Eliza Ferry Leary papers

Eliza Ferry Leary papers, 1860-1907

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Leary, Eliza Ferry
Title: Eliza Ferry Leary papers
Dates: 1860-1907 (inclusive)
18681901
Quantity: 1.08 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Collection Number: 4673 (Accession No. 4673-001)
Summary: Correspondence and memorabilia concerning the life of a Washington pioneer and daughter of Elisha P. Ferry, governor of Washington.
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Open to all users.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Eliza Ferry Leary was born August 24, 1851 in Waukegan, Illinois. She came to the Pacific Northwest in 1869, settling in Olympia with her parents after first visiting Seattle. As the daughter of the first governor of Washington, Elisha P. Ferry, she was one of the city's best-known women of the time. She met three presidents, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Rutherford B. Hayes, helping to entertain President Haynes in the executive mansion in Olympia as a small girl. President Lincoln called on her family's home in Waukegan, and her parents even named her brother Abraham Lincoln Ferry due to their friendship with Lincoln.

She married John Leary, a prominent citizen and capitalist of Seattle, on April 21, 1891 in Olympia. The couple lived at Mr. Leary's home in Seattle. Mr. Leary was one of the builders of Seattle, as well as an early mayor of the city. Through her familial connections and her own dynamic personality, Eliza was acquainted with many famous leaders of the West and the nation. She died in 1935 from injuries sustained after breaking her hip in her home.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Eliza Ferry Leary correspondence consists of ten folders of letters. Nine of these folders contain letters written to Leary, the majority of which were from friends, with some also coming from relatives. This incoming correspondence ranges in date between the years of 1860 and 1895. However most of these letters arrived in the 1870s and 1880s. All of the letters are from her unmarried days, except for the correspondence with her father, which lasted until his death in 1895. The content of these letters definitely reflect an upper class milieu; typical topics include: sickness, beaux, parties, engagements, marriage, the weather and recreational activities (dances, games and horseback riding). Also included are some mementos, such as scraps of friends' hair tied with bows, calling cards, and programs. A single folder contains letters written by Leary to friends and family; these letters primarily describe Leary's travels to San Francisco, San Diego and Karlsbad between 1869-1901.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in 3 series.

Series 1, Incoming Letters, 1860-1899
Series 2, Outgoing Letters, 186?-June 18, 1901
Series 3, Miscellaneous, 1860-1901

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Incoming Letters, 1860-1899Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Unidentified Authors	186?-1907
1/2	"A"	1877-1878
1/3	Bell, Lillian	1881
1/4	Bergman, Eva	1871
1/5	Blynn, Elva	1879, 1880-1881
1/6	Briggs, Minnie	1873-1876
1/7	Brooks, Laura	1879-1881
1/8	Burton, Victor	1869-1876
1/9	"B"	1873-1881
1/10	Clancy, Laura	1881-1884
1/11	Cory, Eliza P.	1872-1884
1/12	Cory, James Y.	1871-1880
1/13	"C"	1869-1886
1/14-18	Daniels, W. B.	1873-1879
1/19	Dickinson, Hattie	1974-1883
1/20	"D"	1973-1881
1/21	"E"	1874-188?
1/22	Fenner, Arthur	1872-1873
1/23	Ferry Family	1861-1882
1/24	Ferry, Elisha P.	1871-1895
1/25	Ferry, Evelyn P.	1880-1883
1/26-31	Ferry, Sarah B. Kellogg	187?-1871
1/32	"F"	1872, 1884
1/33	Flint, S. C.	1873-1876
1/34	Ford, Angie L.	1876-1877
1/35	Ford, Georgie P.	186?-1879
2/1	Gerrish, M. A.	1879-1883
2/2-4	Gilbert, Fanny	1871-1881
2/5	Griswold, George B.	1874-1875
2/6	"G"	1876
2/7	Hatch, Addie A.	1883
2/8	Hill, Nell	1878
2/9	Holbrook, Annie	1870-1876
2/10	Hoyt, L. J.	1883-1887
2/11	Hyland, Amy	1872
2/12	"H"	186?-1880
2/13	"I"	186?
2/14	Jennings, Mrs. J.	1877-1879
2/15	Jennings, W. A.	1877-1878
2/16	Jennings, Sue	1878-1879
2/17	"J"	1879
2/18	Kubel, E. F.	1879-1880
2/19	Leary, John	1895
2/20	Lindsley, Lettie	1874-1881
2/21	Love, C. W.	1873-1874
2/22	"L"	1867-1877
2/23	McMicken, Nellie	1875-1882
2/24	Meigs, Lillie	1878-1886
2/25	Miller, Mary M.	1874, 1882
2/26	"M"	1871-1881
2/27	Nickels, Emma L.	1886
2/28	"N"	1879, 1881
2/29	Owings Family	1880-1881
2/30	"O"	1875-1880
2/31	Parks, Mollie	1871-187
2/32	"P"	1876-1886
2/33	"Q"	1881, 1884
2/34	Richards, F. E.	1877
2/35	Reitz, Ella R.	1871-1874
2/36	"R"	1873-1883
2/37	Steele, Lizzie	1871-1874
2/38	Stevens, Annie	1871-1872
2/39	Stevens, Kate	1871-1874
2/40	Stitzel, Amanda K.	1873
2/41	Sutherland, Lizzie	1875-1877
2/42	Sutton, Maggie A.	1870, 1876
2/43-45	Swick, Jennie Flint	1872-1883
2/46	"S"	1870-1883
3/1	Tull, Victor	1871-1886
3/2	Tull, C. D.	1879-1880, 1883
3/3	"T"	1874-1882
3/4	"U"	1874
3/5	"V"	1871-1872
3/6	Wodleigh, Florence	1874, 1883
3/7	Wright, Lizzie	1868-1876
3/8	"W"	186?-1882
3/9	"K"	1874, 1879

Series 2: Outgoing Letters, 186?-June 18, 1901Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
3/10-13	Various Parties	186?-June 18, 1901

Series 3: Miscellaneous, 1860-1901Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
3/14	Memorabilia	undated
3/15	Old Inventories	1860-1901

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