Leavitt farm and family papers, 1911-1978.
Collection Number: 8583

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Leavitt farm and family papers, 1911-1978.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
8583
Abstract:
Collection contains documentation of the Leavitt farm, primarily bills, invoices and receipts.
Creator:
Leavitt family.
Quanitities:
4 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

The Leavitt family began farming and raising crops near Gabriels in 1888, when Lyman Leavitt moved from Bloomingdale. However, the deed for the farm was not registered until 1890. His son, Arthur, joined him after taking ''short courses'' at Cornell University. Around 1915, Arthur Leavitt took over the farm. Potatoes and seed potatoes were the main crops. There was only enough livestock to meet the needs of farming (work horses) and the family (a milk cow and a beef cow). In 1937, Arthur purchased a large barn from the Rockefellers at Bay Pond, dismantled it, and brought it to Gabriels. He also bought a small barn, which he used to store pieces of the larger barn over the winter, and then in 1938 erected what became known as The Big Barn. In 1939, Arthur's son, William, completed his education at Cornell University and joined in farming with his father. In 1976, Leavitt Farms was incorporated. Between 1920 and 1980 the farm grew to approximately 700 acres, harvesting 400 +/- acres of potatoes. William married Lenore Newell from Keeses' Mills (daughter of Pauline and Harold Newell). William and Lenore had three boys: Robert, Arthur and David. For a short period of time, all three sons farmed in Gabriels. David left to teach and then do administrative work in NYS Dept. of Corrections. In 1997, potato growing ceased when Robert and his wife, Mary Lou, left to start their own farm up north in Churubusco. Arthur remained on the farm taking care of other crops and developing a gravel mine on the property. In 2015, Ralph Child, scion of another well-known potato farming family in Franklin County, bought a large portion of Leavitt farm and returned it to potato growing. Arthur continues to grow hay and sell gravel and stone.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Collection contains documentation of the Leavitt farm, primarily bills, invoices and receipts.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Leavitt farm and family papers, #8583. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
Restrictions on Use:

Collection originally found to contain mold. Material was cleaned, but mold may still be present. Individuals with weak immune systems may need to take extra precautions.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Leavitt, Arthur.
Leavitt, David.
Leavitt, Lyman.
Leavitt, Robert.
Leavitt, William.
Places:
New York (State)
Subjects:
Potatoes -- Equipment and supplies.
Potatoes.
Agriculture
Agriculture.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Receipts and Invoices
1910-1978
Alpha Order
1910-1929, 1942-1946, 1955-1959, 1972-1978
Box 3 Folder 22
A-B
1973-1974
Box 3 Folder 23
C-D
1973-1975
Box 3 Folder 24
E-F
1973-1974
Box 3 Folder 25
G-H
1973-1974
Box 3 Folder 26
I-J
1973-1974
Box 3 Folder 27
K-L
1973-1974
Box 3 Folder 28-29
M (1-2)
1973-1974
Box 2 Folder 1-3
N-O (1-3)
1973-1974
Box 2 Folder 4
P-Q
1972-1974
Box 2 Folder 5
R-S
1973-1974
Box 2 Folder 6-7
T-U (1-2)
1973-1974
Box 2 Folder 8
A
1975
Box 2 Folder 9
B
1975
Box 2 Folder 10
C
1975
Box 2 Folder 11
D
1975
Box 2 Folder 12
E
1975
Box 2 Folder 13
F
1975
Box 2 Folder 14
G
1975
Box 2 Folder 15
H
1975
Box 2 Folder 16
I-J
1975
Box 2 Folder 17
K
1975
Box 2 Folder 18
L
1975
Box 2 Folder 19
M
1975
Box 2 Folder 20
N
1975
Box 2 Folder 21
O-Q
1975
Box 2 Folder 22
R
1975
Box 2 Folder 23
S
1975
Box 2 Folder 24
T
1975
Box 2 Folder 25
V
1975
Box 2 Folder 26
W-Y
1975
Box 2 Folder 27
A
1978
Box 2 Folder 28
B
1978
Box 2 Folder 29
C
1978
Box 2 Folder 30
D
1978
Box 2 Folder 31
F
1978
Box 2 Folder 32
G
1978
Box 2 Folder 33
H
1978
Box 2 Folder 34
I-J
1978
Box 2 Folder 35
K
1978
Box 2 Folder 36
L
1978
Box 2 Folder 37
M
1978
Box 2 Folder 38
N
1978
Box 2 Folder 39
O
1978
Box 2 Folder 40
P-Q
1978
Box 2 Folder 41
R-S
1978
Box 2 Folder 42
T
1977-1978
Box 2 Folder 43
U-V
1978
Box 2 Folder 44
W-Z
1978
Chronological Order
1910-1959
Box 3 Folder 1-21
Receipts and Invoices
1910-1959
Box 4
Ledgers
1910-1969
Correspondence and Administrative Records
1916-1975
Box 1 Folder 23
Correspondence
1916-1921
Box 1 Folder 24
Voter Ballot
1917
Box 1 Folder 25
Inspection certificates
1917-1927, 1955
Box 1 Folder 26
Saranac Lake Lodge
1918
Box 1 Folder 27
List of growers, prices, stock, and buyers
1921-1925
Box 1 Folder 28
National League of Commission Merchants
1924
Box 1 Folder 29
Tags
1925-1951
Box 1 Folder 30
Correspondence
1926
Box 1 Folder 31
Correspondence
1928
Box 1 Folder 32
Tax records
1943-1971
Box 1 Folder 33
Plot maps
1954
Box 1 Folder 34
Potato crops
1954-1975
Box 1 Folder 35
Bills
1963-1966
Box 1 Folder 36
Catalogs and instruction books
Undated
Box 1 Folder 37
Inspection report template, letter to Santa Claus
Undated
Course Materials
Box 1 Folder 22
Cornell report card
1911
Box 1 Folder 1
An. Hus. 20 Genetics
1936
Box 1 Folder 2
Farm Management 102 course material
1936
Box 1 Folder 3
Farm Management 102 exams and assignments
1936
Box 1 Folder 4
Botany 1 Laboratory outlines
1937
Box 1 Folder 5
Botany 1 evaluations
1937
Box 1 Folder 6
Botany 1, Rural Ed., English 2, and Chemistry class notes
1937
Box 1 Folder 7
Geology 100 Lab
1937
Box 1 Folder 38
Farm Management 102
1937
Box 1 Folder 8
Ag Economics 142 lecture notes
1938
Box 1 Folder 9
Ag Economics 142 labs
1938
Box 1 Folder 10
Ag Economics 142 labs and assigments
1938
Box 1 Folder 11
Class notes
1938
Box 1 Folder 12
Forestry 1 class notes
1938
Box 1 Folder 13
Economics 1 class notes
1938
Box 1 Folder 14
Meteorology lab
1938
Box 1 Folder 15
Geology 100
1938
Box 1 Folder 16
Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity materials
1938
Box 1 Folder 17
Carlot shipments of fruits and vegetables
1938
Box 1 Folder 18
R.S.O. 121
1938
Box 1 Folder 19
Lab experiment guidelines
Undated
Box 1 Folder 20
Agronomy 11 Lab material
Undated
Box 1 Folder 21
Agronomy grains and seeds
Undated
Box 1 MU-1914
Bill's Alpha Gamma Rho blazer
Undated