Summary

Identifier

A.2015.014

Finding Aid Author

Leslie Albamonte

Finding Aid Date

2/9/2022

Description Rules

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Language of Description

English

Series Statement

The collection is arranged into six series, with each series arranged chronologically. The sub-series containing the Subject Files are arranged alphabetically.

Finding Aid Note

Part of the Manuscript Collections, Greenwich Historical Society www.greenwichhistory.org Contact: Christopher Shields, Curator of Library and Archives 47 Strickland Road Cos Cob, CT 06807 United Stated cshields@greenwichhistory.org

Dates

• 1964-2008 (Creation)

Extents

• 3 Linear Feet (Whole)
  7 Letter size document cases, 1 Letter size half size document case 1 small object box

Subjects

• Connecticut--History

• Greenwich (Conn. : Town)

• Women--Societies and Clubs

• Political Activity

• Party Affiliation

• Political Campaigns

• Community Involvement

• Community participation

• Politicians

• Connecticut--Politic and Government--1951-

• United States--Politics and Government

Notes

• Abstract

  Lydia Stevens (1918-2014) served in the legislature as a Connecticut State Representative from 1988-1992. The collection consists of political and personal correspondences, clippings, speeches, reports and memorabilia, which reflect Stevens' participation in State and local politics and in numerous civic and charitable organizations.

• Arrangement

  Arranged into 6 series: Correspondences, Events, Legislative Records, Local Affiliations, Objects, Press

• Scope and Contents

  The papers of Lydia Hastings Stevens (1918-2014) span the years 1964-2008, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The collection is composed primarily of correspondence, printed matter, and material relating to state and local politics, supplemented by notebooks, speeches, research notes, press clippings, and miscellaneous items.

  The Legislative Records series document Stevens’ time as a Connecticut State Representative from 1988-1992. Sub-series include Campaign Materials, Legislative Information such as voting records, and Legislative Records arranged by subject.

  The Correspondence Series include 3 journals, personal and professional letters, and correspondences from constituents. Correspondences of note include Governor Lowell P. Weicker, Sally Bolster, Eunice Groark and Joan Tweedy.

  The majority of the materials are in the Local Affiliation series. Arranged by Subject and then chronologically, materials are arranged into six sub-series: Children & Education, Environment, General, Housing, United Way, and Women.

  The other series include Press and Photographs, Events, and Objects, which include a commemorative gavel and plaque.

• Preferred Citation

  [Identification of Item], Lydia Stevens Collection, Greenwich Historical Society

• Conditions Governing Access

  Access to this collection is unrestricted.

• Biography

  Lydia Hastings Stevens was born August 2, 1918 in Highland Park, Ill. to Rolland Thomas Rankin Hastings and Ruth Shotwell Beebe. She lived a life of service to family and community, always expressing appreciation for the opportunities life presented. A role model for four generations she was an avid gardener, sailor, birdwatcher, world traveler, lifelong community activist and committed environmentalist. She lived fully with dignity, humor, integrity and compassion. She graduated from Vassar College in 1939 and continued as an active Vassar alumna for many decades. She married George Cooke Stevens (Yale '36) of Wallingford in 1940. They lived in New Haven, and Mineola, NY then moved to Greenwich, in 1949 where they raised their six children.

  Lydia Stevens devoted over half a century of her life to the people and institutions of Greenwich. She served as president of the YWCA board and chaired its building committee, which oversaw the construction of its new building that opened in 1970. She was chairman of the Greenwich Commission on Aging, first president of the Greenwich Housing Coalition, consultant to the Carver Center of the Bethel A.M.E. Church, trustee of the Greenwich Public Library and of the United Way where she served as vice president of planning and chairman of the planning council. She was first winner of the YWCA's President's Award and was Greenwich Council of Churches and Synagogues Lay Person of the Year. She was trustee of the League of Women Voters, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, Save the Sound and the Fairfield County Fund. She served as consultant to the International Executive Service Corps. A devout Episcopalian, she worked in many capacities as a lay leader at Christ Church, Greenwich and served as its first female senior warden starting in 1981. She worked on projects for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and was affiliated with the Alban Institute of Washington, DC Following her husband's death in 1977 she served as president of the Greenwich Broadcasting Corporation, parent company of WGCH where he had been president. She was twice elected, as a Republican, to represent the 151st district in the Connecticut General Assembly in 1988 and 1990. She continued to work on local issues in Greenwich after retiring from the legislature. In 2002 she moved full time to Guilford, to the home she and her husband designed with architect Fred Vogt in the 1970s. Lydia Beebe Hastings, 95, of Guilford, died peacefully at her home, February 25, 2014.

• Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

  This collection consists entirely of paper documents and photographs, which do not require any additional technology for access.

• Source of Acquisition

  Priscilla S. Goldfarb, daughter, 2014

• Processing Information

  Processed by Leslie Albamonte, February 2022

Components

• Record Tree
• Search Components