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Hubbard family papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0075

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains papers related to the Hubbard family they include both business and personal papers, genealogical information, correspondence, information on fox hunting and historic preservation of various family properties including the Lindens of D.C. and the Custom House and Widehall of Chestertown.

The collection has been divided into five series: Series 1: Business Records; Series 2: Family Papers; Series 3: Fox Hunting; Series 4: Historic Preservation; and Series 5: Politics.

Dates

  • 1818-2002

Access restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Publication rights

Copyright has not been assigned to Washington College. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Washington College as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical Infromation

Wilbur Watson Hubbard (1860-1938) was born September 18 to Thomas Rumbold Hubbard (1831-1910) and Josephine Watson Hubbard. The Hubbard family has lived on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for generations. Thomas was a successful businessman and had moved to Chestertown to build a fertilizer factory. Upon his father’s death Wilbur W. was left sole heir and continued with the family businesses. Wilbur W. owned multiple fertilizer and cement businesses, served on boards and directors of banks and insurance companies, and owned the Imperial Hotel in Chestertown. In 1890 he married Etta Ross Hubbard (1864-1965) of Mexico, Missouri. Etta was passionate about historic preservation and politics serving as President of the Woman’s National Democratic Club. Their first child was Miriam Hubbard Morris (1891-1982) who inherited her mother’s love of historic preservation buying and restoring The Linden’s in Washington, D.C. Miriam married diplomat George Morris they had several children including Hiles Morris Garlick, Patricia Young, and Hugh Ross Morris. On the second of August Wilbur W. and Etta had a son, Wilbur Ross Hubbard (1896-1993), who also enjoyed historic preservation and the family’s enjoyment of fox hunting he served as Master of Hounds for several years. A lifelong bachelor, it is believed by the family that Wilbur R. was a member of the LBGTQ+ community and unable at the time to be open about it. After his graduation from Yale in 1920 he continued on with the family businesses and community projects. The family owned and lived in the Custom House, as well as the property across the road, Widehall. The Custom House today serves as the home of Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience.

Extent

16 Cubic Feet (31 boxes, 5 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial history

Materials were in the possession of the family.

Acquisition information

Gift of Kit Young, 2019.

Title
Finding Aid to the Hubbard Family Papers
Author
Various
Date
2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Washington College Archives & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown MD 21620