Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Gayton family papers, 1920-1969
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Gayton family
- Title
- Gayton family papers
- Dates
- 1920-1969 (inclusive)19201969
- 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.
- 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
