BROOKLYN  COLLEGE ARCHIVES  AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS READ FAMILY PAPERS ACCESSION NUMBER  91-018

SUB-GROUP I: CORRESPONDENCE

Series 1:  Letters of Lloyd C. Read, 1924-1932

Correspondence in Series 1 is between Lloyd Read and his parents, Walter and Elinor Read, as well as with his sister Viola.  Letters are arranged chronologically and relate to Lloyd's college life and studies at RPI in Rensselaer, New York.

In his letters, Lloyd discusses classes, friends, job hunts, the weather, and also reflects on his thoughts and feelings.
 

During his first two years in college, Lloyd shared a room in dorms of the Young Men's Christian Association in Troy, New York.  But in February 1927, Lloyd received a letter announcing a rent increase.
 

This correspondence includes both typed and handwritten letters.

Series 2:  Letters of Walter George Read, 1875, 1890

This second series of correspondence consists of two handwritten letters.  The earlier letter dates from June 14, 1875 and was written to Mr. Walter G. Read.  The other letter dates from Sept. 9, 1890.

Series 3:  Letters and Travel Journals of the Far West Relatives, "Bert & George," July 26, 1926

Series 3 consists of letters and travel journals from the Read family trip to the Far West.  The trip began in Montclair, New Jersey in the summer of 1926.  It included stops in San Diego, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Dayton, Ohio.

A sampling from a travel journal reads as follows:
 

Series 4:  Miscellaneous Letters of Friends and Relatives, 1889-1948

Over 50 years of correspondence between the Reads and their family and friends are located in this series.  There are six different letters, one of them a notary public's affidavit on Elinor and Viola Read's citizenship, certifying that "they were both born in Brooklyn." [July 21, 1948]

Series 5:  Letters to Helene Harvitt, Editor of The French Review

Correspondence in Series 5 is the newest in the collection, dating from 1937 to 1962.  These are letters to the editor of The French Review, Helene Harvitt, with most letters written in French.

SUB-GROUP II: FAMILY MEMORABILIA AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Series 6: Memorabilia

Series 6 consists of personal memorabilia from the Read household.  Among these are Walter G. Read's sketch books, a 1905 tax receipt for the 745 Rugby Road home, a 1926 "new calendar of desserts," and Mr. Read's 1894 naturalization certificate.

One item of a touching nature is Clement Light Read's "Breathings on a Sickbed," 1876.  The little booklet consists of poems written by 16 year old Clement while on his deathbed.  With titles like "Waiting" and "Loving Jesus," some titles being verses from the New Testament, they reflect the young lad's strong Christian faith.  In one of his final poems, dedicated to his mother, he writes:
 

Series 7:  Photographs

Photographs in Series 7 mainly show life at 745 Rugby Road in Flatbush, Brooklyn, at the turn of the century.  There are pictures of family and friends.  A couple of pictures, dated 1905, show Mrs. Read with baby Lloyd outside their home.  There are also photographs from the neighborhood, the 1926 Read family trip to the West, glass plate negatives of a fraternal organization and Brooklyn row houses.