Reynolds family papers

Collection – Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS-0448

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

This collection consists of family correspondence, photographs, and negatives. Much of the correspondence documents family members in the military during World War II and the Korean War.

Dates

Creation: 1834-1986

Extent

4.70 Cubic Feet (3 legal archive boxes, 2 record cartons, 1 card box, 1 book box, 1 flat box)

Creator

Reynolds family (Family)

Scope and Contents

This collection primarily focuses on the lives of Robert Kerr Reynolds, his wife, Hazel Fry Reynolds, and their children. The majority of the documents are in the form of correspondence and photographs.

The largest series of correspondence belongs to Wade Reynolds (1929-1961), son of Robert and Hazel. It covers the period 1951-1953, when Wade served in an Army transportation unit stationed primarily in Texas. The letters begin with his basic training and cover his stay in Texas as well as a short trip to Korea and Japan. Another set of letters follows the service of John Reynolds as an Army Air Corps mechanic between 1941 and 1945. Additional correspondence documents the lives of other family members and also details genealogical research conducted on the Reynolds Family.

Throughout the letters of Wade Reynolds and Hazel Reynolds, there is mention of a religious group called The True Way to which some Reynolds family members belonged. There is also a separate subject file with more information on this group.

Finally, this collection contains a large set of photographs and negatives including two photograph albums. These photographs depict members of the Reynolds family as well as agricultural scenes and date from early tintypes to photographs taken in the 1970s.

Biographical / Historical

Genealogical charts in this collection trace the Reynolds Family history back to John Reynolds and Eliza Kerr, both of whom were part of the first settlers of Wood County, Ohio. The donor of these papers resides in the homestead of John and Eliza on Jerry City Road. Other documents in the collection suggest that the family originated in Ireland under the name McReynolds and MacReynolds. The bulk of this collection is centered upon the Reynolds line especially following the family of Robert Reynolds (1881-1954), son of John Reynolds (1835-1902), son of John Reynolds and Eliza Kerr. Contained within the collection also are significant tracings of the Fry Family (Helen Fry married Robert Reynolds). The photograph collection also depicts relatives from the families of Bockover, Cole and Graham. A detailed listing of the Lee and Craig families is contained within the genealogy file.

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.