Back to top

University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

See More About This Repository

Address:

1150 Beal Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2113, USA
bentley.ref@umich.edu

Francis Willey Kelsey papers, 1891-1953

Navigate the Collection

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.

More ...

Summary

Creator:
Kelsey, Francis W. (Francis Willey), 1858-
Abstract:
Professor of Latin and classical studies at the University of Michigan, 1889-1927, led several archaeological expeditions to Antioch, Carthage and Karanis; papers include correspondence, diaries, photographs and other material relating to his career at Michigan and the expeditions.
Extent:
5 linear feet
Language:
English.
Call Number:
851721 Aa 2
Authors:
Finding aid prepared by: Michigan Historical Collections staff

Background

Scope and Content:

The Kelsey papers consist of Correspondence, Papers, Diaries, and Photographs relating to his career at the University of Michigan. There is also a small amount of material on Archaeological Forgeries found in Michigan and photographs and other materials of his son, Easton Kelsey. Subjects include the papyri acquisition of the University library, archeological expeditions to the Near East, and the University Musical Society. In his correspondence written while abroad, Kelsey frequently comments on the world scene with mention, for example, of political conditions in Turkey and the controversy surrounding the Lausanne Treaty.

Biographical / Historical:

Francis Willey Kelsey was born at Ogden, New York on May 23, 1858, and graduated from the University of Rochester in 1880. From that same institution, he also received his Ph.D. in 1886 and LL.D. in 1910. He began teaching Latin at Lake Forest University in 1880 and continued there until 1889 when he came to the University of Michigan. In 1890, upon the death of Henry S. Frieze, Kelsey was made head of the Latin Department and here he gained renown as a teacher, a translator of classical texts, and an advocate of classical studies.

Kelsey's reputation as a scholar was international. In 1900-1901, he was given a leave of absence to serve as director of the American School of Classical Studies in Rome. Later in 1920, Kelsey organized and secured funds for the first Near East Expedition of the University of Michigan, which he directed for the next two years. As a result, a wealth of photographs, archaeological material, especially manuscripts and papyri, were brought to the University Library. In 1924, he arranged a second expedition which resulted in successful excavations at ancient Antioch, Carthage, and Karanis in the Fayoum of Egypt.

Kelsey was active in the University Musical Society serving as its president from 1889 until his death in 1927. From 1907 to 1912, he was president of the Archaeological Institute of America. He also was a member of other classical associations and served as president of the American Philological Association in 1907 and the Michigan Schoolmasters' Club in 1927. He died May 14, 1927.

Kelsey married Mary Isabelle Badger in 1886. They had three children: Charlotte Badger Kelsey, Easton Trowbridge Kelsey, and Ruth Cornelia Kelsey.

Acquisition Information:
The collection of Kelsey papers has different sources. The diaries were the gift of Mrs. Kelsey (donor no. 226 ) and came to the library in 1937. Portions of the correspondence, especially for the period of the 1920s was transferred to the library from the U-M Business Office (donor no. 1801 ). Other smaller accessions came from Thomas Spaulding (donor no. 1752 ), the U-M Classical Studies Department (donor no. 3455 ), and the U-M Museum of Anthropology (donor no. 9273 ). An important addition was received from Easton Kelsey, Jr. (donor no. 10690 ) in 2011.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:
Archaeology.
Education -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Forgery of antiquities -- Michigan.
Archaeology.
Classrooms -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Formats:
Diaries.
Photographs.
Names:
Conference on Near Eastern Affairs (1922-1923 : Lausanne, Switzerland)
United States. Dept. of State.
University of Michigan -- Archaeological expeditions.
University of Michigan. Dept. of Classical Studies.
University of Michigan -- Faculty.
University of Michigan. Institute of Archaeological Research.
University of Michigan. Library.
University of Michigan. University Musical Society.
Anderson, John Wendell, 1867-1945.
Frieze, Henry S. (Henry Simmons), 1817-1889.
Kelsey, Easton T.
Kelsey, Francis W. (Francis Willey), 1858-1927.
Adams, Charles Kendall, 1835-1902.
Alger, R. A. (Russell Alexander), 1836-1907.
Askren, D. L.
Babst, Earl D., 1870-1967.
Bishop, William Warner, 1871-1955.
Boak, Arthur Edward Romilly, 1888-1962.
Bristol, Mark L. (Mark Lambert), 1868-1939.
Budge, E. A. Wallis, Sir (Ernest Alfred Wallis), 1857-1934.
Burton, Marion Le Roy, 1874-1925.
Colt, Harris Dunscomb, 1861-1959.
Davison, Archibald T. (Archibald Thompson), 1883-1961.
Dean, Henry Stewart, 1830-1915.
De Forest, Robert W. (Robert Weeks), 1848-1931.
Denby, Edwin, 1870-1929.
Dulles, Allen Welsh, 1893-1969.
Hughes, Charles Evans, 1862-1948.
Kenyon, Frederic G., Sir (Frederic George), 1863-1952.
Noble, Eugene Allen, 1868-1948.
Peterson, Enoch Ernest, 1891-
Rackham, Horace H., 1858-1933.
Rich, John Treadway, 1841-1926.
Robbins, Frank Egleston, 1884-
Robinson, David Moore, 1880-1958.
Shaw, Gardiner Howland, 1893-1965.
Smith, Shirley Wheeler, 1875-1959.
Spaulding, Oliver Lyman, 1875-1947.
Streit, Clarence K. (Clarence Kirshman), 1896-1986.
Swain, George Robert, 1866-1947.
Vincent, Bird J., 1880-1931.
White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918.
Places:
Lausanne (Switzerland)
Middle East.
Turkey.

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.

PREFERRED CITATION:

item, folder title, box no., Francis W. Kelsey Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

Back to top

Collection

Francis Willey Kelsey papers, 1891-1953
Call Number 851721 Aa 2
Total components 53
Last indexed 2023-12-08