Kruse-Gilson family papers

Collection

Identifier: RHC-77

Staff Only

Collection Description

This collection of correspondence to Henry Gilson and his second wife, Hilda Kruse-Gilson, consists of letters primarily from family and friends. Letters to Hilda are from her sisters Emma, Nellie, Gretchen, Olive (Bob), and Ruby and other family members and from Hilda's former classmates and colleagues from Clifton Springs. Many of these are congratulations on the couple's marriage and the births of their children from friends and family. Correspondence to Henry includes letters from Henry's children from his first marriage. Henry's sons attended Mount Hermon boarding school in Massachusetts and frequently wrote to their father and Hilda about their experiences during school.

Also included in the collection are commencement announcements, publications, and alumni bulletins and other materials from the Clifton Springs Training School for Nurses; and some correspondence and publications from the U.S. Rubber. Other materials include receipts, postcards, brochures, and maps.

Dates

Creation: 1921-1952

Creator

Gilson, Henry Robbins (Person)
Gilson, Hilda Kruse (Person)

Access to Materials

Collection is open for research use. Materials may be accessed by request at Special Collections and University Archives in Seidman House. Materials do not circulate.

Publication Rights

For information on copyright or permissions for this collection, contact Grand Valley State University Special Collections.

Biography

Henry Robbins Gilson, born in Groton, Massachusetts on Sept. 27 1877, attended Massechusetts Institute ofTechnology and graduated with an engineering degree. He briefly worked as a salesman and engineer, but eventually became the Vice President of the U.S. Rubber Co. He was married to Clare Guilding Gilson (1881-1925) with whom he had six children (Elizabeth, Barbara, Neale, Henry Jr., Sarah Ellen, Fannie). Two years after the death of Clare, Henry married Hilda Kruse on January 15, 1927. Hilda was born in Deland, Fla. in June 1891 and attended nursing school at the Clifton Springs Sanitarium and Training School for Nurses. She graduated in 1916 and worked as an assistant superintendent of nurses at the Clifton Springs Sanitarium in Clifton Springs, N.Y. The Gilson’s had their first child (Jean) on July 12, 1928 and their second (James) in 1931. After the birth of James, the Gilson family moved from New Rochelle, New York to Naugatuck, Connecticut.