Overview of the Collection
Western Reserve Historical Society
Kelly, Dawson Family
Dawson Kelly Family Papers Series II
0.20 linear feet (1 container)
The Dawson Kelly family was a Cleveland, Ohio, Irish American family descended from Daniel Kelly. Dawson's parents were William and Mary Dawson Kelly. His wife was Anna Melia, who immigrated to Cleveland from Ireland ca. 1912 with her sister, Mary Melia. The collection consists of baptismal data, certificate of naturalization, correspondence, essays, a family record, data regarding inventions by William A. Kelly, a magazine article on the Talty family, and newspaper clippings. Includes photocopy of "The history of the Patrick Dawson and the Daniel Kelly families of Cleveland, Ohio" by Dawson Kelly, 1967.
MS 4910
The records are in English
closed stacks1864-1995
Biography of the Dawson Kelly FamilyDawson Kelly (1895-1977) was born on March 10, 1895, in Cleveland, Ohio, grandson of Daniel Kelly who had emigrated from Ireland. Dawson's parents were William Kelly, who worked as a plumber, and Mary Dawson. Dawson married Anna Melia (ca. 1896-1923) on June 23, 1920. She and her sister Mary Melia immigrated to Cleveland from Ireland ca. 1912, when she was about sixteen years of age. Anna Melia worked as a switchboard operator for five years, and was employed for a short time by the Cleveland Vocational Bureau in 1919.
Scope and ContentThe Dawson Kelly Family Papers Series II, 1864 -1995, consists of baptismal data, certificate of naturalization, correspondence, essays, a family record, data regarding inventions by William A. Kelly, a magazine article on the Talty family (a good friend of the Kelly family), and newspaper clippings.
This collection is of value to researchers studying Irish American history in northeast Ohio. The letters of correspondence will be of value to those seeking sociological, economic and historical data pertaining to Irish and Irish Americans in the late nineteenth century. Those interested in inventions of the latter half of the nineteenth century will find the information pertaining to medical equipment inventions by William A. Dawson to be of interest. Individuals seeking genealogical data on the Kelly family will find the family record, essays and newspaper clippings to be useful. Researchers interested in the assimilation of immigrants, especially from Ireland, may also find this collection valuable.
Statement of ArrangementThe collection is arranged by document type and then chronologically.
Separated MaterialSix photographs have been removed to the photograph and print collection.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 4661 Dawson Kelly Family Papers.
Processing InformationProcessed by Regina Costello in 2002.
Restrictions on AccessNone.
Preferred Citation[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4910 Dawson Kelly Family Papers Series II, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Acquisition InformationGift of Peggy (Margaret) Kraft in 2002.
Indexing TermsThe following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects:Kelly familyDawson familyKelly, William A.Kelly, Daniel -- FamilyDawson, Patrick -- FamilyTalty familyIrish Americans -- Ohio -- ClevelandIrish Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- GenealogyIrish American families -- Ohio -- ClevelandInventionsMedical instruments and apparatusCleveland (Ohio) -- GenealogyDetailed Description of The CollectionThe collection is arranged by document type and then chronologically1864-19951Folder 1: Baptismal data, Kelly family, St. Bridget's Church, Cleveland, photocopy, undated. Folder 2: Certificate of Naturalization, Daniel Kelly, (William A. Kelly's father) 1897. Folder 3: Correspondence, Elizabeth Dawson (Dawson Kelly's great grandmother) to her son Patrick Dawson, (Dawson's grandfather), photocopy, 1864. Folder 4: __________, Bridget Dawson (Dawson Kelly's aunt) to Catherine Brennan (Bridget's Godmother in Ireland), photocopy, 1866. Folder 5: __________, Elizabeth Dawson to Catherine Brennan, photocopy, 1866. Folder 6: __________, Peter & Roseanna McDonald to Patrick Dawson, photocopy, 1875. Folder 7: __________, William A. Kelly to Richard O'Toole, (a relative of Marcella's, William A. Kelly's mother) photocopy, 1913. Folder 8: __________, Margaret Fitzgerald to Dawson Kelly, photocopy, 1957. This letter is in response to the above letter from Richard O'Toole, 44 years later. Folder 9: __________, Peter & Roseanna McDonald to Patrick Dawson, photocopy, undated. Folder 10: Essay, general information about the Irish in Cleveland, Leah Krulick, undated. Folder 11: __________, "The History of the Patrick Dawson and the Daniel Kelly Families in Cleveland, Ohio," Dawson Kelly, photocopy, 1967. Folder 12: Family record, William A. and Mary Josephine Kelly, undated. Folder 13: Flyer, innventions by William A. Kelly, photocopies, undated. Folder 14: Magazine article, "The Talty family in Ohio," Northern Ohio Live, photocopy, 1995. Folder 15: Newspaper clippings, photocopies, Plain Dealer, February 14, 1977, Cleveland Press, undated.