Shriver-Foster family papers
Abstract
This collection contains correspondence, legal documents and business papers, travel itineries, and family memorabilia of the Shriver-Foster family. George M. Shriver and his son Charles Shriver worked for the B & O Railroad Company. Other family members served in the army and the navy during World War I and World War II and during the 1950s. The Shriver-Foster family lived in Baltimore City and in Garrison Forest. The collection also includes family information concerning schooling, travel plans, business and legal deals, and the family farm in Garrison Forest.
Dates
- 1764-1980
Creator
- Shriver, George McLean, 1868-1942 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.
Biographical / Historical
The Shriver Family:
George M. Shriver (died 1942) was married to Elizabeth Chism Shriver (died 1935) and lived in Baltimore, Maryland. George worked for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company where he served as Vice President until his death. They had five children: Helen C. Shriver, Elizabeth M. Shriver Moore, George M. Shriver, Jr., Samuel H. Shriver, and Charles M. Shriver.
Elizabeth M. Shriver married Charles J. Moore on September 15, 1942, Charles served in the armed forces during World War II and was stationed in Africa.
Charles M. Shriver (born January 9, 1893) was educated in the Baltimore public school system, Boys Latin School, and Lehigh University. He began working for the B & O Railroad, Company in June 1910 as a machine apprentice. He gradually worked his way up and became trainmaster in May, 1917. From July, 1918 to May, 1919 he served in the armed forces in Africa and France. Charles became the Superintendent of the Baltimore Division of the B & O Railroad, Company in December, 1930, and Superintendent of the Cumberland Division in 1936. Charles married Ruth Lee French on October 8, 1917. Ruth Lee French Shriver was a graduate of Goucher College and a student at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Charles and Ruth had one daughter, Ruth Lee French Shriver (French).
The Foster Family:
Ruth Lee French Shriver married John Walter Smith Foster, Jr. (Wally) and they lived in Garrison Forest on Melinda's Hill farm. French and Wally had three sons, Charles Shriver Foster (Shriver), JWS Foster III (Johnny), and Lee French Foster.
Charles Shriver Foster served in the United States Navy and was stationed in San Diego. He traveled extensively with the Navy and was stationed in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Japan. Charles took up residence in both Maine and Maryland after he left the Navy. John Walter Smith Foster, III lived in the Pikesville/Baltimore area and married Lee French Foster attended the Cardigan Mountain School and the Adirondick Mountain School. He spent the summers either at school or at his family's farm in Garrison Forest.
The Shriver-Foster family papers also include correspondences from Elizabeth Shriver Kant and Reverend William P. Shriver. Elizabeth was married to Yngue Kant and lived outside of Stockholm, Sweden. Reverend William P. Shriver was the brother of George M. Shriver, Sr. and was married to Margaret Shriver.
Extent
0.63 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The Shriver-Foster family papers consist of two major series: 1) The Shriver family papers and, 2) The Foster family papers. The collection ranges in date from 1764 to 1980.
Each series is filed by author and arranged chronologically. All undated material proceeds the dated material.
SERIES I: Shriver Family Papers, 1911-1973
Box 1
This series includes personal and business correspondences, certificates, travel papers, and biographical information.
SUBSERIES I: George M. Shriver, Sr. papers and certificates. 1911-1942
Box 1
This subseries includes incoming and outgoing correspondences. There are quite a few letters from Robert J. Wilson, Esq. concerning friendships with Mayor Latrobe and Governor Ritchie. George worked for the B & O Railroad, Company and had numerous friendships and connections within local Baltimore and state government. There are also correspondences pertaining to the Busey-Parish property dispute in which George was the lawyer for the Busey family. A fraternity certificate and social security card are also in the files.
SUBSERIES II: Charles M. Shriver, biographical sketch, personal and business papers. 1917-1920
Box 1
This subseries includes a detailed biographical sketch including work history with the B & O Railroad Company. There are correspondences concerning enlistment into the Railroad Engineering and Operating Officers for service in Marsailles during World War I. There are also personal letters to his wife, Ruth Lee French Shriver, from Marsailles. Personal records and service records of Charles' railroad experience are also in the file.
SUBSERIES III: Elizabeth Shriver Moore (Tibbs), personal correspondences and travel agendas. 1921-1955
Box 1
This subseries includes incoming and outgoing personal correspondences concerning the death of Elizabeth's mother and father in February 1935 and May 1942, respectively, the announcement of her wedding to Charles J. Moore, and other family letters. Elizabeth's husband, Charles, and her brother, George Jr., were both stationed in Africa during World War II. Correspondences, itineraries, and train schedules from Charles and George Jr. give brief ideas of Axis activity in Africa and in Europe. This subseries also includes travel plans and an itinerary for Elizabeth's trip from Baltimore to Los Angles by train.
SUBSERIES IV: Ruth Lee French Shriver, personal papers. 1939-1873
Box 1
This subseries contains personal correspondences from Ruth's grandson, John Walter Smith Foster III, her niece, Elizabeth Shriver Kant (Bets), Mary Katherine of the Delta Gamma Sorority, and D. French Steins, Assistant to the Vice President of the B & O Railroad Company Included is a written wedding announcement pertaining to the marriage of her daughter, Ruth Lee French Shriver to Mr. John Walter Smith Foster, Jr. Ruth Lee French Shriver was married to Charles M. Shriver.
SUBSERIES V: Elizabeth Shriver Kant, personal papers and photographs. 1958-1986
Box 1
This subseries contains personal correspondences to French Foster about family events and local news. The correspondences also talk about the class reunion of the Class of 1954 of Garrison Forest School, Elizabeth's travel around Europe and to Wimbledon to see Pam Shriver play tennis. Elizabeth is married to Yngue Kant and they reside in a town outside of Stockholm, Sweden. Included are photographs from Thanksgiving in Sweden and the class reunion.
SERIES II: Foster Family Papers, 1942-1986
Box 1 and 2
This series contains personal and business correspondences, family photographs, certificates, and church newsletters.
SUBSERIES I: Ruth Lee French Shriver Foster (French), personal letters and business correspondences. 1949-1986
Box 1
This subseries contains incoming and outgoing personal correspondences from Elizabeth Shriver Kant, Rev. George E. Sinkinson, Jr. of St. Thomas' Church in Garrison Forest, and other family friends. There are correspondences with Bradford Yaggy, Jr., Dean of Students, Cardigan Mountain School, cocerning Lee Foster's poor behavior and study habits. There is also a business letter from John Nicholas Shriver, Jr. concerning adjustments in a will.
SUBSERIES II: Lee French Foster, personal papers. 1968-1976
Box 1
This subseries contains incoming and outgoing correspondences concerning Lee's progress in school. Lee wrote to his mother and father about his life at boarding school. Lee attended Cardigan Mountain School and Adirondack Mountain School. There are also a few pages of diary entries.
SUBSERIES III: Charles Shriver Foster, personal letters, slides, banking papers, and travel plans. 1972-1980
Box 2
This subseries contains letters written by Charles while he was enlisted in the US Navy. They contain information on the numerous places where he was stationed including Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Japan. There is also family news concerning the marriage of Charles' brother John Walter Smith Foster III, Charles' marital interest in Sharon, and a family argument between the Foster's and the Jenkin's. Charles spends his time when he is in the United States in Maine, Maryland, and San Diego, where he is stationed.
SERIES III: Family Memorabilia, 1764-1974
Box 2
This series contains personal and legal papers including an arrest warrant, bank notes and documents, sermons given by Rev. George E. Sinkinson, Jr. at St Thomas' Church. It also contains a list of names and addresses that may have been created for a wedding mailing list or a list of people who sent sympathy notes and flowers when Elizabeth Shriver died in February, 1935.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. French Shriver Foster.
Scope and Contents
The Shriver-Foster family collection contains family papers, business correspondences, certificates, newspaper clippings, and photographs that span over 100 years. There are also various certificates and family memorabilia dating from 1764 to 1826.
The Shriver-Foster family papers cover the growth of the family from 1911 until 1980. The bulk of the material is made up of personal correspondences and business papers; but also included are certificates, photographs, newspaper clippings, and travel agendas. The Shriver-Foster collection begins with the correspondences and legal papers of George M. Shriver, Sr. Many of his personal correspondences discuss experiences with local Baltimore government officials and involvement with the expansion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Mr. Shriver served as the Vice President of the B&O Railroad, Co. and as the lawyer on the Busey - Parish property dispute.
George M. Shriver, Sr. and his wife Elizabeth had five children. This collection mainly focuses on Elizabeth M. and Charles M. Shriver. Elizabeth married Charles Moore in September, 1942. The correspondences between Elizabeth and Charles mostly tells of his time in the military service during World War II. Charles was stationed in the African Theatre for the majority of his tour.
The papers of Charles M. Shriver consists mostly of personal correspondences concerning his tour of duty in France during World War I, business letters and recommendations concerning placement and advancement within the B & O Railroad, Company and travel itineraries. Charles worked for the B & O Railroad from 1910 and was promoted to Superintendent of the Baltimore Division and then the Superintendent of the Cumberland Division. Charles M. Shriver was married to Ruth Lee French. They had one daughter, Ruth Lee French Shriver (French).
The Shriver Collection provides information on family life in Baltimore during the early twentieth century, the Shriver family involvement with the B & O Railroad, Company, and family reactions to personal involvement in World War I and II.
The Foster family papers are a continuation of the Shriver family papers upon the marriage of Ruth Lee French Shriver (French) to John Walter Smith Foster, Jr. (Wally). The Foster collection also contains personal correspondences, family papers, newspaper articles and documentation of the family's involvement in the Baltimore community. The bulk of the correspondences pertain to
French and Wally's children, Lee French Foster, John Walter Smith Foster III (Johnny), and Charles Shriver Foster.
The Foster papers provide detailed information about family life, the progress of Lee in the Cardigan Mountain School and the Adirondack Mountain School, JWS Foster III's engagement, and Charles Shriver's service in the United States Navy.
The papers of the Shriver - Foster family provide detailed information that helps preserve the history of an important and established Maryland family. The Shriver-Foster family's commitment to the local Baltimore government and the contributions made to the B & O Railroad Company are well preserved in the family's personal correspondences, business and legal papers.
Creator
- Shriver, George McLean, 1868-1942 (Person)
- Shriver, Charles Mayer, 1893-1949 (Person)
- Shriver, Ruth Lee French, 1893-1973 (Person)
- Foster, French Shriver, 1924-2014 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Shriver-Foster family papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 2020-03-20: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Mallory Herberger.
Repository Details
Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750
specialcollections@mdhistory.org