GUIDE TO THE HANGER FAMILY PAPERS
1881-1945


Compiled
by
Sharon Brown McConnell
Archival Assistant
Eastern Kentucky University

1988
R.G. 180
Hanger Family, 1845-
Papers, 1908-1945
4.5 cubic feet
6,750 items
9 boxes
88 Al




TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Biographical Sketches of Hanger Family Members                                
     Correspondence Series      
     Financial Series   
     Photograph and Scrapbook Series
     Publication Series



INTRODUCTION TO THE HANGER FAMILY PAPERS

The Hanger Family papers were acquired by the University Archives in April 1986. The papers came to Eastern Kentucky University from the Hanger family ancestral home, Arlington, shortly after the University acquired the property in the late1960s. The papers were originally stored in the basement of Case Hall then moved to the basement of Martin Hall before being placed in the Archives These papers were unorganized and filled seven record center boxes. Each item was cleaned and perused for subject content. In addition, several Hanger family scrapbooks and assorted materials were transferred from the Townsend Room in the Crabbe Library and mixed with the existing collection of papers. After careful consideration, four subject areas were chosen. These are correspondence, financial, photograph and scrapbooks, and publications.

Information gleaned from these items, together with a sketch of Arlington by Thomas H. Tudor, Richmond Cemetery records, and certain clippings from printed sources were helpful in writing the biographical sketches of the family members. Much insight into the family is afforded by correspondence and the financial and household papers. Unfortunately, the papers are incomplete and only touch upon business and social customs of an elite Central Kentucky family. 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Harry Baylor Hanger of Virginia and Elizabeth Arnold of Richmond, Kentucky were married on January 18, 1893. They lived at Arlington, a gracious home owned by Mrs. Hanger's parents, William and Pauline Arnold. Arlington was named in honor of Robert E. Lee's ancestral home in Virginia. Mr. Hanger was born in Staunton, Virginia on November 1, 1864 and died of a heart attack on October 17, 1925. He was an engineer and joined a construction firm which he later headed: Mason-Hanger Company. Some of his achievements were construction work on the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City, Camp Zachary Taylor, Lake Charles Aviation Field, Old Hickory Powder Plant, Catskill Aqueduct, and various subways, terminals, and canals. He was also associated with the State Bank and Trust Company in Richmond, Kentucky from 1897 to 1925.

Elizabeth Arnold Hanger was born on January 18, 1870 and died on October 10, 1921 after having been mistress of Arlington for twenty-eight years. She was reared a devout Methodist and received the finest education and upbringing that a young woman of that time had available. She traveled extensively and spent a great deal of time in New York City and Florida. Harry Baylor Hanger, Jr., the first son, was born on February 25, 1896 and died on May 31, 1956. He married Martha Shelby who was a descendent of Governor Isaac Shelby. They had one daughter, Margaret. The second son, William Arnold Hanger, was born on February 25, 1896 and died on May 31, 1976. After his father's death, Arnold assumed many of his father's responsibilities. He and Hal Price Headly were the founders of Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Kentucky. According to family friends, he was married briefly. It was he who gave the Arlington House to Eastern Kentucky University.

The youngest son, Paul T. Hanger, was born on March 31, 1897 and died tragically in a motorcycle accident at the age of nineteen. The only daughter of Harry and Elizabeth Hanger was named Elizabeth Arnold Hanger. She was born on April 16, 1905 and died on January 3, 1944. She, too, received the finest educatiop possible. She traveled extensively abroad and had many friends. She was married first to John Marshall of Louisville, and their wedding was one of the most extravagant Richmond had ever witnessed. Her second husband was Shelby Elliott of New York City. They adopted a daughter, Shelby Elliott Roberts who now lives in New York City. Elizabeth Hanger Elliott's death was very sudden and tragic. At least two of the Hanger sons, Arnold and Paul, attended Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Elizabeth was educated at the Cathedral School of St. Mary in New York and National Park Seminary, Forest Glen, Maryland. All the members of the family are buried in the Richmond Cemetery. The Hanger Family name ended with the death of William Arnold Hanger in 1976.

Arlington serves as a social club for EKU alumni and associates. The grounds have been landscaped as a golf course. Much of the original decor of the house remains as it was when the Hanger family was in residence. 

*Correspondence Series*

Description: This series consists primarily of personal letters to Mrs. Elizabeth Hanger and Miss Elizabeth Arnold Hanger. These letters include invitations, social correspondence, letters from the Hanger sons to their sister, letters from the daughter to her mother. Also included are romantic overtures to Elizabeth Arnold Hanger from young suitors. A few letters are included from Mr. Hanger to his wife and daughter. A special folder includes the many sympathy letters received following his death. Several published obituaries are filed at the front of the folder. These papers span the years 1908 to 1926. 

Inventory

Box 1   

     Correspondence  1908-1916
     Correspondence  1918-1919
     Correspondence  1920-1921
     Correspondence  1924-1926
     Correspondence  October-November 1925
     Correspondence  n . d


*Financial Series*

Description: The Financial Series consists of house receipts, bills, lists, and invoices from various businesses with which Mrs. Hanger had accounts. Also included in this series are cancelled checks for the years 1916 to 1921. All in all the Financial Series covers the years 1910 to 1926. Items in this series are arranged chronologically. 

Inventory

Box 2
        
     Checks  1916-19
     Checks  1920-21
     Receipts, bills, etc.  1910-1918
     Receipts, bills, etc   1919

Box 3   

     Receipts, bills, etc.  1920
     Receipts, bills, etc.  1921-1926
     Receipts, bills, etc.  n.d~
     Financial Records of the Cathedral School of St. Mary 1920


*Photograph and Scrapbook Series*

Description: This series consists of photographs and clippings of Mr. Hanger's construction projects, family photographs, and pictures of friends of the family. The majority of the photographs are black and white prints. Also included in several albums are calling-cards, invitations, notes from the society pages in several newspapers, and programs from various events attended by family members. The series spans the years ca. 1890-1945 and is contained in five boxes. Four wrapped scrapbooks are also included in this series. 

Inventory

Box 4  

Folder 1  - Arlington, numbers 1-3.
Folder 2  - Brides, numbers 1-3
Folder 3  - Construction Sites, numbers 1-35
Folder 4  - Family photographs - Harry Baylor Hanger, Sr., 1-3.
Folder 5  - Family photographs - Elizabeth Arnold Hanger, numbers 1-7
Folder 6  - Family photographs - Harry Baylor Hanger, Jr., numbers 1-4.
Folder 7  - Family photographs - William Arnold Hanger, numbers 1-2.
Folder 8  - Family photographs - Paul Hanger, one photograph.
Folder 9  - Elizabeth Arnold Hanger Elliott, numbers 1-16
Folder 10 - Family photographs - Shelby Elliott Roberts, numbers 1-2.
Folder 11 - Negatives
Folder 12 - Unidentified photographs, many of children and young adults

Box 5 

Album 1 - Contains photographs of Arlington.  10" x
Scrapbook - Clippings.  9' x 11'
Notebook - Copies of hymns and recipes.  4" x 4

Box 6   

Photographs, numbers 1-25.
     Elizabeth Hanger Marshall Elliot   
     Elizabeth Arnold Hanger
     Two unidentified boys
     Unidentified Woman
     Harry B. Hanger, Sr. 
     Mr. Hanger's Spruce St. 
     Construction sites
     Construction sites
     Chicago Drainage Channel   
     Gentlemen in front Waterfall
     Trophies of cats 
     Field
     Lush Trees
     Banquet Hall
     City Street, American Flag
     Houses on unpaved road
     Unidentified building  
     Body of water surrounded by trees
     Natives in front of hut"
     Terraced garden
     Shrove Tuesday Announcement
     Robert Burns
Blueprint

Box 7   

Ft. Dallas Apartments
Progress Reports - Fulton St. - Cranberry Street Tunnels
     1. December 1928
     2. June 1930
Rutgers Slip - East River - Jay St. Tunnels
     1. April 1931      

Box 8   

Album - Postcards of Dixie Highway via Rome, Georgia
Album - Photogra,,phs belonging to Harry B. Hanger, Sr. 
Album - Construction projects


*Publication Series*

Description: The Publication Series is contained in one box. Publications belonging to several members of the family are included. 

Inventory

Box 9

An Appeal for the Innocent Victims of the War Committee of Mercy.  1914
Address Delivered by Henry Ward Beecher at Cooper Institute. 1860
Evangeline by H. W. Loffgfellow   H. E. Scudder, editor 1896
A Deaf Man's Story.  1909
Lawrenceville Class of 1916
Class Day Exercises.
The Lawrenceville School Song Book  1906
The Lawrenceville School Calendar.  1915
Restaurant De La Louisianna Menu n.d
Spiritual Songs for Social Worship 1881
Quartely Bulletin of the National Park Seminary Alumnae Association  1928
History of the Lawrenceville School:  1810-1935.  Roland J Mulford.  1935
Gounod's Faust.  1892
Annual Sale of Thoroughbreds at the Lexington Sales Paddock. 1937
The Lawrenceville.  Lawrenceville, New Jersey: June 14, 1915 
     plus supplement June 12, 1916, 
     plus supplement
Cathedral School of St. Mary: 
     Demonstrations, March 23, 1923.  
     Field Day, May 26, 1923
     Program, June 11, 1923
Your Chauffeur and What he Should Wear to Town, Touring, and Limousine Cars. n.d
Elks Memorial Service.  December, 1908
The General Contractors Association.  Seating List, December 8, 1917



  
 
     
      

      
      
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