Dr. Amasa Day Chaffee

A world-renowned photographer for his time. A.D. Chaffee was born June 13,1870. He was the son of Eugene W. Chaffee a Civil War vet. Grandson of Amasa Day ( 1808- 1896) the namesake of the “Amasa Day House”.     Eugene W. Chaffee was successful in banking. This allowed for A.D’s schooling. A.D. attended the Modus Center School, a graduate in 1886 from Hartford High School, Yale University and then on to (Columbia) College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.   Other than the above, not much is known about the Chaffee family. There is no record of family recordings regarding A.D. Chaffee or his photography along with a personal journal has been found.   In 1922, Antiquarian & Landmark Society (ALS) discovered over 2,000 dirt covered glass plates of A.D’s work in a closet in the Amasa Day House. The East Haddam Historical Society previously found them when restoration began on the carriage house.   Executive director of ALS, R. Agnus Murdoch was able to place together the life of A.D Chaffee by studying and examining the glass plates. The glass plates often of woodlands, waterfalls, old houses and family. The glass plates of the family were of his parents, sister Katherine and even his grandfather, Amasa Day.   A.D has married a lady by the first name of Antoinette who died only two years after marriage. In 1933, A.D died when tubercular conditions took the best of him. This was a long illness for A.D, it is thought that he had got the disease while he was in New York.