As the Colles Family papers are arranged into 6 subgroups with one group for each of the family members, it seems necessary to provide a brief biographical sketch for each Colles as well as a short commentary on their home, " The Evergreens".
James Colles (1788-1883) married Harriet Augusta Wetmore in 1821. Prior to moving to Morristown, they lived in New Orleans where James and his partner were successful importers. James and Harriet produced seven children, though two did not reach five years of age. The children included Harriet Augusta (1822-1863), Mary Gertrude (1824-1828), Frances (1826-1888), James (1828-?), John Henry (1831-1871), George (1834-1836) and George Wetmore (1836-1911).
In 1832, James Colles and James Lovell bought General Doughty's house in Morristown but after a few years the brothers-in-law decided to divide the land. Soon thereafter, James and Harriet Colles decided to build a summer home (" The Evergreens") in Morristown because of the danger of Malaria in New Orleans. The house was completed in 1838. In 1840, James sold his business to his partner and moved to New York City, using the Morristown home in summers until eventually moving his family there permanently.
" The Evergreens" stood next to the present Maccullough Hall until it was moved to its present location at 25 Colles Avenue. The building is now the Kellogg Club, a private neighborhood association. The property was part of a large parcel of land situated in the town now bordered by Miller Road, Colles Avenue, Farragut Place, Wetmore Avenue, and along Mt. Kemble Avenue out to where the Morristown Memorial Hospital (MKD Division) is located.
George Wetmore Colles married Julia Keese Nelson (1840-1913) in 1867. A year after their marriage and the death of George's mother Harriet, Julia and George moved to Morristown to live with his father. In 1880, George was elected alderman in Morristown and on the death of his father James in 1884, he inherited a quarter of his father's estate. Two years later, George began subdividing the land and thereby created Colles Avenue and Farragut Place. Shortly after this, Julia and he separated and she retained custody of the children. He died in New York City in 1911.
Julia Keese Colles remained in Morristown. Her activities there reveal a great interest in the area and in the history of the state. In 1886, Julia Keese Colles saved the Arnold Tavern from being razed and had the historical building moved from the Green out to Mt. Kemble Avenue. It was later sold to the Assumption Church for its use as All Souls Hospital. In addition, Julia Keese Colles was a founder of the Women's Branch of the New Jersey Historical Society. She served on the genealogical committee from 1897 to 1898 and was elected a member of the society in 1891 and was made a life member in 1906. Julia Keese Colles was also well known as a lecturer and local author. Her book,
The first of Julia and George's three children was Gertrude Colles (1869-1957). After studying art at the Student's Art League in New York City as well as several schools in Paris between 1892 and 1894, Gertrude became a miniature portrait painter. One of her pictures of Jacob Miller was hung in the State House in Trenton in 1897. While she lived in New York City from 1894 to 1921, Gertrude maintained the Van Dyck art studio. She later returned so that the last years of her life were spent in Morristown, where she died in 1957. She had been the last remaining member of this branch of the family.
George Wetmore Colles, Jr. (1871? -1951) was an electrical and mechanical engineer. A graduate of Yale and the Stevens Institute of Technology , he spent much of his life in Washington, D. C. and in Rosharon, Texas where he owned a ranch and a water company.
Julia Nelson Colles (1876-1903), the youngest of the children, was named for her mother. She was a student of physics and graduated from Wellesley College, after which she obtained a position teaching at Smith College and while there she earned a Master's degree. Julia Nelson Colles was a doctoral candidate at Columbia and was teaching physics at Barnard College at the time of her death in 1903. She died following surgery at the Flower Hospital in New York City.
The Colles Family Papers represent a collection of letters and documents belonging to a family who resided in the Morristown area from the 1830s until 1957 (with the death of Gertrude Colles, the last remaining member of the family). The collection covers the years 1807 to 1946 with the bulk of the material falling between 1880-1913 and 1941-1946. The material from the 1890s reflects the most active period of lecturing, writing and publishing for Julia Keese Colles while the material from the 1940s demonstrates the active correspondence between Gertrude Colles and George Colles, Jr and indicates their keen interest in political affairs.
When they were donated, The Colles Family Papers, along with the companion collections of the Canfield/Phillips papers as well as the Wise Family papers, were among the total collection given to the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center of the Morristown and Morris Township Library by Gertrude Colles. Initially this collection was arranged by Mary Ann Gray who noted in the original version of this finding aid that ""the papers had been arranged to some extent by Gertrude in 1934, so that some of the series reflect her organization. However, the majority of the papers were in no particular order and had to be sorted and placed into their present series." In October of 2001, the arrangement was reviewed and revised by Abigail Leab Martin, as was the description in the form of the finding aid.
Please note that material was separated from the Colles Family Papers. In 1988, papers included within the original gift which were considered to more truly reflect the Canfield/ Philips family and Wise Family were separated and designated as manuscript collections in their own right under their own headings. In 2001, photographs of the family were removed to be kept as a group within the photographic collection of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
Legal Documents, 1839
This single item series consists of a mortgage for land in the Township of Wolcott, Wayne County, New York for which James Colles paid Albert Ogden.
Correspondence, 1843-1844
This series is comprised of letters received by James Colles, primarily those from George L. Browne concerning financial matters and a picture of the view of Florence. Arranged alphabetically by surname and then chronologically within each surname.
Financial and Legal Records, 1864, 1872, 1881, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1889
This series consists of documentation of the land purchased in Morristown as well as mortgages and deeds of sale for that land to others. Arranged chronologically.
Reports, 1848-1850, 1853, n.d.
Included are the report cards for George from the Classical, Mathematical and English School in Sing Sing, N. Y., a report of good conduct from University Grammar School in New York, N. Y. and the holograph envelope in which it was sent to James Colles. Arranged chronologically.
Map, Cover Letter and Unfinished Legal Agreement, 1884, [1885]
This series is comprised of a map indicating land owned by descendants of J. Colles in the city of New Orleans and a letter dated 1 Nov 1884 from A and C Denis concerning the land and the sending of the map.
Correspondence, 1876-1889
This series consists of letters from his cousin R. Coyle concerning "Confederate receivers" and a claim on the New Orleans property as well letters from his brother James concerning New Orleans and the Greenwood Cemetery. There are also copies of correspondence recieved. Arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each name.
Letters and Holograph Document Drafts, 1886-1888
This series consists of a map of the Colles land in Morristown, letters, drafts of petition and a newspaper clipping related to an attempt to induce the Morristown town government to repair and enlarge Mt. Kemble Avenue. Arranged chronologically.
Printed Scientific Papers, 1893-1894, 1896
This series consists of scientific papers authored by George Wetmore Colles, Jr. Several copies of each paper are present. The subjects include distance of the stars measured by Doppler's principle and the metric versus the duodecimal system. Some of the papers are inscribed, one to Gertrude, one to Julia Nelson and two generically. Arranged chronologically.
Papers and Publications related to the Rosharon Waterworks, 1941, n.d.
This series consists of two subseries: Newsletters and Notices.
Newsletters, n.d.
This subseries consists of newsletters created by George Wetmore Colles, Jr. while he owned the Rosharon Waterworks in Texas.
Notices, 1941
This single item subseries consists of a notice to subscribers of pre-construction contract written by George Wetmore Colles, Jr. while he owned the Rosharon Waterworks in Texas.
Correspondence, 1944
This single item series consists of a copy of a letter created by George Wetmore Colles, Jr. that was sent to the editor of Reader's Digest.
Invitations and cards, 1867
This series is comprised of the cards and invitations for the wedding of Julia Keese Nelson and George W. Colles, Jr.
Tracings from Family Prayerbooks, 1854, 1868
This series consists of Julia Keese Colles' maiden name signature and her father-in-law James Colles' signature traced from their prayerbooks. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1886-1913
This series consists of correspondence from family and friends, with occasional envelopes or clippings included. Letters of interest include those from the Canfield Family, as well as a letter from Robert M. LaFollette while serving as a Senator concerning the Indian Territory. Arranged first by family member and thereafter alphabetically by surname and chronologically within each surname.
Correspondence, 1891, 1905, n.d.
This series consists of copies of correspondence written by Julia Keese Colles. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1897, 1905, 1906
This series is comprised of two subseries: the New Jersey Historical Society subseries and the Woman's Union Mission Society subseries.
Correspondence, 1897, 1906
This subseries consists of correspondence received from the New Jersey Historical Society. Correspondence from 1897 concerns positions in the society and is signed by Ernest Coe as its Recording Secretary. Correspondence from 1906 informs Julia Keese Colles of her life membership in the New Jersey Historical Society. It is signed by Maud E. Johnson. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1905
This subseries is comprised of typed correspondence from J. L. Mudge concerning Society business. Correspondence is signed in type only. Arranged chronologically.
Material related to the Abbott Collegiate Association publications and events, 1902-1905, 1910, 1915, n.d.
This series consists of six subseries: the Abbott Memorial Book, the Annual Meetings, Constitution/By-Laws Leaflet, Correspondence, Invitations and Reports.
Holograph draft and book, n.d. [1902]
This subseries is comprised of an holograph draft of a section of the book entitled "Fourth Paper - the Sixth Location" and the complete published version.
Addresses and Publications, 1902-1905
This subseries is further broken down into two subsubseries: Addresses given at the Annual Meetings and Publications.
Speeches, 1902, 1904
This subsubseries consists of holograph and typed copies of addresses given at the Abbott Collegiate Association Annual Meetings in 1902 and 1904. The earlier address is by Julia Keese Colles and the latter by Mary Van Aken Mills. Arranged chronologically.
Reports and Programs, 1903-1905
This subsubseries is comprised of Reports providing the details of the Annual Meeting for the years 1903 and 1905 and a program listing the events to take place at the Annual Meeting in 1904. Arranged chronologically.
Printed leaflet and accompanying letter, 1902
This subseries is comprised of printed leaflets detailing the Constitution and By-Laws of the Abbot Collegiate Association. Copies of an unsigned, printed cover letter that was also sent to members are also present.
Correspondence 1902-1903, 1910, 1915
This subseries consists of letters received with earlier letters concerning the development of the alumni memorial book and later letters focused on the Gorham D. and Rebecca S. Abbott scholarship to Vassar College. Arranged alphabetically by surname and then chronologically within each surname.
Invitations, 1915, n.d.
This subseries is comprised of printed invitations to receptions or events involving the Abbott Collegiate Association including the presentation of the Gorham D. and Rebecca S. Abbott Scholarship to Vassar College. Arranged chronologically.
Reports, 1902, 1910
This subseries is comprised of a printed Treasurer's report from 1902 concerning the Abbott Memorial Fund and an holograph Secretary's Report from 1910. Arranged chronologically.
Diary and copies of letters, 1893, 1895-1896, n.d.
This series consists of biographical material related to Julia Keese Colles and her children. It is comprised of a diary that she kept from August 1895 to April 1896 and drafts of two earlier letters providing information about herself and her children and important events in their lives. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1886, 1891-1892
This series consists of correspondence. The earlier correspondence (from 1886) is with the National Iron Bank and concerns the purchase of a building on South Street. The later correspondence is with Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York and consists of letters relative to unpaid loans and threatened foreclosure on her property (the "Mt. Kemble House"). Holograph copies of her answers are also present. Arranged chronologically.
Deed, 1889
This single item series consists of a copy of an agreement between George Wetmore Colles and Julia Keese Colles dated April 1 1889 and related to her assumption of guardianship of their children.
Material related to Readings and Lectures given by Julia Keese Colles, 1891, 1893, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1901, n.d.
This series consists of three subseries: Holograph Drafts, Printed Advertisements for her Readings and Publications and Records of Lecture Expenses.
Lectures and Notes, 1893, 1899, n.d.
This subseries is comprised of holograph drafts of lectures and notes for those lectures by Julia Keese Colles. Please also see the "Abbot Collegiate Association Annual Meetings: Addresses given at Annual Meetings" subsubseries for her speech "The Value of Association". Arranged chronologically.
Advertising Broadsides and Leaflets, 1893, 1896, 1898, 1901
This subseries consists of broadsides and leaflets advertising publications and parlor and plaza readings and lectures by Julia Keese Colles. Arranged chronologically.
Financial Records, 1889-1891, n.d.
This subseries consists of detailed notes on the expenses incurred by Julia Keese Colles in the course of preparing for, traveling to and giving a lecture or a reading. The records are specific to these activities and are often written on the verso letters sending her checks for a reading or lecture. Arranged chronologically.
Material related to Juliet Corson's life and estate, 1892-1898
This series consists of material related to Juliet Corson that was accumulated by Julia Keese Colles. It is comprised of four subseries: Correspondence, Correspondence about Juliet Corson, Legal and Financial Papers Related to the Estate of Juliet Corson and Receipts.
Correspondence, 1892-1896
This subseries is comprised of letters from Miss Corson to Julia Keese Colles describing her school in New York City; discussing her appointment to the New York State representative in the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1886 and discussing her health and her books. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1896-1898
This subseries consists of letters about Juliet Corson sent to Julia Keese Colles. Letters concern Juliet Corson's ill health and poor finances as well as her death. Copies of Julia Keese Colles' responses are also present. Arranged chronologically.
Documents and Related Correspondence, 1887, 1897
This subseries is comprised of financial documents, legal documents and related correspondence concerning the estate of Juliet Carson after her 1897 death. Financial records include a receipt for her funeral and a bill of sale for her furniture. Legal documents include a copy of Juliet Carson's will and material related to Julia Keese Colles' attempts to relinquish all rights to "letters testamentary". Arranged chronologically.
Receipts, 1897
This subseries consists of receipts received by Julia Keese Colles for paying the rent on Juliet Carson's room. Arranged chronologically.
Clippings and Invitations, 1904, n.d.
This series consists is comprised of clippings concerning the history of memorials as well as an invitation to the unveiling of a monument. Arranged chronologically.
Scrapbook, 1860s
This single item series consists of a notebook containing clippings. Inside it is marked as "from the Civil War period" in pencil.
Books of music, 1807, 1832-1892
This consists of a copy of a 1807 work entitled The Columbian Harmonist and a later oversized bound collection of guitar, piano and voice music stamped "Julia K. Colles" in gilt on the cover. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1881-1903
This series consists of correspondence from family and friends, with occasional envelopes or clippings included. Letters of interest include those from family, Harriet Wilde and Mary Lewis. Arranged first by family member and thereafter alphabetically by surname and chronologically within each surname.
Correspondence, 1886, 1897-1899
This series consists of two subseries: Copies of Outgoing Letters: Teaching and Copies of Outgoing Letters: Personal.
Correspondence, 1897
This subseries is comprised of letters regarding employment as a teacher. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1886, 1898-1899
This subseries consists of letters written to Mary Lewis at around the age of ten, as well as letters to Alice and Clara Corey and Harriet Wilde written while working as an assistant in the physics department at Smith College. Some envelopes are also present. Arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each name.
School Records and Related Correspondence, 1892-1893, 1895, 1897-1900, 1902-1903
This series is comprised of 4 subseries: Student Records from Howard Seminary, Student Records from Wellesley College, Masters' Studies/Teaching Position at Smith College and Ph.D Study/Teaching Position at Barnard College of Columbia University.
School Records, 1893
This subseries consists of term records for 1893 for Julia Nelson Colles and includes the envelopes in which they were mailed. Arranged chronologically.
School Records and Related Material, 1892-1893, 1895, 1899
This subseries is comprised of form letters notifying Julia Nelson Colles of academic matters such as the receipt of her application to the Freshman Classics course and confirmation of her overall admission. Also includes later printed material such as an invitation to the inauguration of Caroline Hazard as College President. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence and Related Material, 1897-1900
This subseries consists of letters related to Julia Nelson Colles' courses of study for a Masters in Physics as well as her position as an Assistant instructor in Physics. These include information of courses of study, and a letter offering her the position. Related material includes a receipt of salary and notices of renewal of the position as well the program for her commencement from Wellesley. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence and Related Material, 1902-1903
This subseries is comprised of letters including a letter approving Julia Nelson Colles' application to work towards the Ph.D. degree while teaching. Arranged chronologically.
Diary, 1882
This single item series consists of a diary kept by Julia Nelson Colles during a stay at Miss Campbell's for three weeks in October 1882.
Correspondence and Receipt, 1902-1903
This series is comprised of two subseries: Rejection Letters Received and Medical Receipt.
Correspondence, 1902
This subseries consists of letters of rejection from the Board of Education and the Editorial office of the Delinator. Arranged chronologically.
Receipt, 1903
This single item series consists of a medical receipt from the New York Homeopath Medical College and Hospital, Flower Hospital.
Correspondence, 1890-1946
This series consists of correspondence from family and friends, with occasional envelopes or clippings included. Letters of interest include those from family, especially those from George Wetmore Colles, Jr. that indicate their keen interest in politics. The letters from her brother are primarily from the times of World Wars I and II. Arranged first by family member and thereafter alphabetically by surname and chronologically within each surname.
This series is comprised of six subseries: Brotherhood of the Commonwealth, Board of Missions of the New Jerusalem Church, Morristown Art Association, Red Cross, Urban Junior College and Who's Who.
Minutes and Notices, 1939-1942
This subseries consists of two subsubseries: Minutes and Notices.
Minutes, 1940-1941
This subsubseries is made up of minutes for the meetings of the Brotherhood of the Commonwealth for the years 1940-941 as well as the envelopes in which they where mailed to Gertrude Colles. Arranged chronologically.
Notices for Meetings, 1939-1942
This subsubseries is made up of mailed notices of meetings of the Brotherhood of the Commonwealth addressed to Gertrude Colles. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1942
This subseries is comprised of letters to Gertrude Colles and the envelopes in which they were mailed. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence and Programs, 1941
This subseries consists of Letters to Gertrude Colles concerning art exhibitions at the Morristown Art Association as well as programs for those exhibitions. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1941
This subseries is comprised of a letter from the American Red Cross to Gertrude Colles asking for funds and the envelope in which it was mailed.
Correspondence, 1941
This subseries is comprised of a letter from Urban Junior College to Gertrude Colles asking for funds and the envelope in which it was mailed.
Correspondence and Related Material, 1941-1942
This subseries consists of letters, forms and promotional materials from and for
Legal Documents, Financial Documents and Related Correspondence, 1913-1914, n.d.
This series is comprised of papers related to the Estate of Julia Keese Colles including letters from the Trustee Joseph F. Randolph as well as cancelled checks and an old bankbook. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1938, 1940-1942
This series consists of two subseries: Printed Postcards Received from Organizations and Letter of Complaint to the Train Company.
Postcards, 1940-1942
This subseries consists of printed announcements from organizations such as The Social List of Morristown and the Henry George Foundation. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence, 1938
This single item subseries consists of a copy of a letter of complaint by Gertrude Colles to the train company about the return of money for a ticket.
Document, 1913
Resolution passed by the Shakespeare Club in 1913 following the death of Julia Keese Colles. Includes the envelope in which it was mailed.
Documents, Clippings, Writings, Printed Matter and Envelopes, and Books. This series consists of Eight subseries: Inventories of Property, Collection of Clippings and Articles, Drafts of Essays and Articles, Printed Matter, List of Phone Numbers and Addresses, Passport of W. Alfred Wiechers, Envelopes and Remnants and Books. Please note that this series includes a variety of items which are of uncertain provenance.
Lists, 1849, 1884-1885, n.d.
This subseries consists of lists documenting property belonging to the Colles Family. Arranged chronologically.
Newspaper and Magazine Clippings and Articles and Typescript Articles, 1889, 1890, 1901, 1913, n.d.
This subseries is comprised of a collection of articles taken from or copied from newspapers and magazines over the years. Topics include labor laws as well as matters religious and scientific. Arranged chronologically.
Drafts of texts, n.d.
This subseries consists of drafts of essays and notes for articles on various subjects and in various hands. Topics include faith and a method for creating molds from plaster impressions. Arranged by handwriting.
Booklets and Programs, 1860, 1870, 1890, 1907-1908, 1914
This subseries consists of three subsubseries: Almanacs, Charity Publications and Programs.
Booklet, 1890
This single item subsubseries consists of the Warrock-Richardson Almanac for 1890.
Booklets, 1908-1909
This subsubseries is comprised of an annual report for the State Charities Aid and Prison Reform Association of New Jersey for 1908 and the August-November issue of The New Jersey Review of Charities and Corrections. Arranged chronologically.
Programs, 1869, 1870, 1914
This subsubseries consists of programs for benefits, conferences and dinners including The Joseph Fels Fund of America Conference. Arranged chronologically.
List, n.d.
This single item subsubseries consists of a list of phone numbers and addresses, some of which belong to what appear to be prominent Morristown names.
Document, 1874
This single item subsubseries consists of a passport with foreign seals.
Envelopes and Portions of Letters, 1893, 1898, 1900-1902, 1908-1910, n.d.
This subsubseries consists of unaccompanied envelopes addressed to various members of the Colles Family as well as pages from incomplete letters to members of the Colles Family. Arranged chronologically.
Books, 1909, n.d.
This subsubseries is comprised of two books owned by the Colles Family. One is a work on Lincoln entitled
This material is open for research without restriction under the conditions of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center archives access policy. Records may be copied for use in individual scholarly or personal research, however, as with all materials in the History and Genealogy Center, researchers are responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use material from the collection. Material in the Colles Family Papers may be photocopied, but because this material is a permanent part of the History and Genealogy Center's collections, researchers are advised to photocopy with care, using only the edge copier for bound material.
The Colles Family Papers were donated to the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center by Gertrude Colles. Please see the Arrangement note for further information on the donation.
Colles Family Papers, 1847-1906. North Jersey History and Genealogy Center, The Morristown and Morris Township Library.
Arranged and described by Mary Ann Gray, 1988; Reviewed and revised by Abigail Leab Martin, 2001; Finding Aid encoded by North Jersey History and Genealogy Center Archivist, 2009.