Correspondence

The Ives family papers comprise correspondence by relatives of Rev. Levi Silliman Ives. In addition, the collection includes correspondence by Joseph Moss Ives, the brother of the renowned composer, Charles Edward Ives, and by the former's son, Walter Bigelow Ives.

Levi Silliman Ives and Joseph Moss Ives were both descendants of William Ives who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, from London in 1635, and was one of the original settlers of Quinnipiac (New Haven), Connecticut, in 1638. There does not seem to be a tie between the former two and I.M. Ives or Ella Gilbert Ives.

Regarding provenance: the collection was part of the Old Archives of Georgetown University. It is likely that some of the papers were placed together based simply on the similarity of the surnames. The history of the acquisition cannot now be traced. Much of the collection consists of correspondence written to Georgetown College presidents of the times (including Patrick Healy, S.J.; Coleman Nevils, S.J.; and John B. Creeden, S.J.). It may be surmised that descendents of Levi Silliman Ives wished to deposit their family papers at Georgetown.

The collection is arranged chronologically beginning with the earliest material relating to Rev. Levi Silliman Ives.