Kirk Family Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Gayle M. Richardson, November 19, 2010.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Overview of the Collection

Title: Kirk Family Papers

Dates (inclusive): 1817-1913

Collection Number: mssHM 74389-74411

Creator: Kirk family.

Extent: 23 pieces + ephemera in 1 case

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Abstract: This small collection contains papers of the Kirk family, a well-established Pennsylvania Quaker family. The majority of the collection consists of family letters, notes, cards and invitations between members of the Kirk, Inskeep, and Ridgway families.

Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Kirk Family Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of John K. Hull, Jr., October 28, 2010.

Biographical Note

The Kirks were a well-established Pennsylvania Quaker family, descended from John Kirk (1660- 1705) who immigrated to Darby, Pa., in 1687. Joshua Paul Kirk (1841-1914), was the fourth son of Elias Kirk (1808-1889) and Rachel Paul Kirk. In August 1861, J.P. Kirk enlisted in Co. A. of the 1st Regiment of New Jersey Cavalry, and fought in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania; he was mustered out in July 1865. In 1868, J.P. Kirk married Marietta (Mame) Ridgway (1848- 1884) and they had three children: Marietta Kirk (1871-1940), George Ridgway Kirk, and Morris Paul Kirk (1874-1953). Marietta, a graduate of Swarthmore College (Class of 1888), married Henry Wisdom Ragland in 1902; they had one child, Morris Kirk Ragland (b. 1904).

The Ridgways were related to Ephraim Inskeep (1795-1881), a successful New Jersey-born miller, and his wife Mary Olden Inskeep (1795-1875). Inskeep’s stepdaughter Margaretta married William Ridgway (ca. 1805-1849) in 1830 and they had four children: William Olden Ridgway (1834-1925), Ephraim Inskeep Ridgway (1835-1913), George K. Ridgway (b. ca. 1844) and Mary Ridgway. After both Margaretta and William Ridgway succumbed to cholera in 1849, the children went to live with their Inskeep grandparents. William and George Ridgway also served in the Civil War before moving west, along with their sister Mary.

Scope and Content

The papers consist of the following:

1. Correspondence, Manuscript, Document and Ephemera (1 tan rope case). The material includes one manuscript, one document and 16 pieces of ephemera; the majority of the collection consists of family letters, notes, cards and invitations between members of the Kirk, Inskeep, and Ridgway families. The most noteworthy of these are the letters written by Joshua Paul Kirk, in 1862, detailing his experiences in the Civil War.

The other family members include: Ephraim Inskeep, Mary Olden Inskeep, Elias Kirk, Joshua Paul Kirk, Marietta Ridgway Kirk, Morris Paul Kirk, Marietta Kirk Ragland, Ephraim Inskeep Ridgway, Mary Ridgway, and William Olden Ridgway. There are also letters to and from various friends and assorted family members.

Arrangement

The Correspondence, manuscript, and document are arranged chronologically, followed by three folders of ephemera.

Indexing: Added Entries

Glover, John P. Joint author with Ann B. Inskeep, note to Mary H. Oldden, (1817, Nov.). HM 74389.
Inskeep, Mary Olden, 1795-1875. Joint addressee with Ephraim Inskeep, 1795-1881, note from Esther L. Thomas and Jacob Jackson, (1826, Apr.). HM 74390.
Jackson, Jacob. Joint author with Esther L. Thomas, note to Ephraim Inskeep, 1795-1881 and Mary Olden Inskeep, 1795-1875, (1826, Apr.). HM 74390.
Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914. Autograph letter, following letter from Morris Paul Kirk, 1874- 1953, to Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940, (1886, Jan. 17). HM 74406.
Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914. Autograph letter, following letter from Morris Paul Kirk, 1874- 1953, to Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940, ([1888], Sep. 24). HM 74407.
Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914. Autograph letter, following letter from Morris Paul Kirk, 1874- 1953, to Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940, (1888, Nov. 10). HM 74409.
Kirk, Marietta Ridgway, 1848-1884. Joint author with Joshua Paul Kirk, 1841-1914, letter to [Dear Friends?], (1873, June 29). HM 74403.

Dreams -- United States -- 18th century. In Ephraim Inskeep Ridgway, 1835-1913, “A Remarkable Dream…,” (1854, Dec. 26). HM 74392.
Stonewall, Jackson, 1824-1863. In Joshua Paul Kirk, 1841-1914, letters to Elias Kirk, 1808- 1889, (1862). HM 74396-74398.
United States -- Army -- New Jersey Cavalry Regiment, 1st (1861-1865). In Joshua Paul Kirk, 1841-1914, letters to Elias Kirk, 1808-1889, (1862). HM 74395-74398.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. In Joshua Paul Kirk, 1841-1914, letters to Elias Kirk, 1808-1889, (1862). HM 74395-74398.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Subjects

Kirk family -- Archives.

Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863.

United States. Army. New Jersey Cavalry Regiment, 1st (1861-1865)

Dreams -- United States -- History -- 18th century.

Quakers -- Pennsylvania -- Archives.

Quaker women -- United States -- History.

Pennsylvania -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.

Forms/Genres

Documents -- United States -- 19th century.

Ephemera -- United States -- 19th century.

Family papers -- United States -- 19th century.

Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century.

Manuscripts -- United States -- 19th century.

Additional Contributors

Inskeep, Ephraim, 1795-1881.

Inskeep, Mary Olden, 1795-1875.

Kirk, Elias, 1808-1889.

Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914.

Kirk, Marietta Ridgway, 1848-1884.

Kirk, Morris Paul, 1874-1953.

Ragland, Marietta Kirk, 1871-1940.

Ridgway, Ephraim Inskeep, 1835-1913.

Ridgway, Mary.

Ridgway, William Olden, 1834-1925.

Case

mssHM 74389-74411

1817, Nov. [Inskeep, Ann B. and Glover, John P.] 1 note to Mary H. Oldden, A.N. (1 p.). HM 74389

Note: written in the third person; a dinner invitation. Also enclosed: fragment of an autograph poem: “Night oer the world her curtain…,” also an envelope addressed to “Messrs. Ridgway.”

1826, Apr. [Thomas, Esther L. and Jackson, Jacob.] 1 note to Ephraim Inskeep, 1795-1881, and Mary Olden Inskeep, 1795-1875, A.N. (1 p.), ([New Jersey]). HM 74390

Note: written in the third person; a dinner invitation.

1854, Sep. 17. Ridgway, William Olden, 1834-1925. 1 letter to [Dear Sun?], A.L.S. (1 p.), (Deerfield). HM 74391

1854, Dec. 26. Ridgway, Ephraim Inskeep, 1835-1913. “A Remarkable Dream Belonging to Ann Tomlinson 11th Month 9th 1774,” A.MS.S. (19 p.). HM 74392

Note: first page titled: “A Remarkable Dream the 30th of the 10th Month 1762;” also 6 blank pages.

1858, Oct. 12. Schofield, Mart. 1 letter to [Mary Ridgway]?, A.L.S. (4 p.), (Harrison, N.Y.). HM 74393

Note: addressed to “Dear Cousin Mary.”

1858, Oct. 12. Schofield, Mart. 1 letter to Ephraim Inskeep Ridgway, 1835-1913, A.L.S. (4 p.), (Harrison, N.Y.). HM 74394

Note: addressed to “Dear Cousin Ephraim.”

1862, Apr. 29. [Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914]. 1 letter to Elias Kirk, 1808-1889, A.L. (4 p.). HM 74395

With envelope.

1862, June 22. [Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914]. 1 letter to [Elias Kirk, 1808-1889], A.L. (4 p.), (“Camp McClellan”). HM 74396

Incomplete.

[1862, June?]. [Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914]. 1 letter to -----, A.L. (1 p.). HM 74397

Incomplete, fragment only. Cataloger’s Note: probably written to his father, Elias Kirk, 1808-1889.

[1862, Aug. 10]. [Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914]. 1 letter to -----, A.L. (4 p.). HM 74398

Incomplete. Cataloger’s Note: probably written to his father, Elias Kirk, 1808-1889.

1866, May [1?]. [Kirk, Marietta Ridgway, 1848-1884]. 1 letter to [Melie], A.L.S. (3 p.). HM 74399

Note: signed “Mame.”

1867, June 27. Dutton, [Albert]. 1 letter to [Marietta Ridgway Kirk, 1848-1884], A.L.S. (4 p.), (Philadelphia, Pa.). HM 74400

Note: addressed to “Mame.”

[1867?], Sep. 5. Dutton, [Albert]. 1 letter to [Marietta Ridgway Kirk, 1848-1884], A.L.S. (2 p.), (Chester City). HM 74401

Note: addressed to “Dear Friend.”

1868, Feb. 7. Dutton, Albert. 1 letter to [Marietta Ridgway Kirk, 1848-1884], A.L.S. (4 p.), (Brush Run, W. Va.). HM 74402

Note: addressed to “ My Dear Friend Mame.”

1873, June 29. Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914 and Kirk, Marietta Ridgway, 1848-1884. 1 letter to [Dear Friends?], A.L.S. (3 p.), (Darby, Pa.). HM 74403

Note: first paragraph very faded; on verso: autograph note in an unknown hand.

1878, Dec. 6. Inskeep, Ephraim, 1795-1881. Last Will & Testament, A.D.S. (2 p.), (Darby, Pa.). HM 74404

Note: written out by a clerk, signed and dated by Ephraim Inskeep.

1885, Nov. 6. [Kirk, Rachel Paul]?. 1 letter to [Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940], A.L.S. (2 p.), (Weldon). HM 74405

Note: addressed to “Dear Grandaughter” from “Thy Loving Grandma.”

1886, Jan. 17. Kirk, Morris Paul, 1874-1953. 1 letter to [Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940], A.L.S. (1 p.), (Glenolden). HM 74406

Note: addressed to “Dear Sister.” Followed by: A.L.S. from Joshua Paul Kirk, 1841-1914, to Marietta Kirk Ragland…(3 p.).

[1888], Sep. 24. Kirk, Morris Paul, 1874-1953. 1 letter to [Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940], A.L.S. (2 p.), (Glenolden). HM 74407

Note: addressed to “My dear Sister.” Followed by: A.L.S. from Joshua Paul Kirk, 1841-1914, to Marietta Kirk Ragland…(2 p.).

1888, Nov. 8. Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914. 1 letter to [Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940], A.L.S. (3 p.), (Glenolden). HM 74408

Note: addressed to “Dear Daughter.”

1888, Nov. 10. Kirk, Morris Paul, 1874-1953. 1 letter to [Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940], A.L.S. (2 p.), (Glenolden). HM 74409

Note: addressed to “My Dear Sister.” Followed by: A.L.S. from Joshua Paul Kirk, 1841-1914, to Marietta Kirk Ragland…(1 p.).

1888, Dec. 13. Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914. 1 letter to [Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940], A.L.S. (3 p.), (Glenolden). HM 74410

Note: addressed to “Dear Daughter.”

[1889?, Feb. 12?]. Kirk, Joshua Paul, 1841-1914. 1 letter to [Marietta Kirk Ragland, 1871-1940], A.L.S. (2 p.), (Glenolden). HM 74411

Note: addressed to “Dear Mamie.”

Folder 24

Ephemera: Printed Clippings, (6 pieces). [Approximately 1820?-1902]

Note: fragile -- please do not remove from mylar.

Folder 25

Ephemera: Wedding invitation, calling card, and misc. envelopes, (6 pieces). 1861-1868

Folder 26

Ephemera: Big Bend Cinnabar Mining Co. and Arizona Meat Products Company, stock certificates, (4 pieces). 1905-1913

Note: certificates made out to Marietta Kirk Ragland and Henry Wisdom Ragland.