Collections : [The Litchfield Historical Society]

Folder one is divided into several sections. The sections are labeled as: Esther Morris Collins, Affiah Holcomb Giddings, William Collins, Benjamin Giddings, and Frederick Giddings relatives. The folder contains various copied pictures of the various people who are in the folder along with other genealogical information such as lists of descendancy.

Folder two is separated into two sections. The first section is labeled as "The Frederick Salmon Gidding Family," and the second section is labeled as "Almira Collins Gidding;" Frederick Salmon Gidding is the son of Salmon Gidding. The first section contains genealogical information pertaining to Frederick Salmon Gidding and his family, especially lists of children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Most notable in the section is Almira Collins Gidding's account of traveling from Connecticut to Illinois. There are also copies of her water colors, pressed flowers, and needlework.

Folder three is broken into the two sections: Hettie Baker Giddings and John Osgood Baker story and John Osgood Baker. The Hettie Baker Giddings and John Osgood Baker Story details the life of the Baker family in Georgia and Pennsylvania including how Hettie met Frederick Salmon Giddings (son of Salmon Giddings) at Yale. The John Osgood baker section includes a copied picture of him as well as a descendancy list.

Folder four is broken into many sections: Frances Adeline Fabian Baker, Dorchester, South Carolina, Midway Church, The John Osgood baker Family, John Fabian Baker, William Elliot Baker, Thomas King Baker, Roswell King, History of Roswell, and Frederick Salmon Giddings. The Frances Adeline Fabian Baker section only contains a copied picture of her and list of descendancy. The Dorchester, South Carolina section namely contains an article from a newspaper discussing where the Baker family originated. The Midway Church section contains various articles, short essay, and excerpts about the church. The John Osgood Baker Family section contains a list of children as well as the John Fabian Baker section. The William Elliot Baker section contains a list of children, a copied picture of the house, and an article discussing a possible connection of William to President Woodrow Wilson. The Thomas King Baker section includes a list of his four wives and all his children. The Roswell King section includes a tombstone inscription and children. The History of Roswell section has an article about the relation of President Theodore Roosevelt to Roswell, Midway Church, and Barrington Hall. The Section also includes an article on the relationship of William Elliot Barker and Roosevelt. The Frederick Salmon Giddings section is made up of various copies of pictures.

Folder five is a large folder that is only in one section labeled "Salmon Giddings;" this is the figure that Jane Merritt Bentley was researching. The folder contains a copied picture of him, a list of descendancy, other genealogical information, a 20 page story of his life, an article about the founding of Hartland, Connecticut, information on the Congregational Church in Hartland, and then a section of letters which range in date from 1814-1827 which comprises a majority of the folder.

Folder six does not appear to contain any original content, but appears to be comprised of copies of a selection of letters that can also be found in folder five. The letters range in date from 1817-1827 and are all sent from Giddings to the Connecticut Missionary Society.

A short letter written on Yankee Pedlar Inn letterhead. The note mentions that a new Presbytery in Western Illinois-Central Missouri has been named after Salmon Giddings. There is a P.S. mentioning that family members of Salmon Giddings are buried in East and West Hartland. The note is not signed by Bentley so it is believed she did not write the note, but she is given as the source of information.

A three-ringed binder created and used by Jane M. Bentley. The binder contains various and extensive information on Salmon Giddings. Items in the binder include a map showing the path taken from Connecticut to Illinois, pictures, slides, postcards, articles, newspaper clippings about Bentley's work on research and restoration. Bentley also included programs from various Presbyterian churches that Giddings was involved with; some of the programs also include histories of the Church which mentions Giddings. The end of the binder breaks from the rest of the binder in that it is about Frederick Salmon Giddings, the son. Items in the binder about him includes a copy of an 11 page essay he wrote entitled, "The breaking up of the Distillery," information on Frederick, and genealogical information that was collected from his bible.