Gayton family papers, 1920-1969

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gayton family
Title
Gayton family papers
Dates
1920-1969 (inclusive)
Quantity
.21 cubic foot (one box)
Collection Number
0850 (Accession No. 0850-001)
Summary
Papers of an African-American pioneer family of Seattle
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.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The materials in this collection document three generations of the Gayton family, prominent in Seattle's African American community since the early 1900s. John Thomas Gayton (1969-1954) was born in Benton, Mississippi and worked as a coachman for Henry Yandell, moving to Seattle in 1889. He became the first Black steward at the Rainier Club in 1901 and studied business and law. Though he never sat for the bar exam, he was eventually appointed bailiff under Cornelius Holgate Hanford, the first United States District judge of the state of Washington. He continued in this position under succeeding U. S. District judges, and in 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him U.S. District Court Librarian. He also helped found the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Seattle. He married Magnolia Scott in 1901 and together they had four children: John Jacob, James, Louise, and Leonard, who were active in the Seattle African American community.

Among the third-generation of the John T. Gayton family are Carver Gayton, Gary Gayton, Guela Johnson, and Donald Phelps, who have made notable contributions in athletics, law, history, and education and are represented in these papers.

Source: Blackpast.com

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Programs, publications, clippings, ephemera and a letter concerning three generations of a Seattle African American family.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Gayton Family, 2/6/1968.

Processing Note

This accession spans the period 1920 to 1968, with the majority of the items focusing on the athletic, educational and professional achievements and the social activities of family members during the years 1954-1968. The accession is divided into Gayton family papers and four subgroups: Carver Gayton, Gary Gayton, John J. Gayton and John Thomas Gayton.

Related Materials

Oral history interviews with John J. Gayton (manuscript collection 4746)

Leonard Gayton papers (manuscript collection 4736)

Virginia Clark Gayton papers (manuscript collection 4737)

These three interviews were conducted by Larry Gossett as part of the Afro-American Project (1968-1970), in which student field workers recorded conversations with residents of the African American community, primarily in Seattle.

A fourth oral history with Gary Gayton is available in UW digital collections , in the Howard Droker collection, in which Gayton describes his involvement in the Civic Unity Committee and Fair Housing Campaign of 1962-1964.

The Guela Johnson papers (manuscript collection 4334) document the life and work of Guela Gayton Johnson, daughter of John J. and Virginia Gayton.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Correspondence
Recommendation letter from B.F. Nelson, secretary to Judge Neterer to the Honorable Claude Bannick
1931
1/2 50th Anniversary souvenir program for the First African Methodist Episcopal Church 1962
1/3 Publications
Various local serials featuring a Gayton family member, including: The Facts, The Northwest Herald, The Puget Sound & Inland Empire Observer, The Crisis, Score, "It's the Water" News, Seventy-Niner
1920-1964
1/4 Clippings
Newspaper clippings from The Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer featuring Gayton family members
1936-1968
1/5 Gayton, Carver: Photograph
Holy Names prom photograph
1968
1/6 Gayton, Carver: Programs and Other Printed Matter
University of Washington 1960 football team calendar, program for 14th annual meeting of Omega Psi Chi Fraternity, game day programs
1959-1960
1/7 Gayton, Carver: Clippings
Clippings from The Seattle Times, Puget Sound & Inland Empire Observer, and University of Washington Daily featuring Carver Gayton
1954-1961
1/8 Gayton, Gary: Program
Gonzaga University commencement
1962
1/9 Gayton, Gary: Publication
Profile of Gary Gayton in Score
1960
1/10 Gayton, Gary: Clippings
Clippings from The Seattle Times and The Facts featuring Gary Gayton
1955-1965
1/11 Gayton, John J.: Certificates and Ephemera
Certificate of appreciation for public service, Republican Precinct Committeeman position, party delegation card
1938-1944
1/12 Gayton, John J.: Programs
Concert program, Thanksgiving program for Eastern Star masons
1940-1942
1/13 Gayton, John J.: Clippings
Clippings from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer featuring John J. Gayton
1944-1959
1/14 Gayton, John Thomas: Certificate
Certificate of merit from the Y.M.C.A.
undated
1/15 Gayton, John Thomas: Program
Dedication of East Madison Y.M.C.A.
1965
1/16 Gayton, John Thomas: Clippings
Obituary in Pacific Leader
1951-1954

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Gayton family--Archives
  • Gayton, Carver
  • Gayton, Gary D., 1933-
  • Gayton, John J
  • Gayton, John T. (John Thomas), 1869-1954

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--History--19th century