MSS 83

Ely, Charles Russell, 1870-1939  

Papers of Charles R. Ely, 1870-1942

 

 

Gallaudet University Archives.

 

 

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 83
 Creator:
Title: Papers of Charles R. Ely, 1870-1942
 Quantity: 4.0 Linear Feet (8 document boxes)
Abstract:
Note: This document last updated 2005 December 2.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: The Charles R. Ely papers were given to the Gallaudet University Archives by Marian Stewart Wenzel in 1991.

Processed by: Michael Olson and Staci Rensch. 1997 October 1.
Processing Note:
Conditions on Use and Access: This collection is open to the public with no restrictions. Photocopies may be made for scholarly research.

 

 

Related Material in the Archives:


Deaf Film

·         [Scenes at Gallaudet College] [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 20-8, 52-8

 

Manuscripts

·         Papers of Leon Auerbach, 1930-1986. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: MSS 142.

·         Papers of Charles R. Ely 1870-1942. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: MSS 83

 

Photographs

Ely is in many albums. See ALADIN for complete listing.

·         Charles R. Ely [picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Portraits.

 

Vertical Files

·         Charles R. Ely. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Biographical

·         Ely Center. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Gallaudetiana

·         Ely Hall. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Gallaudetiana

 

Biographical Sketch

 

Dr. Charles Russell Ely was born on February 20, 1870 in Columbus, Ohio. The family soon relocated to Frederick, Maryland when Ely’s father, Dr. Charles Wright Ely was appointed superintendent of the Maryland School for the Deaf. Due to his father’s affiliation with the Deaf, Charles Russell Ely quickly picked up sign language and became immersed in the local Deaf Community.

 

In 1891, Ely graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, continuing on to complete his master’s degree in 1892 from Gallaudet College, and completing his PhD at George Washington University in 1900. Ely’s interest in the Deaf Community remained strong; he started teaching at Gallaudet College in 1891, he employed positions as: instructor, assistant professor, professor in chemistry and vice president. Only briefly did he leave his busy post at Gallaudet when he took over his recently deceased father’s position as principal of the Maryland state school for the Deaf (1912- 1913).

 

Dr. Ely was very involved in science, especially botany. He was actively a member of numerous organizations, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Institute of Chemists, the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf, the American Chemical Society and The Entomological Society of America and very involved in the local Washington DC ward.

 

December 25, 1897 Ely married Louise Day Crane of Orange, New Jersey. They later expanded their family to include 3 daughters: Elizabeth Day, Grace Darling, and Sylvia Louise. On February 22, 1939, Dr. Ely died suddenly at age 69 in his Kendall Green home, of a heart attack.

 

 

Scope and Content

 

The Charles R. Ely collection consist of notes, loose pages, receipts, advertisements, letters, correspondence, and membership cards.

 

The collection consists of approximately 100 pages, dates from 1890-1942. The bulk of the collection consists of articles, letters, pamphlets, notes, and loose pages.  Included in the collection are his letters to his wife, Mrs. Louise Crane Ely, which Dr. Ely wrote when he was away on trips. Letters to both of his daughters were enclosed as well. This collection also included various letters from Dr. Alexander Graham Bell.

 

Various personal items of memorabilia are included in the collection, such as papers from the Maryland School for the Deaf, which obviously held sentimental value. A letter press book is in the collection which belonged to his father, Charles W. Ely. The most interesting item in this collection is Charles. R. Ely’s grade book called Mr. Bowen’s School for Boys report book of which he attended as a little boy.

 

             

Series Descriptions and Folder Lists
No Series.

 

Box

Folder

Title of Folder

Date

1

1

Advertisement                      

 n.d.

1

2

Arithmetic book used by Ely        

1879

1

3

Bell, Alexander Graham - Statement of Dr. A. G. Bell       

1891

1

4

Biography - Ely, Charles R.         

n.d.

1

5

The Buff and Blue - Loose pages of

n.d.

1

6

Certification - Army Discharged     

1898

1

7

Certification of Membership        

1904-1907

1

8

Clippings                    

1897-1938

1

9

Clippings - comments of papers on principalship at Maryland School for the Deaf

1912

1

10

College Resolutions on Charles R. Ely                     

1912

1

11

Essay - Gallaudet College - What Students Need Before Coming           

n.d.

1

12

Kappa Gamma Fraternity Yearbooks                    

1926-1927

1

13

Letters - Bjorlee, Ignatius         

1939

1

14

Letters - Ely, Charles W.           

1907

1

15

Letters - Hall, Percival            

1913

1

16

Letters - Literary Society, The           

1933

1

17

Letters - Munroe, Charles E.        

1897-1939

1

18

Letters - Yale University           

1897-1939

1

19

Maryland School for the Deaf       

1912-1932

1

20

Memberships Cards            

1935-1939

1

21

The Nebraska Journal - "Gallaudet College - What Students Need Before Coming"  

1924-1925

1

22

Notes                        

1932

1

23

Notes - Ely's talk on "Soul of Gallaudet College, The"     

n.d.

1

24

Obituary                     

1939

1

25

Periodicals - Rochester Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf 

1926

1

26

Photographs                  

1928

1

27

Power of Attorney            

1903

1

28

Program Books - Gallaudet College Special Convocation                

1931

1

29

Program Book - Testimonial dinner in honor of President and Mrs. Percival Hall 

1933

1

30

Receipts - The Columbian University 

1895-1896

1

31

Receipt - Tiffany and Co. (Diamond Ring)               

1895

1

32

Receipt - Yale University           

1897

1

33

School Report Book - Mr. Bowen's School for Boys

1886-1887

1

34

Who's Who's in the Nation's Capital

1926-1927

1

35

Yale University              

1887-1888

2

1

Clippings - Death of Ely, Charles W.

1912

2

2

Letter - Board of Visitors of the Maryland School for the Deaf, The

1870

2

3

Letters - Connor, Wesley O. 

1877

2

4

Letters - Gallaudet, Edward Miner

1891

2

5

Letters - Johnson, William 

1910-1911

2

6

Letters - Westervelt, Zenas F.

1890-1891

2

7

Letterpress Book   Mrs. Louise Crane Ely

1871-1877

2

8

Corresponding Letter - Entomological Society of America, The

1940

2

9

Letters - Ely, Charles R. 

1905

2

10

Letters - Hall, Percival   

1939-1942

2

11

List of names   

n.d.