Rare Book & Manuscript Library
 

Gay-Otis family papers, 1740-1900

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.: MS#0476
Bib ID 4078802 View CLIO record
Creator(s) Gay Family
Title Gay-Otis family papers, 1740-1900
Physical Description 33 linear feet (66 boxes)
Language(s) English .
Access You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into four series.

Description

Summary

Personal, business, and legal letters; manuscripts including prose, poetry, and diaries; and documents including deeds, receipts, invoices, and account books. The 18th century materials focus on the personal and business correspondence of Calvin, Jotham, and Martin Gay, sons of Ebenezer Gay who were engaged in shipping between New England and the Maritime Provinces. There are occasional letters of Jotham and Martin referring to the American Revolution. The Otis family correspondence of the 18th century, likewise, is of a purely routine and personal nature. There are only four letters of Col. James Otis, and only two of his son, James. Gay and Otis family interests intertwine during the 19th century with the marriage of Mary Allyne Otis to Ebenezer Gay, who are among the chief correspondents of this century, along with their children including Sidney Howard Gay and Winckworth Allan Gay. The Otis correspondence centers around business, real estate, and personal interests of Mary A. Otis Gay's brothers John, Joseph, and William Otis.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Gay-Otis family papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--07/01/53. Accession number--M-53-07-01.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 06/--/89.

Revision Description

2009-07-07 File created.

2014-06-13 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Account books Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Diaries Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Poems Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

Subject

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Authors, American Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Families -- Massachusetts -- Dedham Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Families -- Massachusetts -- Hingham Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Gay, Calvin Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Gay, Ebenezer, 1696-1787 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Gay, Ebenezer, 1771-1842 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Gay, John Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Gay, Jotham, 1764-1785 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Gay, Martin, 1950- Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Gay, Mary Allyne Otis Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Gay, Sydney Howard, 1814-1888 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Gay, Winckworth Allan Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Journalists Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Landscape painters Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
New England -- Commerce Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
New England -- Social life and customs Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Otis, James, 1702-1778 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Otis, James, 1725-1783 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Otis, John Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Otis, Joseph Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Otis, William Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Painters Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Real property -- New England Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Shipping -- Maritime Provinces Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Shipping -- New England Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Two important New England families whose British ancestors settled in Massachusetts during the second quarter of the 17th century. Members of the two families include John Gay, a founder of Dedham, Mass., 1635; John Otis, a founder of Hingham, Mass, 1636; Rev. Ebenezer Gay (1696-1787), his sons Calvin, Jotham, and Martin; Col. James Otis (1702-1778), his son James, the patriot (1725-1783); Ebenezer Gay (1771-1842), his wife Mary Allyne Otis Gay, and their children who include Sidney Howard Gay, the journalist and author, and Winckworth Allan Gay, the landscape painter; and Mary A. Otis Gay's brothers John, Joseph, and William Otis.