foster, including her aunt Virginia Brooks Thompson McKelway, her uncle St. Clair McKelway, and her first cousin twice removed, Lansford Foster Chapman.
Biographical note
Flora Hale Foster was born in 1878 to Florida (also called Flora) Hale Thompson (b. 1853) and Charles W. Foster (d. 1885), who were married in 1874. After her parents' deaths she and her sister Virginia May Foster (b. 1882) became wards of their mother's sister Virginia Brooks Thompson McKelway and her husband St. Clair McElway.
St. Clair McKelway (1845-1915) was born in Missouri and grew up in New Jersey. He was the editorial writer for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1870 to 1878, and editor of the Albany Argus from 1878 to 1884. He was later editor-in-chief of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1884 to 1915. It was during this time that the newspaper became a local success and won a national reputation, and McKelway and his wife came to know many well-known figures of the day, including Mark Twain. McKelway was also a regent of the University of the State of New York from 1883 to 1915.
Flora Hale Foster's father Charles W. Foster was born to Thomas Lansford Foster (1823-1908) and Henrietta Pratt Foster (1828-1903). Thomas Lansford Foster had been born to Asa Lansford Foster (1798-1868) and Louisa Trott Chapman Foster (1801-1861). Louisa's brother Joseph H. Chapman (1803-1886) was the father of Major Lansford Foster Chapman (1834-1863), who died in the United States Civil War.
Arrangement
The items are arranged roughly chronologically.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of documents, correspondence, and ephemera compiled by and relating to the family of Flora Hale Foster, including her aunt Virginia Brooks Thompson McKelway, her uncle St. Clair McKelway, and her first cousin twice removed, Lansford Foster Chapman.
Items related to Foster's uncle St. Clair McKelway include two copies of a pamphlet on Queen Victoria written by McKelway, tributes and memorials to McKelway from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and the University of the State of New York, a program for a dinner hosted by the Lotus Club in honor of McKelway, and a copper etching depicting author Mark Twain, given to McKelway by Twain.
Also included are autograph books and correspondence of Foster's aunt, Virginia Brooks Thompson McKelway, and poems written by Foster and her sister, Virginia. The autograph books contain inscriptions from many well-known figures. Additional items include notes and a clipping regarding Foster's home, 25 Monroe Place in Brooklyn Heights, and a program for the dedication of a memorial flag and tablet to Major Lansford Foster Chapman of Pennsylvania, who was killed in the Civil War and was Foster's grandfather's first cousin.
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Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
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); Flora Hale Foster family papers, 1977.310, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Frederick Albright on behalf of the estate of Flora Hale Foster, 1967.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Originally minimally processed to the collection level, this collection was reprocessed by Dee Bowers in October 2023. At that time, the collection was renamed from the St. Clair McKelway papers to the Flora Hale Foster family papers to better reflect the collection's contents and provenance. In addition, two letters from McKelway to his wife were removed from the Brooklyn correspondence and miscellaneous manuscripts collection (1977.321) and integrated into this collection.
