Dillingham Family papers
MS 257
Woodson Research Center
1.25 linear ft.
1858-1958
The Dillingham Family Papers, consisting of approximately 900 items or 1.25 linear feet, follows the history of a prominent Texas family from 1858 to 1958. Correspondence, manuscripts, printed material, photographs, journals, poetry, and newspaper clippings show the life style of a family who moved into Texas during the prosperous era of the late nineteenth century and played an important role in developing both the social and economic framework of Houston.
Acquisition Information
The collection was a gift of the Dillingham family on 3 June 1966.
Preferred Citation
Dillingham Family Papers, 1858-1958, MS 257, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish from the Dillingham Family Papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions; this material is open for research.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged chronologically with respect to the individuals involved. Most letters are filed according to the person who wrote them, unless there are only one or two from an individual, in which case the letter is filed according to whom it was sent.
Scope and Contents
The collection of the Dillingham Family Papers, consisting of approximately 900 items or 1.25 linear feet, follows the history of a prominent Texas family from 1858 to 1958. Correspondence, manuscripts, printed material, photographs, journals, poetry, and newspaper clippings show the life style of a family who moved into Texas during the prosperous era of the late nineteenth century and played an important role in developing both the social and economic framework of Houston.
The main portion of the collection is correspondence between various family members, with most written by the children and grandchildren of Charles K. Dillingham, who settled in Houston and played an integral part in the development of a predecessor bank of the Texas Commerce Bank. He, his wife Frances Cutter Dillingham, and their two children, Edwin K. and Mary Pauline, were very active socially, and the Dillingham name remains important in Houston.
Originally from Vermont, some of the members of the Dillingham family remained there and contributed to the prosperity of that state. Paul Dillingham was governor of Vermont, and his son William served as a United States Senator for several years. Both the personal and business papers of these men are included in the collection.
Biographical Note
Three Dillingham brothers "came to Salem with Winthrop in 1630" from Leicestershire in England. A member of the fourth generation, Paul Dillingham (1799-1891) lived in Waterbury, Vermont where he was a member of the State Bar, president of the bank, and later governor of the state. He had four sons and a daughter by his wife Julia Carpenter Dillingham.
One of their sons, Edwin (1839-1864), a captain in the Union Army, was killed at the battle of Winchester. Another son, William Paul, became a U. S. Senator. He served as chairman of the Committee on Immigration for several years and was an influential member of Congress. A third son, Frank (1848-?), moved to Texas where he was in the railroad business.
After serving as a colonel in the Union Army, Charles Dillingham moved to New Orleans where he stayed until 1885. At that time he moved to Houston as receiver of Houston and Texas Central Railway. When the South Texas National Bank was formed, he became first vice-president and later was promoted to president, then chairman of the board. In 1863 Charles married Frances M. Cutter of Cleveland, Ohio, and they had two children, a son Edwin Kirke, and a daughter Mary Pauline.
Pauline, or "Pucky" as her friends and family often called her, remained unmarried and devoted most of her time to her brother's family. She also wrote both poetry and fiction and had several pieces published. In poor health much of her life, Pauline usually spent summers at a family home in Camden, Maine escaping the stifling Houston weather. The rest of the year she lived with Edwin and his family in Houston and occasionally took trips abroad. In 1959, she and her brother donated their stately family home on Austin Street to the Child Guidance Council.
Pauline's brother, Edwin K. Dillingham, married Charlotte (Lottie) Porter, and they had two children, Elizabeth Randon and Charles. Elizabeth went to School in the east and married James Hart of New York City where the couple lived. Charles went to Yale and married Barbara Kibler with whom he had a son, Charles.
Processing Information note
Processed by Kathy Cook, June 1977.
Index TermsSubjects (Persons)Dillingham, Charles K. - Correspondence.Dillingham, Frances Cutter - Correspondence.Dillingham, Paul - Correspondence.Dillingham, William - Correspondence.SubjectsBanks and banking - Texas.Governors - Vermont.Legislators - United States.PlacesHouston, Tex. -- Family histories - Sources.United States - Politics and government - 20th century.Vermont - Politics and government - 20th century.
Dillingham Genealogy
1
1
1630-1934
Paul Dillingham (Gov.), includes 2 photos
1
2
1863-1879
Edwin Dillingham (Major), Commissions, Military Correspondence (including official correspondence re: his death; family correspondence)
1
3
1862-1865
William Paul Dillingham Correspondence, includes 2 Calvin Coolidge letters
1
4
1885-1917
William Paul Dillingham to Pauline Dillingham
1
5
1887-1915
William Paul Dillingham to Charles Dillingham
1
6
1890-1916
William Paul Dillingham - Miscellaneous, includes 2 photos
1
7
1900-1923
Charles Dillingham to Fannie Cutter Dillingham
1
8
1858-1916
Charles Dillingham to Edwin Dillingham
1
9
1861-1864
Charles Dillingham to Paul Dillingham
1
10
1861-1865
Charles Dillingham to Julia C. Dillingham
1
11
1861-1869
Julia C. Dillingham to Charles Dillingham
1
12
1870-1895
Dillingham Clipping Book [?]
1
13
Clippings
1
14
n. d.
Charles Dillingham ephemeral items
2
1
1861-1917
Charles Dillingham Photographs (8)
2
2
1863-[?]
Charles Dillingham to Edwin Dillingham
2
3
1879-1911
Charles Dillingham to Pauline Dillingham
2
4
1883-1912
Charles Dillingham Business Papers
2
5
1896-1915
Miscellaneous Imprints - 8th Vermont Association Constitution and By-Laws, Year Book of Christ Church Parish, Houston, The Harvest Carnival Ball Program; Sweeny & Coombs Opera House Official Program, Dedicatory Service First Presbyterian Church,
The Legend of Houston, Kinkaid Almanac,
2
6
1888-1933 1888; 1902; 21 November 1893; 31 March 1901; 1933; 5 December 1924
Charles Dillingham Clippings
2
7
189[?]-1917
Frances C. Dillingham to Charles Dillingham
2
8
1863-1916
Frances C. Dillingham to Various Family Members
2
9
1863-1925
Letters to Fannie Dillingham from Family and Friends
2
10
1890-1927
Diary of Frances Cutter Dillingham
2
11
1867
Frances C. Dillingham to Pauline Dillingham
2
12
1886-1912
Journal of Frances C. Dillingham
2
13
1899 June-Aug
Journal of Frances C. Dillingham
3
1
1899 Sept-Oct
Journal of Frances C. Dillingham
3
2
1906-1907
Recipes - Fannie Dillingham
3
3
n. d.
Arthur Cutter to Fannie Cutter Dillingham
3
4
1892-[1909]
Arthur Cutter to Pauline Dillingham
3
5
1889-1893
Various Family Members to Pauline Dillingham
3
6
1891-1893
Pauline Dillingham to Various Family Members
3
7
1892-1934
Pauline Dillingham - Miscellaneous
3
8
1892-1942
Psychology Notebook of Pauline Dillingham
3
9
1893
Poems of Mary Pauline Dillingham compiled by Charlotte Dillingham
3
10
1897
Correspondence Between Pauline Dillingham and Horace Clark
3
11
1910-1944
Songs by Horace Clark
3
12
1914
Pauline Dillingham to Frances C. Dillingham
3
13
1926
Pauline Dillingham to Charles Dillingham
3
14
1929
Pauline Dillingham to Edwin K. Dillingham
3
15
1933-1941
Pauline Dillingham Business Papers
3
16
1934-1942
Various Poetry Editors to Pauline Dillingham
3
17
1935-1939
Manuscripts of Poems and Short Stories by Pauline Dillingham
4
1
n. d.
Pauline Dillingham Clippings
4
2
n. d.
Draft of Will of Pauline Dillingham
4
3
n. d.
Edwin K. Dillingham to Arthur Cutter
4
4
1876
Edwin K. Dillingham - Miscellaneous
4
5
1879-1957
Edwin K. Dillingham to Various Family Members
4
6
1889-1926
Edwin K. Dillingham to Pauline Dillingham
4
7
1890-1944
Letters to Edwin K. Dillingham
4
8
1926-1945
Edwin K. Dillingham to Charles Dillingham
4
9
1929
Lottie Dillingham to Pauline Dillingham
4
10
1909-1940
Lottie Dillingham to Charles Dillingham
4
11
1929
Elizabeth Dillingham to Lottie Dillingham
4
12
1925-1929
Elizabeth Dillingham to Lottie Dillingham
4
13
1930-1933
Elizabeth Dillingham to Lottie Dillingham
4
14
1934-1956
Elizabeth Dillingham to Edwin K. Dillingham
5
1
1923-1929
Elizabeth Dillingham to Edwin K. Dillingham
5
2
1930-1933
Elizabeth Dillingham to Edwin K. Dillingham
5
3
1935-1955
Elizabeth Dillingham to Parents
5
4
1923-1929
Elizabeth Dillingham to Parents
5
5
1930-1932
Elizabeth Dillingham to Parents
5
6
1933-1952
Elizabeth Dillingham to Pauline Dillingham
5
7
1928-1942
Elizabeth Dillingham to Charles Dillingham
5
8
1925-[?]
Elizabeth Dillingham to
Grandma Dillingham
5
9
[?}-1925
Poems by Elizabeth Randon Dillingham
5
10
[?]-1930
James Hart to Mr. and Mrs. E. K. Dillingham
5
11
1930-1952
Charles Dillingham to Lottie Dillingham
6
1
1926-1929
Charles Dillingham to Lottie Dillingham
6
2
1930-1931
Charles Dillingham to Lottie Dillingham
6
3
1932-1937
Charles Dillingham to Edwin K. Dillingham
6
4
1926-1929
Charles Dillingham to Edwin K. Dillingham
6
5
1930-1933
Charles Dillingham to Edwin K. Dillingham
6
6
1934-1943
Charles Dillingham to Parents
6
7
1926-1929
Charles Dillingham to Parents
6
8
1930-1932
Charles Dillingham to Parents
6
9
1933-1958
Charles Dillingham to Pauline Dillingham
6
10
1930-1942
Charles Dillingham, includes photo
6
11
19[?]-1929
From Barbara and Charles Dillingham
6
12
1940-1952
From
Chuck Dillingham
6
13
1948-1958
Various letters and fragments
6
14
Letters to Lottie Dillingham
7
1
1927-1954
Letters
7
2
1891-1941
Photographs
7
3
1886-