Chapman-Doten family collection

This family collection revolves around three major members of this Portland, Maine, family: Philip and Gladys Doten Chapman and their daughter Virginia Chapman Lockwood. Information about Marion (Chapman) Shartle, the sister of Philip F. Chapman Sr., and her husband Col. Samuel G. Shartle, are also included.

Gladys Doten Chapman (1886-1980) was the daughter of Roswell and Clara Lizzie (Stevens) Doten. She attended Waynflete School (then known as Bellows School) and graduated from Portland High School in 1902. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1907. She married Philip F. Chapman Sr. in 1909 and the couple had three children: Virginia (1910-2011), Marion (1913-1965) and Philip Jr. (1917-2001).

Gladys was heavily involved in the suffrage movement in Maine. She played a prominent role in the Maine Suffrage League, including marching on Portland City Hall in 1916. She founded the College Equal Suffrage Union for a younger generation of suffragettes and was an original member of the Portland League of Women Voters.

In addition to women’s suffrage, Gladys had a wide range of interests and contributed to many organizations. In the 1930s she wrote book reviews for the Portland Evening News. She was president of the YWCA, a member of the Portland College Club and the first secretary of the Portland Players. She was also active in the Greater Portland Landmarks and the Wellesley College Alumnae Association. She enjoyed writing poetry and some of her poems are preserved in this collection. This collection also contains the Deborah Morton Award of Westbrook College which she received in 1968.

Philip F. Chapman Sr. (1884-1949) was born in Portland, Maine, to Charles Jarvis and Annie (Hinds) Chapman. His father was the mayor of Portland from 1886-1888. He graduated from Portland High School in 1902, along with his future wife, and Bowdoin College in 1906. He went on to Harvard Law School, graduating in 1909. That same year he married Gladys Doten. The couple and their three children resided on Spring St. in Portland.

He was a prominent banker in the city, serving as president of Chapman National Bank. Philip was also involved in real estate, playing a substantial role in the creation of Wildwood Park in Cumberland Foreside. Like his wife, he was politically active. He served on the Portland Water District and was a staff member for Governor Owen Brewster.

He was a lieutenant colonel in the Maine Guard during World War I and captained his own boat off the coast of Florida in the Coast Guard Auxiliary during World War II. He was a member of several organizations, including the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Portland Kiwanis Club and was a deacon of Williston Church.

Virginia Chapman Lockwood (1910-2011) was born in Portland to Philip and Gladys (Doten) Chapman. She and her siblings grew up at 375 Spring St. in Portland. She graduated from Waynflete School in 1927 and Wellesley College in 1931. She taught at Waynflete before marrying William Lockwood in 1934. She continued her teaching career in New Jersey when William joined the faculty of Princeton University. Like Gladys, Virginia enjoyed writing poetry.