Shaw-Wells family papers, 1792-1977
- Creator Names Shaw, Frances Wells, 1872-1937.
- Title Shaw-Wells family papers [manuscript], 1792-1977, bulk 1885-1937.
- Physical description 11 linear ft. (21 boxes)
- Access and usage restrictions Some additions to the collection are unprocessed and are not included in the description below.
- Collection summary
- Correspondence, diaries, articles, poems, short stories, plays, clippings, mementos, estate documents, and other family papers of Chicago (Ill.) author Frances Wells Shaw and her husband, architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, and of their parents, daughters, other relatives, and ancestors. Topics include Mrs. Shaw's school days at Dearborn Seminary, Presbyterian Church activities, courtship and marriage, family matters, the publication of her poetry, short stories, and plays for children and for adults, the staging of garden theater performances at the family's estate, Ragdale, in Lake Forest (Ill.), and travel in Great Britain. The papers include relatively little unpublished information on Howard Van Doren Shaw's career as an architect.
- Materials in the collection include death condolences; diaries (3 v., 1890-1913) of Mrs. Shaw's aunt Mary E. Wells of Lake Geneva (Wis.); Yale University mementos of Mr. Shaw (1886-1890); Theodore A. Shaw's wholesale dry goods business correspondence (1870-1889) and Christmas card for 50th anniversary in 1942 (showing building new in 1892); Moses D. Wells' boot and shoe trade correspondence with reactions to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 (1850-1907); and Mrs. Shaw's writings on Atlantic Ocean and Tennessee River travels (1920's-1930's).
- Correspondents include Martha Wells Atkinson, Sylvia Shaw Judson Haskins, Theodora Shaw King, Evelyn Shaw McCutcheon, Searls family, Kate Sturges, Lily Sturges, Jane Van Doren Wright.
- Organized in series: 1. Frances Wells Shaw, 2. Howard Van Doren Shaw, 3. Family papers.
- Acquisition information Much of this collection was a gift of Alice Ryerson Hayes, the daughter of Sylvia Shaw Judson Haskins, primarily in 1979 (M1979.0031). Additions to the collection are not described in detail in this record yet.
- Location of Other Archival Materials Note
- Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Wells-Shaw family photograph collection (1980.0019) and the Sylvia Shaw Judson Haskins papers. Artifacts in the museum collection include a bullet mould that belonged to William H. Van Doren, ca. 1860. Two printed volumes by Frances Wells Shaw, received with this collection, are cataloged separately at Chicago History Museum. They are The Ragdale Book of Verse (Lake Forest, 1911), and Songs of a Baby's Day (Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co., 1917). Also cataloged with publications is the March 1914 issue of Poetry magazine (vol. III, no. 6) and other writings by Mrs. Shaw.
- Lake Forest College, Donnelley Library collected materials by and about the family, especially items relating to the architectural designs of Howard Van Doren Shaw.
- Art Institute of Chicago, Burnham Library received many of Howard Van Doren Shaw's books after his death.
- Biographical or Historical Note Howard Van Doren Shaw, architect, and Frances Wells Shaw, writer, had 3 daughters: Evelyn Shaw McCutcheon, 1894-1977, married John T. McCutcheon; Sylvia Shaw Judson Haskins, 1897-1978, married Clay Judson and after his death, Sidney Haskins; and Frances Theodora Shaw King (known as Theodora), 1913-1996, married John Lord King.
- Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available online for a portion of the collection.
- Names
- Shaw, Frances Wells, 1872-1937 Archives.
- Shaw, Howard Van Doren, 1869-1926.
- Haskins, Sylvia Shaw Judson, 1897-1978.
- King, Theodora Shaw, 1913-1996.
- McCutcheon, Evelyn Shaw, 1894-1977.
- Searle family.
- Searls family.
- Shaw family Archives.
- Van Doren family.
- Wells family Archives.
- Dearborn Seminary.)
- Ragdale (Estate : Lake Forest, Ill.)
- Yale University.
- Atkinson, Martha Wells, 1867-1935.
- Dodge, Katharine Sturges.
- Haskins, Sylvia Shaw Judson, 1897-1978.
- King, Theodora Shaw, 1913-1996. Mrs. John Lord King.
- McCutcheon, Evelyn Shaw, 1894-1977. Mrs. John T. McCutcheon.
- Shaw, Howard Van Doren, 1869-1926.
- Shaw, Theodore A., 1836-1906?
- Sturges, Kate.
- Sturges, Lily.
- Wells, Mary E.
- Wells, Moses Dwight, 1837-1910.
- Wright, Jane Van Doren.
- T.A. Shaw & Company (Chicago, Ill.) Christmas card 1942 shows 1892.
- Richards, Shaw, and Winslow.
- Subjects
- Amateur theater Illinois Lake Forest.
- Architects Illinois Chicago.
- Children's literature.
- Courtship Illinois Chicago.
- Dry-goods Illinois Chicago.
- Families Illinois Chicago.
- Families Illinois Lake Forest.
- Fires Illinois Chicago.
- Great Fire, Chicago, Ill., 1871. Box 9.
- Gardens Design Illinois Lake Forest.
- Marriage Illinois Chicago.
- Presbyterians Illinois Chicago.
- Shoe industry Illinois Chicago.
- Theater Illinois Lake Forest.
- Voyages and travels.
- Women Illinois Chicago.
- Women Illinois Lake Forest.
- Women Wisconsin Lake Geneva.
- Women authors, American Illinois Chicago Metropolitan Area.
- Geographic coverage
- Chicago (Ill.) Social life and customs.
- Chicago Metropolitan Area (Ill.) Intellectual life.
- Lake Forest (Ill.) Social life and customs.
- Lake Forest (Ill.) Intellectual life.
- Lake Geneva (Wis.) Social life and customs.
- Great Britain Description and travel.
- Tennessee River Description and travel.
- Genre
- Articles. aat
- Christmas cards. aat
- Deeds. aat
- Diaries. aat
- Fiction. aat
- Genealogies. aat
- Manuscripts for publication. aat
- Poetry. aat
- Scripts. aat
- Short stories. aat
- Wills. aat
- Geographic name
- United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
- United States Illinois Lake County Lake Forest.
- Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-S/Shaw-Wells-inv.htm