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Williams-Creighton Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: A1751

Scope and Contents

The Williams-Creighton Family Papers consist primarily of correspondence between various members of the two families and their friends which document the activities of the family. The Correspondence to Susan Creighton Williams series focuses mainly on the affairs of her friends and family. It includes one letter written by Susan Williams to an unknown recipient found at the end of the series. The Personal Correspondence to Jesse L. Williams series contains correspondence from his family and friends including several members of the Presbyterian church. The Business Correspondence and Papers of Jesse L. Williams series consists primarily of letters to Williams from his business associates. It also contains a folder of letters from Williams, a folder of letters between his associates, and a folder of miscellaneous business papers. The materials focus on his work with the railroads, land deals, and banking matters. The Correspondence of Other Family Members series contains letters to the three sons of Jesse and Susan from family and friends and a folder of correspondence between various members of the Williams and Creighton families. The Miscellaneous series includes receipts and accounts for household goods, letter fragments, and one folder of miscellaneous items including newspaper clippings, calling cards, invitations, and funeral notices.

Dates

  • 1831-1891

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical Sketch

Jesse Lynch Williams was born May 6, 1807, in Stokes County, North Carolina, and moved with his family to Richmond, Indiana, in 1820. He married Susan Creighton, daughter of United States Congressman William Creighton, of Chillicothe, Ohio, on November 15, 1831. They had three sons: Edward, Meade, and Henry. Jesse Williams worked as an engineer on canals and railroads mainly in Ohio and Indiana, serving as chief engineer on the Wabash and Erie Canal, and the Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad. In 1864 Abraham Lincoln appointed Williams as a government director for the Union Pacific Railroad, a position he held until 1869. Williams also worked closely with the Presbyterian church, and helped found the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Williams died October 9, 1886, in Fort Wayne.

Extent

5.25 Cubic Feet ( (11 boxes))

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The papers are arranged into five series: Correspondence to Susan Creighton Williams, Personal Correspondence to Jesse L. Williams, Business Correspondence and Papers of Jesse L. Williams, Correspondence of Other Family Members, and Miscellaneous. Each series is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the letter writer.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The papers were found with the Gundlach Collection in 1941.

Processing Information

Processed by Molly Kodner, June 1999.

Title
Inventory of Williams-Creighton Family Papers
Status
Completed
Author
EAD by Jaime Bourassa using ArchivesSpace
Date
2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository

Contact:
225 S. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63105 United States
314-746-4510