Guide to the Senator Matthew Stanley (M.S.) Quay Papers, 1836-1927 AIS.1969.01

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Senator Matthew Stanley (M.S.) Quay Papers
Creator
Quay, Matthew Stanley
Collection Number
AIS.1969.01
Extent
2.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Date
1836-1927
Abstract
This collection includes biographical material, clippings, correspondence, letterbooks, memoranda, military service documents, notes, pamphlets, scrapbooks, speeches and telegrams primarily concerning Pennsylvania legislator and U.S. Senator Matthew Stanley (M.S.) Quay, 1833-1904. Also included in the collection is correspondence of M.S. Quay's secretary, Frank Willing Leech; Dr. John Oliver, University of Pittsburgh history professor and various Quay family members.
Language
English .
Author
Archives Service Center staff. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on October 2, 2002.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

Republican Senator Matthew Stanley (M.S.) Quay was born on September 30, 1833 in Dillsburg, York County, Pennsylvania; the son of Anderson B. Quay, a Presbyterian preacher. M.S. Quay was educated at Beaver and Indiana academies and graduated from Jefferson College in 1850. He subsequently studied law in Pittsburgh with the Penny and Sterrett law firm; James P. Sterrett later became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In 1855, 1856 and 1859, Matthew was the prothonotary of Beaver County. He resigned in 1861 to serve in the Civil War and rose to the rank of Colonel, receiving a Congressional Medal of Honor. In 1864, Matthew became a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and served as Secretary and Chairman of the Republican State Committee; he later went on to become Chairman of the National Republican Committee. M.S. Quay was elected as Pennsylvania State Treasurer in 1885 and U.S. Senator (Republican) in 1887. In 1893, Senator Quay insisted on blocking passage of the Wilson bill until it was amended to protect (Pennsylvania) manufacturing interests. He served as Senator until his death in 1904. M.S. Quay coined the phrase, "It is all over but the shouting."

Scope and Content Notes

This collection includes biographical material, clippings, correspondence, letterbooks, memoranda, military service documents, notes, pamphlets, scrapbooks, speeches and telegrams primarily concerning Republican Pennsylvania legislator and U.S. Senator Matthew Stanley (M.S.) Quay, 1833-1904. Also included in the collection is correspondence of M.S. Quay's secretary, Frank Willing Leech; Dr. John Oliver, University of Pittsburgh history professor and various Quay family members.

Series I contains Quay family genealogical information such as, miscellaneous notes and a photograph of the Anderson family graveyard. Series II contains correspondence and a letterbook of M.S. Quay's father, Anderson B. Quay, from 1836-1851.

Series III contains M.S. Quay's personal information. His materials include a school composition (1845), correspondence and copies of correspondence which are located in the following collections - the Hayes Memorial Library, the Pennsylvania Historical Society and the Library of Congress, from 1846-1904. Also contained in Series III are military service documents, biographical material, political pamphlets, newspaper and magazine clippings and a scrapbook with newspaper clippings.

Series IV contains correspondence of M.S. Quay's secretary, Frank W. Leech, along with biographical notes on M.S. Quay, from 1890-1932.

Series V contains correspondence, memoranda, notes, chapter outlines of University of Pittsburgh history professor, Dr. John W. Oliver, for a study and biography of M.S. Quay, from 1929-1938. Also contained in Series V are various student research papers on M.S. Quay and his record in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1865-1867.

Series VI contains correspondence of various Quay family members and Series VII contains M.S. Quay's biographical materials, such as: political speeches and proceedings, memorial addresses and miscellaneous publications; and a steel engraving.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Donated in 1969 and by Dr. James Kehl in 1992.

Preferred Citation

Matthew Stanley (M.S.) Quay Papers, 1836-1927, AIS.1969.01, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Previous Citation

Matthew Stanley (M.S.) Quay Papers, 1836-1927, AIS.1969.01, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Quay Family, Papers, 1836-1927, ais 69:1, Archives of Industrial Society, Hillman Library, University of Pittsburgh

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Michael O'Malley on October 2, 2002.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Michael O'Malley on October 2, 2002. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1412193.

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Subjects

    Personal Names

    • Quay, Matthew Stanley

    Family Names

    • Quay family

    Geographic Names

    • Pennsylvania -- Genealogy

    Genres

    • Family papers

    Other Subjects

    • Politics
    • Personal papers
    • Legislators -- United States

Container List