{"id":4105,"date":"2026-08-05T20:40:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T20:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.umbc.edu\/specialcollections\/finding-aids\/coll027\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T20:40:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T20:40:48","slug":"coll027","status":"publish","type":"finding_aid","link":"https:\/\/library.umbc.edu\/specialcollections\/finding-aids\/coll027\/","title":{"rendered":"Stabler family papers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview<\/h2>
Title:<\/strong><\/td>Stabler family papers<\/td><\/tr>
Call Number:<\/strong><\/td>Coll027<\/td><\/tr>
Creator:<\/strong><\/td>Stabler (Family)<\/td><\/tr>
Dates:<\/strong><\/td>1893-1973<\/td><\/tr>
Size:<\/strong><\/td>8 boxes (7.25 linear feet)<\/td><\/tr>
Abstract:<\/strong><\/td>This collection contains correspondence, pamphlets, flyers, cards, brochures, photographs, and various certificates and official documents relating to the Stablers, a family strongly associated with education in and around Baltimore, most notaby the Baltimore Manual Labor School. Also included are newspapers and clippings, most notably related to the UMBC history, the UMBC campus and Spring Grove construction, as well as some books and ephemera. Records that date back earlier than 1941 are sporadic and consist mostly of correspondence, photographs, and official documents.<\/td><\/tr>
Language:<\/strong><\/td>English<\/td><\/tr>
Citation:<\/strong><\/td>Stabler family papers, Collection 27, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

Administrative\/Biographical Note<\/h2>

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.<\/p>

Scope & Content<\/h2>

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. \n\t\t\tThe 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. \n\t\t\tThe 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. \n\t\t\tThe 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. \n\t\t\tThe 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. \n\t\t\tThe 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. \n\t\t\tThe 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.<\/p>

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.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSeries I. Correspondence\n\t\t\t\tWar Correspondence\n\t\t\t\tMiscellaneous Correspondence\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSeries II. Pamphlets and Flyers\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSeries III. Photographs\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSeries IV. Certificates and Official Documents\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSeries V. Newspapers and Clippings\n\t\t\t\tUMBC and Spring Grove Construction\n\t\t\t\tMiscellaneous Clippings\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSeries VI. Miscellaneous \n\t\t\t\tEphemera\n\t\t\t\tBooks<\/p>

Provenance Information<\/h2>

The records were donated to UMBC Special Collections as a single gift by Edmund T. Stabler on August 22, 2006. A collection of Stabler family glass plate negatives (MSS 1988-02) should be housed with this collection but they are currently missing.<\/p>

This collection was processed by Gregory Horvitz under the supervision of Marcia Frank Peri and completed in November 2006. The accession of records of the Stabler family arrived in three boxes. The records were filed and received in a disordered state. It was determined that the bulk of materials fell into six recognizable groupings. Newspapers without specific articles pertaining to the Stabler family were discarded. Letter envelopes and duplicate copies of documents were also disposed of. Materials found within other materials were removed and sorted according to document type. Dates were supplied on correspondence in brackets from the envelope postmark when not explicitly written.<\/p>

Access & Use<\/h2>

No restrictions.<\/p>

Reproductions allowed for research purposes. Copyright conditions unknown.<\/p>

Subject Headings<\/h2>