Guide to the Hays Family Papers c1874-c1945

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Hays Family Papers
Creator
Hays Family
Collection Number
MSS 717
Extent
1 linear foot (1 box)
Date
c1874-c1945
Abstract
The Hays family is considered to be among the most prominent pioneer families of Allegheny County, Pa. James Harden Hays (1800-1876), son of Jacob and Jane Hays, was among the first to begin coal mining operations in Western Pennsylvania. Begun in 1828, this business endeavor created great wealth for the Hays family. William Seward Brenneman Hays (1838-1924), son of Abraham and Sarah née Brenneman Hays and nephew of James Harden Hays, joined his uncle in the coal industry. Initially serving as a coal merchant, W. Seward B. Hays went on to establish his own company, the W. S. B. Hays Coal Company. The Hays Family Papers primarily consist of genealogical records and research relating to the histories of the Hays, Petite, and Harden families. This collection also contains five ledgers that detail both personal and business expenditures and receipts relating to the W. Seward B. Hays family.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Sierra Green.
Sponsor
This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

The Hays family is considered to be among the most prominent pioneer families of Allegheny County, Pa. After his 1744 arrival in Maryland, Abraham Hays, the son of Edmund and Mary Hays, married Frances Petiet, the daughter of two French settlers from Lord Baltimore's colony. In 1767, Abraham and Frances Hayes procured land and settled in what would become Munhall, Pa. From this generation onward, the Hays family remained in Allegheny County. Shortly following their settlement in Munhall, the Hays forged connections with the Harden family, which resulted in the marriages of James Harden and Sarah née Hays and Jacob Hays and Jane née Harden. James Harden Hays, son of Jacob and Jane Hays, was among the first to begin coal mining operations in Western Pennsylvania. Begun in 1828, this business endeavor created great wealth for the Hays family.

William Seward Brenneman Hays (1838-1924), son of Abraham and Sarah née Brenneman Hays and nephew of James Harden Hays, joined his uncle in the coal industry. Initially serving as a coal merchant, W. Seward B. Hays went on to establish his own company, the W. S. B. Hays Coal Company. The company's primary mine was the Calhoun Mines in Homestead, Pa. Flora Bell Hays (1890-1949), daughter of W. Seward B. Hays and Flora B. née Packer, managed the estate of her father together with her brother, Seward B. Hays (1897-1953).

Scope and Content Notes

The Hays Family Papers primarily consist of genealogical records and research relating to the histories of the Hays, Petite, and Harden families. Among these genealogical records are formal histories of the Harden family from 1182 to 1866 and the Hays family from 1641 to 1901. Also included are copies of the wills of Abraham Hays, Frances née Petiet Hayes, Jacob Hays, and James Harden Hays. In addition, this collection also contains five ledgers that detail both personal and business expenditures and receipts relating to the W. Seward B. Hays family. These ledgers date from 1875-1876, 1874-1887, and 1926-1945. Of the ledgers that date from 1926 to 1945, their primary subject matter concerns the rental properties upheld by Flora B. Hays in the boroughs of Homestead and Braddock, Pa. Three of these ledgers, dating from 1901-1924, have been stored separately from the rest of the collection due to their size.

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Lawrence Winschel in 1996.

Archives accession # 1996.0352

Preferred Citation

Hays Family Papers, c1874-c1945, MSS 717, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Sierra Green on 2/1/2012.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Separated Materials

These papers include three oversized ledgers (dating from 1901-1924) that have been stored separately from the rest of the collection due to size.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • W. S. B. Hay Coal Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Personal Names

    • Hays, James Harden (1800-1876)
    • Hays, William Seward Brenneman (1838-1924)
    • Hays, Flora Bell (1890-1949)
    • Hays, Seward B. (1897-1953)
    • Hays, Abraham P. (1885-1947)
    • Harden Family
    • Petiet Family

    Other Subjects

    • Bituminous coal industry--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh

Container List