MS-243 Pedrick Family Papers

Introduction

The Pedrick Family Papers were accessioned into the Wright State University Department of Archives and Special Collections in December, 1992. They were donated by David P. Pedrick of Springfield, Ohio.

The materials it his collection date from the 1860"s through the 1950's and fill 11 Hollinger boxes, one oversize file, and 190 file folders. The collection is arranged into 9 series as follows:

• Series 1: William E. Pedrick - Papers and Letters
• Series 2: William E. Pedrick - Notebooks and Bankbooks
• Series 3: William E. Pedrick - Land Brochures, Pamphlets, and Maps
• Series 4: William Pedrick's Wife, Brother, and Sons Papers and Letters
• Series 5: Albert H. Pedrick and Wife Betty Lou Phillips - papers and letters
• Series 6: Mr. & Mrs. Albert Pedrick - Art
• Series 7: Mr. and Mrs. Albert Pedrick - children and relatives papers and letters
• Series 8: Miscellaneous Photographs
• Series 9: Miscellaneous Papers

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Brief Biographical Sketch

William E. Pedrick was the patriarch of the family as far as this collection is concerned. His papers start out with his service as a Calvary officer (Ohio Volunteers) in the Civil War. After the war he was involved in the land business in Cleveland Ohio until he went bankrupt in 1878. After bankruptcy he moved on to land speculation in the Northwest United States Territories, with an office in New York City. He dealt mostly in coal mining property, but had interests in other minerals as well. Especially noteworthy is William Pedrick's involvement in the Maxwell Land Grant as an agent. The Maxwell Land Grant was made up of 1,700,000 acres of land located in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. This land was taken over by the U.S. Government from Mexico after the Mexican War and there were many disputes as to ownership with the Mexican people already living on the land. William Pedrick had some connections in the U.S. Government, as seen by his letters of recommendation for posting as U.S. Consul General to Mexico City, although it does not appear that he attained that appointment. His patriotism is also shown in his letters volunteering his "boys" for duty in Theodore Roosevelt's "special detachment," and letters of response.

William Pedrick and his wife Nena had three sons and at least one daughter who appears only fleetingly in this collection. William Pedrick's sons Clinton and Billy along with his brother Cornelia were involved with the land business slightly before going on to other pursuits. Clinton became an electrician, and had a falling out with his father over "Clint's" choice of a wife. William Pedrick's son Albert Hough Pedrick (Bart) seems to have been very involved in the land business out west in the late 1800's. He must have been the keeper of the trunk in which this collection was found since a large part of its bulk is his and his family's papers and letters. Albert Pedrick seems to have lost interest in the land business after his elevator accident in a Colorado hotel in 1901. Bart lost a leg, and nearly his life, as a result of the elevator collapsing. After his recovery he took up more artistic pursuits. He attended an art school and became an artist/draftsman. Albert's wife Betty Lou Phillips was a nurse. They were separated for a time by her training in Canada in the early 1900's, but remained close through daily letters. William E. Pedrick died in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Pedrick settled and lived out their days in Springfield, Ohio. They had a son, Ronald and a daughter Geanne. Ron graduated high school in 1929 and moved to Cincinnati with dreams of being a newspaper writer. He worked at A & P Bakery in the early 1930's. Geanne went to college and became a schoolteacher. Also included in the collection is Mrs. D.B. Smith, or "Aunt Ester." She was the aunt of Dave Pedrick, who donated this collection tot he Wright State University Archives. She was also the wife of D.B. Smith, State Congressman for North Carolina.

Scope and Content

Series 1 is the largest part of this collection. It contains the business and personal papers and letters of William E. Pedrick (W.E.P.). Some noteworthy items contained in this series are his Civil War notebooks which contain notes on equipment issued to his men, number of horses, etc.: land documents covering William Pedrick's coal land speculation business, the Maxwell Land Grant, Deeds, and W.E.P.'s possible appointment as Consul General to Mexico City; letters from Theodore Roosevelt concerning William Pedrick volunteering his "boys" for the Rough Riders. Also included are court cases and documents, correspondence mostly to his sons concerning business - even his personal letters relate to business matters, and letters and telegrams about his son Albert's elevator accident in 1901. Anyone interested in late 1800's land development in the American Northwest will find this series useful.

Series 2 consists of William Pedrick's pocket notebooks and some bankbooks. Most of the notebooks contain mostly senseless notes and scribbles that do not mean much alone, but are meaningful as part of the total picture of W.E.P. and his business dealings.

Series 3 contains a most interesting collection of brochures, leaflets, pamphlets, and maps in regard to land development; the essence of which was to get people to migrate tot he Northwest to buy land and settle the area. There are quite a few about the Maxwell Land Grant, of which many oversized maps of Montana, Washington State, the "Yukon Gold Fields," etc., many include steam ship tables. There are also some hand drawn maps of land holdings, many showing topography.

Series 8 contains miscellaneous photographs and negatives, some labeled - some not, of family and friends. There are some interesting photographs of Northwest America, a few glass plate negatives, and an ambrotype of an unidentified woman.

Series 9 consists of miscellaneous items which were found loose in the trunk. There are business cards, ink blotters, political leaflets (WWI era) about supporting the League of Nations, an essay by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw titled What War Meant to Women, Boy Scout materials circa 1920, a P.T. Barnum Lecture add dated 1873, religious song book, news clippings, etc. This series would be of great interest to anyone with an interest in American Social History.

Container Listing

Series 1: William E. Pedrick - Papers & Letters

Series 2: William E Pedrick - Notebooks & Bankbooks

Series 3 William E. Pedrick - Land Brochures, Pamphlets, & Maps

Series 4: William Pedrick's Wife, Brother, and Sons Papers                

Series 5: Albert H. Pedrick (Bart) and Wife Betty Lou Phillips - Papers and Letters

Series 6: Mr. & Mrs. Albert H. Pedrick's Art

Series 7: Mr. & Mrs. Albert Pedrick's Children & Relatives Papers

Series 8: Miscellaneous Photographs

Series 9: Miscellaneous Items