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Gardner Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SpC MS 0784

Dates

  • Creation: 1830-1939
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1880-1930

Restrictions on Access

Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility. One week's notice required for retrieval.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Rights assessment remains the responsibility of the researcher. No known restrictions.

Biographical Note

John Gardner, born in 1801, was the principal surveyor in Calais, Maine from about 1830 until his death in 1888. He did original layouts for many towns and roads in eastern Washington County. He was also a schoolteacher and served several terms as county commissioner after the Civil War. After his death, his son, Benjamin Gardner, took over the business for a short time until his son, Benjamin E. Gardner, returned to Calais in the late 1890s. Benjamin E. Gardner was a civil engineer and land surveyor. As city engineer he laid out the sewers in Calais, and in 1904 laid out the town of Woodland. He also made preliminary surveys at Grand Falls for the Great Northern Paper Company. Much of his work was with local attorneys doing land title research. Benjamin E. Gardner died in 1939.

Biographical Note

Richard Vose Hayden, born in 1795, came to Robbinston as a schoolmaster in the 1820s and then began surveying land in eastern Washington County. He and John Gardner frequently worked together and when Hayden died, Gardner acquired some of his plans and papers. He also took Hayden's place as the principal land surveyor in the area.

Extent

1 box

13 map drawers (circa 675 items)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series: I. General files and II. Maps and plans. The maps are arranged alphabetically by individual community, followed by maps of Washington County and the state of Maine as a whole.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of John Gardner, Mystic, Connecticut, in 1994.

Related Materials

The researcher should note that the Special Collections Department of Fogler Library also holds a collection of papers of Richard V. Hayden (MS 233), primarily daily diaries from 1821 to 1867.

Title
Guide to the Gardner Family Papers
Status
Box And Folder List Available
Author
Staff of the Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collection Department.
Date
updated August 2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
Orono ME 04469-5729 United States
207-581-1686