Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
M 010 |
Object Name |
Archival Materials, Mixed |
Scope & Content |
The Williams Family Papers includes materials from five families: Pearce, Wilson, Harrison, Williams, and Winslow. The papers comprise approximately six cubic feet, with five oversized boxes housing documents and artifacts. Inclusive dates are 1819-1993, with the bulk of the material dating from 1850-1945. The collection is arranged in series by family name, with the papers of individual family members as subseries. While in most cases the papers are in very good condition, for preservation purposes photocopying is not permitted. Series I: Pearce Family, 1819-1859 Subseries I: George Pearce, 1819-1822 George Pearce's papers consist of correspondence from his wife, Eliza. They show the difficulties the couple faced being separated for long periods of time while he was deployed. Subseries II: Eliza Pearce, 1819-1859 Eliza Pearce's correspondence is largely from family and friends including George Pearce, her mother-in-law, Rebecca Pearce (n.d.), and Jane and Mary Wilson. Her husband wrote about his concerns for her well-being and that of their daughter while he was at sea. In the years after her husband's death, letters illustrate her difficulties in obtaining pension payments. Of interest are three autographed letters signed (ALS) from Benjamin Watkins Leigh on 28 March 1829, 5 July 1833, and 24 March 1834 regarding Eliza Pearce's pension claim. Copies of congressional bills in the collection regarding the Navy Pension Fund demonstrate the process of extending payments to widows. Eliza Pearce's papers also include receipts and bills related to housekeeping. Series II: Wilson Family, 1831, 1848 The Wilson Family materials consist of three letters. Two are to Jane Wilson, and there is also a letter to Jane from her mother, Mary Wilson. Series III: Harrison Family, 1842-1911 Subseries I: Betsey Cooke Harrison, 1872, n.d. There are three items related to Betsey Cooke Harrison: a lock of hair, her obituary, and an undated carte de visite. Subseries II: James C. Harrison, 1842-1882 James C. Harrison's papers include correspondence from his wife and daughter, including letters from Mary while she was at school and from both on their trip abroad after Mary finished her studies. Other letters relate to business and his efforts on behalf of Eliza Pearce. Papers from Harrison's estate include obituaries, letters testamentary, and a resolution by Erie County Savings Bank board of directors recognizing his death. Subseries III: Mary Wilson Pearce Harrison, 1833-1911 Mary Wilson Pearce Harrison's papers include letters from her mother, Eliza Pearce, while she was at school, and letters from Mary and Jane Wilson. Later correspondence includes letters from her husband James Harrison and daughter Mary. Of interest are letters from 1863-1864 written by Mary while she was in school in New York City which discuss unrest during the Civil War, particularly the attempt to burn the city in 1864. Other materials include receipts and a prescription from 1870. Mary Wilson Pearce Harrison's estate papers include correspondence, copies of wills and other legal documents, and receipts. Series IV: Williams Family, 1862-1993 Subseries I: William Williams, 1862-1876 William Williams' papers contain correspondence; business records such as checks, legal agreements, bills, and stock certificates; and miscellaneous items such as brochures from Walnut Hill School, certificate from his election to Congress, and the Civil War Commission for his son Griffin Stedman Williams from 1862. Of interest in Williams' correspondence are an ALS from Samuel J. Tilden from 13 May 1867 regarding a business agreement; ALS from Schuyler Colfax about an offer of a railroad ticket dated 10 April 1871; and an ALS from William W. Belknap to A.M. Clapp, 5 June 1872 with a denial of request for clemency. Subseries II: Lovisa Stedman Williams, n.d. There is one item for Lovisa Stedman Williams, an undated letter. Subseries III: Griffin Stedman Williams, 1853-1911 Griffin Stedman Williams' papers contain correspondence, with the bulk from his friend Horatio Seymour, mostly during the 1860's, and son Harrison Williams. Other correspondents include his mother, father, and brother. Also of interest are two ALS from sculptor Hiram Powers (1805-1873) regarding Williams' purchase of a marble bust of Proserpine. Other materials include Williams' Civil War orders, with one document signed by Brigadier General F.B. Spinola; cards of introduction and other mementos from his trips abroad; and a handwritten bet with Joseph Ely on the 1860 presidential election. Later records include receipts for Williams' care as his health declined and papers from his estate. Subseries IV: Griffin Stedman and Mary Harrison Williams, 1871-1895 There is a small number of letters to Griffin Stedman and Mary Harrison Williams from Harrison Williams, mostly written while he was at school at Chateau de Lancey in Geneva. There is also correspondence about both estates, which were handled by Harrison Williams as executor, regarding insurance, storage of belongings, and bills. Subseries V: Mary Harrison Williams, 1864-1910 Mary Harrison Williams' correspondence includes letters from her father and mother while she was at school in New York City with news about family, friends, social happenings, and the family's pets. There are additional letters from her schoolmates, as well as from her husband-to-be Griffin Stedman Williams. Other items in her papers include bank books, cancelled checks, and a stamp collection. Mary Harrison Williams' estate papers include a copy of her will, inventories, and bills and receipts. Subseries VI: Gordon Williams, 1896-1922 Gordon Williams' papers consist of four letters, which include an invitation to his brother Harrison's wedding and a letter from the Department of the Navy with information about the service record of George Pearce. Subseries VII: Harrison Williams, 1882-1946 Harrison Williams' papers include a large number of letters received throughout his life. Early correspondence is largely from his parents, particularly his mother, while he attended school, and contains news from home. There are letters from his first wife, Jane (also called Jennie), and following her death from Harrison Jr. after he went to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Helen and A.D. Glick, in Marshalltown, Iowa from 1909-1913. Helen Glick also wrote to Harrison Williams Sr. with news about his son. During World War I, Williams' brother Gordon wrote describing his attempts to enlist and finally his deployment to Europe. A large portion of the letters concern Williams' genealogy research. From 1932 until his death in 1946 he exchanged frequent letters with Samuel Asbury regarding Jonas Harrison. There are also some handwritten copies of Williams' outgoing letters. The papers contain research notes from several writing projects, including Legends of Loudoun and The Life, Ancestors and Descendents of Robert Williams of Roxbury, 1607-1693. There are notes and reports from Williams' service as Loudoun chairman for Virginia's War History Committee in 1943. A copy of the Committee's publication, Virginia in War Time, 1942-1943, is also in the collection. Other items include receipts, cancelled checks, club memberships, an oath of attorney from 1904, and World War II memorabilia. Included in the artifacts is a book of poetry written by Williams as a boy Subseries VIII: Harrison and Jane Williams, 1901, 1904 There is a small amount of material for Harrison and Jane Williams: a set of place cards made by Jane in watercolor and pencil for their wedding breakfast, and correspondence about the birth of their son, Harrison Jr. Subseries IX: Jane Abbott Williams, 1903-1904, n.d. Jane Abbott Williams' papers contain a small number of letters from family and friends in 1904, mostly cards and letters of congratulations on the birth of Harrison Jr. There is also one letter from Harrison in 1903. Jane is often referred to as Jenny or Jen. Subseries X: Harrison and Pauline Williams, 1910-1920 Harrison and Pauline Williams' papers include correspondence. Letters from 1917-1920 are mostly from Harrison's brother Gordon about his efforts to get in the army and his experiences during the World War I. A small number of German postcards from February 1919 are included. There are also letters to the Williams from Helen Glick about Harrison Jr. while he was living with her and her husband in Marshalltown; some include letters from Harrison Jr. as enclosures. Much of the correspondence from 1929-1930 is from Winslow while he was away at school. Subseries XI: Pauline Marechal Winslow Williams, 1910-1935 Pauline Marechal Winslow Williams' papers consist of correspondence, financial records, and memorabilia. There are letters from friends and family, brother Gaston. The bulk of the correspondence dates between 1929 and 1930, with a large number of letters from Winslow while he was at school with news of school, plans for visits, and requests for various items. The papers include a number of items related to Pauline's financial affairs, such as bank books, stock purchases, cancelled checks and receipts. Other items such as lists of wedding gifts, a confirmation card, and gift tag from Winslow's first Christmas are also in the collection. Pauline Winslow Williams' estate was complicated due in large part to her interests as a legatee in real estate in Buffalo and Cleveland. The papers include a number of legal documents and correspondence regarding the Euclid Avenue property (often referred to as the Cleveland property) originally owned by Richard Winslow. His heirs retained ownership of the Euclid Avenue property on which the family house had stood. In 1907 May Company signed a 50-year lease at $32,000 per year with the heirs, to commence in 1909. The company built its flagship Cleveland store on the site. By the early twentieth century, ownership of the property had become increasingly complex. As one generation of heirs died additional legatees were created, making a complicated system of fractionalized interests in the property. In addition, some of the heirs sold their interests to Nathan L. Dauby (31 May 1873-17 May 1964), vice-president of May Company. Dauby filed a partition lawsuit in 1934 to force sale of the property and divide the proceeds among the owners. He argued that ownership had become so complicated it was no longer an attractive investment for him. Harrison Williams, representing the interests of his wife Pauline's estate and their son Winslow, contended that Dauby sought to buy the property at a depreciated price. At a meeting in June of 1934, legal representatives for the heirs decided to allow the partition suit to proceed, and sale of the property to May Company went forward in 1935. Additional materials in the estate papers document the management of property in Buffalo. There is correspondence with the Marine Trust Co. of Buffalo about multiple mortgages and transfers of securities in the early 1930s. Other estate papers include accounts and inventories. Subseries XII: Harrison and Joan Stafford-Allen Williams, 1937 There is one item for Harrison and Joan Stafford-Allen Williams, the passenger list from the S.S. Penland, the ship on which they met in 1937. Joan Stafford-Allen Williams' correspondence contains three letters from 1946 about Harrison Williams' death. Subseries XIII: Harrison Williams Jr., 1904-1928 Harrison Williams Jr.'s collection is comprised of a small number of cards, a letter from his uncle, Gordon, enclosing postcards from Germany during World War II, his obituary, and undated bookplates. Subseries XIV: Winslow Williams, 1913-1993 Winslow Williams' papers contain a small amount of correspondence from his family, particularly as a boy and young man. There are a number of letters in 1933 concerning the death of his mother, Pauline. There is a gap until the later part of his life when he began to correspond with newly discovered relatives, the Texas descendents of Jonas Harrison, in the 1980s. Other materials include financial papers such as a farm account book, which also has information about his photography business, two items regarding property from the Nathan Winslow estate, and a debarkation card from a trip at sea with his father aboard the S.S. President Garfield from 1935-1936. Subseries XV: Winslow and Constance Williams, 1936-1937 Winslow and Constance Williams' shared collection includes telegrams on the occasion of their marriage in 1937, and memorabilia from their honeymoon trip to South America such as postcards and a ship's menu. Subseries XVI: Helen Constance Moore Williams, 1937-1991 Helen Constance Moore Williams' papers contain a small number of items including clippings about her engagement and marriage to Winslow, a birthday card made by her daughter Constance, and the memorial from her funeral in 1991. Series V: Winslow Family, 1880-1937 Subseries I: Nathan Winslow, 1880 There is one item each for Nathan Winslow, a copy of his will showing divisions of his interest in properties in Ohio and Illinois. Subseries II: Mary A. Winslow, 1885 There is one item for Mary Winslow, a copy of her will which further divided percentage interests by the heirs in the Ohio and Illinois properties. Subseries III: Richard Winslow Estate, 1901-1937 Richard Winslow estate papers contain copies of legal documents. Winslow left two wills, one in Cuyahoga County, OH and one in France regarding property he owned in that country. Winslow's estate was complicated by his residual interest in the Euclid Ave. property and because all trustees and executors had died by 1915. Harrison Williams appears to have acquired copies of records in his capacity as legal counsel for Pauline. Subseries IV: William G. Winslow, 1903-1934 William G. Winslow estate papers contain copies of legal documents such inventories, accountings, decrees, and agreements. There are some duplicate copies and transcribed copies, the latter of which includes three letters. The documents appear to have been acquired by Harrison Williams. Subseries V: William Gaston Winslow, 1903-1911 William Gaston Winslow's papers consist of three letters, including two from M. Marechal (n.d.) in Lancey, Switzerland written in French. There is a note on one of the envelopes reading "keep these always for my sake, Pauline, Father." Subseries VI: Annie Chadwick Estate, 1924-1927 Annie Chadwick's estate papers contain a small number of legal documents. Her estate was complicated by the fact that she left real property in Paris and in Montreuil-sur-Mer in France in addition to her interests in the Euclid Ave. property. Series VI: Miscellaneous, photographs, oversized documents, and artifacts There are a small number of miscellaneous items. Of interest are a collection of 30 Civil War envelopes featuring pro-Union propaganda images and slogans, an embroidery pattern book, an almanac from 1848, and postcards from Woodrow Wilson's inauguration in 1917. Visual materials in the collection include photographs, photograph albums, cartes de visite, and negatives. Most of the photographs are identified, and include portraits of family members and scenic views. A few of the images are photographs of portraits in oil, including James C. Harrison and Griffin Stedman Williams. The negatives were taken by Winslow Williams of people and scenes; many are undated but probably originate from the late 1940s to 1950s. Numbers associated with many of the negatives reflect his practice with photographs in his business. Seven albums of photographs belonging to Winslow Williams contain pictures from vacations and other events, and have been re-housed for preservation purposes. There are also photograph albums, tintypes, cased daguerreotypes, and color stereo slides housed with the artifact collection. Oversized documents include a series of letters from Samuel Asbury to Harrison Williams. Removal sheets have been placed in the collection with the location and date of each oversized letter. Other items include receipts, Griffin Stedman Williams' appointment as commercial agent for the United States at Nottingham England and his Special Passport, and Gordon Williams' passport for his trip on behalf of the American Fund for French Wounded. Photographic material in the artifact collection includes a photograph album of Harrison and Pauline Williams' wedding trip to Europe 1911, two albums belonging to Winslow Williams, and an 1862-1869 album belonging to Griffin Stedman Williams. There is also a scrapbook kept by Winslow Williams with photographs and memorabilia, which is in fragile condition. Other photographs include a small number of daguerreotypes and tintypes, most of which are not identified or dated. The collection contains a variety of artifacts such as a stamp moistener, calling card plates, a Valentine's Day memento from Harrison Williams to Pauline, wedding books, and a notebook containing poetry written by Harrison Williams as a boy. Other items include a pair of slippers worn by Mary Harrison Williams at her wedding, a series of cards strung together on a string with Asian writing, and a piece of wedding cake from Harrison and Pauline Williams' wedding. Also of interest is a collection of railroad passes from 20 different railroads from the late 19th century and early 20th century. |
Title |
Williams Family Papers |
Collection |
Williams Family Papers, 1819-1993 (M 010) |