The Vault at Pfaff's

An Archive of Art and Literature by the Bohemians of Antebellum New York

[Letter] 16 January 1857, New York, NY [to] Clarence G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney

Clare, Ada. "[Letter] 16 January 1857, New York, NY [to] Clarence G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney." [Letter] 16 January 1857, New York, NY [to] Clarence G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney. John Wroughton Mitchell Papers, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. (1857-1-16).
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Abstract

Clare has recently changed her surname from "McElhenney" to "Clare." Clare writes to Mitchell to inform him that all past and future transactions under her new surname will be "as valid and effectful as under that of" Ada McElhenney.

[Letter] 16 January 1857, [New York, NY] [to] Dear Sir / Ada McElhenney

Clare, Ada. "[Letter] 16 January 1857, [New York, NY] [to] Dear Sir / Ada McElhenney." [Letter] 16 January 1857, [New York, NY] [to] Dear Sir / Ada McElhenney. John Wroughton Mitchell Papers, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. (1857-1-16).
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Clare writes about the package she sealed and left in the recipient's office. She asks that he keep it for her and store it in his iron chest so that it is safe from the threat of fire.

[Legal Statement] 16 January 1857, New York, NY [to] Clarence G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney

Clare, Ada. "[Legal Statement] 16 January 1857, New York, NY [to] Clarence G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney." [Legal Statement] 16 January 1857, New York, NY [to] Clarence G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney. John Wroughton Mitchell Papers, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. (1857-1-16).
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Abstract

Clare "make[s], constitute[s] and appoint[s]" Clarence G. Mitchell as her "true and lawful attorney" and accedes to the powers he will be granted to act as such.

[Receipt] 27 August 1857, New York [of] C. G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney "Ada Clare"

Clare, Ada. "[Receipt] 27 August 1857, New York [of] C. G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney "Ada Clare"." [Receipt] 27 August 1857, New York [of] C. G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney "Ada Clare". John Wroughton Mitchell Papers, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. (1857-8-27).
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The receipt confirms Clare's obtainment of "fifty dollars $50" from C.G. Mitchell on August 27th, 1856.

[Receipt] 6 May 1856, New York, NY [of] C. G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney

Clare, Ada. "[Receipt] 6 May 1856, New York, NY [of] C. G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney." [Receipt] 6 May 1856, New York, NY [of] C. G. Mitchell / Ada McElhenney. John Wroughton Mitchell Papers, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. (1856-5-6).
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Abstract

The receipt confirms Clare's obtainment of "fifty dollars $50" from C.G. Mitchell on May 6th, 1856.

[Letter] 19 December 1855, Charleston, SC [to] Clarence G. Mitchell / Edward McCrady Jr.

McCrady, Edward. "[Letter] 19 December 1855, Charleston, SC [to] Clarence G. Mitchell / Edward McCrady Jr." [Letter] 19 December 1855, Charleston, SC [to] Clarence G. Mitchell / Edward McCrady Jr. John Wroughton Mitchell Papers, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. (1855-12-19).
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McCrady's father begs him to acknowledge the receipt of Mitchell's letter, the delayed response brought on by Mitchell's father being in "Columbia attending the Legislature." McCrady's father also begs that Mitchell return him his books of account relating to the McE

[Financial Record] 1 October 1855, [South Carolina] Memoranda of Property of A[da] McEl[henney]

UNCLEAR. "[Financial Record] 1 October 1855, [South Carolina] Memoranda of Property of A[da] McEl[henney]." [Financial Record] 1 October 1855, [South Carolina] Memoranda of Property of A[da] McEl[henney]. John Wroughton Mitchell Papers, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. (1855-10-1).
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Abstract

One side of the document details the shares in surplus garnered by members of the McElhenney family, while the other side of the document contains the remnants of a memoranda of property that has been crossed out with a large "X." The Commission on the effects of J.W. and Mrs. J.W.

Morris, James Willard (K. N. Pepper)

James Willard Morris famously wrote under the pseudonyms K. N. Pepper and Jacques Maurice. Not much is known about Morris’ early life. Morris was introduced to the Pfaffian circle in 1859 as the editor of the Picayune. Thomas Butler Gunn chronicled Morris’ early acquaintanceships with Bob Gun, Frank Henry Temple Bellew, and Gunn himself. Morris later took over Gunn’s old room in the Bleecker Street Boarding House and met Nathaniel Graham Shepherd. According to the Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Morris’ first appearance in Pfaff’s came in the company of this group.

Levison, William

William Levison was a publisher most well known for his contributions to the New York Picayune and Nick-Nax. Records of Mr. Levison’s early life were preserved in the Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries. Mr. Levison was born in New Jersey and reportedly left his family to pursue comedy work in Philadelphia. However, he eventually left this profession due to a spinal illness. He later met his wife, Mary A. Levison, and entered the newspaper industry. Thomas Butler Gunn first spoke with Mr. Levison in 1852. However, Gunn would not become a collaborator of Mr.

Levison, Mary A. (1828-)

Mary A. Levison, also known as Mrs. Levison and “Levison’s widow” in the Gunn Diaries, was born in Philadelphia in 1828. She married William H. Levison, the New York publisher and proprietor of the Picayune. According to Thomas Butler Gunn’s diaries, Mrs. Levison’s introduction to the Pfaffian circle came in 1853 when Gunn met with Mrs. and Mr. Levison about completing an assignment for the Picayune. Much of Mary Levison’s involvement in the Pfaffian scene was in relation to said newspaper.

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