Bradley family papers

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.