Godfrey Lowell Cabot Papers

1870-1962

Guide to the Collection

Collection Summary

Biographical Sketch

Collection Description

Related Materials

Processing Note

Acquisition Information

Restrictions on Access

Detailed Description of the Collection

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Note: This collection is PARTIALLY PROCESSED.

Table of Contents

Collection Summary

Biographical Sketch

Collection Description

Related Materials

Processing Note

Acquisition Information

Restrictions on Access

Detailed Description of the Collection

Creator:	Cabot, Godfrey Lowell, 1861-1962.
Title:	Godfrey Lowell Cabot papers
Dates:	1870-1962
Physical Description:	73 boxes, 12 vols. and 1 oversize box
Call Number:	Ms. N-1979
Repository:	Massachusetts Historical Society 1154 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215 library@masshist.org

Abstract:

This collection includes the papers of businessman, inventor and aviation pioneer Godfrey Lowell Cabot of Boston, Mass. Included are his personal correspondence, diaries, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and writings (including typescripts). Also included are correspondence and cash accounts of Godfrey L. Cabot, Inc. regarding the manufacture of carbon black. Also includes papers related to Cabot's involvement in aviation including correspondence and subject files related to patents, the Aero Club of New England, the Aero Pickup Service Corps; and papers related to Cabot's role as U.S. Navy pilot during World War I, 1917-18.

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Godfrey Lowell Cabot was born in Boston on 26 February 1861, the son of Samuel and Hannah Lowell (Jackson) Cabot. He graduated from Harvard College in 1882 and did post-graduate work at Zurich Polytechnicum, the University of Switzerland, Harvard, and Norwich University. He married Maria B. Moors on 23 June 1890. Cabot became a successful businessman and manufacturer of carbon black. He was active in community affairs and served as secretary of the New England Watch and Ward Society and as trustee of many institutions. In addition, Cabot was a famous aviation pioneer, a U.S. Navy pilot during World War I, and a noted philanthropist. He died on 2 November 1962.

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Cabot's papers contain his personal correspondence, diaries, business and financial records, and photographs. There are separate files for Harvard University, the New England Watch and Ward Society, and the Maria Moors Cabot Foundation. The largest series, however, relates to Cabot's involvement in aviation.

The aviation papers consist of boxes (numbered 29-60) are arranged in chronological order by year and, within each year, in alphabetical order under correspondent or subject. In some places, Cabot's outgoing and incoming correspondence are in separate files for the same year.

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The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) holds the following collections related to the Godfrey Lowell Cabot papers:

Godfrey Lowell Cabot photographs, ca. 1878-1962. Photo. Coll. 218.

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The Godfrey Lowell Cabot papers are only partially processed. This guide contains a complete box and folder list for the largest series, the Aviation Papers, and a preliminary box list for the remainder of the collection. The Aviation Papers have been arranged chronologically by year, and alphabetical order within each year.

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Given by Ralph Bradley, 1969.

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Note: This collection is PARTIALLY PROCESSED.

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Harvard Papers, 1927-1941
Materials pertaining to alumni activities of the Class of 1882.

Harvard Class of 1882

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Box	Contents
	Papers, 1870-1969 General correspondence and miscellaneous papers.
Box 1		1870-1889
Box 2		1890-1899
Box 3		1900-1909
Box 4		1906-1909
Box 5		1910-1919
Box 6		1919-1929
Box 7		1930-1939
Box 8		1940-1949
Box 9		1950-1959
Box 10		1950-1969
Box 11		1950-1969
Box 12		1950-1969
			Table of Contents


Box	Contents
	Business Correspondence, 1934-1962 Materials relating to Godfrey L. Cabot, Inc.
Box 20		1934-1937
Box 21		Miscellaneous business correspondence
Box 22		1938-1962
			Table of Contents


Box	Contents
	Aviation Papers, 1892-1959 This series is arranged chronologically by year. Each year is in alphabetical order according to correspondent or subject. In some places, Cabot's outgoing and incoming correspondence are in separate files for the same year.
Box 29		Printed Materials
		1892-1915
Box 30			Patent, 1892
Box 30			Patent, 1893
Box 30			GLC Aviation, 31 Dec 1903
Box 30			Aviation Misc., 1905
Box 30			Patents, 1912
Box 30			Invoices, 1914
Box 30			Aero Club of America, 1915
Box 30			Aviation Misc., 1915
Box 30			Blueprints, 1915
Box 30			Burgess Co., 1915
Box 30			Conference Committee on National Preparedness, 1915
Box 30			National Aeroplane Fund, 1915
Box 30			Patents, 1915
Box 30			U.S. Government, Navy Department, 1915
Box 30			U.S. Government, War Department, 1915
		1916: A-B
Box 31			Aerial Age Weekly
Box 31			Aero Club of America, (Jan.-Dec.)
Box 31			Aero Club of New England
Box 31			American Airship Co.
Box 31			Aviation Misc.
Box 31			Aviation & Aeronautical Engineering
Box 31			Blueprints
Box 31			Burgess Co.
Box 31			Burns, Walter G., & Co.
		1916: C-W
Box 32			Cabot, Cabot, & Forbes
Box 32			Cameron Engineering Co.
Box 32			Curtiss Marne Flying Trophy
Box 32			Eastern Aeroplane Co., Inc.
Box 32			Harvard University
Box 32			Hathaway, Josiah
Box 32			Howard, Henry
Box 32			Invitations
Box 32			Legal
Box 32			Mass., Commonwealth of
Box 32			Mass. Institute of Technology
Box 32			National Aeroplane Fund
Box 32			Newspaper Clippings
Box 32			Phillips, John C.
Box 32			Plympton, Stevens, & Perrin
Box 32			Quill, D.W.
Box 32			Read, Edward Sears
Box 32			Sloane Manufacturing Co.
Box 32			Sturtevant, B.F., Co.
Box 32			Thomas Aeromotor Co., Inc.
Box 32			Transcontinental Aeroplane Contest
			U.S. Government files
Box 32				House of Representatives
Box 32				House Ways and Means Committee
Box 32				Navy Department
Box 32				First Naval District, Misc.
Box 32				Headquarters Eastern Division
Box 32				Mass. Volunteer Militia, Naval Militia, Dept. of (Boston)
Box 32				National Aerial Coast Patrol Commission
Box 32				Naval Aeronautics, Office of
Box 32				Naval Militia Affairs, Washington
Box 32				9th Deck Division, Naval Militia Mass.
Box 32				Secretary of the Navy
Box 32				U.S. Naval Aeronautic Station, Pensacola, FL
Box 32				Post Office Dept.
Box 32				Senate
Box 32				Lodge, Henry C., Private Land Claim Committee
Box 32				Weeks, John W.
Box 32				War Department
Box 32				Chief Signal Officer, Office of
Box 32				Wright Co.
		1917
Box 33			Aero Club of America
Box 33			Aero Club of France
Box 33			Aero Club of New England
Box 33			American Bridge Co.
Box 33			Armstrong, Harry Y.
Box 33			Aviation Misc.
Box 33			Aviation
Box 33			Torpedo Carrying Seaplane, GLC & Rear Admiral Fiske
Box 33			Aviation & Aeronautical Engineering
Box 34			Burgess Co.
Box 34			Callan, John Gurney
Box 34			Cameron Engineering Co.
Box 34			Fiske, B.A.
Box 34			Flying
Box 34			Hamer Improved Washer Co.
Box 34			Hopkins, Nelson S.
Box 34			Hyde, William Albert
Box 34			Marshall, Henry Newton
Box 34			Massachusetts, Commonwealth of
			Massachusetts Institute of Technology files
Box 34				Klennin, Alexander
Box 34				Misc.
Box 34				U.S. Naval Aviation Detachment
Box 34			Misc.
Box 34			Misery Island Hangar
Box 34			Newsclippings
Box 34			Patent
Box 34			Saugus Property
Box 34			Savage Arms Corp.
Box 34			Simplex Automobile Co.
Box 34			Sperry Gyroscope Co.
Box 34			Sturtevant, B.F., Co.
Box 34			U.S. Government, Misc.
			U.S. Government, Navy Dept. files
Box 34				Blood, John Bald (Commanding Officer),
Box 34				First Naval District, Aide for Information
Box 34				First Naval District, Office of Aviation Aide
Box 34				First Naval District, Aviation Station, Marblehead, Mass.
Box 35				Boston Navy Yard, Commandant, Office of
Box 35				First Naval District, Marblehead, Mass., April-August.
Box 35				Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
Box 35				Mustin, Henry C.
Box 35				Naval Consulting Board of the U.S.
Box 35				Naval Operations, Chief of
Box 35				9th Deck Division
Box 35				Secretary of the Navy
Box 35				U.S. Navy Aeronautic Station
Box 35				U.S. Navy Aeronautic Station, Senate
Box 35				Treasury Department
Box 35				War Department
Box 35				Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation
		1918
Box 36			Aero Club of America
Box 36			Aero Club of New England
Box 36			Alexander, M.J., Mfg. Co., Inc.
Box 36			Aviation Misc.
Box 36			Blueprint
Box 36			Burgess Co.
Box 36			Clark, Merrill E.
Box 36			Fiske, B.A.
Box 36			Flying
Box 36			Harvard University
Box 36			Marshall, N.
Box 36			Mass., Commonwealth of
Box 36			Mass. Institute of Technology
Box 36			U.S. Naval Aviation Detachment
Box 36			Misc.
Box 36			Murray & Tregurtha Co.
Box 36			National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics
Box 36			Newton, J.H.
Box 36			Northeastern College
Box 36			Patents
Box 36			Reports
Box 36			Savage Arms Co.
Box 36			Sperry Gyroscope Co.
Box 36			Splitorf Electrical Co.
			U.S. Government files
Box 36				Post Office, Air Mail Service, Monthly Report of Operations & Maintenance
Box 37				Aircraft Board
Box 37				Commerce Dept., Bulletins on Visibility & Camouflage in War
Box 37				Commerce Dept., Bureau of Standards
Box 37				Report on Special Transmission
Box 37				Committee on Public Information
Box 37				Misc.
Box 37				Navy Dept., Bureau of Supplies & Accounts
Box 37				First Naval District Aviation Aide Office
Box 37				Bureau of Aircraft Production Bureau of Construction & Repair
Box 37				Bureau of Navigation
Box 37				Bureau of Steam Engineering
Box 37				Office of Chief of Staff
Box 37				Commandant, Office of
Box 37				District Communications Officer
Box 37				District Detail Officer
Box 37				District Disbursing Officer
Box 37				District Enrolling Officer
Box 37				District Supply Officer
Box 37				Misc.
Box 37				Naval Reserve Flying Corps
Box 37				Office of Naval Force Commander
Box 37				Fiske, B.A., Rear Admiral
Box 37				Misc.
Box 37				Naval Air Stations
Box 37				Chatham, Mass.
Box 37				Hampton Roads, Va.
Box 37				Naval Operating Base
Box 37				Office of Naval Operations
Box 37				Secretary of the Navy
Box 37				War Dept., Aviation Examining Board
Box 37				War Dept., Chemical Warfare Service
Box 37				War Dept., National Aeronautic Committee
Box 37				War Dept., Misc.
Box 37				War Dept., Army
Box 37				War Dept., Chief Signal Officer, Office of
Box 37				War Dept., Headquarters, Northeastern Dept.
Box 37				War Dept., Military Aeronautics Dept.
Box 37				War Dept., Misc.
Box 37			Whittemore-Hamm Co.
Box 37			Wilson, J.J.
Box 37			Wilson, H.B., & Co.
Box 37			Wright-Martin Aircraft Co.
		1919
Box 38			Aero Club of America
Box 38			Aero Club of Massachusetts
Box 38			Aero Club of New England
Box 38			Aero Club of Texas, Inc.
Box 38			Aerial League of America
Box 38			Aviation Misc.
Box 38			Blueprints
Box 38			Burgess Co.
Box 38			Curtis, Greeley S.
Box 38			Flying
Box 38			Invitations
Box 38			Mass., Commonwealth of
Box 38			Saugus Property
			U.S. Government files
Box 38				Interior Dept., U.S. Patent Office
Box 38				Navy Dept., Construction & Repair Bureau, Captain H.C. Mustin, U.S.N.
Box 38				Navy Dept., First Naval District
Box 38				Navy Dept., Commandant, Office of
Box 38				Navy Dept., Communication Superintendent
Box 38				Navy Dept., Detail Officer
Box 38				Navy Dept., Disbursing Officer
Box 38				Navy Dept., Recorder
Box 38				Navy Dept., Supply Officer
Box 38				Navy Dept., Misc.
Box 38				Navy Dept., Naval Operations Office
Box 38				Navy Dept., Navy Cost Inspector
Box 38				Navy Dept., Secretary of the Navy
Box 38				Navy Dept., U.S. Naval Air Station, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, West Virginia
Box 38				Post Office Dept., Airmail Service, Monthly Reports of
Box 38				Post Office Dept., Operations & Maintenance
Box 38				Post Office Dept., Eastern Division
Box 38				Post Office Dept., Misc. Division
Box 38				Post Office Dept., Western Division
Box 38				War Dept.
Box 38			Wright-Martin Aircraft Corp.
		1920
Box 39			Aerial Age Weekly
Box 39			Aerial League of America
Box 39			Aerial League of the World
Box 39			Aerial Service Corp.
Box 39			Aero Club of America
Box 39			Aero Club of Massachusetts
Box 39			Aero Club of New England
Box 39			Aero Clubs of Minnesota
Box 39			Aeromarine West Indies Airways, Inc.
Box 39			Aeronautic Library, Inc.
Box 39			Aircraft Fireproofing Corp.
Box 39			Air Service News Letter
Box 39			American Aerial Corp.
Box 39			Aviation Misc.
Box 39			Pamphlets
Box 39			Patents
			U.S. Government files

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http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0146
Send reference questions to library@masshist.org.

Aviation papers arranged by Matthew Van Heynigan, August 1995.
Revised 13 April 2005
Encoded by Aimée Primeaux, Jan. 2005

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