John L. Kerr Papers

1847-1929
Manuscript Collection #203
Creator(s)
Kerr, John L.
Physical description
0.044 Cubic Feet, 13 items , copies, consisting of correspondence, deeds, plats, and miscellaneous.
Preferred Citation
John L. Kerr Papers (#203), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Papers (1847-1929) including correspondence, deeds, plats, family letters, bills, poems.


Biographical/historical information

James Kerr emigrated from Scotland prior to 1848 and settled in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. The family soon spread into nearby Wayne County, Pennsylvania, where they remained for several generations. A descendant, John L. Kerr, apparently moved to Columbia Falls, Montana.


Scope and arrangement

Correspondence in the collection includes a letter (1848) from Thomas Waugh in Scotland relating family news and describing life and events in that country after the departure of James Kerr for America. A second letter (1849) comments on life in Canada and compares conditions there with those in Scotland.

Other items pertain to Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and consist of deeds, plats, and contracts for Kerr land in that county. These include a bill of sale for timber (1905) and the deed for a cemetery lot in nearby Carbondale. Also of interest are two printed poems written by John L. Kerr while residing in Columbia Falls, Montana.


Administrative information
Custodial History

June 27, 1972, 13 items, copies; Papers (1847-1929), including correspondence, legal papers, maps, etc. Loaned for copying by Ronald Moye, Greenville, N.C.

Source of acquisition

Loaned by Ronald Moye

Processing information

Processed by D. Lennon, July 1975

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Key terms
Personal Names
Kerr, James
Kerr, John L.
Family Names
Kerr family
Topical
Deeds--Pennsylvania--Wayne County
Scottish Americans--Pennsylvania--Wayne County
Places
Scotland--Social life and customs--19th century