Guide to the Papers of the Walker Family, c1860-1963

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Papers of the Walker Family
Creator
Walker family
Collection Number
MSS#118
Extent
.25 cubic feet (1 box)
Date
c1860-1963
Abstract
The Walker and associated families lived in all parts of the country including Western Pennsylvania. Many of these families are Scots-Irishsettlers of the United States and include the Walker, Stoddard, Huff, Cecil, Robb, Elliott, Ewing, Klingensmith, McKain, Stewart and Scott families. These papers include genealogical materials, family trees, correspondence, land patents, and other sundry items providing genealogical information on the Walker Family and associated families in Pennsylvania and across the country.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
This guide to the collection was originally prepared by Historical Society Staff in c1984. These papers were rearranged with an inventory rewritten by Stephanie Riccardi on May 5, 1994. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in Summer, 2000.
Sponsor
This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

Biographical Sketch of the Walker Family

The Walker Family genealogy was traced through eleven separate family lines by family historian Gilbert S. Walker. He was a civil engineer and lived in Brooklyn, New York, where he operated the Walker Clipping Bureau, a clipping service for technical journals and newspapers. Later, Walker moved to Pittsburgh, where he probably stayed the rest of his life. The Walker and associated families lived in all parts of the country including Western Pennsylvania. Many of these families are Scots-Irish settlers of the United States and include the Walker, Stoddard, Huff, Cecil, Robb, Elliott, Ewing, Klingensmith, McKain, Stewart and Scott families. Gilbert Walker traced the Walker line back to Robert Walker, a farmer and fuller of St. Thomas (Cumberland County), Pennsylvania. Robert Walker was born at Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland on December 25, 1761. Robert arrived in Philadelphia on August 22, 1786 and settled on a farm in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He married around 1778, had eight children and died in Franklin County, Pennsylvania on April 16, 1837.

Scope and Content Notes

These papers include genealogical materials, family trees, correspondence, land patents, and other sundry items providing genealogical information on the Walker Family and associated families in Pennsylvania and across the country. Genealogical materials on each separate family line constitute the bulk of the material. The four families that appeared to be the most important to the research are: Cecil, Huff, Stoddard and Walker Families. Material included for these families include genealogical charts, Gilbert Walker's genealogical correspondence with family members, and loose notes. The genealogical charts are extensive, but provide little information besides vital statistics. Lacking in numerous entries are occupations, status and other relevant concerns. Genealogical information for other families includes the family trees and correspondence of the families that were less important to Walker's research. These families include genealogical charts and notes for the Elliot, Ewing, Klingensmith, McKain, Robb, Scott and Stewart families. As is the case with genealogical charts, information for these families also appear with the Walker Family material. In general, the correspondence deals with inquiries and responses from family about early family members and appears to provide little information on the activities of Gilbert Walker. Also included are lists of land patents for Moon, Cecil and St. Clair Townships containing the names of warrantees and patentees in alphabetical order, date purchased, and amount purchased for property in those communities dating back to the late 18th century. These land records are cryptic and might not prove to be of general worth.

Arrangement

The Walker Family Papers are housed in one archival box and arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These materials came in one accession on October 14, 1984.

Acc# 1984.80 Gift of Agnes J. McKain, (Papers).

Preferred Citation

Papers of the Walker Family, c1860-1963, MSS# 118, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania

Processing Information

This collection was orignally processed by Historical Society Staff in c1984.

These papers were rearranged with an inventory rewritten by Stephanie Riccardi on May 5, 1994.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Anna Maria Mihalega on May 22, 2000.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.

Subjects

    Personal Names

    • Walker, Gilbert S., -- 1871-1961.
    • Walker, Robert, -- 1761-1837.
    • Cecil Family
    • Elliott Family
    • Ewing Family
    • Huff Family
    • Klingensmith Family
    • McKain Family
    • Robb Family
    • Scott Family
    • Stewart Family
    • Stoddard Family

    Geographic Names

    • Pennsylvania -- Genealogy.
    • Allegheny County (Pa.) -- Genealogy.
    • Cecil (Washington County, Pa. : Township) -- Genealogy.
    • Lancaster County (Pa.) -- Churches.
    • Moon (Pa. : Township) -- Genealogy.
    • Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Genealogy.
    • St. Clair (Allegheny County, Pa. : Township) -- Genealogy.

Container List

Land Patents and Indices
Containers
Box 1, Folder 6