DCHS Collections & Archives

Letter from Aaron Burr to John Reade of Red Hook, 1793. DCHS de La Vergne Collection. N York 29 Nov. 93 Dear Sir, Mr. Bostwick has shown me your letter relative to the Bond for which he has so often applied, and to which I believe has now a good right. If you will be pleased to submit the Bond to my care, I will dispose of it in such way as will be safe & proper. Respectfully Aaron Burr From James H. Smith’s History of Dutchess County, 1882: “John Reade was the owner of the land and point now in possession of Johnston Livingston, known as Reade Hoek; and from this circumstance the town of Red Hook took its name.” John Reade was the son of Hon. Joseph Reade, member of King’s Council. He married Catherine Livingston, who was daughter of Robert Gilbert Livingston and Catherine MacPheadris.

The Vassar Brothers Hospital Collection Repository Dutchess County Historical Society 549 Main Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 845-471-1630 www.DCHSNY.org [email protected] Access Number 1984.0004 Processed by Finding Aid Author: Gregory Wiedeman, 2012 Arranged by: unknown Described by: unknown & Gregory Wiedeman, 2013 Preservation work: Gregory Wiedeman, 2013 Encoded by: n/a Date Completed 2013 April 3 Creators Vassar Brothers Hospital Extent 3 linear ft Dates Inclusive: 1895 – 1981 Conditions Governing Access No Restrictions Languages English Scope and Content The collection consists of contracts, historical narratives, administrative correspondence and other documentation concerning the administration of Vassar Brothers Hospital and the demolition of Old Vassar. The historical society may hold assorted more historical and administrative documents pertaining to Vassar Brother Hospital. Included may be listings of employees and graduated nurses, historical narratives and annual reports. However, this material has yet to be located. Historical Note James Vassar emigrated to the United States from France via London in 1796 and settled near Manchester Bridge. He started a farm and a brewery with the help of his two sons John Guy and Matthew (the founder of Vassar College). John Guy Vassar married a daughter of Baltus Van Kleeck and had two sons also named John Guy and Matthew. Matthew Vassar (the younger) was born in 1809 in the old Van Kleeck house of his mother’s family that was built in 1702 – the first permanent building in Poughkeepsie on the south side of Mill street between Washington street and Vassar street. The original brewery built by James Vassar burned in 1811 in a disaster that cost the life of John Guy Vassar (the elder). The elder Matthew Vassar would rebuild the business after 1814. The younger Matthew ran his uncles’ brewery and served as a trustee of his uncle and namesake’s Vassar College. When he died on August 10, 1881, the younger Matthew Vassar’s will allocated a portion of his estate for the incorporation of a hospital. The will stated that that the institution would be called Vassar Brothers Hospital if his brother John Guy Vassar (the younger) was willing to participate. Unlike his brother, John Guy Vassar (the younger) had not been involved in local affairs. His tenuous health lead him to travel for his health while he build an investment fortune. The hospital opened on April 11th, 1887 and received its first patient, Minna A. Maxiner on April 27th. The hospital leaders also consisted of Matthew’s widow, Irene B. Vassar and a number of Poughkeepsie magnates including Oliver H. Booth, James H. Weeks, Joseph M. Cleveland, Edward Van Kleeck, and William S. Johnson. A nurse training school was established and gave out its first certifications on October 1, 1890. It seems that criticism of the staff was common around the turn of the century. In 1906, Dr. Henry G. Bugbee became the new superintendent and began a reorganization of staff and a broadening of policy. In 1910 Dr. Bugbee resigned and original trustee Benjamin M. Fowler took his place. His tenure was one of great expansion. The number of patients increased over 200% from 1903 to 1913 and new buildings and wards were added. The babies department was added in 1916 and the year witnessed 15 births at the hospital. At first the lack of adequate facilities meant that maternity patients were admitted only on a charitable basis if they could not give birth at home. Funding became more of a problem as the original endowment made in Matthew Vassar’s will continued to dwindle. During the hospitals first 33 years charity patients outnumbered pay patients two to one. 1921 witnessed the beginning of major expansion and policy changes for the hospital. A new wing doubled the number of beds and allowed the original building to be used for patients to be treated by their own local doctors. The enlargement of the staff met professional standards of American College of Surgeons and the American Hospital Association. A campaign to replenish the depleted endowment in 1924 raised over $660,000. The 1920s witnessed more fundraising campaigns and the end of a closed body a permanent trustees. The governing body became the Vassar Brothers Hospital Association in 1929 which consisted of all contributors and elected trustees. In 1932 funds from the estate of Joseph T. Tower enabled the construction of a new nurses’ home. In 1936 the hospital has grown to hold 3,944 patients. Provenance The Collection was donated to the Dutchess County Historical Society by Vassar Brothers Hospital on February 14, 1984. A second donation was made on June 16, 1984. Subject Headings Vassar Brothers Hospital; Historic preservation Copyright Notice Individuals requesting reproductions expressly assume the responsibility for compliance with all pertinent provisions of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. ss101 et seq. Patrons further agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Dutchess County Historical Society and its staff in connection with any disputes arising from the Copyright Act, over the reproduction of material at the request of patrons. For more information please visit the following website: http://www.loc.gov/copyright/title17/. Container List Box 1 Item Contents Date File 1 Historic Trust 1981 – 1982 File 2 Histories 1936 – 1976 File 3 “The Vassar Family” in Poughkeepsie Bicentennial Forum 1976 File 4 Administrative correspondence and other manuscript material 1895 – 1952 File 5 Clippings, photographic prints and negatives of Old Vassar circa 1981 File 6 Correspondence concerning demolition circa 1981 File 7 Environmental study 1980 – 1982   File 8 “Vassar Hospital, Poughkeepsie Tests the Wonders of the X-ray” in the Sunday Courier 1914 November 15 Box 2 Item Contents Date File 1 Bound books of photographs of Old Vassar Hospital undated Box 3 Item Contents Date Item 1 One bed pan with cover undated Item 2 Three enamel pans with half-covers undated Container List from accession (may not reflect current holdings Item Contents Date Item 1 Miscellaneous architectural plans for Vassar Brother Hospital; some by Frederick C. Withers, architect undated Item 2 Framed registration certificate for Vassar Brothers Hospital, Training School for Nurses undated Item 3 “Twenty Years Around the World,”

Indenture and apprenticeship papers of Egbert Cook Personal correspondence from James Cook to John Cook “Dear Father” letters March, May and November 1808 1807 Correspondence