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David Roberts Papers

Title: David Roberts Papers
Date: 1888 - 1893
Collection Number: H078
 
Extent: .1 cubic feet (1 folder)
 
Repository: Atlantic City Heritage Collections (Heston Room), Atlantic City Free Public Library, 1 North Tennessee Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, (609) 345-2269.
 
Preferred Citation: David Roberts Papers, Atlantic City Heritage Collections, Atlantic City Free Public Library.
 
Creator: Roberts, David.
 
IN-DEPTH INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLECTION
 
Biographical and Administrative History:
David Roberts was the son of Elisha Roberts, a local hotelier. Elisha's business, E. Roberts and Sons, included his three sons, Elisha, David and Joseph. David joined the family business around 1885. They were the owners of the Chalfonte House, a hotel/rooming house at the ocean end of North Carolina Avenue.
 
The Roberts family was also members of the Religious Society of the Friends and David was one of the trustees of the Atlantic City Friends Meeting.
 
The Chalfonte House first opened June 25, 1868 as a 3-story boardinghouse, owned by Elisha and Elizabeth Roberts. It was named after an English township in Bucks County. According to reports, it boasted an elevator, salt-water baths, and an unobstructed ocean view. It was advertised as the "first fireproof hotel" in Atlantic City.
 
The original Chalfonte House was 800 feet closer to Pacific Ave. The building was moved twice – first in 1880, it was moved 400 feet closer to the ocean, and another 400 feet closer to the ocean in 1889 along with the adjacent Haddon Hall in 1889. The building was rebuilt in 1904, under the ownership of the Leeds & Lippincott Co.
 
In 1890 the Leeds & Lippincott Company took ownership of Haddon Hall and, in 1900, bought the Chalfonte and merged the two hotels. Chalfonte-Haddon Hall was added to, rebuilt, and expanded many times over the years. Parts of Haddon Hall are presently Resorts Casino.
 
Sources:
City Directories, various years.
Local History Subject File – Casinos – Resorts
Local History Subject File – Hotels – Chalfonte-Haddon
 
Scope and Content:
This collection contains six handwritten postcards sent to Elisha Roberts by David. All were sent from Atlantic City. The letters report on the hotel business, weather and storms, other people in the community, and the Boardwalk.
 
System of Arrangement:
The 6 letters are filed chronologically in one folder.
 
OTHER INFORMATION FOR USERS OF THE COLLECTION
 
Access Points:
Roberts, David
Roberts, Elisha
Roberts, Joseph H.
Roberts, Lizzie
Roberts, Alfred
Lippincott, Lizzie
Chalfonte House hotel
Quakers – Atlantic City
 
Related Materials:
The Atlantic City Heritage Collections holds other materials related to the subjects in this collection.
Sand and Spray newsletters (Haddon Hall)
The Chalfonte (booklet) – 647.94Chf
Chalfonte-Haddon Hall (2 postcard booklets) – 647.94Cha
Chalfonte Leeds Company (1 postcard booklet) – 647.94Lee
Local History Subject File – Casinos – Resorts
Local History Subject File – Friends Society of Atlantic City (Quakers)
Local History Subject File – Hotels – Chalfonte-Haddon
Local History Subject File – World War II – Thomas England General Hospital
 
Processing Note: The collection is processed. Finding aid written by Heather Perez, archivist, April 2013.
 
Copyright Notice: While the Atlantic City Free Public Library owns the collection, the Library may not own the copyright for all of the items. Researchers wishing to reproduce materials are responsible for obtaining the proper permissions.
 
ITEM LIST
Box 1, Folder 1:
Letter from David Roberts to Elisha Roberts, 5 February 1888.
Letter from David Roberts to Elisha Roberts, 10 February 1888.
Letter from David Roberts to Elisha Roberts, 15 February 1888.
Letter from David Roberts to Elisha Roberts, 24 November 1888.
Letter from David Roberts to Elisha Roberts, 26 February 1893.
Letter from David Roberts to Elisha Roberts, 4 March 1893.