Welcome To Potsdam Public Museum

Dr. Hans-Egon Scheyer

1900-1987

Hans Egon Scheyer was born in Berlin, Germany on April 24, 1900. With degrees from Heidelburg University, the University of Hamburg, and the University of Berlin, he specialized in obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics and practiced in Germany for several years. In 1934 he received an offer of a government job in Canton, China as head of the Women's Clinic and Professor of Obstetrics at Sun Yat-Sen University. He and his wife, Ida Margareth (Kiessling) Scheyer, traveled to Canton, where he was Chief of Staff and partner at the American Todd Hospital. She was an RN and served as superintendent of the hospital. Dr. Scheyer eventually served as personal physician to Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek. When the Japanese advanced on Canton in 1938 during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), Dr. Scheyer left China for the United States. He accepted a post with the New York State Medical Board and in November of 1939 he opened an office in Potsdam, NY. He became an American citizen in 1944. Mrs. Scheyer, who collected many of the pieces in our collection, passed away in 1944 and soon after her death, Dr. Scheyer donated the items to the museum in her memory. Dr. Scheyer married Hilda Gerrish of Potsdam in 1949 and they had three children, Marguerite, Robert and Alfred. He continued to operate his general hospital on Elm Street until 1949, when he joined the US Army Medical Corp and was assigned to the 155^th Station Hospital in Yokohama, Japan as chief of obstetrics and gynecology during the Korean Conflict. He was transferred to Korea for the duration of the war and returned to Potsdam in 1958 after achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel.  During his career with the military, he also served at several army hospitals in the US and Germany.  In 1972 he married Johanna Nametek of Baltimore, MD. He retired in 1975 after more than 50 years as a physician and moved to Arizona. He died there in 1987 and is buried in Ft. Bliss, Texas.

Freeman Harlow Allen, Ph.D.

1862 - 1942

The items in our collection were given to the Potsdam Public Museum by Newell Allen, son of Dr. Freeman Harlow Allen

Dr Allen was born in Copenhagen, Lewis County, NY and graduated from the Potsdam Normal School in 1885 He remained there until 1908 as a professor of History.  Dr. Allen and his wife , Rose Priest (daughter of Captain Luther priest of Potsdam), traveled extensively with the Floating University. 

The Floating University was also known as University World Cruise

Dr, Freeman Allen was professor of history and government for the cruise, which sailed around the world in 1930 and 1931. Faculty and students from American colleges and universities traveled to many countries, including China, to offer educational programs and classes. 

Marguerite Gurley Chapman

 1891-1969

Marguerite was born in Potsdam on January 21^st 1891 to William and Etta Mae (McGowan) Gurley. Mr. Gurley was a prominent lawyer in the Potsdam area for many years. Marguerite graduated from the Potsdam Normal School in 1909 and from St. Lawrence University in 1912. She married Mr. William Chapman at her family home on Bay Street in Potsdam on the October 15^th 1921 . She served as regent of the Nihanawate Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, President of the Hospital Guild, President of the Bayside Cemetery Association, and President of the Potsdam Public Library Board of Trustees. She also served as the president of the Potsdam Public Museum, from its founding in 1940 until her death in 1969. 

Mrs. Chapman was a respected local historian and the author of two books, Early History of Potsdam in 1956, and The Clarkson Family of Potsdam in 1958. In addition, officials at SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson College often consulted her when considering names for new buildings on their campuses. 

Marguerite Gurley Chapman traveled extensively, and often brought souvenirs back to Potsdam. Many of the items in the Potsdam Public Museum's Chinese Collection were donated by Mrs. Chapman.

Rev. Merle Quest Stevenson

1892 - 1969

The items in the Stevenson collection were given to the Potsdam Public Museum by Mary Ellen Putnam, daughter of  Dwight Stevenson, Ph. D.  Dr. Stevenson acquired these items from his brother, Merle Q. Stevenson. Merle and his wife, Hortense,  acquired the artifacts while they were missionaries in China between 1919 to1924. They traveled on behalf of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. According to a report of that organization in 1922, they were stationed in Paotingfu, Chihli Province in North China. Their daughter, Grace, was born during their time there.

Dwight served as a high school teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools in the western United States before coming to Potsdam in 1924 as head of the Department of Education at the Potsdam Normal School.