George Babbitt, Jr. Collections

Volume:

25 black-and-white photographs housed in an album

Views Include:

Flagstaff streets, residences, parades, businesses, railroad depot, churches and the Arizona Normal Scholl. Ca. 1900

Biographic Note:

See below

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Volume:

13 black-and-white photographs, glass plate negatives with duplicate safety negatives; one color post card

Views Include:

Santa Fe Street, Flagstaff, ca. 1905; Aspen Street flood, Flagstaff, ca. 1900; Courthouse, Flagstaff, ca. 1896; Old Main, Arizona Normal School, ca. 1913

Portraits Include:

Group portrait of Jessie Jefferson "Bear" Howard, John Verkamp, Pete Sanchez, William Carroll, Milt Ferrall, Frank Daggs, John "Jim" James Thompson, Lee Wheeler, Jack "Three Finger" Hennessy, ca. 1895; group portrait of John "Jim" James Thompson family, ca. 1913.

Biographic Note:

Born in Flagstaff on June 4, 1899, George Babbitt, Jr. was a member of the well-known Babbitt family of Flagstaff. His father, George Babbitt Sr., came to Northern Arizona in 1886 with four brothers. The brothers set up a trading post and soon expanded into the ranching business. The Babbitts rapidly acquired political and economic power in Northern Arizona and throughout the territory.

George Babbitt, Jr. attended college at Loyola University in Los Angeles, California. In 1920 he finished his Bachelor of Arts and went on to be awarded his Master of Arts from Loyola.

Throughout the 1920's he worked at various jobs, including sales manager for the Babbitt Brothers Trading Post from 1927-1930. He also established his own George Babbitt Investment Company, which dealt primarily with land and business development. During the 1930's Babbitt served as Coconino County Democratic Committee chairman. In 1936 he became Postmaster of Flagstaff and continued in that position until 1953.

His interests beyond business were principally in history and historic preservation. He was a member of the Arizona Historical Society and the Northern Arizona Pioneer's Historical Society. Babbitt collected rare books and informational material relating to Northern Arizona history.

After his first wife, Ruth Behn, died, he married Madeline Hunter, a Los Angeles real estate broker. In 1964 the Babbitts moved from Sedona to Paradise Valley.

George Babbitt, Jr. died October 24, 1980.