Volume 2 Number 4

Fall 1985

Letter From the Editor

American Genealogical

Research Institute

Brief History of

the Skinner (Trade) Name

Debrett Update

Edmund E. Skinner Obituary

Far Side

Flying Fur

John F. Skinner Obituary

Marget Kellam: Female smith

miscSKINNERlaneous

Nellie Skinner Obituary

Queries

Recent Acquisitions

Royal Chewing Out

Skinner-Davis Scrapbook (Part 2)

Skinner Ethnics

Skinner Logo

Skinner Places

Skinner Satin Company

Unclaimed Property

Volunteers Needed

Wylie K. Skinner Obituary

Index Page

Thanks to William Weiler for transcription of this article.

"One of my genealogical hobbies is doing what you might call "cousin charts, " showing relationship to various celebrities. So far I have done about 400, among which are the following descendants of John Skinner of Hartford and Windsor:"

Charles Seymour Whitman, Governor of New York

Mark Hopkins, Famous Educator and President of Williams College

Clarence Shepard Day, Author of "Life With Father"*

Henry R. Stiles, Author of "History of Ancient Windsor," etc.

Samuel Colt, Inventor of Colt revolver

Russell Griswold Colt, Husband of Ethel Barrymore

-contributed by Ray Pitkin, 183 Croydon Lane, El Cajon, CA 92020

* in Summer Update miscSKINNERlaneous, it was noted that Elizabeth Taylor played the role of Mary Skinner in the movie Life With Father. It was probably due to this connection to the Skinner family that the author used the Skinner name.

-Gregg

In reference to the Summer `85 mention of Skinner Satin Company...

The Skinner Satin Company of Holyoke, MA is now out of business but at one time was a very large industry in the city of Holyoke.

-Murray M. Brown

See elsewhere in this issue for further information on Skinner Silks and Satins.

-Gregg

In reference to the Summer `85 mention of the Skinner Macaroni/Cereals...

Friend Kathy Griset has informed me that Skinner Foods is very big back East. They have been in business for about 60 years and appear to be thriving. We are still attempting to obtain further information...

-Gregg

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1. Some years ago I, as well as many of our friends, noted that a composer named Frank Skinner wrote a lot of music for Hollywood films. Since my Skinner family is heavily into music and our son is a professional composer, musician (Oberlin Conservatory), we wondered if there is some connection. My father, born in 1881 and who died at the age of 96, also was very musical, played the baritone and other musical instruments when he was young, including directing a small orchestra or band on river boats on the Ohio River around
1901-10.

2. Have you ever done anything about the intelligence of the Skinner clan? How many are members of Mensa or have been listed in `Who's Who' And so on? Such an article might counteract the story of Mother Goose ·which we got a large charge out of! I was listed in `Who's Who in the Southwest' (which, to my mind, was a bit odd geographically because it included Washington D.C. where I was editor for many years). We were early members of Mensa, the high-IQ society but dropped out quite a few years ago. Douglas Gray Skinner, our son, early was identified as a child genius and continues to amaze everyone with his talents. He has been featured on `Great Performances,' etc. Many others, of course, are much brighter and more successful than we.

The Skinner Family History, (published 1978 by American Genealogical Research Institute; 1235 Kenilworth Avenue, N.E.; Washington, D.C. 20019) states: Official United States records compiled in 1974 indicate that in that year (1974) Skinner was the 534th most frequently occurring name in the nation. Today (presumably 1978?) there are approximately 52,840 adult Americans named Skinner."

-Frank D. Skinner

William Skinner was Set Director on the movie `Rambo: First Blood Part 2' from Tri-Star Pictures.

-Gregg

G. William Skinner is a China Scholar and the dissertation committee head at Stanford University (8/83).

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There is a Skinner Drive in Dayton, OH...; There is a Skinner Montessori School in Vancouver, WA...

-Sande Skinner