1872-1969
Offsite Storage Inventory
Restrictions on Access
The Godfrey Lowell Cabot papers are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@anasaziadventure.com.
NOTE: THIS COLLECTION IS ONLY PARTIALLY PROCESSED.
Abstract
This collection consists of the papers of businessman, inventor, and aviation pioneer Godfrey Lowell Cabot, including correspondence, diaries, and financial records documenting his involvement in the New England Watch and Ward Society, his service as U.S. Navy pilot during WWI, and his philanthropy.
Biographical Sketch
Godfrey Lowell Cabot (1861-1962) was born in Boston on 26 February 1861, the son of Samuel and Hannah Lowell (Jackson) Cabot. He graduated from Harvard College in 1882 and did post-graduate work at Zurich Polytechnicum, the University of Switzerland, Harvard, and Norwich University. He married Maria B. Moors on 23 June 1890; she died in 1934. They had one daughter, Eleanor C. Bradley, and three sons, Thomas D. Cabot, John Moors Cabot, and James Jackson Cabot.
Cabot became a successful businessman and manufacturer of carbon black. He was active in community affairs and served as secretary of the New England Watch and Ward Society and as trustee of many institutions. He facilitated and commanded the aviation section of the Massachusetts Naval Militia in 1916 and was inducted from the militia into the Navy Reserves as a lieutenant in April 1917 at the start of the United States' involvement in World War I, serving until March of 1919. During his service, he patrolled the Boston Harbor and was in command of a school for flying cadets at Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Mass. from April to August of 1917. He founded the National Aeronautical Association and served as president of the organization in Washington for 3 years. He died on 2 November 1962, an honorary officer of both the National Aeronautical Association and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.
Collection Description
Papers of businessman, inventor and aviation pioneer Godfrey Lowell Cabot of Boston, Mass. include personal correspondence, 1870-1962, diaries, 1872-1922, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and writings (including typescripts) related to various organizations and activities, including the Harvard Class of 1882 Alumni Association, 1927-1941, New England Watch and Ward Society, 1913-1921, and the Maria Moors Cabot Foundation; and correspondence and cash accounts of Godfrey L. Cabot, Inc. regarding the manufacture of carbon black, 1934-1962. The largest collection of papers relate to Cabot's involvement in aviation, including correspondence and subject files related to patents, the Aero Club of New England, the Aero Pickup Service Corps, 1892-1959; and papers related to Cabot's role as U.S. Navy pilot during World War I, 1917-1918.
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated by Ralph Bradley in 1969.
Restrictions on Access
The Godfrey Lowell Cabot papers are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@anasaziadventure.com.
NOTE: THIS COLLECTION IS ONLY PARTIALLY PROCESSED.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. General correspondence, 1877-1969
Arranged chronologically.
II. Subject files
Arranged alphabetically.
Subject files A-L
Subject files M-Z
III. Harvard papers, 1882-1941
Arranged chronologically and alphabetically.
Materials pertaining to alumni activities of the Class of 1882.
IV. Cash accounts, 1940-1954
Personal accounts and Godfrey L. Cabot, Inc. accounts.
V. Watch and Ward Society papers, 1891-1966
Arranged chronologically.
General materials pertaining to this society of which Cabot served as secretary.
VI. Maria Moors Cabot Foundation records, 1944-1964
Awards, materials, foundation report booklets, and research scrapbook.
VII. Business correspondence, [1934-1962]
Arranged alphabetically.
Materials relating to Godfrey L. Cabot, Inc.
VIII. Miscellaneous papers, 1910-1966
IX. Printed material, 1909-1967
Arranged chronologically.
Journals and reports of various institutions.
X. Aviation papers, 1892-1959
Arranged alphabetically by year.
Printed materials
1892-1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924-1925
1926
1927-1928
1929
1930
1931
1932-1933
1934
1935-1936
1937
Proposal of the New England Regional Planning Commission for the development of emergency landing fields.
1938
(bound notebook)
1939
1940
1941
Letters concerning stocks & federal taxes applied thereto.
1942
1943
1944
On postwar aircraft landing facilities.
1945
1946
1947
1948
An address before the World Law Group of the Harvard Law School.
1949
1950
1951
Includes a history of the F.A.I.
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956-1964
Bound notebook of plans/proposals for New England Airlines to provide air service in the state of New Hampshire.
XI. Oxygen papers, 1903-1921
Arranged chronologically.
Materials relating to the development of oxygen compression.
XII. Diaries & notebooks, 1872-1922
Arranged chronologically.
European tour.
XIII. Writings, undated
Manuscript and typescript versions of two stories, "The Chess Player" and "Everard of Eagle's Rock," as well as manuscript essays on flying and memories of Samuel Cabot.
XIV. Scrapbooks & albums, 1915-1961
XV. Biographical material, 1952-1969
Material consists largely of obituaries and biographical sketches.
XVI. Miscellaneous and undated material, undated
XVII. Oversize material
Oversize blueprints and certificates.
XVIII. Additions, 1891-1968
Previously restricted papers opened in 2019.
Preferred Citation
Godfrey Lowell Cabot papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.
Organizations:
Subjects:
Materials Removed from the Collection
Photographs from this collection have been removed to the MHS Photo Archives.