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Fred Harvey Papers

 Collection
Identifier: AC 520

Scope and Content

Collection contains correspondence, notes, ephemeral items, financial materials, and legal documents of the Fred Harvey company as well as personal papers of Fred Harvey and his extended families. The papers originated from three Fred Harvey great-grandchildren (Steward, Dagget, and Helen). While assembled as one collection, the three entities have mostly been retained.

Dates

  • 1858-1990
  • Majority of material found in 1900-1985

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of print materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Biographical Information

Frederick H. Harvey was born in 1835 in London, UK, emigrated to the United States in 1850 where he started the famous Harvey House railroad enterprise. Fred Harvey and his wife Barbara S. (Mattas) had five children, Ford F., Byron S., Marie J. (Hall), Sybil M. and Minnie B. (Huckel). Fred Harvey died 1901. The children, along with some of their children, continued the Harvey House enterprises until the 1960s.

The chart below should assist in navigating through this collection. For a complete family tree please view copy in Box 1, Folder 2.

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Organizational Information

The Fred Harvey Company started in 1875 when Fred Harvey opened two eating houses along the Kansas Pacific Railway. In 1878 Harvey started the first of his eating house-hotel establishments along the ATSF tracks and a rapid growth of Harvey Houses soon followed. The Fred Harvey Company also became famous for promoting the American Southwest in the late 19th century. The company successfully brought new and higher dining standards to the Western United States. The Fred Harvey Company continued to flourish in the 20th century with the rise of the automobile. The Fred Harvey legacy was continued in the family until 1965 when the company was sold.

Extent

5.5 Linear Feet

Related Material

The most recent and most comprehensive biography of the Fred Harvey business is Stephen Fried's Appetite for America (New York: Bantam Books, 2010). A copy of his book is available in the Chávez Library.
Title
Fred Harvey Papers, 1858-1990
Status
Edited Full Draft
Date
©2010 - updated ©2014
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the Fray Angélico Chávez History Library Repository

Contact:
Fray Angélico Chávez History Library
New Mexico History Museum
113 Lincoln Ave
Sante Fe NM 87501 USA
(505) 476-5090