Desk, Slant-top

Desk, Slant-top

Date

1856

Description

slant-top desk, brass inkwell has patent date of 1856

Credit

In memory of Dr. William E. Douglas

Provenance

Said to be the childhood desk of Joseph Maull Carey, Governor of Wyoming. The desk was in 215 Union Street, the house bought by the Douglas family in the early 20th century, and later kept by Mrs. Baumeister until its donation to the MHS. A typewritten description submitted by Betsy Douglas Baumeister reads: Governor Carey Desk Dr. William E. Douglas (1855-1961) was born and raised in Milton, DE. He was the oldest son of Thomas Hicks Douglas formerly of Preston, MD. Upon graduation from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA, Will returned to Milton in 1909 to serve as the local dcotor. Dr. Douglas lived in the Carey House on Union Street with his family. His medical office was also in the house. There was a separate entrance on the side porch for the office. This desk had been left in the house by the Carey family. Joseph Maull Carey, born 1845 in Milton, was the first U.S. Senator for the State of Wyoming. He was later elected Governor of Wyoming from 1911 to 1915. Gov. Carey died in Cheyenne Wyoming in 1924. When Dr. Douglas retired and moved to Rehoboth Beach in 1947, he took the desk with him. There are family stories of my father, J. Kenneth Douglas, doing his homework on the Governor's desk. Later, I watched my brother, James K. Douglas, do his homework on this desk in his room in Wilmington.