Guide to the Gilbert Hays Photographs 1864-c1930

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Gilbert Hays Photographs
Creator
Hays, Gilbert
Collection Number
MSP 99
Extent
1 linear feet (2 boxes)
Date
1864-c1930
Abstract
Gilbert Adam Hays was a Sewickley, Pa., writer and historian who worked primarily to record the history of his father, Civil War General Alexander Hays, and the Civil War regiment he led. The Gilbert Hays Photographs include images of Alexander Hays, Civil War veterans and soldiers from the 63rd Regiment, battlefield monuments, regimental reunions, as well as events and buildings in Sewickley, Pa.
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

Gilbert Adam Hays was a Sewickley, Pa., writer and historian who worked primarily to record the history of his father, Civil War General Alexander Hays, and the Civil War regiment he led. Born in Sewickley as one of seven children, little is known of Gilbert Hays' personal life except that he worked in Sewickley as a fire insurance agent and wrote extensively on his family and the history of Sewickley. Gilbert Hays wrote three books on General Hays and his 63rd Regiment. These were the Life and Letters of Alexander Hays, the History of the 63rd Pennsylvania Volunteers Regiment, and Under the Red Patch. Gilbert Hays compiled his father's correspondence from the war and used this material to write the books. Hays was involved with the various reunion events for the 63rd Regiment as a member of the 63rd Pennsylvania Volunteers Regimental Association and served with the various committees that held Memorial Day celebrations in Sewickley. Hays was also very involved in other civic activities in his hometown, including serving on the executive committee of the Sewickley-Coraopolis Bridge Celebration in 1911 that celebrated the opening of the new bridge. Hays also appeared on the programs of numerous theatrical events, primarily listed in a technical capacity such as an electrician for the Dickens Carnival of 1911. Having a great interest in civic and cultural affairs, Hays collected a variety of Sewickley materials from church programs to World War I newspaper clippings. Hays also wrote a historical column for the Weekly Herald on the history of the Sewickley Valley. Sewickley is situated on the north bank of the Ohio River, just over ten miles from downtown Pittsburgh. Sewickley Borough was incorporated on July 6, 1853, even though the area boasted European residents shortly before 1800. The community has grown into one of Pittsburgh's more affluent suburbs.

General Alexander Hays and the 63rd Regiment was the focus of much of Gilbert Hays' lifetime work. General Hays was born on July 8, 1819 in Franklin (Venango County), Pennsylvania to General Samuel and Agnes (Broadfoot) Hays. He graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1840 and then entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation in 1844, Hays was commissioned brevet second lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry, one of the first regiments to enter the Mexican War. Hays was promoted to second lieutenant as a result of his bravery in this war. After the Mexican War, Hays resigned his commission and married Annie McFadden. They had seven children, including Alden, Gilbert, Agnes, and Rachel Hays. Alexander Hays returned to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he worked briefly as an iron producer before heading to California during the gold rush of 1849. Hays moved back to Pennsylvania in 1851 and served as an engineer for construction projects, primarily railroad and municipal bridges in Western Pennsylvania. While he lived in Pittsburgh during this period, the exact year of his move to Sewickley is not known. In 1861, Hays enlisted in the Union Army and was commissioned major of the Twelfth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Within three months, Hays chose instead to raise his own regiment, the 63rd Pennsylvania Volunteers Regiment. Hays was the colonel of this regiment. Hays and the 63rd Regiment fought in numerous battles including Fair Oaks (1862), Bull Run (1862), Gettysburg (1863), and the Battle of the Wilderness (1864). In 1862, Hays was promoted to brigadier general of the 3rd Division, 2nd United States Army Corps. Hays was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864. Hays and the 63rd Regiment were commemorated by monuments at Gettysburg, the Battle of the Wilderness, West Point, and Sewickley Cemetery. As was the case with many Civil War regiments, the 63rd Regiment held numerous reunions after the war into the early 1900s.

Scope and Content Notes

The Gilbert Hays Photographs are arranged into two series and housed in two boxes. These photographs include images of Alexander Hays, Civil War veterans and soldiers from the 63rd Regiment, battlefield monuments, regimental reunions, as well as events and buildings in Sewickley, Pa. Similar to the Gilbert Hay Papers, many of these photographs document Alexander Hays, the 63rd Regiment, the Civil War and Sewickley, Pa.

Series I: Alexander Hays and the 63rd Regiment (1864-1917)

This series is comprised of photographs pertaining to Alexander Hays and his service to the 63rd Regiment during the Civil War. Included in this series are images of battle flags, regiment headquarters, soldier and veteran portraits, Hays' monuments, regimental reunions, and a memorial ceremony commemorating Hays in Wilderness, Va. This series also contains several images of the Gettysburg Cyclorama as well as Cullem Memorial Hall in West Point, NY.

Series II: Sewickley (1880-c1930)

This series contains images of Sewickley that primarily document buildings and geographic features of the community. Also included in this series are images of community events, such as the Regatta from 1907 and the Dickens Carnival of 1911. Photographs described as World War I, 1917-1918, primarily include shots of a parade from Sewickley in honor of funds and good raised to assist the French during the war. Unless otherwise noted, all the images in this series relate to Sewickley. Of note are photographs taken of Havana Cuba in the late 19th century, possibly by Gilbert Hays. These photographs include images of their travel boat, the port of arrival and the main streets of Havana. These photographs also depict many Havana buildings and residents.

Arrangement

The Gilbert A. Hays Photographs is arranged into two series and is housed in two boxes.

  1. Series I: Alexander Hays and the 63rd Regiment (1864-1917)
  2. Series II: Sewickley (1880-c1930)

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Mrs. Gilbert A. Hays in 1933 and the Hays Family in 1964

Archives accession # 328

Archives accession # 1964x.

Preferred Citation

Gilbert Hays Photographs, 1864-c1930, MSP 99, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

Preliminary processing by Sierra Green on 05/06/2013.

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

Gilbert Hays Papers, c1833-1950 (bulk 1900-1925), MSS 99, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • United States Military Academy.
    • Aztec Club.
    • Grand Army of the Republic. -- Hays Post No. 3.
    • Junior Order of United American Mechanics (Sewickley, Pa.)
    • United States. -- Army. -- Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 12th.
    • United States. -- Army. -- Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 63rd (1861-1864)
    • Sewickley-Coraopolis Bridge (Allegheny County, Pa.)

    Personal Names

    • Anderson, John
    • Hays, Alexander, -- 1819-1864.
    • Hays, Annie.
    • McFadden, John
    • Nevin, Ethelbert.
    • Nevin, John I., -- 1837-1884.

    Geographic Names

    • Sewickley (Pa.) -- Religion.
    • Cuba -- Description and travel
    • Sewickley (Pa.) -- Social life and customs.
    • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Societies, etc.
    • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Veterans.
    • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- War work -- Pennsylvania --Pittsburgh.

    Other Subjects

    • Bridges -- Pennsylvania -- Sewickley.
    • Memorial Day -- Pennsylvania -- Sewickley.
    • Memorials -- Pennsylvania -- Sewickley.
    • Mexican War, 1846-1848 -- Veterans.
    • Spanish-American War, 1898 -- Veterans.
    • Theater -- Pennsylvania -- Sewickley.
    • Veterans -- Pennsylvania -- Sewickley.
    • World War, 1914-1918 -- Veterans.

Container List