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William Smith Wilson Jr. Collection

2 cartons, 4 oversize folders (7 linear feet)

(1773 – 1991)

bulk 1880-1979

Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury, University, Salisbury, Maryland

Identifier 2022.011
Creator(s) Susan West; The Wilson Family; William Smith Wilson Jr.
Acquisition

This collection was donated byWilliam Smith Wilson Jr., Susan West, Kate Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Ara Wilson, Tom Butler, and Bill Butler 
Language(s) English
Use Records are open for research. Copyright, including literary rights, belongs to the author(s) or their legal heirs. Permission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Nabb Research Center which extends beyond "fair use."
Preferred Citation "Item, collection title and identifier, box # and folder # (if applicable), Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland."
Attribution Finding aid Written by Zachary Foster November 2, 2022
Related Materials

Folklife Collection - Farming and Logging: A Talbot County Family (2000)

Levin H. Campbell Family papers (1777 – 2002)
Separated Materials

1         Frances Covey Spence Highschool Diploma, 1922 (Oversized)

2         Wilson Day Book, 1870’s (Oversized)

3         William Smith Wilson Sr. Cash Book and Account Ledger, 1894 (Oversized)

4         William Smith Wilson Sr. Photo Underwriters Association, 1898 (Oversized)
Abstract

The William Smith Wilson Jr. Collection is a genealogical collection relating to the Wilson Family with the bulk of items dating from the 1880s to the 1970s with outliers from 1773 to 1991. The majority of the collection consists of genealogical information on the direct line of the Wilson Family as well as some extended family. This collection also includes family journals, checks, and legal and property documents for the Family Farm at Maple Grove Easton.

Biographical History

William Smith Wilson Jr. was a Baltimore Attorney, Born in Talbot County in 1904. He owned property on Tilghman island and was co-owner of Maple Grove farm outside Easton until 1978. He was the dean of the State House corps of lobbyists. He was the founder and lifelong chairman of the Legislative Conference and had clients such as Baltimore’s Chamber of Commerce and the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association. Born in Easton he moved to Baltimore with his family when he was three and graduated in 1924 from City College, in 1927 he received his law degree from the University of Maryland. He entered law practice in 1928 and became involved in politics Baltimore’s old 3rd district. when he first won political office as a member of the house of delegates. In 1934 he was the chairman of the Belair Road Democratic Club’s board of governors. As one of Maryland’s youngest legislators he was backed by a powerful lobbyist in his support of Lewis-backed legislation which would have given Baltimore saloon keepers a monopoly on dispensing draft beer. Also a member of the Chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee Wilson lost the battle in 1938 for the district’s senate seat after a close fight. He was married in 1925 to the former Mary A. Grubert also known as the artist May Wilson and remained with her until her death in 1986. He remarried at eighty to the former Jeanette Heath. Mr. Wilson was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening and raising sheep on his 10-acre farm called Freedom Hill overlooking Dulaney Valley.

Scope and Content Note

The William Smith Wilson Jr Collection includes records of the Wilson family from 1880-1978 it is arranged into four series WILSON FAMILY RECORDS, MAPLE GROVE RECORDS, ALFRED AND ANGIE WILSON RECORDS, and POSTCARDS AND PAMPHLETS

The Wilson Family Records documents the history of the Wilson family through photographs, personal correspondence, official documents such as deeds and land records, and financial documents. Maple Grove Records documents the history of the family farm at Maple Grove with personal correspondence, financial documentation of crops, and documentation of land acquisition and sales on the farm. Alfred and Angie Wilson Records documents Personal Correspondence between Alfred and Angie Wilson and the rest of the Wilson family and Checks written by Alfred and Angie Wilson to family members, themselves, and friends. Pamphlets and Postcards contains mainly unmarked postcards with a few assorted pamphlets.

Arrangement Statement

Series 1: Wilson Family Records

Series 2: Maple Grove Records

Series 3: Alfred and Angie Wilson Records

Series 4: Postcards and Pamphlets

Subject Terms

  • Topical Terms
    • Farming Life
    • Genealogy & local history
    • Genealogy --- Maryland
    • Newspapers
    • Personal correspondence
  • Corporate Names
    • Lobbyist
  • Location Terms
    • Baltimore (Md.)
    • Easton (Md.)
    • Talbot County (Md.)

Inventory List

The inventory list for this item is hidden due to its length. Click the button below to view it.

Box 1

  1. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Alfred Jump Wilson, 1899
  2. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Alfred Tennyson Wilson, 1900-1906
  3. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Alfred Tennyson Wilson Bones and Briefs, 1902
  4. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Alfred Wilson Bank Book, 1882-1883
  5. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Caroline Elizabeth Wilson, 1899-1935
  6. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Covey and Roberts Family Genealogy and Documents
  7. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Dudley, Nelson, and Saulsbury Genealogies, 1945-1982
  8. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Emma and Anne Smith Dover School Book, Undated
  9. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Frances Covey Spence Highschool Diploma, 1922 (Oversized)
  10. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) George W. Wilson 1, 1870-1871
  11. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) George Washington Wilson, 1908
  12. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Harvey Hill Wilson, 1890-1914
  13. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Helm Covey Letters, 1873-1953Letters to Angeline Smith Wilson, 1874-1921
  14. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Lulu Smith Easton Normal School and Smyrna Library Books, 1861-1891
  15. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) May Wilson Article Sun Magazine, 1972
  16. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Recollections of Life on the Eastern Shore Owned by George Washington Wilson, 1898
  17. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Robert Alfred Wilson, 1984-1991
  18. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Robert Lewis Wilson, 1909
  19. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Samuel Wilson Letter, 1737
  20. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Smith, Jump, and Stafford Family Genealogy Cards, Undated
  21. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson III Records, 1932
  22. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Jr. Records and Documents, 1910-1967
  23. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Jr. Properties, 1944-1980
  24. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Jr. Newspaper Clippings, 1930-1980

Box 2

  1. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Jr. Client Correspondence, 1964-1990
  2. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Jr. Correspondence, 1920-1984
  3. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Sr. Photo Underwriters Association, 1898 (Oversized)
  4. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Sr. Financial Records, 1898-1920
  5. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Sr. Correspondence, 1906-1931
  6. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Sr. Cash Book and Account Ledger, 1894 (Oversized)
  7. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) William Smith Wilson Sr. Autobooks and Account Ledger, 1933-1964
  8. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Wilson Family Genealogy Cards, Undated
  9. Series 1 (Wilson Family Records) Wilson Day Book, 1870’s (Oversized)                                                    
  10. Series 2 (Maple Grove Records) Maple Grove Deeds and Correspondence, 1917-1978
  11. Series 2 (Maple Grove Records) Maple Grove Receipts and Documents, 1880-1977
  12. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Alfred Wilson Checks to Self, 1890-1907
  13. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Alfred Wilson Regular Checks, 1894-1903
  14. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Alfred Wilson Bank Checks, 1890-1905
  15. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Angie Wilson Checks, 1890-1925
  16. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Angie and Alfred Wilson Checks and Correspondence, 1872-1923
  17. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Angie and Alfred Wilson Checks to Children, 1895-1919
  18. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Angie and Alfred Wilson Checks to Family, 1894-1923
  19. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Angie and Alfred Wilson Incomplete Checks, 1890-1911
  20. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Angie and Alfred Wilson Promisary Bank Notes, 1890-1901
  21. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Angie Wilson Checks to Goll, Kable, Flaherty, 1906-1920
  22. Series 3 (Alfred and Angie Wilson Records) Angie Wilson Checks to Self, 1894-1925
  23. Series 4 (Pamphlets and Postcards) Assorted Pamphlets and Postcards, 1923-1965

Artifacts

See Nabb Center Staff

Attachments

None