Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Kelly family memorabilia and genealogical records, 1874-1991
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Kelly family
- Title
- Kelly family memorabilia and genealogical records
- Dates
- 1874-1991 (inclusive)18741991
- Quantity
- 1.65 cubic feet, (2 legal document cases; 1 slim legal document case; 1 flat box (13x16); 1 oversize folder (20x30))
- Collection Number
- Coll 900
- Summary
- Memorabilia, genealogical materials, and photographs of the Kelly family and related families. The brothers Clinton Kelly (1808-1875), Thomas Kelly (1829-1903), Albert Kelly (1814-1873), and Gilmer Kelly (1820-1890) were early emigrants to Oregon, and all took land donation claims on or near land that would become part of Portland, Oregon.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Clinton Kelly (1808-1875) and his younger brother, Thomas A. Kelly (1829-1903) emigrated to Oregon from Kentucky starting in 1847, arriving in Oregon City in 1848. Both brothers subsequently took donation land claims on land that would become part of the city of Portland, Oregon. Their brother Albert Kelly (1814-1873) arrived in Oregon in 1849; although he also initially chose a site in what would become Portland to live, he soon relocated to southwest of Portland. A fourth brother, Gilmer Kelly (1820-1890) arrived in Oregon in 1853, and took a donation land claim in Powell's Valley, east of Portland.
Source: Kelly, Laura and Watson, Esther Kelly, compilers, The Kelly Family, vol. 1, 1972.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of memorabilia, photographs, and genealogical information of the Kelly family, who were early emigrants to Oregon, as well as families related to the Kellys. Materials relate to brothers Clinton Kelly, Thomas Kelly, Albert Kelly, and Gilmer Kelly, and to the the Bishop, Donahue, and New families. A substantial portion of this collection is record books for Kelly family reunions. These books contain clippings, family history, minutes, and names and addresses of attendees. The collection also contains genealogical records for the Kelly family and related correspondence, reminiscences of members of the extended Kelly family, a family photograph album, and photographs and memorabilia of the Donahue and New families. Other materials in the collection consist of land records relating to the Kelly family; records relating to the Oregon History Caravan; and an album of photographs taken in Astoria, Oregon, by Lauren Mildred ("Millie") Kern Hawes.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Kelly family memorabilia and genealogical records, Coll 900, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Gift of Gerald F. Abrams and Jory Miller Abrams, July 2022 (RL2022-122).
Related Materials
Other collections at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library of or relating to the Kelly family include: Kelly family papers, Mss 871; Clinton Kelly ledgers, Coll 38; vertical files, Genealogy - Kelly, Thomas family, Genealogy Kelly, Clinton family, and Biography - Kelly, Samuel Gilby; and genealogy books, The Kelly Family, compiled by Laura Kelly and Esther Kelly Watson, call number 929.2 Ke299k.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Kelly family histories, genealogies and memorabilia | circa 1900-1982 |
| 1 | 2 | Eulogy for Plympton Kelly | 1906 |
| 1 | 3 | Correspondence between Laura Kelly and Marjorie Povey Klatt about Kelly family history and related genealogical information and typescript copies of family letters | 1874-1977 |
| 1 | 4 | Correspondence between Laura Kelly and Eleanor Wilson Davis about Kelly family genealogy, and related photograph of Kelly family reunion | 1977-1978; circa 1927 |
| 1 | 5 | Reminiscences of Vera Davis Caldwell | 1967 |
| 1 | 6 | Oregon Historical Caravan records and related letter to E. G. Davis | 1950 |
| 1 | 7 | History of Henry Dosch and his residence on Albert Kelly's land claim by Kenneth B. Hawkins | 1979 |
| 1 | 8 | Marjorie Povey Klatt reminiscences and related clippings, genealogical information, and memorabilia | 1902-1978 |
| 1 | 9 | History of the Methodist Church in Portland, with passages concerning Clinton Kelly and handwritten edits | circa 1977 |
| 1 | 10 | Kelly family reunion photographs | 1978; 1989 |
| 1 | 11-12 | Kelly family reunion record books | 1899-1925 |
| 2 | 1-4 | Kelly family reunion record books | 1918; 1923-1991 |
| 2 | 5 | Assorted family photographs | circa 1880-1930 |
| 2 | 6 | Abstract of title for Clinton Kelly land claim in East Portland Heights | 1914-1928 |
| 2 | 7 | Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and mortgage | 1900-1942 |
| 3 | 1 | Bishop family genealogy and related letter | 1981; undated |
| 3 | 2 | Donahue family memorabilia | circa 1925-1976 |
| 4 | 1 | Donahue family photographs | circa 1915-1918 |
| Folder | |||
| Oversize 1 | Group photograph of Clark's Lumbering Company employees at Sweet Home, Oregon, including Joe Donahue | circa 1940 | |
| Box | Folder | ||
| 3 | 3 | New family photographs and memorabilia | circa 1882-1978 |
| 4 | 2 | Photograph album, including members of the Donahue and New families | circa 1880-1900 |
| 3 | 4 | Album of photographs of Astoria, Oregon, taken by Laura Mildred ("Millie") Kern Hawes | circa 1899 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Families--Oregon
- Family reunions--Oregon
- Pioneers--Oregon
Family Names
- Donahue family
- Kelly family
- New family
Form or Genre Terms
- genealogies
- memorabilia
- photographs
