Charles Wilberforce Ames was born in Minneapolis, June 30, 1855, the
son of Charles Gordon Ames and Sarah Daniels Ames. He was educated at Albany
Academy (Albany, New York) and public schools in California. He graduated from
Cornell University in 1878. After working in San Jose, California as an
apprentice printer, he returned to Minnesota where he worked as a railroad
surveyor. He later assisted his father in editing and publishing the
He became very active in the educational, civic, religious, and cultural life of St. Paul and Minnesota. Among his many projects were the founding of the St. Paul Institute, Loomis School, St. Paul Academy, and the Informal Club.
Ames married Mary Lesley in 1883. She was the daughter of Peter (J. Peter) and Susan Lyman Lesley. Mary Lesley Ames became active in many social welfare projects concerning women and children. In May 1915 the St. Paul Branch of the Fatherless Children of France was started and its headquarters were in the Ames house. Later, the American Fund for French Wounded was likewise headquartered there. Charles W., his daughters Elizabeth, Alice, and Margaret, and his son Theodore all worked in France with the organization.
During World War II Elizabeth Ames Jackson and Margaret Ames Wright carried on the tradition of extending help with money and clothes to the people of France and England through the American Friends of France and the British War Relief Society, Inc. These organizations were again headquartered in the Ames home. Over 72,000 garments were made or refurbished and sent to England.
Charles and Mary Ames had six children: Charles Lesley, Margaret, Catharine, Alice, Elizabeth, and Theodore Gordon.
The Ames family papers include correspondence, subject files, minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, printed materials, legal papers, scrapbooks, card files, and newsletters documenting family activities, especially involvement in a number of business, charitable, and religious organizations.
Records of several international war relief organizations are also included, especially the American Fund for French Wounded (1915-1919), British War Relief Society (1939-1949), and Fatherless Children of France (1917-1940). Records of local organizations in which Ames family members participated include the Informal Club, National Nonpartisan League (1917-1920), Minnesota Commission of Public Safety (1917-1919), Saint Paul Institute (1907-1981), Unity Church (Saint Paul, Minn., 1881-1984), West Publishing Company (1882-1920), as well as other smaller organizations.
Subjects documented in the papers include education (adult, art, and technical); children and war; refugees and war relief; mines and ranching; law book publishing; communism in the United States; amateur theatricals; civic, cultural, and religious activities in St. Paul; and the Ames family.
Principal correspondents include Charles Gordon Ames, Charles W. Ames, Mary Lesley Ames, Peyton Boyle, Homer Clark, C. O. Erbaugh, Alice Gardiner, Norris D. Jackson, Isabel Lathrop, Elizabeth McGregor, Anne Morgan, Elizabeth Scarborough, Horatio D. West, and Eliza Orme White.
These documents are organized into the following sections:
Accession numbers: 14,515; 14,644
Processed by: Bonnie Beatson Palmquist, August 1992
Catalog ID number: 09-00038392
The correspondence files (1861-1986) concern several generations of the Ames and Lesley families. Principal correspondents include Charles Gordon Ames, Charles Lesley Ames, Samuel McCord Crothers, Archibald Howe, John Norris Jackson, Norris Dean Jackson, Joseph Lesley, Susan Lyman Lesley, and Bronson Murray. The correspondence relates to family and religious activities, the publishing of Susan Lyman Lesley's book, and to the civic, cultural, and charitable organizations actively supported by Ames family members.
Biographical sketches of Charles W. Ames and miscellaneous material on members of the Ames family.
Information about the family of Sarah Jane Daniels (1826-1861), mother of Charles W. Ames. Many of the letters are from Ames' uncle, Rev. J. H. Daniels.
Mary Ann was the sister-in-law of Charles G. Ames. The diary records the death of her sister, Maria Daniels Gerhard, in August 1847.
Photographs of members of the Ames, Jackson, Lesley, and Turner families; three large photographs of a children's play; rolled photograph of the West Employees Club in the St. Paul Winter Carnival; and a large portrait of Mary Leslie Ames.
Reflects his years at Princeton, his WWI service, and his early fatherhood. Includes a few photographs of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Mainly photographs of the Ames children and 501 Grand Ave. residence.
Found in a file marked "Letters to be destroyed a little later, by Mary Lesley Ames, Feb. 12, 1929." Most are letters of the Lesley family.
Letters found loose and arranged into a chronological file. Subjects include routine family matters; Charles W. Ames' illness (1875); West Publishing Company stock held in family members' names; civic matters; the state capitol (1906); a roster of the Minnesota Club (1907); a reminiscence of Charles Gordon Ames (1908); a letter (1909) from Charles G. Ames about his speech in Cincinnati (1863): "Stand by the President"; hours of work by female employees (1911); support of Piney Woods Country Life School (1915); and dedication of a song to Ames by Leopold Bruenner (1916).
Correspondence about Ames' book,
Letters to his father, Charles W. Ames.
A memoir (69 pp.) written in 1947 and 1949 in which he describes his childhood, education, military service before and during World War I, his association with West Publishing Company, and his travels in India.
Correspondence relating to her 90th birthday.
Bangs was a cousin.
Mainly letters to Mary Lesley Ames from a relative and clergyman.
Mainly letters to Susan Lyman (Mrs. J. Peter) Lesley and later to Mary and Charles Ames.
A letter from her brother Ted (1926) and letters found loose in the British War Relief Society records.
A marriage certificate (1858) between John W. Jackson and Lucy M. Norris, marriage certificate between John N. Jackson and Alice M. Dean (1888), and letters to Jackson from Charles Lempriere (from England) and his mother, Mrs. Frederick Driscoll.
Contracts, labor relations notes (1939-1942), retail clerks union material (1936-1939), family material (undated and 1930, 1986), and business-related photographs of a labor negotiator and, later, an executive with Northwest Airlines, Inc. Includes some family material, record of wedding gifts, letters from Betty Ames Jackson, a speech at the Informal Club (1950) and materials from a family reunion (1986).
Letters from Ralph Waldo Emerson and his family to Joseph Lesley and, later, to Susan Lyman Lesley.
[A.L.S.]
[A.L.S.]
[A.L.S.]
[A.L.S.]
General use photocopies of letters from Ralph Waldo Emerson and his family to Joseph Lesley and, later, to Susan Lyman Lesley. The originals are filed in Res. 22 (see fuller description above).
Family correspondence and correspondence about publication of
her book,
Letters to Susan Lesley.
A writer and friend of Mary Lesley Ames.
Correspondence found loose in the British War Relief Society records [q.v.].
Fragment of a file kept by C. W. Ames that contains both incoming and outgoing letters on civic, cultural, and personal subjects of local and national significance. Includes separate files for Herbert Putnam (Library of Congress), Salvation Army, C. R. Rockwell (Rockwell rented a Lesley house in Milton, Massachusetts), and Congressman Frederick C. Stevens. Other files concern James Brown Scott of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Tuskegee Institute (Ames visited it in 1898), 1908-1916; University Club, 1911-1916; Thomas Wann of the Northwestern Trust Company, 1911; Alfred T. White, builder of low income housing, 1911-1918; and the White Bear Yacht Club, 1912-1916.
These C. W. Ames files were retained in the arrangement received. Includes an alphabetical index to the files. The researcher should consult other sections of the inventory for additional material on these topics.
SEE ALSO: separate series in the Organizational Records section.
Benefit for American Fund for French Wounded.
[
SEE ALSO: separate series in the Organizational Records section.
SEE ALSO: separate series in the Organizational Records section.
SEE ALSO: separate series in the Organizational Records section.
Correspondence and court briefs relating to a ranch in Wyoming owned by Ames, Warren Delano, and C. O. Erbaugh.
Includes letters to his father, C. W. Ames.
SEE ALSO: American Fund for French Wounded.
Maurice Boyer.
Most files have an index to correspondents in each folder. Mainly for the years 1919-1921.
Correspondence, files on "special cases," essays and reports, expenses and lists, legislative bills in North Dakota, newspaper clippings, and printed material relating to the Nonpartisan League. Charles W. Ames was a member of the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety, which opposed the League. He believed the League to be a "nefarious conspiracy against the welfare and the unity of the American people."
Photographs, correspondence, and invoices relating to an addition to the Ames house.
Letters, programs, printed material, and photographs collected while a student at Cornell.
Uncorrected copies of letters from Europe. Mary Lesley Ames edited her father's letters.
Organizational records and subject files include minutes, correspondence and memoranda, newspaper clippings, newsletters, printed material, and miscellaneous papers relating to the Ames family's special interests. These organizations include: American Fund for French Wounded (1915-1919), British War Relief Society, Inc. (1939-1949), Fatherless Children of France (1917-1940), Informal Club (1903-1921), Minnesota Commission of Public Safety (1917-1919), Miss Loomis School (1903-1915), Northern Blau Gas Company (1913-1919), St. Paul Institute of Science and Letters (1907-1981), Unity Church (1881-1984), West Publishing Company (1882-1920), and Winter and Ames Company (1899-1911). Other misellaneous subject files complete this section.
Articles of incorporation, minutes, weekly and monthly bulletins, treasurer's reports, subject files, membership information, correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, printed material, card files, and circulars relating to a national organization that sent medical supplies, volunteer help, and money to French civilians and military personnel. The St. Paul branch was started in May 1915, with its headquarters in the Ames house at 501 Grand Avenue. Several St. Paul Branch people worked in France, including Charles W. Ames; his daughters Margaret, Alice, and Elizabeth; and his son Theodore. Included is a history of the St. Paul Branch by Mary Lesley Ames.
The correspondence includes letters of national committee members Isabel Lathrop, Anne Paul Nevin, Elizabeth Scarborough, and others, as well as letters of Elizabeth McGregor (St. Paul) describing her work as a doctor in France. The volumes include financial and work records (1915-1918), record book for circles doing war work, and Alice Ames' recipe book (1916-1918) and box content record book. The photographs depict work in the hospitals, women mechanics, and informal scenes. The card files list money and material received from individuals and circles.
Includes minutes.
Correspondence related to its showings.
Includes final report of the St. Paul branch.
Numbers 1-24; missing 10, 11, 13, and 15.
Numbers 1-34, 67-82; missing issues in both segments.
Numbers 3, 5.
Membership and contributions.
This organization was a continuation of the American Fund for French Wounded's efforts on behalf of French refugees. Edith Bangs was the principal correspondent.
The local committee of the British War Relief Society was begun in May 1940 with headquarters at 501 and 511 Grand Avenue in St. Paul. During the summer activities were at Summit School in St. Paul. These activities included cutting, sewing, knitting, refurbishing used clothing, and packing for shipment to England. Other groups were started in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Duluth. The men's committee operated for two years raising money for materials and for contributions to the fund for overseas projects, including relief in blitz areas, mobile canteens, ambulances, hospitals, rest homes, homes for the aged and children, vegetable seeds, aid to prisoners of war, and European refugees in England. A downtown shop which sold BWRS merchandise also contributed income. Local dry cleaners cleaned, without charge, several thousand used garments and a local box manufacturer supplied boxes wholesale. A total of 72,000 garments were sent to England.
Correspondence with A. B. Grant of the national headquarters, with local participants, with committee members, and two first-hand descriptions of the fall of Paris. Material is not in chronological order within folders.
Most of the letters are from England and Scotland; later letters are primarily from Holland, but also from other countries. Many were never opened. They were written in response to the identification tags attached to clothing and the comfort bags that included toilet articles. The letters detail individual accounts of the recipients' experiences in bombed-out areas, the distribution of gifts to children of prisoners of war, and distribution centers in England and Scotland.
Includes correspondence, photographs used in exhibits, and list of volunteers and sales.
Reports from London sent to Mr. Delander and Margaret Wright of the St. Paul office. The letters detail the activities and support for projects sponsored by the BWRS and contain many descriptions of people and places.
Correspondence with, and printed material of, a junior division of the BWRS.
Incomplete series.
Incomplete series.
From the New York office.
Interior view of workshop at 501 Grand Ave.; Gracie Fields with 2 girls; Mrs. Cole (?) with British sailor; and four small unidentified photographs showing two women with articles made at workshop.
Includes names and articles made.
Articles completed; alphabetical by unit.
Mary Lesley Ames was chairperson; contains minutes, newspaper clippings, and correspondence of the organization.
Articles of incorporation, correspondence, photographs, reports, and printed material relating to an organization dedicated to the relief of French soldiers' children. Charles W. and Mary Lesley Ames provided monetary support for 30 children, and other St. Paul families did the same. The series contain correspondence, printed material, and individual children's files. Most of the children's files contain notecards with dates of children's letters and the Ames replies, photographs, and reports of field agents. Most letters are from 1920-1932. Whereabouts of the earlier letters is unknown. Margaret Ames Wright recorded later additions. Many of the letters are in French.
Correspondence and printed material relating to a civic club formed to foster "good fellowship and tolerant discussion." Speakers discussed a wide range of issues and interests.
These files were retained in the order received from the donor. The commission was organized after U.S. entry into WWI to protect Minnesota people and property--especially from un-Americanized aliens--and to otherwise support the war effort on the home front. Charles W. Ames was appointed a member of the commission and served from April to December 1917. Ames resigned from the commission after a dispute involving arbitration during the strike against the Twin City Rapid Transit Company. He was later appointed a special investigator for the commission. The files are mainly from 1917 and contain correspondence and/or newspaper clippings.
Also includes the foreign language press in U.S.
"IWW Row."
Folder note: "CWA or Tighe has Parts I & III."
Patriotic handbook.
General newspaper comments on activites.
Translated into German.
Reports and activities in other states.
Investigative reports made for the Commission on subversive activities and speeches.
Correspondence, legal papers, contracts, and list of subscribers for a new school for boys on Holly Avenue in St. Paul. The school was operated by Annie and Elizabeth Loomis. The school later became the St. Paul Academy and Summit School.
Correspondence (1914-1919), monthly operating statements (1914-1917), and ledger statements (1913-1917) relating to a light oils and tar business of which Ames was a director.
The St. Paul Institute was the forerunner of the Science Museum of Minnesota. Charles W. Ames was a founder and first president of what he called "the people's university." It offered courses and lectures on hygiene and sanitation, an elementary and graded night school, a technical school, a teachers' professional school, and fine arts and industrial arts classes. The name was changed to St. Paul Institute of Arts and Science in 1908 and, in 1910, to the St. Paul Institute. By 1932, the Institute added "of General and Applied Sciences" to its name to reflect the growing emphasis on its scientific collections. In 1935 it became the St. Paul Institute; in 1965 the name "The Science Museum" was made official.
The records include articles of incorporation, correspondence, course offerings, newspaper clippings, audio cassettes, and printed material. The bulk (1907-1919) concern Charles Ames' efforts in support of, and involvement with, the institution. There is correspondence with director Jessie W. Seymour (1912-1919), as well as correspondence with board members and supporters.
A more detailed history can be found in Inez Roach,
History of the Science Museum; includes two audio cassettes.
Correspondence and miscellaneous papers relating to the museum. Includes some minutes from the 1940s and the opening of the new building in 1978.
Correspondence, flyers, and scripts (printed and holograph) of various plays and musicals Ames both wrote and was otherwise associated with.
Charles W. Ames was interested in presenting entertainments, and wrote and directed several "Wax Shows."
Articles of incorporation, treasurer's reports (1892-1971, incomplete series), membership lists (1891-1912), correspondence with Rev. Richard Boynton and Rev. William Lord, a speech of Rev. Samuel M. Crothers (1902), ground breaking and dedication of the new church (1905), Layman's League (1902, 1919), Unity study club and musical offerings (1885-1904), photographs, and miscellaneous material of Unity Church (Unitarian) of St. Paul. The bulk of the material is from 1890s-1919.
Histories, annual statements (1886-1904), employees' club (1888-1919), financial information for capitalization (1886, 1898), correspondence with West officials (Peyton Boyle, Arthur Bradley, Homer P. Clark, Samuel Hill, William Strong, Horatio and John West), advertising samples, and printed material of a St. Paul law book publishing company.
Includes history of West Publishing Company.
Includes newsletters for traveling salesmen,
Correspondence and some financial information of a Minneapolis grain company. T. G. Winter was Charles Ames' brother-in-law.
Annual report.
Ames was a member of the reception committee when the organization came to St. Paul.
Articles of incorporation.
Includes list of English and Scottish war brides in St. Paul area.
Mary Lesley Ames was president. Includes minutes and programs, 1912-1913.
Theodore Ames was a member of the club, which included boys from the Crocus Hill area. Includes minutes and rosters.
Correspondence with C. N. B. Wheeler and one letter (1920) from John DeQ. Briggs; miscellaneous material and one photograph from 1940s; and information from a dinner honoring donors, 1980.
Correspondence and printed material relating to Mary Lesley Ames' membership on the committee.
Articles of incorporation, membership lists, programs, and miscellaneous papers.
Includes a prospectus for the 1906-1907 season, seating chart for the St. Paul Auditorium, and miscellaneous papers.
Elizabeth Ames Jackson was a member of the committee that operated the center. The folder includes minutes, chaperons list, correspondence, hostess lists, and miscellaneous papers.
Court of Hustings directive (1842), correspondence (1856, 1860-1864), and ledger sheets (1862, 1863) relating to two slave markets (E. H. Stokes, and Dickinson and Hill) in Richmond. The papers were given to Charles W. Ames by Maria Cary.
Annual convention material, newspaper clippings, and speech notes of Charles W. Ames who was toastmaster in 1906 of this organization of printers.
The St. Paul committee had headquarters in the International Institute. Elizabeth Ames Jackson and Margaret Ames Wright volunteered to have Charles Morrison, an English refugee, live with them for the duration of the war. Includes a photograph of Morrison.