University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections0587 (Accession No. 0587-001)Simpson, WilliamWilliam Simpson papers1875-19191882-1885.74 cubic feet (2 boxes, 5
photographs)Collection
materials are in
English.Correspondence,
family letters of a river boat pilotWilliam 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.
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.
Open to all users.
Request at
UW
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of
Washington Libraries.
Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Bates, 2/10/1966, 1/26/1966.
Photographs were separated and transferred to the Visual Materials
Curator.
Simpson, William, fl. 1882-1885--ArchivesSimpson, BessieSimpson, NinaSchellworth, NellieOregon Railway and Navigation CompanySpokane (Steamer)Tacoma (Steamer)Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)Ships and ShippingWashington (State)Railroads
Correspondence1/1-8Simpson, William to Nellie Schellworth
Simpson1882-18951/9-10Simpson, Nellie Schellworth to William
Simpson1882-18831/11Simpson, Nellie to Bess Simpson1900-19131/12Simpson, Bess to Nellie Simpson1893-19121/13Simpson, Nellie to Nina Simpson1904-19131/13Simpson, Nina to Nellie Simpsonundated1/14Simpson, Nina to Bess Simpson1900-19051/14Simpson, Bess to Nina Simpson1900-19081/15Schellworth, Alice M. to Nellie Simpson1884-19111/16Simpson, William and Jane to William and Nellie
Simpson1887-18921/17Simpson, Charles to William and Nellie
Simpson1882-19131/18Larson, Alice Simpson to Nellie Simpson1892-19062/1Joe and Eliza to the Simpson family1904-19102/1Shaw, Emma to Nellie Simpson1887-18982/1Josie to Nellie Simpson18882/1Simpson, Fred to Nellie Simpson1904-1907, undated2/1Shellworth, Harry to the Simpson family1900-1914, undated2/1Shellworth, Shelly E. to Nina Simpson19072/1Shellworth, Julius to Charles H. Schellworth18752/1Letter of recommendation for William Simpson18832/1Carpenter, E. J. to Nellie Simpson18842/1Crossen, J. B. to William Simpson18842/1Woodward, O. A. to Nellie Simpson18862/1Simpson, Charles to Alice Schellworth18872/1Lysons to Nina Simpson19002/1Don to Nina or Bess Simpson19072/1Margaret to Bess Simpson19092/1Jessie to Bess Simpson19112/1Simpson, William to Bess Simpson19192/1Jack to Bess SimpsonundatedWritings2/2Student essays by Nellie Schellworth
(Simpson)c. 1875-1876Clippings2/3Obituaries and other clippings1911, undatedEmployment
Materials2/4United States Inspectors Certificate to
Pilots1884-18872/4"Circular: Cautionary Notices to Pilots of Steam-Vessels
Regarding the Use of Signal-Whistles"1890Legal
Documents2/5Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the
United States18822/5Land Office certificate1886Ephemera2/6Receipts and Programs1885-1909, undated2/7Family photographsundated