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OLD TRENTON ACADEMY ALUMNI PAPERS, TRENTON, NJ

One of the most famous preparatory schools in America, the old Trenton Academy in Trenton, New Jersey was incorporated on November 10, 1785. Rev. James F. Armstrong was appointed to superintend the Academy. The Academy flourished for over 100 years, and “was the Alma Mater of governors, chief justices, judges, senators, ambassadors, and ministers; of soldiers and sailors, and others, who variously advanced the common glory of our country and state.“ After the Free Public Library of Trenton was formed in 1900, the old Academy building, which had stood since 1781, was torn down and replaced by the library’s Classical Revival structure. Washington Roebling (who built the Brooklyn Bridge) attended the old Trenton Academy (his father John Roebling had located his wire rope factory in Trenton, NJ).

All of the items in this lot were apparently assembled by Albert Brandt, Jr., who served as secretary of the Trenton Academy Association. Albert Brandt was a publisher and printer in Trenton, who married Mattie Jewell Brandt, and had one son, Maurice Frankland. This group of his papers contain some information concerning the old Trenton Academy and are as follows:

--TWO old printed paper ANNOUNCEMENT CIRCULARS (8.5 x 11”), with half-tone illustration of the Trenton Academy building centered between the dates 1781 & 1916. The circular announces a Reunion Dinner to be held by the Trenton Academy Association, organized by a “group of the boys who, in the days of their youth, attended the Old Trenton Academy on Academy Street.”

--FIVE copies of a POSTAL CARD FOR REPLY concerning attending the reunion dinner, apparently to be mailed with the above circulars. --FIVE copies of a FOUR PAGE PRINTED LIST (5.5 x 9.5”) of the names and addresses of all known alumni, with the request for corrections. There are probably 300 names on this list including Washington A. Roebling and Ferdinand W. Roebling. Most of these printed lists have pencil & ink notations of corrected addresses, names of “lost” graduates written in, names crossed out (deceased?), etc., (these “corrected” copies were probably sent back to the Association by various alumni). At least one of these five additional lists has many notations and may have been Brant’s master copy.

--THREE copies of a 1-page typed letter (8.5 x 11”), dated 1918, with letterhead of the Trenton Academy Association and signed by Albert Brant, secretary, requesting that their schoolmates contribute $2 each to make up a deficit of $38.81 for incidentals “above the ‘dollar-a-plate’ cost assessment for the reunion dinner held in 1916.

--TWO receipts from State Gazette Publishing Company for the purchase of letterheads, postal cards, envelopes, circular letters, etc., that the Trenton Academy Association used to solicit attendance at their reunion dinner in 1916. ALSO, there are about 7 other papers & receipts concerning preparations for the 1916 Association reunion dinner.

--There is a typescript copy of a letter Brant wrote to Mrs. Harriet Fisher Andrew, of Trenton NJ, thanking her for loaning the Association the OLD ACADEMY BELL on the occasion of their reunion dinner.

--There is an interesting group of about a dozen letters (some in stamped envelopes) from various alumni, responding to Brandt’s original letter of invitation to the dinner. Some of these replies include the graduate’s brief recollection of their years at, and debt to, the old Trenton Academy. Some also list subsequent accomplishments in their life, and some report on how to contact other alumni. Included are letters from: Lewis Cheeseman, Saul E. Cheeseman of Oklahoma, Howard D. Van Sant Charles E. Gummere, Col. Thomas S. Chambers, Frederick F. Katzenbach of Katzenbach & Bullock Co., Trenton, NJ, etc.

--Finally, there is an old AUTOGRAPH book (about 4 x 7”) with covers and a few pages detached, and minor stains. In the front of the old book is written in ink “THE PROPERTY OF ALBERT BRANT, JR. Yours to Command.” There are about 50 pages in the book, but only about 12 pages bear inscriptions and most of those are dated between the years 1879-1882. Some of the signatories have identified their location as “Trenton.” One inscription is “Your Friend and Classmate,” so this book apparently dates to the years when Brant himself attended the old Trenton Academy, includes inscriptions from schoolmates, and was apparently kept by Brant with these other papers concerning the Academy Association.

Most of the above items are in good condition as shown in scan. An interesting grouping concerning one of the most famous early schools in America.

Price= $245.00


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