Edna M. Netter Collection of Historical Manuscripts and Personal Papers

Edna M. Netter enjoyed a very successful career as an antiquarian dealer, buying and selling antiques of every sort, as well as rare books and manuscripts. She interacted with leading collectors, institutions, and other dealers, handling high-end items whenever possible in every category. Of German background, Netter was born on March 3, 1890, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. She was the third and last child of Samuel Netter and Fannie Meyers (1850–1922), who had been married on August 25, 1880. Netter’s older siblings were sister Minnie (1882–1930) and brother George (1884–1949). Very little is known about Samuel Netter. Having disappeared before 1900, he may have been the son of one Samuel L. Netter (1831–1915), a German born custom shoemaker from Baden-Baden who emigrated to the United States, perhaps in 1857 aboard the ship Ocean Rover from Le Havre, France. He became a naturalized citizen on October 15, 1864. His certificate survives among the personal papers of Edna Netter. Samuel married on December 17, 1866, to Eva Hesselberger (1839–1880), apparently as his second wife if presumed son, Samuel, was of marrying age in 1880. The elder Samuel lived most of his adult life in Brooklyn, retiring about 1901. His obituary indicated that he was a member of Levy Lodge #5, Independent Order of Free Sons of Israel. Edna Netter’s mother, Fannie, born in New York in 1850, was a daughter of George and Sophia Meyers, both of whom had been born in Germany and who in 1860 were also living in the Lower East Side. At the time, that was an area occupied by many people of German origin or family background. Fannie appears to have been of a Christian faith as later Edna’s entire family affiliated with the Reformed Church.

It should be noted that one source of genealogical information claims that it was indeed Samuel Netter, age fifty, who married Fannie Meyers, age thirty, in 1880, very soon after his wife Eva died. There is some corroboration for that claim as children Minnie and George were born at Brooklyn addresses in 1882 and 1884 respectively where Samuel Netter, shoemaker, also resided, according to city directories. Either way, Fannie Netter, the three children, and her younger brother Elias Meyers (1852–1920), were by 1900 living on East 135th Street in the Bronx, while Samuel and two of his children, namely Emanuel and Harriet, remained in Brooklyn. The 1900 Federal population census identifies Fannie as being married for 19 years, even though no one by the name of Samuel Netter was part of her household at that time. By 1910, the family had relocated to Passaic, New Jersey. Fannie was then listed in the 1915 state census as a widow, the same year that Samuel had died at age 84. Samuel’s obituary does not mention children, including Minnie, George, or Edna.

Late in life, Edna Netter told a friend that she once had a fiancé. His name was Maurits Hymans (1867–1926), a widower and naturalized U.S. citizen originally from the Netherlands. On December 8, 1914, the couple obtained a marriage license in Manhattan, even though at the time both lived in Passaic. But they apparently never went forward with the ceremony. In August of 1915, Hymans returned to Holland. He remained there for the duration of World War I.

At some point during these years, Edna Netter obtained an education in bookkeeping and accounting. It may have been at the New York University School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance, as a 1917 dance program from that institution can be found among Netter’s personal papers. By 1919, the Netters had moved again, this time to Kingston, New York. Edna was identified in the Federal population census for 1920 as a public accountant. In that role, she became embroiled in a political situation where a 1919 Democratic candidate for Kingston mayor had hired her to audit the books of the city in search of irregularities by the incumbent Republican. She was denied access. It was also while living in Kingston that Elias Meyers died on June 17, 1920. He was accorded a full Masonic funeral by the local lodges due to his membership in another lodge in New York City.

The Netters did not remain long in Kingston. In August of 1921, the Monmouth Inquirer in New Jersey announced that "George M. Netter of New York, has purchased a part of the Simon Martin farm at East Freehold." This small 18-acre property was located on Dutch Lane Road, actually in Marlboro Township, about 4 miles from the borough of Freehold. Fannie Netter and her three children soon removed there, making improvements to an existing house and the farm. But Fannie did not enjoy the rural life in Monmouth County for long as she passed away in January of 1922. Interment took place at Maplewood Cemetery in Freehold. Minnie, George, and Edna, who all remained single, made the farm their home for the remainder of their lives.

Edna Netter continued to pursue her career as a bookkeeper and accountant after moving to Monmouth County. In 1924, she found employment with Louis Richmond (1880–1944), a prominent Russian-born antiques dealer who had opened his shop in Freehold in 1902. Eighteen months later, in 1926, Netter decided to set out on her own in pursuit of a new career as an antiques dealer. On May 6 of that year, the legendary Americana collector and major Richmond customer, Mrs. J. Amory Haskell (1864–1942), wrote to Netter, "I was so sorry to hear you had left Mr. Richmond, but hope you will be able to build up a business for yourself." The letter then went on to discuss a number of items that Netter had offered to Haskell. These two individuals would maintain a close client/dealer relationship bordering on friendship until Haskell’s death in 1942.

Freehold at the time had become a center for the antiques trade. In addition to Louis Richmond, William S. Holmes (1876–1948) maintained a shop in the Christopher House, opposite to Richmond on East Main Street. Holmes would become president of the Monmouth County Historical Association, and later its director. Annie Haight Kerfoot (1864–1940) ran her business at the House with the Brick Wall on South Street. Her first husband, Frederick William Hunter (1865–1919), had produced a major book on Stiegel glass. Her second husband, John Barrett Kerfoot (1865–1927), wrote an extensive study of American pewter based on their personal collection. Later local dealers included Lillian Wilkinson Boschen (1893–1974), who organized three antique shows in Freehold during the 1930s, and Charles Vanderveer (1905–1983), who took over the House with the Brick Wall following Kerfoot’s death. Leading collectors and dealers considered Freehold a destination in the 1920s and 1930s. While never operating an open shop, Edna Netter welcomed visitors to her home near Freehold. She also exhibited in the Freehold shows organized by Boschen.

From the outset of her antiques business, Edna Netter established a very broad network of contacts with people who had something to sell. She maintained very strong connections throughout central New Jersey, but also in Cumberland and Burlington counties in South Jersey, as well as in eastern Pennsylvania. Her travels in the quest for new acquisitions eventually took her from Georgia into New England. Netter’s correspondence files, set up in 1926 and maintained for more than 25 years, provide testament to the hundreds upon hundreds of people who wanted her to purchase their treasures. Netter also participated in auctions, at times setting landmark prices. As early as March of 1929, The Trenton Sunday Times Advertiser described one such transaction at an auction held in Yardville.

"Police Present as Prize Relic Figures in Sale

"Yardville Chair Brings Nearly $5,000 at Auction

"While State troopers guarded the house, an auction sale of a chair took place yesterday in the home of Harry G. Abbott, of Yardville, with many curio and antique dealers and representatives of museums participating in the bidding.

"The chair, known as a 'winged chair with claw feet' was finally 'knocked down' to Miss E. M. Netter, a curio dealer of Freehold, for $4,760. The antique had been in the Abbott family, which traces its lineage to colonial times, for more than 150 years. Only one other chair like it exists, and that is already in a museum.

"Negotiations for a private sale had been carried on for some time and several lucrative offers were received by Mr. Abbott from representatives of museums. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, after having made him a private offer, sent an agent to the sale.

"He opened the bidding with $3,000 for the rare piece of furniture. Rising in leaps of hundreds of dollars at a time, the bidding soon reached $4,000.

"A tense and silent battle for possession of the valued relic was then started in earnest, with Miss Netter emerging victorious. The unusual condition of the sale imposed by Mr. Abbott that payment must be made in cash, made it necessary for the State police guard."

This story was picked up by newspapers in Matawan, Red Bank, Allentown, Atlantic City, and Camden, giving Netter quite a publicity boost statewide. She also gained visibility from this purchase with museum curators and collectors interested in Americana. Harry Abbott and Edna Netter enjoyed a close friendship for years thereafter.

Two years later, Netter again captured the attention of antiques dealers and collectors, this time at the August 20, 1931, estate auction of Mary Holmes Taylor III (1851–1930) in Middletown, Monmouth County. At that notable sale she paid a very substantial sum for an early silver bowl made by silversmith Benjamin Wynkoop (1675–1751) of New York. It bore the engraved initials of early Middletown residents, George Taylor (1684–1758) and Helena Johnstone (1686–1758), and the date 1711 in Roman numerals. Mary Holmes Taylor was their great-great-granddaughter. Local newspapers described the auction:

"The sale was one of the largest of its kind held in Monmouth County in recent years and it was notable for the great quantity of antique furniture disposed of. The most valuable of these articles was a hammered silver bowl made by Benjamin Wynkoop in 1711. The bowl is said to be the only one of its kind in the world. It was struck off to Miss E. M. Netter of Freehold for $1,735. The buyer is a dealer in antiques. A number of other persons engaged in the same line of business, including some New York dealers, were at the sale, and the bidding was spirited."

Within weeks, Netter had obtained a second silver bowl from another Taylor descendant that copied the form of and inscriptions on the Wynkoop bowl. But it had been made decades later by Adrian Bancker (1703–1772), another New York silversmith. Netter kept the two two-handled silver bowls in her personal collection for many years, not selling them until after 1954. For roughly ten years beginning in 1932, she placed them on loan to the Museum of the City of New York.

Throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s, Edna Netter ran a very successful antiquarian business, handling whenever possible high-end items in every category. She never hesitated to contact leading collectors when she obtained something that she thought might be of interest to them. Her private clients included such figures as Henry Francis du Pont, Henry Ford, Mrs. Bertha Benkard, J. Stodgell Stokes, George Horace Lorimer, and of course Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, her principal patron. This last relationship became especially important after the Monmouth County Historical Association opened its newly built museum and library in Freehold in October of 1931. Netter was especially adept at seeking out heirlooms and historical documents owned by Monmouth County families. Mrs. Haskell took a special interest in MCHA from the beginning. Her family became the largest contributors toward construction of what was initially called the "History House." And she graciously lent much of her finest Americana to the organization for display. One important exhibit was the 1934 creation of a Duncan Phyfe parlor. Mrs. Haskell also donated outright a very large number of paintings, portraits, folk art, furniture, children’s toys, textiles, pottery, historical manuscripts, and rare books to MCHA, most of which had local or New Jersey provenance. Edna Netter was her principal source for these items. With exhibits from the Haskell collection rotating on a regular basis, plus an aggressive schedule of lectures and special events involving leading curators, historians, and specialists from the antiques trade, during the 1930s MCHA contributed significantly to Freehold’s reputation as a center or destination for those individuals interested in Americana. The local dealers benefited greatly.

Early American silver became a great interest to Edna Netter. As early as 1929, she struck up a close friendship with Phoebe Phillips Prime of Paoli, PA. The two maintained a cordial correspondence for almost 25 years. They visited each other from time to time, attended seminars together, and made study trips to exhibits and museums. Prime was a major organizer of the landmark 1937 silver exhibit in Philadelphia sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America. This led to the publication in 1938 of Three Centuries of Historic Silver which Prime compiled and edited. It was also through Prime that in 1939 Netter was engaged to appraise the important collection of Logan family silver in Philadelphia. Her other contacts in the field of early American silver included noted dealer Stephen G. C. Ensko and preeminent collector Stanley B. Ineson, both of New York. The Ineson collection, enlarged by George P. Bissell, was subsequently acquired by the Winterthur Museum in Delaware. It is known today as the Ineson-Bissell Collection.

Other areas where Netter gained considerable expertise included early American glass and New Jersey pottery. Her contacts with glass specialists included George S. McKearin of New York City and Hoosic Falls, NY, a major dealer in American glass and author with his daughter Helen of two books on the subject. In 1937, Netter donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York a group of glass fragments that she had picked up on the site of the 18th century Wistarburg Glass Works in Salem County, NJ. At some point during the 1930s, Edna Netter helped organize part of a New Jersey pottery and ceramics exhibit in the Ceramics Building at Rutgers, a biennial event. Portions of this exhibit were later reinstalled in the Freehold museum of the Monmouth County Historical Association. Netter’s correspondents who were specialists in early New Jersey pottery included Arthur W. Clement (1878–1952), an author and major collector whose significant holdings were donated to the Brooklyn Museum (of which he was a trustee and benefactor), and W. Oakley Raymond (1873–1957), also a leading early collector of New Jersey stoneware.

At one point, Edna Netter claimed that she restored old houses. She did in fact become very involved in four historic properties. The first was the 18th century Taylor family ancestral homestead that was part of the estate of Mary Holmes Taylor in Middletown. After several years of trying to interest the Monmouth County Historical Association in the building, in 1935 Netter was successful in convincing Mrs. Haskell to purchase the house and an acre of land. Haskell then engaged Netter to supervise its restoration, which continued into 1936. Named Marlpit Hall, it became the first historic house museum in Monmouth County. Mrs. Haskell donated the fully furnished house to MCHA in June of 1936. She had also acquired many pieces of early Taylor furniture at the Mary Holmes Taylor auction in 1931. They were returned to the building for display. Mrs. Haskell made a long investigation before selecting Marlpit Hall as the best house which she could purchase to give to the historical association as an example of colonial architecture. Netter continued her interest in Marlpit Hall for years thereafter. In 1952, she provided The Magazine Antiques with a draft text on the house, its restoration, and its furnishings, which was used for an article they published in the September issue.

Beginning in 1935, Edna Netter became involved with the Dey Mansion, located in Wayne, New Jersey. This great 18th century Georgian house, owned at the time by the Passaic County Park Commission, first opened to the public in 1934. It is still owned by Passaic County. Netter provided many items for furnishing the house. She also influenced Mrs. Haskell to loan some of her collection to the Dey Mansion, including important pieces of William and Mary and early Queen Anne furniture. Netter maintained a long and friendly correspondence with Dr. William H. Rauchfuss (1871–1945), a prominent historian who at the time served as curator for the historic house museum.

An estate called Bow Hill, located in Hamilton Township near Trenton, New Jersey, was to occupy much of Edna Netter’s time from 1938 through 1945. At first, she purchased a selection of the finest early furniture from the house which had descended through the De Klyn, Lalor, and Barricklo families. Netter sold the entire group to Mrs. Haskell. Then the heirs engaged her to clean out the house, plus another residence in Jersey City where the Barricklo descendants had lived since the 1860s. Netter became very close to Julie Lalor Barricklo (1863–1944) and her niece Julie Barricklo Fouché (1879–1949). Following the death of Miss Barricklo in 1944, it became imperative that the large brick mansion, then in rapidly deteriorating condition, be sold. Although it remained furnished for years, the house had not been occupied since 1914. Netter entered into detailed negotiations with historian Helen A. West of Hamilton Township, who formed the Hamilton Township Historical Society specifically to purchase and restore the historic landmark. The transaction finally closed in 1945, with Netter’s brother George listed as the agent. He had become a licensed real estate broker years before. The historical society was able to buy the house and five acres of land for $3,000. Unfortunately, the organization could not raise funds for its restoration, so Bow Hill was sold again about 1954. Today the house functions as a Ukrainian-American social center. Netter and Fouché kept up a very strong friendship until Miss Fouché passed away in 1949. They corresponded regularly, visited each other often, and occasionally went on trips together. In 1941, Netter was able to arrange a tour of Winterthur for herself and Fouché through her client contacts with Henry F. du Pont.

The State of New Jersey commenced restoration of Boxwood Hall in Elizabeth during World War II. Edna Netter took considerable interest in this historic residence of Elias Boudinot (1740–1821), a Revolutionary era statesman who served in the United States House of Representatives, as President of the Confederation Congress, as director of the United States Mint, and later as president of the American Bible Society. At stake was an important collection of fifteen Boudinot portraits, a large set of Chinese Export porcelain bearing the family arms, silver, furniture, and manuscripts assembled by descendants and consigned to M. Knoedler & Co., an art gallery in New York City. Netter attempted to raise funds so the collection could be acquired by the state for display at Boxwood Hall. She appealed for contributions from such leading high-profile individuals as Henry F. du Pont and Henry Ford. Ford declined outright. Du Pont sent Netter a check for $10.00, which she never cashed. Eventually, the Boudinot collection was acquired by Landon K. Thorne (1888–1964), a prominent New York banker, who donated it to the Princeton University Art Museum and Princeton University Library. Netter did provide some of the furnishings for Boxwood Hall, a few items of which had Boudinot provenance. The house remains a state-owned historic site open to the public.

In her work with rare books and manuscripts, Edna Netter interacted with such well-known New Jersey dealers as Charles F. Heartman (1883–1953) and John M. Connor, Jr. (1887–1969). She also engaged in transactions with numerous dealers in Philadelphia, New York, and New England. Netter’s specialty was New Jerseyana. She was instrumental in helping to build the library at Rutgers University beginning in 1928 through a longstanding relationship with George A. Osborn (1874–1947), librarian from 1905 to 1945, and also with Carl R. Woodward (1890–1974), at the time associated with the school of agriculture. Woodward later became president of the University of Rhode Island. But he kept in touch with Netter until shortly before his death in 1974. Netter sold Rutgers large quantities of books, pamphlets, printed New Jerseyana, and manuscripts. She was especially successful in seeking out the accumulated papers of New Jersey families and important individuals. In other instances, she convinced her contacts to donate their family archives directly to Rutgers and the New Jersey Historical Society. Among her private clients was George C. Rockefeller (1901–1977) of Denville, Morris County, a major collector of early New Jersey imprints. Selected items from his collection were later acquired by Rutgers Special Collections & University Archives, where most of the material obtained from Edna Netter can now be found.

Edna Netter’s life during the 1930s and 1940s revolved around constant travels in search of new acquisitions, finding buyers for her inventory, and attending antique shows and museum exhibits as well as lectures, seminars, and conferences on various aspects of Americana. She also kept up an extensive volume of correspondence with sellers, collectors, dealers, and museum curators. In her personal life, Netter’s sister Minnie passed away in January of 1930 from heart trouble at the age of 47. Her funeral was conducted by the Rev. John A. Thomson, pastor of the Colts Neck Reformed Church. The Netter family had joined this church shortly after moving to Monmouth County in 1921. In the fall of 1938, Edna’s brother George fractured his leg, which required additional corrective surgery several years later. He was deaf. Edna provided him with the latest hearing aids, as well as a hearing system for his use that she had installed in the Colts Neck church.

World War II and its gas rationing restrictions put a near stop to Edna Netter’s antiques-related travels. To make ends meet, she resorted to her bookkeeping and accounting background by keeping books and preparing tax returns for local farmers and other individuals. One of her clients owned a dairy herd of 300 head. At the end of the war, Netter purchased two surplus barracks buildings from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. One was located at Sea Bright, and the other at Leonardo. Both structures got moved to the Netter farm, where one was offered for sale. The other housed part of her antiques inventory, in addition to the house and an existing barn.

Another event that took place during World War II changed Netter’s antiques business forever. That was the death on September 17, 1942, of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, age 78, at her Oak Hill Farm estate in Middletown. Margaret Riker Haskell had been Netter’s principal patron since 1926. As Netter wrote to Haskell’s secretary, Miss Gwendolin Newcome:

"Mrs. Haskell made it possible for me to enjoy all the beautiful things that under ordinary circumstances I never could have handled. She shared her pleasure of collecting with me and I shall always be grateful."

"If there is anything that I can do to assist you in any way, I shall consider it a privilege to be able to help. It would be an opportunity to say thank you to you for your many courtesies, and at the same time show my appreciation for what Mrs. Haskell has done for me."

The legendary Haskell Americana collection was dispersed at auction in 1944 and 1945 at the Parke-Bernet Galleries in New York City. It took six auctions, each with its own catalog, to accomplish the task. Fourteen lots listed Edna Netter as part of their provenance. One of them, a set of four exceptional Philadelphia Chippendale chairs from Bow Hill, reached a hammer price of $5,200, the highest by far of any furniture lot. The next highest was an imposing walnut block-front desk and bookcase attributed to the Goddard family, renowned cabinetmakers of Newport, RI. It brought $2,900. Entries for many of the smaller items in the Haskell sales, such as glass and ceramics, plus objects of lesser value, did not necessarily contain references to provenance. Netter had heavily annotated a set of the catalogs, noting which of those lots she had sold to Mrs. Haskell.

Edna Netter made one attempt at running for political office. In 1942, she ran as a Republican candidate for Marlboro Township Tax Collector. That was an especially suitable job for Netter given her background in bookkeeping and accounting. She challenged longstanding incumbent, Democrat Harry Magee. Magee was returned to the position by a vote of 561 to 340. But one local newspaper commented that Netter "made a good fight for the office." Netter continued to support the Republican party and its various candidates for local, state, and federal offices, at times attending or helping to organize fundraising and election events. She also served later as chair of the Marlboro Township Industrial Committee, an organization which promoted the creation of an industrial park in the community.

Another tragedy, this time within the Netter family, again changed the direction of Edna’s career. Her brother George, a licensed real estate broker, died in 1949 at the age of 65. Following her brother’s passing, Edna Netter succeeded to his real estate business, and also became licensed. But she kept her hand in with Americana for the rest of her long life, albeit with gradually diminishing involvement. Among her clients during this transition period were Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who were putting together a major collection of American folk art which they gave in 1953 to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. She also sold several items to the Henry Ford Museum through her longstanding friendship with Dr. Donald A. Shelley (1911–2006), who had joined their staff as curator of fine art in 1952. He then became that institution’s executive director in 1954, and from 1968 to 1976 served as president and CEO. Netter was also able to continue selling manuscripts and other archival material to Rutgers Special Collections into the late 1950s.

From March 1961 to November 1977, Edna Netter advertised her real estate business regularly in Monmouth County newspapers published in Freehold, Red Bank, Long Branch, and elsewhere. Sometimes it was just a simple statement of her name and contact information. At other times, she advertised particular properties which she had listed. Netter also took out similar advertisements in virtually every issue of the Staten Island Advance printed between January 1965 and April 1980. No doubt she was capitalizing on the wave of people who wished to move from Staten Island, New York, to the more spacious developing suburban areas of Monmouth County, which became especially popular after the opening of the Garden State Parkway through the area in July of 1954.

As the real estate business expanded, Edna Netter took on Virginia S. Smith (1927–1986) as an associate. Smith, a native of Englishtown, then lived on a small farm on Tennent Road in Marlboro, adjacent to the Route 18 exit. Her husband, Edward C., had died in 1967, leaving her with two sons, Edward and Patrick. Meanwhile, Netter continued to be involved with antiques and local history. She was called upon frequently to give talks on topics such as antique silver, glass, and period furniture. In 1964, she became chair of the Marlboro Township Tercentenary Committee, which collected much information on the history of the town. That work continued at least until 1971. Netter also supported the Battleground Historical Society, which was founded in the early 1970s to preserve and restore the Village Inn in Englishtown. She became a charter member and trustee of the organization. That 18th century structure had served as a Revolutionary War era tavern. It was also used as a headquarters by George Washington at the time of the Battle of Monmouth, a clash between the British and American armies that occurred nearby on June 28, 1778. The Battleground Historical Society finally purchased the inn in 1978. Following extensive restoration, it has served since as their headquarters.

The 1970s saw Edna Netter enter a long period of physical decline. In her last years, she became housebound, requiring the assistance of home health aides. But Netter’s mind remained sharp. Her stories of the antiques trade over the previous 50 years, along with its various personalities, were always lively and full of interest. Visitors to her home were welcomed, with tea and cookies frequently being brought out by the aide on duty. Netter would also occasionally sell a few of her remaining treasures, reportedly to cover rising medical expenses. One example will suffice. In 1976, Netter sold to the Monmouth County Historical Association two 18th century portraits in oil on canvas by local Middletown limner, Daniel Hendrickson (1723–1788). One work was a self-portrait, and the other a presumed likeness of his near neighbor, Peter Luyster (1719–1810). These portraits are among the finest examples of early New Jersey folk art by a known native artist. Netter had purchased them in 1959 from the estate of a direct descendant.

Edna Netter passed away on November 18, 1980, at the age of 90. Her will, drawn up in 1974, directed that disposition of her property and possessions be undertaken. She made bequests to the Freehold Area Hospital (now CentraState Medical Center), Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Colts Neck Reformed Church, Deborah Heart and Lung Center, and World Federation for Mental Health. These gifts amounted to slightly less than half of the estate. Netter also made several bequests to friends. But a 37.5 percent share went to Virginia Smith, her real estate associate, who was named executrix. The property, consisting of the house, outbuildings, and 16 acres of land, was offered at $250,000.

A three-day auction held in May of 1981 dispersed what remained of Edna Netter’s stock in trade as well as her personal collections. The condition of items removed from the sheds and outbuildings had suffered from roof leaks, rodent infestations, and bird droppings. Many things were heavily damaged. But having stated that, there were nonetheless some outstanding highlights in the sale. Bidding on dolls turned out to be especially spirited. One 19th century 26-inch Tete Jumeau doll brought the top price of $7,500 in the auction. A large Victorian dollhouse reached $4,200. Other examples of substantial prices realized include a pair of early 19th century coin silver tablespoons by New Brunswick silversmith Lawrence K. Lupp at $1,900, an 1811 sampler by Hannah Dorset Taylor of Middletown at $2,000 (given in 1994 to the Monmouth County Historical Association), and a local redware shaving mug dated 1849 and bearing the inscribed name of James Wilson at $2,200. This last item went to the Stradlings, important New York ceramics dealers. It sold again at auction in the spring of 2023 for only $600. Prices for the furniture in the Netter auction did not go particularly high. A New Jersey Hepplewhite tall case clock only reached $2,200, and a local walnut slant-top desk fell in that same range. Among other remarkable items in the sale was a Revolutionary War era wrought iron camp stove that went to collector and historian, H. Kels Swan. The proceeds of the sale, at more than $100,000, far exceeded the expectations of the estate.

Another item from the Netter estate deserves special mention. Edna Netter owned one of only four known English creamware teapots, made circa 1766, that is decorated with the slogan "No Stamp Act" on one side, and in this case "American Liberty Restored" on the other, both hand-painted in red. The other three examples are in museums. Dr. Donald A. Shelley, longtime Netter friend who served as an advisor to the estate leading up to the sale, acquired this exceptionally rare teapot. It sold at auction on April 20, 2007, as part of the important Shelley collection, for an astounding $130,000, even though in damaged condition with old repairs. Shelley had been interested in the teapot since the early 1950s, when he had it photographed professionally for the research files of the Henry Ford Museum. He served at the time as its curator, as previously mentioned.

Other items from the Netter collection were sold both before and after the auction by the estate, and by their auctioneer, Sheldon Silverstein. For example, the New Jersey State Museum acquired directly from the estate a selection of Netter’s 19th century New Jersey-made Rockingham ware, along with printed price lists and manuscript pages pertaining to local potteries. The Monmouth County Historical Association obtained after the auction an important watercolor by German-American artist Augustus Kollner that is dated 1877 and that depicts Wesley Lake and Ocean Grove, NJ.

Edna Netter’s extensive library on American decorative and fine arts, New Jersey history, and genealogy, was retained by executrix Virginia Smith, along with all her papers. They got parceled out by Smith’s family over a number of years. Many of the books and pamphlets were sold in the mid-1980s to Ralph Schremp of the Cranbury Bookworm in Cranbury, NJ. Other materials, including the alphabetic series of Netter correspondence described below, were acquired a few years later by Patrick McConahay of the Witherspoon Bookstore in Princeton. Members of the Smith family held on to many more of Netter’s business papers and historical documents, selling a few of the latter from time to time. Their residual holdings of both categories were acquired by Rutgers University Special Collections & University Archives in 2021, to join the correspondence files and other Netter business papers donated to them in 2019. These two parts combined constitute the Edna M. Netter Collection, the subject of this finding aid.

Edna Netter was one of four women in New Jersey who, by the 1930s, had established successful businesses as antiques dealers. The other three were Annie Haight Kerfoot (1864–1940) of Freehold, Josephine I. Dawes (1906–2000) of Hightstown, and Frances Wolfe Carey (1887–1972) of Haddonfield. They all enjoyed wide-ranging contacts with leading dealers, collectors, and institutions. But of the group, Edna Netter seems to have traveled farther and more diligently in the search for top quality items to buy and sell. And, to judge from her surviving correspondence files, Netter never hesitated to reach out to important individuals or institutions if she felt that she had something of interest to offer them. Netter was also keenly skilled at family research in order to track down descendants of important figures who might have interesting possessions or papers. Her success at pulling together the Freneau collection at Rutgers Special Collections & University Archives is but one example.

To recap, for over 50 years Edna M. Netter involved herself in the antiquarian trade, historic preservation, and local history. She handled antiques of every sort, rare books, and manuscripts. Netter especially appreciated items associated with New Jersey, many of them being quite iconic. Two examples are the 1695 Robert Rhea wainscot armchair at the Monmouth County Historical Association and the Jonathan Belcher printed broadside at the Princeton University Library. Netter’s legacy lives on in the institutions where items that passed through her hands are now held, as well as in the historic properties in which she took great interest.