James K. Kennedy Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: WCMss-333

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The James K. Kennedy Family Papers contains court actions and notes on murder trials and other felonies in the latter half of the 19th century. This collection, which dates from 1861 to 1989, also houses speeches, lectures, territorial disputes, land deeds, and letters from Australia, documents from the life of his descendants, particularly his son L.O. Kennedy, grandson L.E. Kennedy, and his great-granddaughter Henrietta Baker Kennedy. This collection speaks to the political economy, the nature of the Washington Territory, gender relations and race relations within court documents, and life in the late 19th and early 20th century American west.

Dates

Creation: 1861-1989

Creator

Kennedy, James K. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Biographical Note

James K. Kennedy was born in Ireland on May 6, 1824 and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1829. He attended the Academy of Mr. Neely and then went to Western University. He traveled to Australia to become a gold-miner in 1854, later became a lawyer and judge in Pittsburgh and in Washington Territory, and eventually married Harriet Tibbetts, a pioneer woman. He served as a United States district judge in Walla Walla from 1869 until his retirement. He also served as one of three members of the territorial Supreme Court. He died on February 23, 1907. His grandson, Lincoln Earl Kennedy, was an engineer and served in World War I before marrying Henrietta Baker April 28, 1919.

Extent

4.4 Linear Feet (10 manuscript boxes, 1 record carton)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The James K. Kennedy Papers, which dates from 1861 to 1989, consists of court actions and notes, correspondence, legal documents and land deeds, diaries, stamps, postcards, memorabilia, scrapbooks and photographs of the Kennedy family.

Physical Location

Box 1: E.36.3 Box 2: E.36.3 Box 3: E.36.3 Box 4: E.36.3 Box 5: E.36.4 Box 6: E.36.4 Box 7: E.36.4 Box 8: E.36.4 Box 9: E.36.4 Box 10: E.36.4 Box 11: E.36.4 MC.4.13