Claflin Family Papers

Pharmacy trade, Providence, R.I.

Papers, 1871-1956

Size: 2.5 linear feet

Catalog number: MSS 984

Processed by: Rick Stattler, April 1996

©Rhode Island Historical Society

Manuscripts Division

George L. Claflin (d.1888) operated a pharmacy on South Main St. in Providence, Rhode Island. The store was founded by J. Balch in 1817, and was the oldest in the city. Claflin purchased it in 1872.

His son, Albert W. Claflin, received a master's degree from Brown University in 1907. He then received a doctorate degree from the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences in 1912, and began teaching at the schoool in the same year, retiring in 1946. He also served as president of the school from 1937 until it was absorbed by the University of Rhode Island in 1956. During World War II, he served as Deputy Gas Consultant for the State of Rhode Island.

This collection was a gift from William H. Claflin, Elizabeth Claflin Rowe, Robert C. Claflin and George A. Claflin from the estate of their parents, Albert W. and Harriet A.F. Claflin. The older deeds were donated in 1992, and the other papers in 1996.

This is only the first installment of what will probably be a considerably larger collection. The Claflin estate will probably not be fully settled until around 2003, according to the heirs. The collection has not been fully processed yet, but is in suitable condition to be used by researchers.

Box 1. Mostly ledgers from George C. Claflin & Co., and Albert W. Claflin material from the Rhode Island college of Pharmacy.

Box 2. Inventories, provenance records and exhibition history of the Claflin Silver Collection, which has been donated to the R.I.H.S. Museum.

Box 3. Tighly rolled deeds donated in 1992. Need to be humidified and unrolled to determine contents. Apparently ca. 1800.

Volume 1. Geo. Claflin & Co. yearly account balances, 1912-1915. Lists pharmacy customers by town.