William J. Latta was born on November 21, 1852, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His father, William Sutton Latta (1822-1872), was the first surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railroad. William J. began working at the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. as a telegraph operator at the age of eighteen. He rose through the ranks to become agent of the railroad, a position he held until his retirement in 1899. William was also an avid collector of Napoleoniana.

William J. Latta married Kitty Nigh Bingham. They had five children: Margaret Douglas, William, Jr., Katherine, Mary, and Rachel Whitehill. The family lived at 430 West Moreland Ave., Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pa. in home known as “Grey Arches.” For periods of time, William and Kitty Lattas' unmarried sisters, Elizabeth Bingham, Mary Virginia Bingham, and Margaret Douglas Wilson Latta, resided with the family. “Grey Arches” remained in the possession of the family until 1958 when it was torn down. The Lattas also had a summer home in Rockport, Maine, called “White Cedars.”

Most of this collection is comprised of household and personal bills, various types of railroad passes, family letters, information about William Latta's collection of Napoleoniana, diaries kept by Rachel Latta, and architectural drawings, photographs, and legal documents relating to “Grey Arches” and its greenhouse; many of the legal papers pertain to a sale of property in 1930. The bills were incurred by several members of the family who lived at “Grey Arches.” They were for clothing, food, pharmaceutical items, house furnishings, funeral expenses, and general upkeep of the house. The bills date from ca.1880-ca.1912. Some of the billheads include illustrations. Other papers relating to the house are dated ca.1892-1930.

The railroad passes were for baggage, transportation, and telegraph privileges. This collection also includes catalogs from the sale of William J. Latta's collection of Napoleoniana, held in 1913 at the Anderson Galleries in New York City. His collection included letters, bronzes, portraits, caricatures, mezzotints, memoirs and other documents.

Many of the letters were sent from the Latta children to their father, mother, or Aunt Gertie between 1899 and 1919. As well, there are two letters written to Santa Claus. Another series of letters was sent from William Latta, Jr., to his father and sisters during his tour of duty in the United States Navy on Sub Chaser 212 during and after World War I. Rachel Latta's diaries cover the years 1904 and 1910 through 1914. She describes her life in Maine, Chestnut Hill, and Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut. Also featured are details of her trip to the St. Louis Exposition.

The collection is divided into three series: I. Bills and documents relating to Grey Arches; II. William J. Latta Papers and memorabilia; and III. Latta family papers.

Series I is found in Boxes 1 and 2 and Map Case 6, Drawers 2 and 3. Series II is in Boxes 2 and 3. Series III is in Boxes 3-5.

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Gift of Katherine Frank Huettner.

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Repository code: DeWint File name: co1104.xml Abstract: The Latta family lived in Philadelphia. The collection contains bills relating to household expenses, documents pertaining to their home “Grey Arches,” family letters, diaries, and other information relating to the family. Extent: 1.8 linear feet Date range: 1880-ca. 1930 Related materials: Language: English Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera Winterthur, DE 19732 (302) 888-4853 Latta Family Papers Col. 104 Creator: Latta family Title: Papers Dates: 1880-ca.1930 Call No.: Col. 104 Acc. No.: 91×102, 92×182 Quantity: 5 boxes, 2 map case drawers Location: 17 K 2, map case 6