Bradley family papers

Collection – Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS-0044

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The Bradley family papers date from approximately 1797 to 1977, with the information contained within the papers covering the period 1620-1977. Included are family correspondence, journals, account records, Justice of the Peace Dockets, census records, and documents acquired through the National Archives, the Library of Congress, Daughters of the American Revolution Library, and the National Genealogical Society. The papers reflect the activities and business transactions of several Bradley family members.

Dates

Creation: circa 1797-1977
Other: Coverage: 1620-1977

Extent

5.52 Cubic Feet (12 legal size archive boxes)

Creator

Bradley family (Family)

Scope and Contents

The Bradley family papers, 1797-1977, trace the genealogical development of the Myron Bradley family. The collection of correspondence, diaries, account and census records are arranged chronologically. Some of the correspondence has been photocopied, but the majority of the letters are originals and have been completely transcribed.

The correspondence reflects the family's geographical movements in the United States, their feelings about contemporary occurrences, and contains descriptions and accounts of business transactions. The papers are mainly concerned with three Bradley family members; Timothy Meigs Bradley (1788-1864), Eber Bradley (1828-1909), and Fred Bradley (1885-?).

Although the papers provide an enormous amount of family history data, they are incomplete. The early Bradley history, which apparently began in England is vague, and definitive statistical data is not available. The later correspondence provides pertinent knowledge of the family personal relationships, but, even with supplemental data from the National Archives, does not conclusively trace the Bradley's genealogical history. Myron Bradley's book, Eber Bradley (1761-1841) and Some Relatives, however, attempts to tie all the information together and bring the family members into their respective places in time.

Of special interest are the Civil War (1862) era letters of J(osiah) Farrington, First Lieutenant in Company I, 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Additional Civil War era (1862) correspondence includes the letters of Silas Saunders and James S. Clark (12th Ohio Battery). A Diary of Army Life, probably written by J. Farrington, provides a vivid portrayal of the life of a soldier in Company I, 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Passages from History of the Fourteenth Ohio Regiment, OVVI by Col. J. A. Chase (1889) are also included in the collection.

Biographical / Historical

Myron Bradley was born on October 29, 1915 in Maumee, Ohio. Myron's grandfather, Albert Josiah Bradley, gave Myron the family papers in 1931. It was not until 1956 that Myron began to trace the family's history by transcribing the family correspondence and journals. At that time he was working for the United States Public Housing Authority (PHA) in Arlington, Virginia. In 1961, Myron was transferred to Philadelphia where he became assistant director for public housing for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Upon his retirement in 1969, Myron, with his wife Madge, moved to Murray, Kentucky. Myron died on February 2, 1979.

Myron Bradley's father, Fred Bradley, was very involved in Toledo politics during the 1920s and 1930s. He held the position of campaign manager for County Commissioners George Hoffman and George Winters and Mayor Solon T. Klotz. As a reward for his work Fred Bradley was appointed to several governmental positions including the office of Superintendent of the Toledo Workhouse in 1930.

The correspondence of Fred Bradley's grandfather Eber Bradley, indicates that the family moved west from Williston, Vermont to Whitehouse, Ohio in the 1850s to seek fortune in the sheep farming business. When the Civil War brought the demise of the wool business, Eber began to practice medicine as a "homeopathic practitioner." Timothy Meigs Bradley, Eber's uncle, born in 1788, served as Justice of the Peace form 1822-1825, as Town Treasurer in 1825, and owned a general merchandising company in Williston, Vermont.

From 1956 until donating the Bradley Papers to the Center for Archival Collections, Myron Bradley transcribed all journals, correspondence, and diaries. He attempted to trace the family's history back to Yorkshire, England when, in 1643, William Bradley presumably boarded a ship for the New World. However, documents and records for this early time period are very incomplete.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Myron Bradley transferred the Bradley family papers to the Center for Archival Collections in June 1978.

Processing Information

Marcia Sommerfeld, Graduate Assistant, Department of History, completed the processing and drafted the finding aid. Additional information for the biographical sketch was obtained by Ms. Sommerfeld via a telephone conversation with Myron Bradley.