Overview of Collection
Hotchkin family, Clift family and M. Louise (Clift) Green
H 929 MSS Hotchkin
Hotchkin Sisters Papers,
1862-1956.
1.5 linear feet in 2 manuscript boxes
Biographies of the Hotchkin family and the Clift family
Introduction: Although it is not entirely clear how they were originally linked, the Hotchkin family and the Clift family are now together indefinitely in this, their North Jersey History Center archival collection. How the two sets of family files came to rest together is unknown however, what is apparent from the collection are the potential overlapping circumstances of the subjects; members of both families either lived or worked in the Morris County/Summit area at roughly the same time period; both heads of the family served in the Civil War; M. Louise (Clift) Greene was a photographer who may have photographed the Hotchkin sisters' band at some point in their career; also, the youngest Hotchkin daughter, Hattie, was only a year older than Minnie Louise, the youngest Clift child. It is quite possible the two artistic women at least knew of each other, if they were not in fact friends.
Hotchkin family: George Nelson Hotchkin was born in western New York state in 1825, married Elizabeth C. Bixby in 1848 and fought with the Union Army when he was in his late 30's, from 1861 to 1863. He fathered at least 7, possibly 9, children, the youngest four of whom became the Hotchkin Sisters Concert Co. and Bell Ringers.
Hotchkin Sisters Concert Co. and Bell Ringers: Towards the end of the 19th century, circa 1880-1898, the sisters Eliza, Anna, Julia and Harriet (Hattie) Hotchkin, formed a highly talented and successful group of musicians. An 1896-1897 newspaper promotional program billed them as, "among the FIRST in their inimitable instrumental, vocal and Bell Ringing Entertainments". Travelling up and down the Eastern half of the United States, even as far north as Toronto, Canada to Maryland in the south, the Hotchkin Sisters performed in Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregationalist, Reform, Episcopal and Baptist churches. Renowned for their performances with Staff Bells, Swiss Bells and Russian Sleigh Bells, they were also accomplished on at least nine other instruments.
Apart from churches, the highly talented sisters also performed for schools and organizations, sometimes as a quartet and sometimes as a trio. While it is not certain if all four sisters were in the band, or even a part of the band at the same time, it is known that other women musicians performed with them as well. It appears that Anna and Hattie were the most talented of the four girls. The youngest daughter Hattie was such an accomplished violinist that she gained a reputation "as the second Camilla Urso", a renowned female violinist of the late 19th century.
Clift family: John Atkins Clift was born in England in 1834. He came to the United States in 1845, married Margaret Gurnee in 1855 and moved to New Jersey in 1857. In 1862, John A. Clift enlisted with Company C of the 15th New Jersey Volunteers. He served in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps under Brigade Commander A.T.A. Torbert. John A. Clift fought in many Civil War battles and was wounded often, finally returning to New Jersey in 1865, moving to Green Village, Morris County of that year. He worked in Morristown as a shoemaker and held many official roles in that town. He was a sexton with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1866, was appointed Chief of Police of Morristown in 1880, was elected Justice of the Peace in 1882 and was re-elected to that position in 1887. He was the father of six children. The second oldest child was John William Clift who later became an editor of the Morris County Chronicle, a newspaper in Morristown, which then became the Jerseyman. John Atkins Clift was also the father of Minnie Louise Clift, his youngest child.
M. Louise (Clift) Greene: Minnie Louise was the youngest daughter of John Atkins Clift, a prominent Morristown citizen of the late 19th century. Born September 12, 1871, she married Robert E. Greene (sometimes spelled without an e) of Boonton, New Jersey at the age of 23. In 1894 they moved to Summit New Jersey where her husband set up a jewelry and watchmaking business. Louise also began her own business at that time, running a photographic establishment in Summit. Around 1910 the Greenes moved to Speedwell Avenue in Morristown. By 1911, M. Louise is listed in the Morristown Business Directory under Photographers. Even after her husband died in 1914, M. Louise continued to live and work in Morristown, eventually moving to King Street, then to Spring Place, until 1938. It is believed that M. Louise Greene spent her final days at The Methodist Home for the Aged in Ocean Grove, New Jersey in the late 1940's.
Sources:
The Jerseyman, September 28, 1844; p. 2.
Descendants of John Hotchkin of Guilford, CT; http://hotchkinfamilyhistory.com/p10.htm#i278. Accessed July 22, 2008.
CAMILLA URSO DEAD. Well-Known Violiniste Succumbs to an Operation in This City; http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9503E4DF1530E733A25751C2A9679C946397D6CF. Accessed July 28, 2008.
HM6 Dir-
Morristown Business Directory, 1911; 1912; 1914; 1916; 1917; 1918; 1919.
H VF Green-
Green family vertical file.
Related materials in this Repository
- Call number - Item description and/or title, dates.
- H929 MSS Greene - M. Louise Greene Photograph Collection, not dated.
Scope and Content of the Papers
The diaries, scrapbooks, and photograph albums of this collection focus on the Hotchkin and Clift Families of northern New Jersey and western New York. The collection contains performance information on the Hotchkin Sisters, a family of bell ringers in the late 19th century and genealogical and personal information on the Clift family of both Morristown and Summit, New Jersey.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection has been arranged into two series. Both series are arranged chronologically, by the earliest date represented in each folder.
Series I: Hotchkin family, circa 1885-1898.
This series contains photographs of the Bell Ringers musical group, diaries kept by three of the sisters and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings compiled by Anna Hotchkins. The photographs are professionally taken images most likely meant for use as publicity, while the newspaper clippings, as well as an occasional program, date from 1885-1896. The diaries, kept by Anna, Hattie and Julia, date from 1888-1998. They provide a detailed account of the bands' travels, the audiences for whom they performed, and the organizations responsible for sponsoring their entertainment. The diaries are also rich with a host of mundane details; from the relatives and friends with whom they corresponded, to the weather, their headaches and and the baseball game they attended.
Series II: Clift family,1862-1956.
This series contains the following items: a poem believed to be written by John A. Clift while he served in the Union army, a newspaper article mentioning Clift's brief employment as Morristown's Chief of Police, a Clift Genealogy booklet, a photo album whose scenes are of Clift family members in Summit, New Jersey, and two scrapbooks by Minnie Louise Clift. One of the scrapbooks contained only two pictures, and because it was in such poor physical condition, the photographs were removed and the book itself was discarded. The other scrapbook is a notebook into which clippings, photographs, correspondence, postcards and a poem, were adhered.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open to researchers. Records may be copied for use in individual scholarly or personal research, however, as with all materials in the North Jersey History Center researchers are responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use material from the collection. Material in the Hotchkin Sisters Papers, 1862-1956 may be photocopied, but because this material is a permanent part of the History Center's collections, researchers are advised to photocopy with care, using only the edge copier for bound material.
Acquisition Information
Donated to the North Jersey History Center in 1978.
Preferred Citation
Hotchkin Sisters Papers, 1862-1956. North Jersey History Center, The Morristown and Morris Township Library.
Processing Information
Arranged by Rachel Miller, intern, June 2008. Finding Aid described and encoded by Mary McMahon Dawson, July 2008.
Container List
Series I: Hotchkin family, 1888-1898.
1
1
Photographs: Hotckin Sisters Concert Company and Bell Ringers [12], circa 1880-1895.
1
2
Photograph album: Hotckin Sisters Concert Company and Bell Ringers, circa 1880-1897.
1
3
Anna Hotchkin's scrapbook, 1886-1896.
1
4
Anna Hotchkin's diaries [3], 1888; 1890-1891; 1893.
1
5
Hattie Hotchkin's diaries [2], 1889; 1890.
1
6
Hattie Hotchkin's diary; Maine postcards [3], 1893-1895; 1898; not dated.
1
7
Julia Hotchkin's diary, 1894.
Series II: Clift family, 1862-1956.
2
1
Poem and Clipping: Do They Miss Me at Home; newspaper clipping on Morristown's Police Chiefs, 1862-1865; circa 1951.
2
2
Genealogy or Family Tree, by J.W. Clift, circa 1890-1900.
> 2
3
Clift photograph album (Summit, New Jersey), circa 1900-1950.
2
4
Minnie Louise Green's scrapbook [1 of 2; 2 items], circa 1900-1956.
2
5
Minnie Louise Green's scrapbook [2 of 2; 1 item], circa 1900-1956.