Collection Summary
Gray, David, 1870-1968
David Gray papers
1857-1960
03082
16.30 cubic ft. (37 boxes)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
Papers of David Gray, the United States Minister to Ireland
from 1940-1947.
Biography of David Gray
David Gray (1870-1968) served as the United States Minister to Ireland from
1940-1947. He was born in Buffalo, NY and graduated from Harvard in 1892. He
practiced law for two years before turning to journalism. He worked for several
newspapers in Buffalo and Rochester and also wrote numerous plays and books
including "The Sphinx," "Mr. Carteret and Others," "Gallops," and "Smith" (written
with Somerset Maugham). In 1914, he married Maude Livingston Hall Waterbury, an aunt
of Eleanor Roosevelt. He died in Sarasota, Florida in 1968.
Scope and Content
The David Gray collection contains correspondence from the 1900s-1950s, including
letters from Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Joseph Kennedy, Adlai Stevenson, and
John F. Kennedy. There are research notes, reports, and clippings relating mainly to
Ireland and Irish politics in the 1940s-1950s. Much of the collection consists of
unfinished and unidentified original manuscript material regarding Ireland during
WWII, including the subjects of Sinn Fein, Irish Republican Army, Irish politics,
Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Adolph Hitler, Germany, and England. Also included
is a family scrapbook of photos, clippings, and letters from 1857-1902. The
collection also contains an original manuscript of Stephen Crane's short story "The
Devil's Acre."
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the
collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and
libel laws as they apply.
Related Materials
More David Gray papers can be found at Yale University, Franklin D. Roosevelt
Presidential Library and Museum, and New York State Historical Documents.
Acquisition Information
This material was received from Chauncey J. Hamlin, Jr. (Gray's nephew) in 1969 and 1981 and Susan Dodd in 2019.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Emily Christopherson in March 2011 and updated by Jamie Greene in June 2021.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number,
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
Journalists--United States--20th
century.
Diplomats--United States--20th
century.
Ireland--Foreign relations--United
States--20th century.
United States--Foreign
relations--Ireland--20th century.
Ireland--Politics and government--20th
century.
United States--Politics and
government, 1933-1953.
Crane, Stephen, 1871-1900--Devil's
Acre.
Politics, Government, and Law
International Relations
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Journalism
Container List
19
Biographical file on the Gray/Hamlin family
1952, undated
37Books: "The Story of David Gray" by Robert Buchanan1900
37Books: "Gone Away with O'Malley: Seventy Years with Horses, Hounds, and People" by M. O'Malley Knott1944
22
Calendars
1941-1942
19
Calling cards
undated
19
Catholic-Protestant relations
1918-1920, 1942
3
Correspondence (general)
1930-1940
4-6
Correspondence (general)
1941
6-9
Correspondence (general)
1942
9-11
Correspondence (general)
1943
12-13
Correspondence (general)
1944
13-15
Correspondence (general)
1945
15-17
Correspondence (general)
1946
17-18
Correspondence (general)
1947-1950s
22
Correspondence (general)
1948-1959, undated
23
Correspondence (general)
1904, 1933-1960
36
Correspondence from prominent individuals (copies can be found in
original folders)
circa 1930-1960
22
Correspondence regarding the death of Mrs. David Gray
(Maude)
1952
37Correspondence: Letters and invitations to David Gray1900-1957
37Diaries and Journals: Diary of the Spiriting(?) Pilgrims1907
37Diaries and Journals: Log Book of the Red Star Line: S.S. Belgenland World Cruise1926-1927
37Diaries and Journals: Maude Waterbury1906
37Diaries and Journals: Saco 1918 diary1918
19
Diplomatic and consular representatives in Ireland
1945
19
Financial papers
1943, 1947
19
Galley sheets on censorship
1944-1945
19
German-Irish relations
1945-1947
19
Government document - air transport services agreement between US and
Ireland
1945
19
Government reports labeled "secret" and "restricted,"
1941-1945
19
I.R.A. hunger strikes
1942-1944
1
Manuscript - "Behind the Green Curtain,"
undated
2
Manuscript - "Behind the Green Curtain" (photocopies of box
1)
undated
20
Manuscript - "Ulster and the Irish Republic" by William A.
Carson
24-33
Manuscript - incomplete - regarding Ireland during WWII
undated
20
Manuscript - incomplete - regarding Irish history and problems in
contemporary Ireland
undated
36
Manuscript - "Devil's Acre" by Stephen Crane (original copy of the
short story)
undated
19
Map of the Gulf and Bay Club - Sarasota, Florida
undated
19
Menu
undated
19
Message exchange between submarine and S.S. Washington
1940
19
Miscellaneous
circa 1936-1945
35
Newsletters - "Letter from America," published by the Office of War
Information of the United States, Dublin, Ireland
1942-1945
35
Newsletters - "Ulster Commentary,"
1950-1951, 1956
18
Newspaper clippings - Irish news
1940-1957
34
Newspaper clippings - Irish news
circa 1940-1955
19
Notes
1947
22
Pamphlets
circa 1940-1953
35
Pamphlets and publications
undated
37Pamphlets and publications: "A Letter to an Undergraduate" by Uncle Josh1904
37Pamphlets and publications: "Sorry, Mr. Chips" by James Hilton1950
37Pamphlets and publications: "Poem Delivered at the Dedication of the Pan-American Exposition" by Robert Cameron Rogers1901
22
Periodicals
1941-1953
37Periodicals: "The Look-out" Man of the Keys: Gray of Bay IslandFebruary 1960
21
Photographs
undated
19
Poetry (not by Gray)
undated
21
Scrapbook
circa 1870-1900
21
Sinn Fein - historical background
undated
21
Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook
1916
36
Stamps
undated