Administrative/Biographical Note
Edmund Stabler, senior member of the Stabler family, was superintendent of the Baltimore
Manual Labor School from 1884 to 1904. During his tenure, he was credited for bringing
the school to its highest standards through innovative learning techniques which combined
study and farming. His wife, Hester Ella Stabler, taught at the school. She was a
graduate of the Maryland State Normal School, which is now known as Towson State University.
Edmund Stabler died at his home on June 3, 1905 and was survived by his wife and six
children. In 1916, the Baltimore Manual Labor School was destroyed by a fire. The
University of Maryland Baltimore County now occupies the site where the Baltimore
Manual Training School once stood. The Albin O. Kuhn Library rests on the property
of the Stabler Family.
Scope & Content
Arrangement
This collection is organized into six series: Series I. Correspondence, 1917-1945.
Series II. Pamphlets and Flyers, n.d. Series III. Photographs, [circa 1855]-[circa
1960]. Series IV. Certificates and Official Documents, 1893-1918. Series V. Newspapers
and Clippings, 1902-1973. Series VI. Miscellaneous, n.d.
Series I. Correspondence
- War Correspondence
- Miscellaneous Correspondence
Series II. Pamphlets and Flyers
Series III. Photographs
Series IV. Certificates and Official Documents
Series V. Newspapers and Clippings
- UMBC and Spring Grove Construction
- Miscellaneous Clippings
Series VI. Miscellaneous
- Ephemera
- Books
Note
This collection of records of the Stabler family covers the years 1893 to 1973 with
the bulk of the materials dating from 1941 to1973. Some records date back earlier
than 1941 but they are sporadic and consist mostly of correspondence, photographs,
and official documents. This collection is organized into six Series: Correspondence,
Pamphlets and Flyers, Photographs, Certificates and Official Documents, Newspapers
and Clippings, and Miscellaneous.
The Correspondence series contains primarily letters to and from Harold Hayes and
his family from 1941 to 1945. Documents sent to Hayes from government agencies have
been interspersed with this correspondence. The records detail Hayes' service in the
U.S. Navy during World War II. Miscellaneous correspondence relating to the Stabler
family but not the war dating from 1917 to 1943 has also been included in a separate
Miscellaneous Correspondence subseries. All materials have been arranged in chronological
order.
The Pamphlets and Flyers series contains birthday cards, a Garden Tea Room menu (with
accompanying picture), Catonsville High School Graduation exercises, Christmas programs,
business cards, religious pamphlets, a book mark, patriotic brochures, religious brochures
and a chemical agent reference card which have been collected by the Stabler family.
The Photographs series contains miscellaneous photographs dating from 1927 to 1953,
as well as a large amount of undated and unmarked pictures. When no date was provided,
photographs were arranged according to the era in which they were taken. Main subjects
include documentation of a trip to Africa, a mock Native American settlement in Halethorpe,
businessmen in Chicago, a photo album consisting primarily of baby pictures of Harold
and Leroy Hayes, family vacation pictures from Ocean City, and 4th of July photographs.
The Certificates and Official Documents series consists of a registration card, discharge
papers, a Navy oath of allegiance, the Stabler Family coat of arms, marriage certificates,
and a baptism certificate dating from 1893 to 1918.
The Newspapers and Clippings series contains documents dating from 1902 to 1973. Records
from 1963 to 1973 cover the construction of UMBC and Spring Grove Mental Hospital.
Miscellaneous obituaries, marriage announcements, funeral announcements, poetry, and
other articles dating from 1902 to 1959 have been included in a separate Miscellaneous
Clippings subseries. All materials have been arranged in chronological order.
The Miscellaneous series contains ephemera and books collected by the Stabler family.
Ephemera specifically consist of a handbag, a change purse with a lock of hair, a
set of keys, a cigarette tin, a cloth cross and a box filled with medallions, pins,
and jewelry. Books include Bibles, war magazines, and sheet music.
Subject Headings
Creators
Stabler (Family)
Subjects
Stabler, Edmund
Stabler, Hester Ella
Hayes, Harold
Baltimore (Md.)
Baltimore (Md.) -- History -- 20th century
Universities and colleges
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
United States. Navy
Stabler family -- Archives
Sailors -- United States -- Correspondence
Spring Grove State Hospital (Catonsville, Md.)
World War, 1939-1945. -- Personal narratives, American
