Wibecan family papers and photographs
Call Number
Dates
Creator
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Language of Materials
Abstract
The collection primarily contains photographic portraits of the Wibecan family of Brooklyn, New York, and their relations. The photographs date from circa 1850s to circa 1940 and include a variety of formats, such as tin types, cabinet cards, cartes-de-visite, and prints. In addition to the photographs, the collection contains genealogical records and two items relating to public schools in Lansingburgh, New York: a primary school class portrait (circa 1880s) and an autograph book (1890-1892), which features the signature of W.E.B. Du Bois. The Wibecan family originated from St. Croix and England, before settling in Brooklyn and becoming prominent members of the local Black community.
Biographical note
George Edwin Wibecan (1832-1912) was born on St. Croix in the Danish West Indies and later immigrated to Liverpool, England. There he married Catherine Lawrence (1843-1916) in 1861. The couple had one child in England and then immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, where they had four more. Their second child, also George Edwin Wibecan, was born in Brooklyn in 1865. In 1899 he married Mabel Louise Bulkley (1875-1960) in Lansingburgh, New York, which was her home town. The couple resided on Pulaski Street in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, where they raised four children of their own. George was employed by the U.S. Postal Service for forty six years and was an active member of numerous fraternal and political organizations. He was a leader of the Henry Highland Garnet Republican Club, which was a Black Republican club based in Brooklyn, and was appointed Vice President of Kings County Republican Committee. He died in Brooklyn, New York, in 1946.
Arrangement
The five large portraits are housed together in Box 2. All other materials are housed in Box 1.
Scope and Contents
The collection primarily contains photographic portraits of the Wibecan family of Brooklyn, New York, and their relations. The photographs date from circa 1850s to circa 1940 and include a variety of formats, such as tin types, cabinet cards, cartes-de-visite, and prints. The collection also includes five frames that originally housed large photographic portraits.
The subjects of the large portraits are: Catherine Lawrence Wibecan (born 1841), George Edwin Wibecan Sr. (born 1832), sons John Charles Wibecan (born 1860) and George Edwin Wibecan Jr. (born 1865), and George Jr.'s sons Kenneth Bulkley Wibecan (born 1903) and George Edwin Wibecan III (born 1900).
In addition to the photographs, the collection contains two marriage certificates for John Lawrence and Mary Ann Phelan (1842) and George Edwin Wibecan and Catherine Lawrence (1861), one George E. Wibecan memorial booklet (1965), genealogical papers assembled by Susan J. McIntosh (2010s), and articles on his family by Ken Wibecan (2016).
The collection contains two items relating to public schools in Lansingburgh, New York: a primary school class portrait (circa 1880s) and an autograph book (1890-1892), which features the signature of W.E.B. Du Bois.
Subjects
Families
Genres
People
Topics
Donors
Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
All photographs created prior to 1896 are in the public domain. The rights status for all other photographs has not been evaluated. While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Wibecan family papers and photographs, 2011.029, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Susan J. McIntosh, 2011, 2016.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Minimally processed to the collection level. This collection includes material donated in 2011 (five large photographic portraits) and 2016 (all other material). George E. Wibecan memorial booklet (1965) added to the collection by John Zarrillo in April 2017. Large portraits rehoused and finding aid updated by Dee Bowers in July 2025.
