Guide to the Brewster Family Collection, 1900-1983, undated
Brewster Family Collection, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library.
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Ralph Owen Brewster (1888-1961) was born in Dexter, Maine, to William E. and Carrie Bridges Brewster on February 22, 1888. He was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1909 (summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa Society). He worked as the principal of Castine High School before attending Harvard University. There he earned an L.L.B. in 1913. From 1914-1925 Brewster was a partner in the Portland, Maine, law firm of Chapman and Brewster. His political career began in 1916 when he was elected to the lower house of the Maine legislature. After resigning this position in order to enlist in the U.S. Army, Brewster was re-elected after his return at the end of World War I. In 1922 he was elected to the Maine State Senate, where he served until being elected governor of Maine in 1924. He served as governor from 1924-1928, was elected as the 3rd District U.S. congressman from 1934-1940, then won a seat in the U.S. Senate, serving from 1941-1952. Brewster lost the election for a third term in the U.S. Senate in 1952 and retired in 1953. Brewster married Dorothy Foss in 1913. They had two sons: Charles Brewster, born in 1916, and Owen Brewster, who was born in 1917 but died young in 1932. Brewster died in Brookline, Massachusetts, on December 25, 1961.
The collection (1900-1983, bulk 1923-1962) contains scrapbooks, letters, clippings, assorted ephemera and images compiled and saved by Ralph Owen Brewster's mother, Carrie Bridges Brewster, and his wife, Dorothy Foss Brewster. The materials primarily reflect the political career of Ralph Owen Brewster but also provide information through family letters and memorabilia about other Brewster family members. The photographs include Brewster family portraits and images of Ralph Owen Brewster's political activities. Also included are home movies featuring Brewster family and friends. A later addition comprises the correspondence (ca. 1934-1975) of Ralph Owen and Dorothy Brewster's son, Charles F. Brewster (Bowdoin 1937).
More extensive documentation of Brewster's political career is available in the Ralph Owen Brewster Papers.
This series contains letters, mostly of an unofficial nature, that were written either by or to various members of Ralph Owen Brewster's family. Correspondents include Brewster himself; Carrie Bridges Brewster, his mother; Sadie Bridges, his aunt; Dorothy Foss Brewster, his wife; and his sons Charles and Owen Brewster. The bulk of the correspondence consists of condolence letters to Mrs. Brewster upon her husband's death in December, 1961. These letters are arranged according to Mrs. Brewster's own filing system. Among the condolences are a telegram from Herbert Hoover and a letter from Douglas MacArthur.
Arranged alphabetically, then chronologically
Bowdoin College, 1961-1965
Brewster, Carrie Bridges, 1900-1922
Brewster, R.O., letters to Dorothy Foss Brewster, 1958-1960
Brewster, R.O., miscellaneous correspondence, 1948-1957
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: Bowdoin College, A-Z, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: card file
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: Christian Scientists, A-K, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: Christian Scientists, L-Z, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: Cong., A-Z, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: miscellaneous, A-Z, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: money, A-Z, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: organizations, A-Z, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: special letters, A-H, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: special letters, J-M, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: telegrams A-Z, 1961-1962
Condolences on death of R.O.B.: V.I.P., A-Z, 1962
Dexter Historical Society, 1983
Family history letters, 1956-1957
Family letters, 1930-n.d.
Miscellaneous, 1942-1983
This series contains two scrapbooks compiled by Ralph Owen Brewster's mother on Brewster's years as Maine governor (1924-1928), as well as newspaper and magazine clippings and other miscellaneous materials, including speeches, documenting Brewster's political career. Also included are an interview with Mrs. Brewster about her years in the Blaine House, copies of Brewster's memorial service at Bowdoin College in January, 1962, and other miscellany.
Arranged alphabetically, then chronologically
Blaine House, 1970
Bowdoin College: Glee, Mandolin, and Guitar Clubs certificate, 1906
Bowdoin College: memorial for R.O.B, 1962
Bowdoin College: personal data form for R.O.B., n.d.
Brewster, Carrie Bridges: ephemera, n.d.
Brewster, Dorothy Foss: ephemera, n.d.
Brewster, Ralph Owen: political materials, 1923-1952
Bridges, Sadie: writings, n.d.
Clippings (newspaper), c.a. 1902-1983
Clippings (newspaper), 1949
Clippings (magazine), 1940-1967
Miscellaneous periodicals, 1949-1983
Scrapbook, 1923-1925
Scrapbook, 1925-1927
Images in this series include portraits of Ralph Owen Brewster, his wife and children, his parents, his wife's family (the Fosses), as well as portraits of unidentified individuals. Bachrach, Harris & Ewing, and Underwood & Underwood are among the photographic studios represented by the portraits. There are a number of images of Brewster in an official capacity as well as snapshots of Brewster family members and friends in casual settings. Also included are photographs and negatives of the Brewster family home in Dexter, Maine, and a Fourth-of-July celebration in that town in July, 1951. The bulk of the images are unidentified and undated.
Arranged alphabetically.
Civil War Veterans with Maine Congressional Delegation with Calvin Coolidge and R.O. Brewster, 1927
Dexter, Maine: Brewster Residence
Dexter, Maine (July 4, 1951)
Dexter, Maine (Labor Day, 1946)
Family photograph album, n.d.
Foss family
International Christian Leadership at Prayer Breakfast, 1960
Marathon, Florida (New Years, 1950)
Photographs, miscellaneous saved by Carrie Bridges Brewster
Portraits: [Brewster, Carrie Bridges]
Portraits: Brewster, Charles and Owen
Portraits: Brewster, Charles and Owen
Portraits: Brewster, Dorothy Foss
Portraits: Brewster, Dorothy Foss
Portraits: Brewster, Ralph Owen
Portraits: Brewster, Ralph Owen
Portraits: Brewster, Ralph Owen with 1905 graduating class, Dexter High School
Portraits: Brewster, William E. and children
Portraits: unknown
Professional life, R.O.B.
Snapshots: Bowdoin College, ca. 1937
Snapshots: Brewster, Charles F., 1938-1939, n.d.
Snapshots: Brewster, Ralph Owen, n.d.
Snapshots: Buildings, n.d.
Snapshots: Dogs (family pets), 1929, 1939, n.d.
Snapshots: Family and friends, 1907, 1913-1915, 1925-1937
Snapshots: Family and friends, 1938
Snapshots: Family and friends, 1939
Snapshots: Family and friends, 1940-1950
Snapshots: Family and friends, n.d.
Snapshots: France and Germany, 1945
Snapshots: Military, 1945-1946, n.d.
Snapshots: Miscellaneous, 1926, 1938-1939
Snapshots: Miscellaneous, n.d.
Snapshots: Smith, Margaret Chase, n.d.
Arranged chronologically.
Motion pictures featuring the family of Ralph Owen Brewster. There are 105 reels of home movies, the bulk black and white, 16 mm. (use copies available on DVD). View movie content summaries online.
Home movies, original 16mm reels, numbers 1-105
Home movies, DVDs (use copies)
Home movies, Blue Ray discs (master digital files)
Primarily correspondence between Charles Brewster and his wife, Mildred Brewster. The bulk of the correspondence is from the 1940s and documents Charles Brewster's war-time service and day to day activities.
Arranged chronologically.
1933 Jul 15 - 1975