Addie Branch Relatives & Archivists - Hartwick Goshen Photos Letters
Do you have photos, letters, yearbooks, or memorabilia tied to Adelaide "Addie" Branch (1873–1948) of Hartwick, NY, and later of Goshen, Monticello, and Manhattan?
I’m researching the life of Addie Branch, a teacher, book salesperson, stenographer, typist, and author who lived a fascinating -- but largely undocumented -- life across Upstate NY, NYC, and Washington, DC. If your family or organization has archives connected to her (especially from the Hartwick or Oswego area in the late 1800s/early 1900s, or Goshen in the late 1890s), I’d love to hear from you!
Why Addie?
She taught in Hinman Hollow (1893) and stayed with the Salisbury family in Milford while recovering from illness (mentioned in the Milford Tidings, March 30, 1893).
Attended Oswego Normal School, now SUNY Oswego (1893-1897), and later worked in Monticello, Goshen, Morningside Heights (Manhattan), and DC.
Her brother, Herbert Oliver Branch (1860–1929), was Hartwick’s Postmaster, and his daughter Mary E. Branch Dickenson (1892-1920), who had two children -- Helen B. and George M. Dickenson. They may have living descendants in the area.
What I’m looking for:
âś” School photos (Hartwick, Oneonta, or Milford districts)
âś” Letters, diaries, or yearbooks mentioning Addie
âś” Memorabilia (newspaper clippings, postcards, etc.)
âś” Descendants of Herbert or Mary Branch Dickenson (or other relatives)
How to help:
Reply here with any leads (even small details help!).
DM me if you’d prefer to share privately.
Check out my explainer video on the biography or visit tomrue.net for more info.
Why this matters: Addie’s story reflects the lives of many Upstate NY women who shaped education and local history -- but their legacies often go unrecorded. Let’s change that!
Thank you.
Tom Rue, LMHC/LPC
Narrowsburg, New York
Project website: tomrue.net
Author of "How Adelaide M. Branch became Mary A. Douglas" (in press, 2026)
tomrue.net