William James Davis correspondence, 1876-1937, bulk 1890-1919

Descriptive Inventory for the Collection at Chicago History Museum, Research Center

By Joseph C. Dane and Dominique Tremblay, 2009

Please address questions to:

Chicago History Museum, Research Center

1601 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60614-6038

Web-site: http://www.chicagohistory.org/research

© Copyright 2012, Chicago Historical Society, 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614

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Title: William James Davis correspondence [manuscript], 1876-1937, bulk 1890-1919

Main entry: Davis, William James, 1844-1919

Inclusive dates: 1876-1937, bulk 1890-1919

Size: 6 linear ft. (12 boxes)

Terms of access: This collection is available for research use.

Provenance statement: Gift of Alice Carroll (2007.0124.1).

Terms governing use: Copyright may be retained by the creators of items. or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Please cite this collection as: William James Davis correspondence (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

This descriptive inventory contains the following sections:

Biographical/historical note,

Summary description of the collection,

Description of some materials related to the collection,

List of online catalog headings about the collection,

Arrangement of the collection,

Detailed description of the archival series of the collection,

List of contents of the collection.

Biographical/historical note:

Chicago theater operator and theatrical manager William James Davis was born in 1844 on a farm near Ann Arbor, Michigan, and reared in Elkhart, Indiana. His parents were Thomas Gleason Davis, an early railroad builder, and Isabelle McWhorter Davis. Will J. Davis served as a paymaster's clerk under Union Admiral David Porter during the Civil War. Thereafter, he was engaged in the store of a country merchant, and came to Chicago as clerk in the office of a LaSalle Street broker. From 1869 to 1873, he served as U.S. Revenue Officer at Natchez, Mississippi.

Davis returned to Chicago to stay in 1873, intermittently serving in several capacities with the Lake Shore Railway prior to settling into work in theatrical management. First he was a successful theatrical tour manager and later, at various times, was associated with the Grand Opera House, the American Opera Company, the Haverly Theater, the Columbia Theatre, the Haymarket Theater, the Illinois Theater, and the Iroquois Theater. In 1880, he married opera singer Jessie Bartlett. Their son who survived them was William Jesse Davis.

Davis managed the Columbia Theatre, which burned on March 30, 1900. He also was involved in the construction and management of the Illinois Theater and the Iroquois Theater. The Iroquois Theater burned with great loss of life on Dec. 30, 1903, only about a month after its opening, despite being advertised as fireproof. Davis was charged with manslaughter and was acquitted at his trial in February 1905. In May of the same year, his wife died from an unexpected illness. In 1907, he married Mary Ellen O'Hagen (name sometimes spelled "O'Hagan"), and in 1914 he retired from theater management to his Willowdale Farm in Crown Point, Indiana. He died in May 1919.

Summary description of the collection:

Primarily correspondence plus reports, newspaper clippings, receipts, play bills, and legal documents of William J. Davis, Chicago theater manager, most concerning his work as manager for several prominent Chicago theaters such as the Grand Opera House, Columbia Theatre, Illinois Theater, and Iroquois Theater. Letters were received from many theatrical companies and producers, such as Klaw & Erlanger. The collection also includes many condolence letters after the Iroquois Theater fire (1903) and after the death of his first wife, Jesse Bartlett Davis (1905). Letters to Mary Ellen Davis, his second wife, are included ca. 1920-1937. Some additional items relate to the Iroquois Theater fire and Davis' subsequent trial and acquittal on manslaughter charges. Miscellaneous materials include weekly theater reports, expense reports, etc., and materials relating to the Friar's Club roast of Davis.

Please note: Names in the collection may be confusing. The family included several men named William J. Davis and called Will or Willie. William James Davis (1844-1919) was often called Will J. Davis and his son, William Jesse Davis was sometimes called William J. Davis, Jr. Jessie Bartlett Davis had two sisters who became singers: Arabella Bartlett (1855-1874) and Josephine Bartlett Perry (1859-1910). Jessie Bartlett Davis's niece also became a singer. She was Belle Bartlett (1879-1901).

Description of some materials related to the collection:

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the William J. Davis, Will J. Davis, and family photograph collection (2007.0124); additional photographs in the William J. Davis family photographs (2002.0058); and photographic portraits of family members in composite collections, filed by name. Related manuscript materials include the Chicago fire narrative by William J. Davis; the William J. Davis papers; and the William J. Davis family items [manuscript]. There also are separately cataloged items under Davis's name, including the "Scrapbook of clippings on the appearances of the Chicago Church Choir Company in Pinafore, 1879," which Davis compiled. There also are materials donated by the estate of William J. Davis that are cataloged separately, including the Napoleon B. Bartlett letters, 1864; and the Henry Warren papers, 1846-1858 (collected by Davis).

List of online catalog headings:

The following index headings for this collection were entered in the online catalog.

Subjects:

Davis, William James, 1844-1919--Archives.

Bartlett, Belle, 1879-1901

Davis, Jessie Bartlett, 1859-1905.

Davis, Will J.

Frohman, Charles.

Hayman, Al.

Nixon, Samuel F.

Zimmerman, Fred.

Carleton English Opera Company

Chicago Ideal Company

Columbia Theatre (Chicago, Ill.)--Fire, 1900.

Iroquois Theater (Chicago, Ill.)--Fire, 1903.

Klaw & Erlanger

Actions and defenses--Illinois--Chicago.

Concerts--United States.

Concerts--England.

Fires--Illinois--Chicago.

Mourning customs--Illinois--Chicago.

Opera--Illinois--Chicago.

Theater--Illinois--Chicago.

Theatrical managers--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.

Theatrical managers--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Trials--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Women singers--United States.

Chicago (Ill.)--Intellectual life--19th century.

Chicago (Ill.)--Social life and customs--19th century.

Chicago (Ill.)--Social life and customs--20th century.

Form/genre:

Correspondence.

Legal documents.

Newspaper clippings.

Playbills.

Receipts.

Reports.

Added entries:

Bartlett, Belle, 1879-1901.

Davis, Jessie Bartlett, 1859-1905.

Hayman, Al.

Klaw & Erlanger

Carleton English Opera Company

Chicago Ideal Company

Arrangement of the collection:

Series 1. General correspondence, 1876-1937 (box 1-8)

Series 2. Iroquois Theater fire condolence correspondence, 1903-1904 (box 9)

Series 3. Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence, 1905 (box 10)

Series 4. Non correspondence materials, (box 11-12)

Detailed description of the archival series of the collection:

Series 1. General correspondence, 1876-1937 (box 1-8)

Series 1 consists of correspondence relating to both Davis's professional role as a theater manager for, at various times, the Grand Opera House, Columbia Theatre, Illinois Theater, and Iroquois Theater, and his personal life. There are a large number of letters received from a number of different theatrical companies and producers, such as Klaw & Erlanger (which in 1896 joined with Al Hayman, Charles Frohman, Samuel F. Nixon, and Fred Zimmerman to form the Theatrical Syndicate). There is also correspondence relating to the Columbia Theatre fire that occurred on March 30, 1900. Additionally, there is correspondence sent to Mary Ellen Davis, his second wife, from 1920 to 1937.

Series 2. Iroquois Theater fire condolence correspondence, 1903-1904 (box 9)

Series 2 contains correspondence sent to Davis in the aftermath of the Iroquois Theater fire, which occurred on December 30, 1903. There are also the letters of congratulations sent to Davis when he was acquitted on the charge of manslaughter.

Series 3. Jessie Bartlett Davis condolence correspondence, 1905 (box 10)

Series 3 contains correspondence that was sent to Davis about the death of his wife, Jessie Bartlett Davis, who died in May 1905. The Davis' son, William Jesse Davis, was affectionately called Willie in some letters.

Series 4. Non-correspondence materials, (box 11-12)

Series 4 includes newspaper clippings, expense reports, play bills, maps; legal documents such as leases, sales of lots for the Iroquois Theater, and court documents; hotel bills, picnic invitations, furniture advertisements, and receipts.

List of contents of the collection:

Series 1. General correspondence, 1876-1937

Box 1

Folders:

1-2 General correspondence: 1876-1889

3 General correspondence: 1885

4-5 General correspondence: 1886

6 General correspondence: 1891-1893 Al Hayman

7 General correspondence: 1893-1894 Al Hayman

8 General correspondence: 1884 Al Hayman

9 General correspondence: 1885-1896 Al Hayman

Box 2

Folders:

1 General correspondence: 1900-1901 A

2 General correspondence: 1900-1901 B

3 General correspondence: 1900-1901 C

4 General correspondence: 1900-1901 D

5 General correspondence: 1900-1901 E

6 General correspondence: 1900-1901 F

7 General correspondence: 1900-1901 G

8-11 General correspondence: 1900-1901 H

12 General correspondence: 1900-1901 I

13 General correspondence: 1900-1901 J

14 General correspondence: 1900-1901 K

15 General correspondence: 1900-1901 L

16 General correspondence: 1900-1901 M

17 General correspondence: 1900-1901 N

18 General correspondence: 1900-1901 O-P

19 General correspondence: 1900-1901 R-S

20 General correspondence: 1900-1901 T

21 General correspondence: 1900-1901 U-V

22 General correspondence: 1900-1901 W

23 General correspondence: 1900-1901 Z

Box 3

Folders:

1 General correspondence: 1902 A-B

2 General correspondence: 1902 C-D

3 General correspondence: 1902 E

4 General correspondence: 1902 F

5 General correspondence: 1902 G

6 General correspondence: 1902 H

7 General correspondence: 1902 I

8 General correspondence: 1902 J

9 General correspondence: 1902 K

10 General correspondence: 1902 L

11 General correspondence: 1902 M

12 General correspondence: 1902 N

13 General correspondence: 1902 P

14 General correspondence: 1902 R

15 General correspondence: 1902 S

16 General correspondence: 1902 T

17 General correspondence: 1902 W

18 General correspondence: 1902 Z

Box 4

Folders:

1 General correspondence: 1903 A

2 General correspondence: 1903 B

3 General correspondence: 1903 C

4 General correspondence: 1903 D

5-6 General correspondence: 1903 E

7 General correspondence: 1903 F

8 General correspondence: 1903 G

9 General correspondence: 1903 H

10 General correspondence: 1903 I

11 General correspondence: 1903 J

12 General correspondence: 1903 K

13 General correspondence: 1903 L

14 General correspondence: 1903 M

15-16 General correspondence: 1903 N

17 General correspondence: 1903 P

18 General correspondence: 1903 R

19 General correspondence: 1903 S

20 General correspondence: 1903 T

21 General correspondence: 1903 V

22 General correspondence: 1903 W-Z

Box 5

Folders:

1 General correspondence: 1904-1906 A-B

2 General correspondence: 1904-1906 C-D

3-4 General correspondence: 1904-1906 E

5 General correspondence: 1904-1906 F

6 General correspondence: 1904-1906 G

7 General correspondence: 1904-1906 H

8 General correspondence: 1904-1906 J

9 General correspondence: 1904-1906 K

10 General correspondence: 1904-1906 L

11 General correspondence: 1904-1906 M

12-13 General correspondence: 1904-1906 N

14-15 General correspondence: 1904-1906 O-P

16 General correspondence: 1904-1906 R

17 General correspondence: 1904-1906 S

18 General correspondence: 1904-1906 T-V

19 General correspondence: 1904-1906 W-Z

Box 6

Folders:

1 General correspondence: 1907

2 General correspondence: 1908

3-4 General correspondence: 1909

5 General correspondence: 1910

6-8 General correspondence: 1911

9-11 General correspondence: 1912

Box 7

Folders:

1 General correspondence: 1913

2 General correspondence: 1914

3 General correspondence: 1915

4 General correspondence: 1916

5 General correspondence: 1918

6 General correspondence: 1919

7 General correspondence: 1920

8 General correspondence: 1921

9 General correspondence: 1922

10 General correspondence: 1923-1924

11 General correspondence: 1925

12 General correspondence: 1926-1930

13 General correspondence; 1931-1934

14 General correspondence: 1935-1937

Box 8

Folders:

1-5 General correspondence: undated

Series 2. Iroquois Theater fire condolence correspondence, 1903-1904

Box 9

Folders:

1-2 Iroquois Theater fire condolence correspondence: 1903

3-5 Iroquois Theater fire condolence correspondence: 1904

6 Iroquois Theater fire condolence correspondence: 1905

7 Iroquois Theater fire condolence correspondence: undated

Series 3. Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence, 1905

Box 10

Folders:

1 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 A

2 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 B

3 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 C

4 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 D

5 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 E

6 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 F

7 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 G

8 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 H

9 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 I

10 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 J

11 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 K

12 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 L

13 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 M

14 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 N

15 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 O

16 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 P

17 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 R

18 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 S

19 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 T

20 Jessie Bartlett condolence correspondence: 1905 U-Z

Series 4. Non-correspondence materials

Box 11

Folders:

1-5 Non-correspondence material

Box 12

Folders:

6-11 Non-correspondence material