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Bradley family papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 777

Scope and Contents

The Bradley Family Papers consist of correspondence, journals, account books, notebooks, school notes, writings, deeds and other miscellaneous items of the Bradley family of New Haven, Connecticut.

The Bradley faimly settled in New Haven at the beginning of the 17th century. The papers span the years 1795 to 1950, but the heaviest concentration of material covers the years 1814 to 1870.

While the papers touch on New Haven history (19th century), the Civil War and World War I, they are not substantive enough to allow a thorough development of any of these subjects. The papers contain materials from the following individuals:

William C. Bradley (1821-1890) The papers of William Bradley, a New Haven merchant, who manufactured carriage springs and sold scrap iron, contain two account books, a waste book, two notebooks and one journal, all relating to his business.

George Bradley (c. 1840-?) George Bradley, a soldier during the Civil War, stationed in Virginia, fought in the battle of Fredericksburg and was taken prisoner during the battle of Chancellorsville. The letters he wrote home from the battle field and later while a prisoner of war are an interesting segment of these papers. This correspondence is dated 1862 to 1863.

Edward Elias Bradley (1845-1939) Edward E. Bradley, the youngest son of Isaac and Abigail Bradley, began his career as a shipping clerk with the New Haven Wheel Company in 1860 and rose to the presidency of the company by 1887. During the Civil War, he was captain of the Company F-2nd Regiment. Bradley's other occupations included paymaster general of Connecticut, member of the Connecticut House of Representatives (1882-1883) and Senate(1886), and president of the State Park Association (1930). Bradley also served as Adjunct General of Connecticut from 1893 to 1895. There is a photograph album from this period, which contains photographs of Bradley and the Governor's staff.

Included in the papers are three original manuscripts by Edward Elias Bradley. The subjects of these papers are General Israel Putnam, Connecticut Revolutionary War hero, Timothy Dwight, president of Yale (1795-1817), and the erection of the Defenders Monument in New Haven.

Edward Holbrook Bradley (1897-?) Edward H. Bradley left Yale College in his sophomore year(1917) to join the American Ambulance Corps that was stationed in France during World War I. After arriving in France, Bradley discovered that there was a shortage of drivers in the Convois Automobile Service of the French Army. He spent 1917 in the service of the French Army, driving a camion that carried ammunition and supplies to the frount lines. A type script of some of the letters he wrote home during this period gives some description of life in France during the war. Bradley returned to Yale after the war and graduated in 1920.

The Bradley Family Papers also contain material from other family members but this represents only a small portion of the collection.

Dates

  • 1817-1950

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown, though much of the material in this collection is likely in the public domain. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the Bradley family, 1941-1942

Arrangement

The papers are arranged chronologically.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.0777

Abstract

Correspondence, notebooks, account books, photographs, memorabilia, and other papers of the Bradley family of New Haven, Connecticut. The papers, which are largely from the 19th century, include Civil War letters, account books by a New Haven manufacturer, and a photograph album. There are also World War I letters from Edward H. Bradley.

Biographical / Historical

William C. Bradley (1821-1890): manufacturer of carriage springs in New Haven, Connecticut. George Bradley (b. ca. 1840): soldier in the Civil War. Edward Elias Bradley (1845-1938): active in Connecticut politics. Edward Holbrook Bradley (1897-1968): broker in New Haven, Connecticut

Title
Guide to the The Bradley Family Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by Elizabeth Price
Date
June 1976
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours