Special Collections Research Center
spcoll@wm.eduPeter Klicker, SCRC Staff. Matt Niendorf, SCRC Apprentice.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Offley Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchased from Hamilton's Rare Books. Acquisition information for material received after 7/13/2009 is available by consulting a Special Collections Research Center staff member.
Processing Information:
Acc. 2012.431 accessioned and minimally processed by Benjamin Bromley in December 2012. Folders marked 2008.164
Accruals:
Acc. 2012.351 was added to this collection in November 2012 and did not come in with the orignial set of papers.
Biographical Information:
John Holmes Offley, the son of David Offley and Mary Ann Greer Offley, was born at Brooke Court-House, Virginia on 13 October 1802. Educated in Philadelphia, he first traveled to Smyrna (Izmir), Turkey in 1815 where his father, David Offley, had established the first American commercial firm, Woodmans and Offley, in the Levant. John Holmes Offley later entered into a commercial partnership at Trieste with his brother Richard Jones Offley (Richard & John Holmes Offley Co.). He later served as a ship chandler, contracted to provide provisions for the American squadron then stationed in the Mediterranean. John Holmes Offley returned to the United States with his family in 1835. He served, for a time, as the Inspector of Customs for the port of New York City. He moved to Georgetown in Washington, D.C. in 1838. After serving on special assignment for the U.S. War Department, he was appointed as Corresponding Clerk in the U.S. War Department, and later saw service as the Acting Chief Clerk of the U.S. War Department. He served as vestryman for St. Johns Episcopal Church of Georgetown from 1840 until the time of his death. It was at that church that he married Catherine Van Rensselaer Heaton (1806-1887) on 22 September 1823. John Holmes Offley died on 20 December 1845. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
This collection details the history of the Offley Family from 1826 to 1916 through correspondences, diaries, photographs and personal effects. Its creators include multiple generations of Offleys and their associates. The papers provide insight into the daily life of the era as well as major geopolitical events such as the Greek War of Independence, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, and World War I. Many of the Offleys served in the United States armed forces. The collection also includes photographs of individuals unrelated to, but, of the same era as, the Offley Family.
Finally, there is a letter from Richard Offley to Mary Offley Sharpless about the health of a family member and a letter from David Offley to Mary Offley about his understanding of the theology and practice of Islam as he has seen it in Turkey, including his admiration for the religion.
Arrangement of Materials:
The collection is organzied chronologically within three boxes, with undated material at the back of box three.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- California--History--1850-1950
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Diplomatic and consular service
- Greece--History--War of Independence, 1821-1829
- Islam
- Muslims
- Philippines--History
- Photographs
- Spanish-American War, 1898
- United States. Army--Appointments, promotions, salaries, etc
- United States. Navy--History--19th century
- United States. Navy--History--20th century
- World War, 1914-1918
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Corr, L.P.
- Hobson, R.P.
- Offley, Cleand Nelson, 1869-1930
- Offley, David, d. 1838
- Offley, Edward Murray
- Offley, John Holmes, 1802-1845
- Offley, John Marbury, 1877-1932
- Offley, Robert S.
- Priestly, Deborah Heaton Remsen, 1801-1887
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- California--History--1850-1950
- Greece--History--War of Independence, 1821-1829
Container List
Portrait of John Holmes Offley (1826), picture of John Holmes Offley (1842), portrait of David Offley, picture of Catharine V.R.H. Offley and painting of town and bay of Smyrna.
Correspondences between Catharine V.R.H. Offley, Mary Heaton, Deborah Heaton, and Richard Jones Offley covering the following subjects: life in Smyrna, Turkish customs, adjusting to life in Smyrna, Christmas in Smyrna, visiting with Turkish official, events in America, cost of living in Smyrna, Greek War of Independence, plans for evacuation, pirates, trip from Constantinople, mutual acquaintances, treaty, education in Greece, and illness.
Baptismal record of Helen Jane Offley, daughter of J.H. Offley and Catherine Offley, signed by J.H. Wolf, dated 1929 May 23. President Jackson's nomination of David Offley to serve as U.S. Consul to Smyrna, dated 1832 March 21.
Correspondences between Catharine V.R.H. Offley, Deborah Heaton, Ann Powell Offley, Helen Jane Offley, John Holmes Offley covering the following subjects: fever, illness, children, supplying naval frigates, socializing with naval officers, family members, mutual acquaintances, baptism, temperance, banking, and introduction of new acquaintances.
Diary with brief and irregular entries concerning acquaintances and relatives such as the Offleys.
Photographs of Zapley West Young, Robert West Young, Anne Robinson Young, Eliza Ann Moore Young, Kate Most Yound, Nathaniel Young and Tapley West Young.
Membership card for the Society of the Army of Santiago de Cuba. Order for transfer from Fort Stanton Nm. to Fort Riley Kansas., signed by Captain Robert Craig, 1891 September 17. Order for trip from Fort McPherson Ga. to Seattle Wa. En route to Alaska, Company "B" 7th Infantry, 1900 May 25.
Account of 1898 battle of Santiago de Cuba with descriptions and drawings of the engagement, dated 1898 July 7.
Letter from .N. Kellogg, Cleveland to R.S. Offley, responding to previous correspondence, expresses admiration for the officers under his command, congratulates him on recent promotion.
Photograph of Corporal E.M. Offley, Troop G 1st U.S. Cavalry at Fort Meade, South Dakota. Photograph of Company G 1st U.S. Cavalry taken at Fort Meade, South Dakota. Photograph of 2nd Lt. E.M. Offley at Fork Clark Texas, 12th U.S. Cavalry. Photograph of Carter Hill. Reproduction of photograph of USS St. Louis, Civil War Ironclad commanded by L. Paulding, uncle of E.M. Offley.
Diary and Memorandum; 1st Sergeant in Troop G 1st Cavalry; brief but regular entries, crossed out sections, pay day information, various rosters, hand-drawn street map, various drawings of landscapes, individuals, and buildings.
Scrapbook: pictures of wildlife, stamps, clippings, meal menus, description of Offley and various other families, family tree, short story(original work?)
Diary; many crossed out sections, sporadic and undated entries, notes on geography, history, army regulations, price list, and various drawings.
Letter from R.P. Hobson to "Mr. Offley", responding to previous correspondence.
Five correspondences between E.M. Offley, J.M. Offley and their mother (Mary C.N. Offley) written from California and the Philippines covering the following subjects: aftermath of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake,involvement of army in recovery effort, wife and daughter, arrival of mail from States, wedding, box of valuables, army affairs, weather in Philippines, raising a child in the Philippines, Offley family, life in Philippines, declining status of army, cavalry horses, arrival of new troops, and bridge.
Five correspondences between E.M Offley, his father (Holmes E. Offley), and his mother (Mary C.N. Offley) covering the following subjects: daily life in the Philippines (routines, weather, etc.), target practice, incident involving five casualties, children, rainy season, horses, social life in Philippines, movement of the fleet, birthday, and rank advancement of acquaintances.
Correspondence between E.M. Offley, his mother (Mary C.N. Offley), Sally Offley (wife of E.M. Offley), and J.M. Offley covering the following subjects: family matters, cholera, collar bone injury, children, Christmas celebrations, patrol, court martial, inauguration, possible career change, horses, labor strikes, comments on native population, weather, and Chinese language.
Correspondence between E.M. Offley and his mother (Mary C.N. Offley) covering the following subjects: future plans, weather (rainy season), wedding, hospital, birth of son (Willoughby Newton Offley), baptism, education, possible promotion, illness (dhobie itch), and possible reassignment.
Correspondence between E.M. Offley and his mother (Mary C.N. Offley) covering the following subjects: illness, weather (dry season and rainy season), imminent departure from Philippines, movement of the fleet, preferences in new station, cavalry, horsemanship, children, uniform, packing for move, Christmas,and health.
Diary concerning personal and academic life.
Identity card for American Expeditionary Forces, includes photograph, lists information such as name, rank, and duty. Program for Troop C 12th Cavalry Christmas celebration at Panama Canal Zone; includes menu, history of the Troop, roster of the company, 1916. Order for court martial, 1909 July 26.
Information about eclipses, church calendar, barometer and various tables, etc., brief and sporadic entries, cash account at end, covers topics such as: traveling, weather, state of health, meeting with acquaintances.