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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)
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
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Historical Note

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.

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Content Description

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.

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Use of the Collection

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.

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Administrative Information

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.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Kelly family histories, genealogies and memorabilia
    Dates: circa 1900-1982
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Eulogy for Plympton Kelly
    Dates: 1906
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Correspondence between Laura Kelly and Marjorie Povey Klatt about Kelly family history and related genealogical information and typescript copies of family letters
    Dates: 1874-1977
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Correspondence between Laura Kelly and Eleanor Wilson Davis about Kelly family genealogy, and related photograph of Kelly family reunion
    Dates: 1977-1978; circa 1927
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Reminiscences of Vera Davis Caldwell
    Dates: 1967
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Oregon Historical Caravan records and related letter to E. G. Davis
    Dates: 1950
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: History of Henry Dosch and his residence on Albert Kelly's land claim by Kenneth B. Hawkins
    Dates: 1979
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Marjorie Povey Klatt reminiscences and related clippings, genealogical information, and memorabilia
    Dates: 1902-1978
    Container: Box 1, Folder 8
  • Description: History of the Methodist Church in Portland, with passages concerning Clinton Kelly and handwritten edits
    Dates: circa 1977
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: Kelly family reunion photographs
    Dates: 1978; 1989
    Container: Box 1, Folder 10
  • Description: Kelly family reunion record books
    Dates: 1899-1925
    Container: Box 1, Folder 11-12
  • Description: Kelly family reunion record books
    Dates: 1918; 1923-1991
    Container: Box 2, Folder 1-4
  • Description: Assorted family photographs
    Dates: circa 1880-1930
    Container: Box 2, Folder 5
  • Description: Abstract of title for Clinton Kelly land claim in East Portland Heights
    Dates: 1914-1928
    Container: Box 2, Folder 6
  • Description: Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and mortgage
    Dates: 1900-1942
    Container: Box 2, Folder 7
  • Description: Bishop family genealogy and related letter
    Dates: 1981; undated
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Donahue family memorabilia
    Dates: circa 1925-1976
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: Donahue family photographs
    Dates: circa 1915-1918
    Container: Box 4, Folder 1
  • Description: Group photograph of Clark's Lumbering Company employees at Sweet Home, Oregon, including Joe Donahue
    Dates: circa 1940
    Container: Folder Oversize 1
  • Description: New family photographs and memorabilia
    Dates: circa 1882-1978
    Container: Box 3, Folder 3
  • Description: Photograph album, including members of the Donahue and New families
    Dates: circa 1880-1900
    Container: Box 4, Folder 2
  • Description: Album of photographs of Astoria, Oregon, taken by Laura Mildred ("Millie") Kern Hawes
    Dates: circa 1899
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4

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
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