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Thomas Dewart Collection Edit

Summary

Identifier
A.2001.036
Finding Aid Author
Leslie Albamonte
Finding Aid Date
March 31, 2022
Description Rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of Description
English
Series Statement
Arranged into 9 Series
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

  • 1852-1983 (Creation)

Extents

  • 9.3 Linear Feet (Whole)
    23 Boxes

Agent Links

Subjects

Notes

  • Preferred Citation

    [Identification of Item], Thomas Dewart Collection, Greenwich Historical Society

  • Conditions Governing Access

    Access to this collection is unrestricted.

  • Processing Information

    Processed by Leslie Albamonte, March 2022

  • Arrangement

    Arranged into 9 Series: Series 1: Frank Munsey

    Series 2: Frank O'Brien

    Series 3: Greenwich Estate

    Series 4: Mary Dewart

    Series 5: Thomas Dewart

    Series 6: Thomas Dewart, Jr.

    Series 7: William Dewart, Jr.

    Series 8: William T. Dewart

    Series 9: William Dewart, Sr.

  • Scope and Contents

    This collection consists of correspondence, photographs, drawings, and scrapbooks relating to publisher Thomas Dewart, his father William T. Dewart, and their publishing and business activities, especially their work on the New York Sun, purchased by Frank Munsey in 1912. Along with a selection of records from Munsey, the collection also includes records of the family estate in Greenwich, Connecticut and personal records of family members: Grandfather William Dewart Sr., Mother Mary Wheeler Dewart, Son Thomas Dewart Jr.

    The Collection is organized into nine series. Series 1, Frank Munsey, includes personal correspondences; Warren Harding correspondences; Calvin Coolidge correspondences; Estate information, including his Will; Legal information such as Bill of Sale to The Sun, Certificate of Incorporation, By Laws; Clippings of Munsey death

    Series 2: Frank O'Brien just includes one folder. O'Brien was the editor of The Sun and received a variety of important correspondences which include original letters from: Amelia Earhart, Arthur Conan Doyle, Doc Carver, Eleanor Roosevelt, among many others.

    Series 3 includes correspondences, information, statements, invoices from the Greenwich Estate that William, Mary and Thomas lived. "Willmary Manor" on North Street.

    Series 4 includes various correspondences to and from Mary Wheeler Dewart, mother of Thomas Dewart. Includes final estate information, clippings, legal documents.

    Series 5 includes Thomas Dewarts records divided into 5 subseries. Correspondences, both professional and personal; Clippings/Photographs; Legal/Financial Information; Miscellaneous records; and records dealing directly with the management of The Sun.

    Series 6 includes the information and correspondences Thomas kept regarding his son, Thomas Dewart Jr. and his time as a professional juggler.

    Series 7 includes just two folders which entail correspondences to and from William Dewart Sr., the grandfather to Thomas Dewart. Also included are obituary clippings, a small portrait and a photograph of the grave.

    Series 8 includes records of William Dewart and makes up the bulk of this collection. There are 7 sub-series including Correspondences (Professional, personal and miscellaneous), Clippings, Death information, Financial records, Legal records, Photographs, and Realia. Correspondences of note include William Randolph Hearst, Herbert Hoover, Rockefeller family, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Thomas Wheeler, as well as information on Minerva and the Bellringers in Herald Square. Realia of note include feather pens gifted by Munsey as well as his own pens used for purchase of The Sun, and other significant transactions.

    Series 9 includes records of William Dewart, Jr., brother of Thomas Dewart. Included is correspondences, clippings, and Estate information.

  • Biography

    Thomas Wheeler Dewart, born on Oct. 1, 1910, in New York City, joined The Sun in 1931 as assistant treasurer under the tutelage of his father, William T. Dewart. Thomas Dewart became president and publisher in 1944. On Jan. 4, 1950, Mr. Dewart and his family sold The Sun to the New York World-Telegram, a Scripps-Howard newspaper. The combination became The World-Telegram and Sun. Its name disappeared in a merger with The New York Herald Tribune in 1966; its successor, The World Journal Tribune, closed in 1967.

    Thomas Dewart was married on June 7, 1941 to Elinore Hoelzel (Divorced April 1972), together they had 3 children - Mary Dewart Dooney, Phyllis Dewart Greene, Thomas Wheeler Dewart Jr.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He died on Sept. 2, 2001 at his home in Greenwich, Conn. He was 90. He was survived by his wife of 28 years, Elizabeth Landman Dewart. Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/05/nyregion/thomas-dewart-90-publisher-of-the-sun.html

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