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Bryan, Green, and McLagan Family Collection

 Collection
Identifier: A3297

Scope and Contents

The collection contains information about the Bruce, Bryan, and Green families in the form of diary transcriptions, family trees, books, sewing guides, and other documents ranging from the years 1857-1958. It primarily focuses on Caleb Green, William James Samuel Bryan, and Mary Bruce McLagan.



The collection is arranged in four series: William J.S. Bryan Series, Caleb Green Series, Mary Bruce McLagan Series, and the Miscellaneous Series.



William J.S. Bryan Series contains information about Bryan’s retirement as superintendent of Central High School. Included in this series are school autograph books from friends, a golden jubilee book, a golden jubilee program, a newspaper article, and a Central High School Esteem of Students certificate from 1912.

Caleb Green Series contains handwritten transcriptions of two diaries of Caleb Green, a photograph book, and a death notice for Caleb Green. The diaries were written in 1857 and 1862. Green’s 1857 diary takes place from April 6 to July 27, 1857, recording his trip from Salt Lake City to St. Louis, Missouri, and includes information about the route he took and who was involved in the wagon train. The 1862 diary is titled, “A Visit to the Great Salt Lake or Observations During a Five Months Residence in Utah,” which describes the Mormons in the area. The last part of the series contains a photograph book in a case engraved Caleb Green's name.



Mary Bruce McLagan Series contains schoolwork from 1906 to 1910, including school assignments from classes such as Physics, Sewing IV, History, Freshman B, and commencement programs. This series also includes oversize items such as her Council of National Defense certificate.

The Miscellaneous Series folder contains family trees, a map of Italy, a photograph of Martha Alice Green McLagan, a St. Louis Centennial guide, and a U.S. Constitution.

Dates

  • 1857-1958

Conditions for 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

William James Samuel Bryan was born March 12, 1853, to William Bryan and Elizabeth Martha How in St. Louis, Missouri. He was an educator and later superintendent in the St. Louis school system from 1873 to 1940. On June 16, 1874, Bryan married Cynthia A. Case, who died in 1888. They had six children including Howard Bryan. Bryan married his second wife, Grace Alice Kitchen, on July 1, 1897. Bryan died June 18, 1946.

Caleb Green was born November 2, 1837, in London, England. In 1857, he took a wagon train trip from Utah to St. Louis, Missouri. He married Jane Elizabeth Brown in 1859. They had four children including Martha Alice Green McLagan. Caleb Green died February 10, 1901, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mary Bruce McLagan was born March 23, 1891, to John McLagan and Martha Alice Green. She graduated from Clay School in 1906 and from Yeatman High School in 1910. After World War I, she received a certificate from the Council of National Defense for her involvement with the St. Louis Woman’s Committee. She married Howard Bryan on February 27, 1925. They had one child, Howard Bruce Bryan, born December 21, 1925. Mary Bruce McLagen died October 3, 1971, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Martha Alice Green McLagan was born in England in July 1867, to Caleb Green and Jane Elizabeth Brown. In 1887 she married John McLagan. Their children included Ernest G. McLagan (born 1888) and Mary Bruce McLagan (born 1891). Martha McLagan died on March 17, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Extent

0.33 Cubic Feet ( (2 boxes; 1 volume; 1 oversize folder))

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by person in four series:

1. William J.S. Bryan Series

2. Caleb Green Series

3. Mary Bruce McLagan Series.

4. Miscellaneous Series.

Physical and Technical Restrictions

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

Collection was donated by Carol Bryan in 2023.

Processing Information

Processed with funds from the Newman Family by Sara Law, 2023

Title
Inventory of Bryan, Green, and McLagan Family Collection
Status
Completed
Author
EAD by Sara Law using ArchivesSpace
Date
2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

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