Edward Gibert Schermerhorn papers
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The collection holds 4 scrapbooks compiled by E. Gibert Schermerhorn documenting family history, his service in the New York State National Guard's 7th Regiment (1885-1891), and his tenure as Military Secretary (1912-1913) to Governor William Sulzer. The collection also holds 7 books from 1785-1834.
Biographical / Historical
Edward Gibert Schermerhorn was born in New York City on November 22, 1864, the son of George S. and Julia Gibert Schermerhorn. He enlisted in the New York State National Guard's 7th Regiment, Company I (also referred to as 9th Company) in 1885 and served until August 1891. He remained at the rank of private throughout that time. Subsequent to his service he held the position of adjutant for various regiments, advancing to the rank of captain, until 1899 when he was designated a supernumerary.
In 1912, Schermerhorn was appointed by Governor-elect William Sulzer to be his Military Secretary, which seems to have been a form of civilian advisor on state military matters, that is, outside of the Adjutant General's Office. Sulzer's tenure as governor was brief as he was removed from office in October 1913 after being impeached and convicted. Consequently, Schermerhorn left the administration, successfully petitioning the legislature to allow him to return to the National Guard's supernumerary list with the rank of major, from which he had been removed when he entered Sulzer's administration.
Schermerhorn was a member of various veterans and other social/fraternal organizations, including the Saint Nicholas Society, Veteran Corps of Artillery, and the Military Society of the War of 1812. He was married to Charlotte Tiedemann, who died in 1943. Schermerhorn died in Bergen County, New Jersey, in 1949.
(The above note is based primarily on documents in the collection.)
Arrangement
The collection is organized by format and subject.
Scope and Contents
The collection holds 4 scrapbooks and 7 books. Two of the scrapbooks date from E. Gibert Schermerhorn's service with the New York State National Guard's 7th Regiment (Company I) in 1885-1891. These hold regimental and company orders and other documents related to the military aspects of the Guard as well as ancillary activities such as Company I's entertainment and social activities, commonly organized into various clubs. The container list provides a fuller description of the document types.
A third scrapbook documents Schermerhorn's appointment and tenure as Military Secretary in 1912-13 to New York Governor William Sulzer, and Schermerhorn's reinstatement to the National Guard's reserve in 1914 after Schermerhorn's departure from the office after Sulzer's impeachment in 1913.
A fourth scrapbook holds family history documents related to Edward Gibert's branch of the Schermerhorn and affiliated families, including Gibert, Thebaud, and Townsend. Documents in this scrapbook range from approximately 1829 to 1949.
Finally, there are 7 small books dating from 1785 to 1834; these are listed in the container list.
Subjects
Organizations
Families
People
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection are stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff. Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
The collection should be cited as: Edward Gibert Schermerhorn papers, MS 3112, New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the estate of E. Gibert Schermerhorn, June 16, 1950
About this Guide
Processing Information
The collection was processed by archivist Larry Weimer in March 2022.
Repository
View Inventory
Scrapbooks. New York State National Guard, 7th Regiment (2 volumes), 1885-circa 1890, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Two scrapbooks that hold material related to the 7th Regiment generally and to I Company (also referred to as 9th Company) specifically. Documents include orders, rosters, clippings, uniform and other instructions, photographs, drawings, Athletic Association by-laws, programs for various minstrels (including at the Flushing Athletic Club), annual reports, letters, receipts, Rifle Club program, menus, meeting announcements, rules of the Committee on Rifle Practice, tickets, Lark Club ephemera (9th/I Company social focus). Printed script of comedy "William Tell, with a vengeance!" noted as played at Academy of Music, on April 14, 1887, possibly with Schermerhorn in the role of Rosetta.
Scrapbook. Family & genealogy, 1829-1949, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The scrapbook holds documents related to the Schermerhorn, Gibert, Thebaud, Townsend, and other affiliated families. Documents include genealogical notes; photographs; original documents from circa 1829 forward (receipts, letters, ephemera, etc.); clippings (obituaries, marriages, family events, etc.); and more. There are also materials relating to organizations that Schermerhorn was a member of, including the Saint Nicholas Society and veterans organizations.
Scrapbook. Military Secretary to Governor William Sulzer & subsequent events, 1912-1918, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This scrapbook primarily includes clippings, ephemera, letters, photographs, etc. related to Schermerhorn's appointment as Military Secretary to William Sulzer. The scrapbook also holds documents relating to Schermerhorn's reinstatement on the supernumerary list of the National Guard in 1914, with various loose clippings and other documents to about 1918.
Books (7 volumes), 1785-1834, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Seven small volumes:
"Obras dramaticas y liricas" by D. Leandro Fernandez de Moratin, 3 volumes, 1826, published in Paris, in Spanish
"Morceaux choisis des Lettres édifiantes et curieuses écrites des missions étrangères. Sur la religion, les moeurs et les usages des peuples visites par les missionaires; suivis de fragmens de Nouvelles Lettres Edifiantes, d'un coup d'oeil general sur les missions, etc; Par Ant. C.***", 2 volumes, 1813, 2nd edition, published in Paris, in French.
* "Grammatical Institutes, or, An Easy Introduction to Dr. Lowth's English Grammar: Designed for the Use of Schools, and to Lead Young Gentlemen and Ladies into the Knowledge of the First Principles of the English Language," by John Ash, new edition, 1785[?]
* "Last Days of Pompeii," by [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], 1834.