Edward's Briefcase

Edward's Desk

My grandfather, Edward Pickering Parker, president of Parker Brothers.


And here's his desk! And much of what you'll see here has been sitting in this desk for decades.

This is not a history of Parker Brothers per se. (If you want a history, read "The Game Makers" by Philip E. Orbanes; it could hardly be improved upon.)


EPP kept childhood photographs and a few newspaper clippings in this box. It includes:


Pictures of pigs, horses, and goats, presumably from his father's farm.


Some identifiable people. More unidentifiable people. That's my grandfather in the middle of the mystery mob, gnawing on something.


His 1939 Chevy. &c.

Natalie Stevens Parker

My grandmother, Natalie Stevens Parker.

The Parker Brothers

George Swinnerton, Charles Hanford, and Edward Hegeman: The Parker Brothers. Yes, they're real people.

As far as I know, this is the only photo of all three.

Edward is my great-great-grandfather.

The Brothers

George, Charles, and Edward, circa 1878. George would start publishing his own games at age sixteen, and eventually rope in his older brothers.





What were they up to around this time? Here's part of an 1879 letter from Edward. He's planning his wedding. Georgie went up to Lexington and is "having a beautiful time." "Charlie had an encounter with those Irish fellows in one of the low streets near the old (?) depot Saturday. He received two heavy blows in the face but "he handled his fists to advantage..."

For more information on GSP, note his entry in the leatherbound vanity publication, "Encyclopedia of American Biography."

George?

More original brothers? That looks like George S. in the cap, second from the right. Who is that on the right, hiding under his hat? Is that EPP, crying and clutching a derby? Who are all these other people? Is that a dog at the bottom?

I wish EPP had labeled more of his photos.

Cousin Sadie

Edward Hegeman Parker writes to his cousin Sadie in Queens. It's later in 1879, and he's describing his honeymoon with Laura! What are they doing? Playing cards. And "having a very nice time." Well, maybe there's a future in games.