Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
William Simpson papers, 1875-1919
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Simpson, William
- Title
- William Simpson papers
- Dates
- 1875-1919 (inclusive)19871919
1882-1885 (bulk)18821885 - Quantity
- .74 cubic feet (2 boxes, 5 photographs)
- Collection Number
- 0587 (Accession No. 0587-001)
- Summary
- Correspondence, family letters of a river boat pilot
- 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
William Simpson was born in England in 1853 to parents William and Jane Roberson Simpson. He declared his intent to become a citizen of the United States in 1882. He worked as a pilot on the Columbia River, operating the Tacoma and Spokane train ferry boats for the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co., primarily from Ainsworth, Kalama, and Riparia, Washington. In 1884, Simpson married Ellen Pauline (Nellie) Schellworth of Walla Walla, with whom he had two daughters, Bess (b. 1885) and Nina (b. 1889). The family resided in Kalama, Washington. William died on March 7, 1928.
Nellie Simpson was born in Washington Territory in 1863 to Heinrich Gustavus and Alice Marie Woodward Schellworth. She died on July 7, 1913.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection primarily contains correspondence between members of the Simpson and Schellworth families. Much of the correspondence is between William and Nellie (Schellworth) Simpson, who were married in 1884, two years after their correspondence began. The content of their correspondence relates to their daily lives; their daughters, Bess and Nina; and William's work as a ferry pilot on the Columbia River. Other correspondents include Bess and Nina Simpson; Nellie's mother, Alice Schellworth; William's parents, William and Jane, and his brother, Charles; and other members of the Simpson family living in William's native Great Britain. Also included in this collection are school compositions written by Nellie, legal documents relating to William's job as a ferry pilot and status as a United States citizen, and ephemera, including receipts, programs, and one document from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows regarding the death of Nellie's father, Heinrich Gustavus Schellworth.
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
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
CorrespondenceReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1-8 | Simpson, William to Nellie Schellworth
Simpson |
1882-1895 |
| 1/9-10 | Simpson, Nellie Schellworth to William
Simpson |
1882-1883 |
| 1/11 | Simpson, Nellie to Bess Simpson |
1900-1913 |
| 1/12 | Simpson, Bess to Nellie Simpson |
1893-1912 |
| 1/13 | Simpson, Nellie to Nina Simpson |
1904-1913 |
| 1/13 | Simpson, Nina to Nellie Simpson |
undated |
| 1/14 | Simpson, Nina to Bess Simpson |
1900-1905 |
| 1/14 | Simpson, Bess to Nina Simpson |
1900-1908 |
| 1/15 | Schellworth, Alice M. to Nellie Simpson |
1884-1911 |
| 1/16 | Simpson, William and Jane to William and Nellie
Simpson |
1887-1892 |
| 1/17 | Simpson, Charles to William and Nellie
Simpson |
1882-1913 |
| 1/18 | Larson, Alice Simpson to Nellie Simpson |
1892-1906 |
| 2/1 | Joe and Eliza to the Simpson family |
1904-1910 |
| 2/1 | Shaw, Emma to Nellie Simpson |
1887-1898 |
| 2/1 | Josie to Nellie Simpson |
1888 |
| 2/1 | Simpson, Fred to Nellie Simpson |
1904-1907, undated |
| 2/1 | Shellworth, Harry to the Simpson family |
1900-1914, undated |
| 2/1 | Shellworth, Shelly E. to Nina Simpson |
1907 |
| 2/1 | Shellworth, Julius to Charles H. Schellworth |
1875 |
| 2/1 | Letter of recommendation for William Simpson |
1883 |
| 2/1 | Carpenter, E. J. to Nellie Simpson |
1884 |
| 2/1 | Crossen, J. B. to William Simpson |
1884 |
| 2/1 | Woodward, O. A. to Nellie Simpson |
1886 |
| 2/1 | Simpson, Charles to Alice Schellworth |
1887 |
| 2/1 | Lysons to Nina Simpson |
1900 |
| 2/1 | Don to Nina or Bess Simpson |
1907 |
| 2/1 | Margaret to Bess Simpson |
1909 |
| 2/1 | Jessie to Bess Simpson |
1911 |
| 2/1 | Simpson, William to Bess Simpson |
1919 |
| 2/1 | Jack to Bess Simpson |
undated |
WritingsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/2 | Student essays by Nellie Schellworth
(Simpson) |
c. 1875-1876 |
ClippingsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/3 | Obituaries and other clippings |
1911, undated |
Employment MaterialsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/4 | United States Inspectors Certificate to
Pilots |
1884-1887 |
| 2/4 | "Circular: Cautionary Notices to Pilots of Steam-Vessels
Regarding the Use of Signal-Whistles" |
1890 |
Legal DocumentsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/5 | Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the
United States |
1882 |
| 2/5 | Land Office certificate |
1886 |
EphemeraReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/6 | Receipts and Programs |
1885-1909, undated |
| 2/7 | Family photographs |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Simpson, William, fl. 1882-1885--Archives
Corporate Names
- Oregon Railway and Navigation Company
- Spokane (Steamer)
- Tacoma (Steamer)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Schellworth, Nellie (creator)
- Simpson, Bessie (creator)
- Simpson, Nina (creator)
