Collection is open for research
Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by Donald Sherwood, March 28, 1988 (Church Grape Juice Co. and Walla Walla Canning Co.); Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, February 6, 1990 (John G. Kelly personal files and correspondence). The accession number is retro-0110.
A major figure in Walla Walla history, John G. Kelly was born in Peoria, Illinois, on July 16, 1872. He became a newsboy in his early years, an experience that would prove useful later. He married Martha Miller in 1900 and found his way to Walla Walla. On February 1, 1912, he purchased controlling interest in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin newspaper. Subsequently, his intense efforts toward development of the Walla Walla area and his wide diversity of interests led him into a successful and multi-faceted career.
John Kelly had an appreciation of all forms of transportation and a recognized the relative isolation of Walla Walla from the rest Puget Sound area. This drew Kelly into participating in the Northwest Toll Bridge Company and several bridge developments on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
He became an investor and officer in the Church Grape Juice Company and later was a determined advocate of a cannery and development of food processing in the Walla Walla Valley. Along with his son-in-law, Donald Sherwood, Kelly was instrumental in convincing Continental Can Company to locate a plant in Walla Walla.
John and Martha Kelly both had an early and continuing interest in Whitman College, John serving on the Board of Overseers.
Among the recognitions received during his lifetime, Kelly was given the Chamber of Commerce Award of Merit in 1940. That was followed in 1942 with the Certificate of Merit from Washington State University as one of eight citizens honored that year as major figures in promoting the state's industries. His overall character and achievements were recognized in 1953 in a summation of his career when Whitman College awarded him an honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration.
Kelly died in 1962.
The materials found in this collection includes business records, a minute book from the Bulletin Printing Company of Walla Walla, personal correspondence, and memorabilia of John G. Kelly, Walla Walla businessman. Business records include files from the Church Grape Juice Company, Walla Walla Canning Company, and the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.
Contains financial records and correspondence of the Church Grape Juice Company of Kennewick, Washington. It was purchased by John G. Kelly in 1927 and sold to the Welch's Juice Company in 1953.
Some materials include personal papers from John Grant Kelly such as correspondence, printed ephemera, certificates, postcards, speeches and a photo scrapbook.
This series also houses a commemorative book of Calvin Coolidge's daily writings of 1930-31 presented to John G. Kelly, and a minute book of Bulletin Printing Co. of Walla Walla, Washington, from February 4, 1910 to December 31, 1941.
The photographs of groundbreaking ceremony for Continental Caning Company, Walla Walla plant, and Kelly in a War Defense Council meeting amd a drawing of the proposed Rogers Walla Walla Inc. plant renovation can also be found.