Manuscript Division Anna Kelton Wiley Papers

Anna Kelton Wiley Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS45682

Scope and Content Note

The papers of Anna Kelton Wiley (1877-1964) span the period 1798-1964, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the years 1925-1960. Included are papers relating to her husband, Harvey Washington Wiley (1844-1930); father, J. C. Kelton (1828-1893); grandfather, William S. Campbell; and other family members. The collection documents Anna Wiley's civic and social life, including her activities on behalf of women's rights, Indian rights, consumer protection, and child welfare. Included is a great deal of correspondence as well as speeches and articles, financial papers, appointment books, invitations, notes, scrapbooks, clippings, photographs, and printed material. Among the organizations featured are the American Pure Food League, Columbian Women of George Washington University, General Federation of Women's Clubs, District of Columbia Federation of Women's Clubs, National Woman's Party, Women's City Club, Housekeepers' Alliance, Kalorama Citizens' Association, National Consumers' League, and Twentieth Century Club.

Papers relating to Harvey Wiley in the collection stem mainly from 1900 to 1930 and include material relating to the preparation of his two books, An Autobiography and The History of a Crime against the Food Law .

Dates

Creation: 1798-1964
Creation: Majority of material found within 1925-1960

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

Access and Restrictions

The papers of Anna Kelton Wiley are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.

Copyright Status

The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Anna Kelton Wiley is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).

Biographical Note

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1877, Mar. 8: Born, Oakland, Calif.
1885: Moved to Washington, D.C.
1897: B.S., Columbian College, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
1898: Employed by Department of Agriculture
1900: Employed by Copyright Office, Library of Congress
1907 - 1911: President, Elizabeth Cady Stanton Suffrage Club
1911 - 1912: President, Consumer's League
1911: Married Harvey Washington Wiley (died 1930)
1912 - 1913: Member, D.C. Federation of Women's Clubs, Washington, D.C.
1912 - 1914: President, Housekeeper's Alliance
1917: Charter member, Kalorama Citizen's Association, Washington, D.C.
1917: Arrested while picketing White House on behalf of women's suffrage
1919 - 1921: Campaigned for Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution
1930: Chairman, National Woman's Party
1930 - 1935: First recording secretary, Washington Mental Hygiene Association, Washington, D.C.
1932 - 1935: President, D.C. Federation of Women's Clubs, Washington, D.C.
1933: President, American Pure Food League
1935 - 1938: Director, D.C. Federation of Women's Clubs, Washington, D.C.
1936 - 1970: President, Women's City Club, Washington, D.C.
1936 - 1963: Member, Executive Board, Washington Criminal Justice Association
1936 - 1970: President, Kalorama Citizen's Association, Washington, D.C.
1938 - 1940: Chairman, Indian Welfare, General Federation of Women's Clubs
1940 - 1942: Chairman, National Woman's Party
1952 - 1954: President, Woman's City Club, Washington, D.C.
1954 - 1962: Chaplain, D.C. Federation of Citizens' Associations, Washington, D.C.
1956 - 1958: Consultant on legislation, General Federation of Women's Clubs
1964: Died, Washington, D.C.

Extent

110,000 items
362 containers
4 oversize
147 linear feet

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Additional Description

Abstract

Consumers' rights reformer, feminist, and clubwoman of Washington, D.C. Correspondence, speeches and articles, financial papers, appointment books, family papers, invitations, notes, scrapbooks, clippings, photographs, and printed material relating to Wiley's activities on behalf of women's rights and her membership and work in many associations and clubs. Included are papers relating to her husband, Harvey Washington Wiley (1844-1930); father, J. C. Kelton (1828-1893); and grandfather, William S. Campbell.

Arrangement of the Papers

The collection is organized by topic or type of material with oversize items filed at the end.

Catalog Record

https://lccn.loc.gov/mm78045682

Acquisition Information

The papers of Anna Kelton Wiley, consumers' rights reformer, feminist, and clubwoman of Washington, D.C., were given to the Library of Congress by her son, John Preston Wiley, in 1964.

Online Content

Selected documents from the Anna Kelton Wiley Papers are available on the Library of Congress website at https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms013080.001.

Transfers

Some photographs and graphic material have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division where they are identified as part of the Anna Kelton Wiley Papers. Patrons are encouraged to contact the Prints and Photographs Division in advance of a research visit.

Processing History

The Anna Kelton Wiley Papers were organized after their receipt in 1964 and reprocessed in 2006. The finding aid was revised by Brian McGuire in 2013.