The Packard Family: A Legacy of Innovation and Philanthropy
James Ward Packard and his family were a part of the turn of the twentieth century and models of the advancements that were to come. They were inventors, leaders in business, and philanthropists. They brought inventions into being that we could not imagine life without today. They invested in their communities and helped them grow and thrive in a modern world. They even played a part in advancing opportunities for women in law enforcements. They represent a cross section of the change and advancement that came with the turn of the century and the Progressive Era.
This project was supported by the Western New York Library Resource Council’s American Rescue Plan Act Grant Funds and is a partnership between the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System and the Fenton History Center. The Lakewood History Museum provided generous access to photographs and the Lakewood Memorial Library provided access to their local history collection. This exhibition was written by Janice Dekoff (Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System), digitization work by Emric Taylor (Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System), and Jane Babinsky and Therese Avedillo supplied photographs and historical information (Fenton History Center). Additional support was provided by WNYLRC Staff Jay Barone, Shayna Diamond, and Heidi Ziemer.
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System. The Packard Family: A Legacy of Innovation and Philanthropy. New York Heritage Digital Collection, 2023