Lydecker Family
Papers, 1860 - 1983
SC19048

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Provenance Note

The Lydecker Family gift to the New York State Library included material that has been processed and catalogued separately from these papers. The most important, currently stored in the vault, are an autograph signed letter to George Washington, dated 18 October 1782 (V19633), and two autograph signed letters by Aaron Burr, dated 15 January and 15 March 1791 (V19634). Interested researchers may view these items upon agreement to establish procedures for material retrieved from the vault. Also catalogued separately was a published genealogy of the Blakney-Sabin lines, and several books and pamphlets relating to the history of the Seventh Regiment of the New York National Guard. They are all kept amongst the library's rare and special book collection. Lastly, artifacts and other personal effects related mostly to Charles Lydecker's military service were turned over to the New York State Museum.

Biographical Notes

Charles Edward Lydecker was born in New York City on 26 May 1851. He received his primary and secondary education in both public and private schools in New York City, before entering the City College of New York, where he graduated with honor in 1871. He received a scholarship to study law at Columbia College, graduating in 1873. He was admitted to the bar in 1873, but did not become engaged in law practice immediately, choosing instead an appointment as tutor, then in 1875 as instructor at the City University of New York. There he remained until resigning in 1881, whence he began his legal career. His specialty was estate administration which, in some cases, involved contesting wills. In addition, he handled cases involving matters of marital separation and divorce; and commercial and corporate law. Besides his law practice, he devoted much time to service as an officer of Company H, Seventh Regiment of the New York State National Guard. He enlisted in 1874, beginning as a private, then gradually moving up the ranks: corporal (1881); sergeant (1882); Lieutenant (1884); captain (1888), and finally as major (1901). He was honorably discharged from duty in 1909. Thereafter, he was active in the 7th regiment veterans organization. Other prominent positions held by Charles Lydecker were: the presidencies of the National Guard Association (1906) and National Security League (1916). Both organizations advocated a strong national militia and defense policy for the United States, which was the subject of periodicals, articles and pamphlets authored by Charles Lydecker. He was first married in 1882 to Ella Voorhis, who died in 1889, leaving three children: Leigh Kent (1884-1969), Kenneth (1886-1954) and Nathalie (1888-1963). He was again married in 1907 to Josephine B. Pond. The family resided at "Howcroft" Farm in Maywood, New Jersey.

Leigh Kent Lydecker was born 31 October 1882 in Greenwich, Connecticut. His early life was spent in Maywood, New Jersey, where he was educated at public and private schools. He graduated from the Stevens Institute of Technology, (Hoboken, NJ) with an M.E. in 1902. He then entered New York University School of Law, from which he graduated with the degree of L.L.B. in 1904. He was admitted to the bar of New York in 1904, and then actively practiced law in New York City until his retirement in 1965. Like his father, whose practice he assumed in 1920, Leigh specialized in estate administration and trust work.

Like his father, Leigh Lydecker also served in Company H of the Seventh Regiment if the New York State National Guard. He attained the rank or corporal while on active duty from 1904 - 1908. He returned to active duty in 1916, serving in the Depot Battalion until the following year when the United States entered the first World War, he was transferred to the First Officers Training Camp at Fort Monroe, Virginia. There, he was commissioned First Lieutenant, Field Artillery Officers Reserve Corps. in August 1917, and assigned to the 149th Field Artillery, 42nd Rainbow Division which fought in the battles along the Lorraine and Champagne Fronts in France. In July 1918, he was promited to the rank of captain, and then reassigned to the Field Artillery Brigade Filing Center in Anniston, Alabama, where he was in charge of training and instruction. In November, he was transferred to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he assisted in the Layout and design of Fort Bragg. He was honorably discharged from full-time active duty on 23 December 1918, but promoted to major on 19 February 1919, and assigned to the 153rd Field Artillery Brigade. In 1928, he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to the 307th Regiment Field Artillery which drilled many summers as Pine Camp, New York.

Leigh Lydecker was trustee of the Maywood Christian Association, that later became the First Presbyterian Church, Maywood, New Jersey. He was a member of Christ (Episcopal) Church of Hackensack, New Jersey serving many times as vestryman and warden. In addition, a regular participant in Newark Diocesan conventions and committees. He was also a trustee for the Hackensack YMCA/YWCA for thirty-five years. He was actively involved in Phi Delta Phi, and Phi Gamma Delta legal fraternities, Holland Society, Army Navy Club, and New York County Lawyers Association. Other notable positions held by Leigh Lydecker were the presidency of the Alex Corporation and several times major of Maywood, New Jersey. Regularly on the fourth of July, he mounted a large white horse and, wearing his military uniform, led the celebratory town parade. He passed away on 11 February 1969.

Dorothy Fisher Lydecker was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on 24 March 1893. She graduated from the Hackensack High School with the class of 1912. After two years of study at the Art Student's League in New York, she went to Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland, graduating in 1918. Some of her activities at college included service on the staff of the Goucher Weekly, art editor of Donnybrook Fair, designer of costumes for the senior play, and membership on the class swimming team. After graduation, she enlisted as a canteen worker for the American Expeditionary Forces, YMCA, working in the Lederle Antitoxin Laboratory until called upon for service in December. She sailed for England 31 December 1918, and worked in canteens at Knotly Ash Camp, Liverpool, and at Gievres, France. She was discharged from service September 1919. For some time following the war she served in the Navy Club of New York City.

On 21 October, 1922 she married Leigh Kent Lydecker, bearing five children. Though as a wife and mother she continued to be active in church and numerous social clubs and charitable organizations, the Save the Children Federation was of special interest to her. During World War II, she was a nurse`s aid at the Hackensack Medical Center. She passed away 24 January 1982.

Scope and Content Note:

The Lydecker Family Papers will be useful to future scholars primarily because the two generations involved were disciplined correspondents; and a nearly complete record is present of matters personal, professional, and military from the 1870's to the 1960's. The paper of Charles Edward Lydecker, the most valuable group, should be viewed in at least three separate areas of interest.

First, his career in the National Guard, particularly as Captain, then as Major of the Seventh Regiment in New York City, 1888-1909. During this period, he gathered some historic letter files of the regiment preserved here, that concern its activities during the Civil War. In his terms, he handled at least four very different regimental involvements all documented here: (a) the renovation of the armory, 1885-1890; (b) the arrangements to give land for the New York and Long Island Bridge approach; (c) the regiments aid in constructing the Croton Reservoir; and (d) the regiments controversial killing and wounding of bystanders at the Brooklyn Dock Strike. Charles Lydecker saved regimental menus, programs, muster rolls, and photographs for this period as well. He was an eloquent witness at an investigation into the National Guard, 1901-1904, and published his views on universal military training. Lydecker became a Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard and served as president of the National Guard Association in 1906. He was a member of the United States Military Service Institute from 1903 till his death and was a founder of the National Security League, serving as president in 1916.

Second, his career as an attorney. All his own business correspondence is registered here - so that some of his more interesting cases may be followed. He made a reputation for himself in the New York City legal community defending and contesting wills. The case of Isaac Walker's will, which covered years of work is fully documented here. There is also background documentation to the will of heiress recluse Ida Wood that of Fernando Wood (three times Major of New York City), and Brig. Wood (hero of the Turkish Rebellion). He also handled some interesting cases that did not concern estate matters, such as David Belasco v. Harrison Grey Fiske (Manhattan Theatre) over the authority for "The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch." Also, there are files concerning litigation against the Squirrel Film Co. (Rita Joviet). There are interesting backgrounds to many other cases as well.

Third, his personal life. A large chapter here was his continuing involvement with his alma mater, City College of New York. His papers include class photographs and essays through the years as student, 1868-1871, instructor, 1875-1880, and as trustee from 1913 till his death. In this period he was responsible for the fund raising for a new building - process here documented. In addition, his friendships with President Roemer (who died in 1872) and with Professor of Art, Leigh Hunt produced interesting correspondence. The most valuable correspondence is with his college friend Edwin Smith, 1874 to 1912. Smith's letters are all detailed and fascinating - as his career built from being an assistant in the Coast and Geodetic Survey to being in charge of the instrument division, 1879-1894. He was the astronomer in charge of expeditions to Japan, New Zealand and other far eastern nations. Lydecker served as his informal instrument procurer in New York City and as his publishing agent for maps produced. Other interesting correspondents were Marie Caroline, who was divorced from Stockbroker, William V. Caroline. Lydecker was their lawyer in contesting the French will of Marie's father, Brig. Mott. The letters began in 1897 on a friendly note, became more passionate, and end with her death in 1901; and George L. Catlin, whose letters, 1884-1896 relate to his position as United States Consul in Munich. Also included are many letters from his immediate family. Of special interest are the highly eloquent love letters from his second wife, Josephine B. Pond, letters from his daughter Nathalie, while a student at Wellesley College, and from his son Leigh, discussing matters relating to his service in the U.S. Army during World War I. Another chapter is the Lydecker Family involvement with the town of Maywood, New Jersey.

Charles' son Leigh Kent Lydecker took charge of his father's papers and added his own, plus those of his wife, Dorothy Fisher Lydecker. His papers too, have both military and legal interest. Letters from his sons and others serving in World War II and the Korean War are especially valuable in providing personal accounts of those wars. Dorothy's papers include many detailed letters from Hackensack High School and Goucher College friends, which would be useful for studying the lives of women in the twentieth century. In addition, her calendar diaries provide a chronology of her everyday activities. Dorothy's sister Elizabeth, an army nurse in both World War II and Korea wrote many eloquent letters, and a personal narrative of her life, are also preserved here.

Genealogy and Family History

Charles Edward Lydecker Papers, 1864-1920

Leigh Kent And Dorothy Fisher Lydecker Papers

Papers relating to the personal life and activities of Leigh Kent Lydecker, 1890-1968

Papers Relating to the Personal Life and Activities of Dorothy Fisher Lydecker

Law Office Records, 1891-1969