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Creator
Mills, Abraham Gilbert, 1844-1929
Call number
MssCol 2006
Physical description
8.8 linear feet (11 boxes, 1 package)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Abraham G. Mills papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Abraham Gilbert Mills (1844-1929) was a New Yorker who worked as Chief Clerk for the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury Dept. and then entered the elevator business where he became a vice-president of the Otis Elevator Company. Mills, who was interested in amateur and professional sports, served as president of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs from 1882 to 1884, was a supporter of the American Olympic movement, and was a member and officer of the New York Athletic Club. Having served in the Civil War, he became active in veterans organizations, particularly the Grand Army of the Republic. Collection consists of correspondence, diaries, artifacts, and printed matter documenting most aspects of Mills's life. Bulk of collection is personal and business correspondence, 1874-1929. There are two diaries, 1871-1872 and 1885, as well as letters, documents and clippings relating to the N.Y. Athletic Club, the Otis Elevator Co., baseball, the Adirondack League Club, and the Grand Army of the Republic. Also, news clippings, visual materials, artifacts, certificates, and printed ephemera.

Biographical/historical information

Abraham G. Mills (1844-1929) was a New Yorker who worked as Chief Clerk for the Supervising Architect of the U. S. Treasury department and then entered the elevator business where he became a vice-president of the Otis Elevator Company. Mills, who was interested in amateur and professional sports, served President of the National Base Ball-League (1882-1884), was a supporter of the American Olympic movement, and was a member and officer of the New York Athletic Club. Having served in the Civil War, he became active in veteran's organizations, particularly the Grant Army of the Republic.

The papers document most aspects of Mills' life. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence (including four letters from Samuel L. Clemens) and 62 volumes of letterbooks containing personal and business letters (1874-1911) There are two diaries (1871-8372, 1885) as well as letters, documents, and clippings relating to the N. Y. Athletic Club, the Otis Elevator Co., baseball, the Adirondack League Club, and the Grand Army of the Republic. News Clippings, visual materials, artifacts, certificates, and printed ephemera comprise the rest of the collection.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

1933-1935, Received from Mary Mills Lyall

Processing information

4/3/82

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328