William Walker Rockwell papers

1883-1945 [bulk 1920s-1930s]

The papers of William Walker Rockwell are arranged in six series: general correspondence, 1901-1911; investment papers, 1909-1943; organizational papers, 1907-1938; lecture preparation material, 1914-1921; papers of Ethel Dean Converse Rockwell, 1909-1936 and Rockwell - Dowse family genealogical papers, 1883-1929.

Mr. Rockwell's general correspondence, mostly incoming and in rough alphabetical order, contains much personal correspondence (including some letters from Ethel and a wide range of other family members); correspondence relating to The American Society of Church History and it selections (including notes for and of meetings); correspondence with E. Milton Jones of the Columbia University Press relating to The Encyclopedia Britannica, of which Rockwell was a contributor. In addition to correspondence the papers often include business and insurance material, announcements, receipts, invitations, ephemera related to research books and much misc. printed matter. There are numerous letters (incoming and outgoing) about the renting and maintenance of his summer cottage in Vermont. The series ends with material (articles, press clippings and pamphlets) relating to Ethel Rockwell and her death; also a multitude of letters of condolence to Rockwell and his daughter Dorothy.

Within the general correspondence is a telegram sent to Rockwell by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1909.

The investment papers are arranged alphabetically. They consist of correspondence (incoming/outgoing), most of which is to and from Allan D. Converse - Rockwell's investment broker and brother-in-law; company reports, circulars, pamphlets and articles on wise investing.

The organizational papers are Rockwell's files of some of the different organizations of which he was a member. There are documents relating to the Manhattan Congregational Church, to which Rockwell was appointed a trustee along with several other positions he held on different committees; The League of Nations Nonpartisan Association which wanted both the Republican and Democratic parties to favor the entrance of the U. S. into the League of Nations; the Committee of Direction on the Relation of Church and State that did an extensive study on the correlation between church and state; the Committee on Religious Liberty which did a project on religious liberty; American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief which became Near East Relief; correspondence dealing with the creation of the American Encyclopedia of Christianity, of which Rockwell was an editor; The Mediaeval Academy of America, a committee to encourage mediaeval studies.

Dr. Rockwell's files include correspondence (incoming/outgoing) relating to different aspects of each organization or committee, reports, minutes, clippings, pamphlets, notes of telephone conversations and much misc. printed matter.

The lecture preparation material, primarily for Sunday School, include notes, course outlines, reading lists, correspondence concerning lectures in church history and ephemera about research books.

Ethel Dean Converse Rockwell's general correspondence (mostly incoming and other than one folder, not in order) consists primarily of correspondence about Radcliffe, its alumni and endowment fund; personal correspondence; Y. M. C. A. related reports and minutes; misc. receipts, clippings, etc.

Mrs. Rockwell's estate papers, of which William was the executor, contain correspondence with Allan Converse relating to Ethel's investments; correspondence related to taxes on her estate; bank statements; canceled checks and much correspondence between William Rockwell and William L. Rumsey (their lawyer) concerning the validity of Ethel's will.

The Rockwell - Dowse family papers are an accumulation of genealogical information for publication purposes. They include correspondence, biographical information, clippings and obituaries.