William Simpson papers, 1875-1919

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Simpson, William
Title
William Simpson papers
Dates
1875-1919 (inclusive)
1882-1885 (bulk)
Quantity
.74 cubic feet (2 boxes)
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.

Request at UW

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

Acquisition Information

Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Bates, 2/10/1966, 1/26/1966.

Separated Materials

Photographs were separated and transferred to the Visual Materials Curator.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Correspondence Return 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

Writings Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/2
Student essays by Nellie Schellworth (Simpson)
c. 1875-1876

Clippings Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/3
Obituaries and other clippings
1911, undated

Employment Materials Return 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 Documents Return 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

Ephemera Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/6
Receipts and Programs
1885-1909, undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

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)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)