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Julia Orissa Wells

Papers, 1851-1963

SC23079

Quantity: 9 boxes (3 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Gift of Priscilla and Edward Coates, November 2008.
Administrative Note: Certain 3-dimensional objects were transferred to the New York State Museum (See list below of items removed from the collection.)
Processed By: Christine Alexander, Student Assistant, State University of New York at Albany, July 2009

View catalog record

Biographical Note:

Julia Orissa Wells, born August 8, 1895, in Utica, N.Y., was a graduate of the nursing program of the Memorial Hospital of Albany, N.Y., and resided in California for the last 32 years of her life. Julia maintained family photographs and scrapbooks of family history of the Bailey and Wells families of Utica. She was the daughter of Janet (Nettie) Bailey Wells and Edward Hyde Wells. Her grandfather, E. (Elijah) Prentiss Bailey, 1834-1913, edited and published the Utica Observer for many years, and her uncle, Prentiss Bailey, was a manager of the newspaper. Her father was a lawyer in Utica and later in Albany, specializing in railroad law. Julia, known as Judy to her friends and family, died February 8, 1963, in Newport Beach, Rhode Island, and was buried near family in Utica.

Julia was the executor of the estate of Nina Legge Wharton, a good friend from California who originally was from Binghamton, N.Y. Mrs. Wharton was born October 26, 1892, in Binghamton, and died September 24, 1957, in Corona Del Mar, California. Julia and Nina jointly owned a house for two years in Corona Del Mar. The collection contains papers from the probate of Mrs. Wharton's estate, as well as a few letters and narratives written during and about World War I by Nina's husband, N. (Nathan) Earl Wharton, whom Nina married on October 30, 1920, in Cleveland Ohio. Mr. Wharton, who was born March 23, 1886, in Boston and died in April 1950 in San Marino, California, had served as a lieutenant and engineer of construction in the U.S. Navy during World War I. He was a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and prepared the genealogical charts in the collection.

Scope and Content Note:

These papers consist of family history materials of the Bailey and Wells families of Utica, N.Y., including family photographs, a family history scrapbook and a genealogical chart held by Julia Orissa Wells, together with her collection of View-Master reels (wheel-type transparencies) from the "7 Wonders of the World" series, a View-Master stereoviewer, home movies from the late 1940s to early 1950s, an electric stereoscopic slide viewer, stereoscopic transparency slides, snapshots from 1916 to 1962, printed materials, certificates, and a small amount of correspondence concerning the funeral of Julia O. Wells. The family history scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, correspondence, telegrams, certificates, tickets, invitations, obituaries, booklets, and a school essay.

In addition to the papers relating to Julia and her family, the collection includes papers from Julia's service as executrix for the estate of her friend, Nina L. Wharton, including probate forms and correspondence, tax returns, and an inventory of the assets, as well as World War I correspondence of Nina's husband, N. (Nathan) Earl Wharton, a narrative of his experiences during the war, and two genealogical charts he prepared of Nina Wharton's family.

Items Removed from the Collection Note:

Below is a list of items received with the collection that have been removed from the collection.

Item Transfer Location
Flash attachment (1 item)
Kodak Brownie Flasholder for Brownie Flash Six-20
New York State Museum
Flash attachment (1 item)
Kodalite Flasholder with Lumaclad Reflector, for Brownie Hawkey Flashmodel, Brownie Bull's-Eye and Kodak Duaflex III Cameras
New York State Museum

Container List:

Series 1: Julia Orissa Wells Papers

Box Folder Description
    Genealogical Table, 1937
EL Rolled Genealogical chart, 1937, of the family tree of Julia Orissa Wells (Bailey and Wells families of Utica, N.Y.) on blueprint paper, compiled by N. Earl Wharton –  stored rolled
    Scrapbooks
1 1 Scrapbook of family history, undated, containing newspaper clippings, correspondence, telegrams, tickets, obituaries, booklets, concerning Julia Wells and her ancestors in the Bailey and Wells families (in bag labeled "Historical, Utica, N.Y. (Julia O. Wells' Background)")
1 2 Bailey family materials, 1857-1933, including marriage and death certificates, obituaries, programs, correspondence and newspaper photographs, that had been tipped into the scrapbook of family history in Box 1, Folder 1 (11 items)
1 3 Wells family materials, 1851-1924, including certificates, correspondence, telegrams, narratives, bill of undertaker, and promotional notice for railroad law publication by Edward H. Wells, that had been tipped into the scrapbook of family history in Box 1, Folder 1 (32 items)
1 4 Julia O. Wells materials, 1900-1939, including certificates, invitations, programs, a school essay, a letter to "Papa," and a small leather card holder, that had been tipped into the scrapbook of family history in Box 1, Folder 1 (17 items)
1 5 Newspaper clippings, 1896-1939 and undated, that had been tipped into the scrapbook of family history in Box 1, Folder 1
2 1 Memorial scrapbook, 1961, for funeral of Bessie Capron, aunt of Julia O. Wells
    Photographs: Albums
2 2 Photograph album, ca. 1918, containing pictures of nurses
2 3 Photos that had been tipped into the ca. 1918 photo album above in Box 2, Folder 2 (11 snapshots, 1 portrait, 1 negative)
2 4 Photograph album, 1925, of trip to Europe by Julia O. Wells, her mother, and Florence S.
3 1 Photograph album, 1931-1935, showing where Julia had lived in California, trip through Panama Canal and scenes from California. Includes photo of Nina Wharton.
3 2 Photograph album, 1934, of trip to Northwest, U.S.A.
3 3 Photos that had been tipped into the 1934 Northwest photo album above in Box 3, Folder 2 (19 snapshots)
    Photographs: Portraits
4 1 Bailey children: Prentiss, Lansing, Bessie and Nettie (future mother of Julia Wells), undated (cabinet card)
Photographer: Walter C. North, Utica, N.Y.
4 2 Bessie C. Bailey (future aunt of Julia Wells)
  1. At age 7, Utica, N.Y., 1882 (cabinet card)
    Photographer: Walter C. North, Utica, N.Y.
  2. Unlabeled, girl appears to be Bessie Bailey (cabinet card)
    Photographer: Lewis & Pierce, Utica, N.Y.
  3. Unlabeled, Utica, N.Y., young woman appears to be Bessie Bailey (2 copies) (cabinet card)
    Photographer: Carl K. Frey, Utica, N.Y.
4 3 Prentiss Bailey (uncle of Julia Wells), 1937
4 4 Edward H. Wells (father of Julia Wells), undated
4 5 Janet (Nettie) Bailey Wells (mother of Julia Wells)
  1. Unlabeled, child appears to be Nettie Wells (carte-de-viste)
  2. Unlabeled, young woman appears to be Nettie Wells, Utica, N.Y. (carte-de-viste)
    Photographer: Walter C. North, Utica, N.Y.
  3. As bride, Utica, N.Y. (boudoir print)
    Photographer: Walter C. North, Utica, N.Y.
  4. Unlabeled, woman appears to be Nettie Wells, Utica, N.Y. (cabinet card)
    Photographer: Mundy, Utica, N.Y.
  5. Unlabeled, older woman appears to be Nettie Wells, Albany, N.Y., 1910 (photo postcard)
    Photographer: Lynch Studio, Albany, N.Y.
  6. Unlabeled, older woman appears to be Nettie Wells
4 6 Julia O. Wells
  1. As toddler, Utica, N.Y., Nov. 8, 1896 (2 views) (cabinet card)
    Photographer: Harris & Greene, Utica, N.Y.
  2. Unlabeled girl, appears to be Julia Wells, Utica, N.Y.
    Photographer: Lewis, Utica, N.Y.
  3. Unlabeled, young woman, appears to be Julia Wells (3 views)
  4. Unlabeled, young woman in nursing uniform, appears to be Julia Wells
4 7 Unlabeled family photo, appears to be family portrait of Nettie and Edward Wells (parents of Julia Wells) and their children, Julia Wells and Edward H. Wells, Jr.
Photographer: Walter C. North, Utica, N.Y.
4 8 Unlabeled infant (cabinet card)
Photographer: Harris & Greene, Utica, N.Y.
4 9 Unlabeled young child and dog (cabinet card)
E.E. Conrad, Binghamton, N.Y.
4 10 Unlabeled child holding dog (print mounted on card)
4 11 Unlabeled view of house with 3 women (print mounted on card)
4 12 Photo of doll bride and groom (print mounted on card)
    Photographs: Snapshots
4 13 Snapshots labeled with surnames, 1924-1962 and undated:
  • Julia O. Wells, her aunt Wells, and Donald C. (infant), 1924
  • John Peter Emerick, 1942
  • Mrs. Douglas Grant, Mildred Pirnie, Bruce Roberts Pirnie, Dr, Hyzer Jones, B.C.B.C. and C.G.C. and dogs, Utica, N.Y., 1944 (2 views)
  • Donna Lee Wilson at five months, ten months, and 2 years, 1958-1960 (4 views)
  • Marlene (mother) and Donna D. (infant) Wilson, 1958
  • Marlene and Donna D. Wilson (infant), and Donna's brother, Edward D. Coates, 1958
  • Marlene and Donna Wilson and a woman who appears to be Julia O. Wells, 1958 (3 views)
  • Sally, Jim and Bud Lester, Jr., 1961
  • Sally Lester, Mrs. Hastings, Allen Ormsbee, Ralph Morgan, Lucille Morgan, Mrs. Fernald, 1961
  • Bud & June Lester, 1961
  • Ruth & Jack Struthers, ca. 1961
  • K. Catlin, Ottawa, Canada, 1961
  • Julia Wells, Danny, E.S.C., Dwight, Cathy Anne, 1962
  • Two women, one appears to be Julia O. Wells, undated (black-and-white photo)
4 14 Snapshots of family and friends, 1941-1949
4 15 Snapshots of family and friends, 1950-1953
4 16 Snapshots of family and friends, 1955-1959
4 17 Snapshots of family and friends, 1960-1962
4 18 Snapshots of family and friends, undated (black and white)
4 19 Snapshots of family and friends, undated (color)
5 1 Snapshot of the Bailey cemetery monument, likely in Utica, N.Y., undated
5 2 Snapshots of ranch, 1942, likely Monte Vista Ranch, Wickenburg, Arizona
5 3 Snapshots of house and grounds,1941-1942 (black and white)
5 4 Snapshots of house and grounds, 1945-1949 (faded color)
5 5 Snapshots of house and grounds, 1952-1959 (many faded color)
5 6 Snapshots of house and grounds, undated (most black and white)
5 7 Snapshots of dogs, undated (black and white)
5 8 Snapshots of scenes, undated (black and white)
5 9 Souvenir picture postcards and greeting cards of British Columbia, Arizona, California and unlabeled
5 10 Negatives
    Printed Materials
5 11
  • Booklet: Skaguay, Alaska: The Gateway to the Klondike and the Atlin Gold Fields by the Daily Alaskan, Skaguay, Alaska: Daily Alaskan Print,  1898
  • Booklet: Skagway, Alaska: Trail of "98" by Skagway Chamber of Commerce, undated
  • Catalog booklets (4 items) of View-Master reels
    Stereoscopic Viewers and Transparencies
6 1 Stereoviewer (wheel type): Sawyer's View-Master (in original box)
6 2 Transparencies (wheel type): 64 reels from the "7 More Wonders of the World" series:
  • #5 "Boulder Dam Nevada Canyon Cruise"
  • #10 "Boulder City, Nevada"
  • #16 "Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah – 1"
  • #17 "Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah – 2"
  • #27 "Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – U.S.A., El Trovar to Yavapai Point"
  • #30 "Grand Canyon National Park, Bright Angel Trail, Arizona, U.S.A."
  • #46 "Glacier National Park I, Montana, U.SA."
  • #47 "Glacier National Park, Montana, U.SA. II"
  • #61 "Hula Dancers, Hawaii I"
  • #62 "Hulu Dancers, Hawaii II"
  • #63 "Honolulu Hawaii"
  • #64 "Island of Oahu, Hawaii"
  • #65 "Island of Hawaii, Kona Side"
  • #66 "Island of Hawaii, Hawaii"
  • #67 "Island of Maui, Hawaii"
  • #68 "Hawaiian Flowers, Hawaii I"
  • #69 "Tropical Flowers of Hawaii II"
  • #70 "Hawaiian Flowers, Hawaii III"
  • #71 "Hawaii National Park, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii"
  • #72 "Island of Kauai, Hawaii"
  • #96 "Scenic Coast of Oregon, U.S.A."
  • #111 "Redwood Highway, California, U.S.A. I"
  • #112 "Redwood Highway, California, U.S.A. II"
  • #116 "Sequoia National Park, California II"
  • #124 "The Dells of the Wisconsin River"
  • #131 "Yosemite National Park – I California, U.S.A."
  • #132 "Yosemite National Park – II California, U.S.A."
  • #151 "Columbia River Highway, Oregon"
  • #152 "Bonneville Dam and Colombia River Hwy. – Oregon"
  • #212 "Mount Hood, Oregon"
  • #231 "Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah – U.S.A."
  • #263 "Adirondack Mountains, New York – U.S.A."
  • #264 "Ausable Chasm, New York"
  • #269 "Old Covered Bridges New England"
  • #270 "Lake George, New York"
  • #274 "Mt. Monadnock, New Hampshire,Autumn Foliage"
  • #277 "Autumn Foliage of New England"
  • #285 "Death Valley National Monument, California – U.S.A."
  • #284 "Death Valley Nat'l Mon. Calif I"
  • #301 "Alaska Bond Alaska"
  • #302 "Alaska Ketchikan Juneau"
  • #303 "Alaska Skagway White Pass, West Taku Arm"
  • #311 "Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada"
  • #313 "Victoria, British Columbia, and Butchart's Gardens, Canada"
  • #318 "Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada"
  • #319 "Banff National Park, Canada, Lake Louise"
  • #592 "Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic"
  • #595 "Island of Bermuda"
  • #661 "Caracas, Venezuela"
  • #1001 "London I England"
  • #1002 "London II England"
  • #1003 "London III England"
  • #1010 "Hampton Court, Middlesex, England"
  • #1012 "The Tower of London, England"
  • #1030 "York,Yorkshire, England"
  • #1045 "Clovelly Devon, England"
  • #2001 "Zermatt I"
  • #2005 "Zurich I Switzerland"
  • #2009 "Interlaken Region I, Switzerland"
  • #2019 "Lugano and Locarno, Switzerland"
  • #2020 "Geneva, Switzerland"
  • #2025 "Basle, Switzerland"
  • #2014 "Lucerne, Switzerland"
  • #2017 "St. Moritz, Switzerland"
7 1 Stereoscope (electric): Kodaslide Stereoviewer II (in original box)
7 2 Transparencies: Kodak rectangular stereoscopic transparency slides (color), in original Kodak processing boxes (sized for use in Kodaslide Stereoviewer above)
  • Box of 21 slides, marked "Corona del Mar" [California]
7 3 Box of 15 slides, marked "Corona del Mar," and addressed to Mrs. Earl Wharton, one slide dated 1955 [California]
7 4
  1. Box of 21 slides, marked "Miscellaneous," some of Capistrano, addressed to Wharton, slides dated 1955, 1956, 1957 [California]
7 5
  1. Box of 18 slides, marked "Miscellaneous," and addressed to N. L. Wharton, one slide dated 1956
7 6
  1. Box of 12 slides, marked "211 Orchid (Jack)" [California]
7 7
  1. Box of 18 slides, marked "San Marino Ave. 1955" [California]
7 8
  1. Box of 7 slides, addressed to Mrs. Earl Wharton, with sliding case addressed to Julia Wells, one slide dated 1956
7 9
  1. Unboxed set of 5 slides, in envelope marked "For Miss Judy Wells, Color – 211 Orchid Ave" [California]
    Home Movies, 1947-1952
8 1 Home movies (11 items)
  1. 8 mm film reels (4) in 7 1/8 inch (18 mm) metal storage canisters
    1. Labeled "Hotel & Coast, Beach House Santa Barbara, Home & Garden, Rose Garden, The Birds, Lady takes lead, Summer Time 1949" "Produced by Miss Julia Wells"
8 2
  1. Labeled "Honolulu, 1950 April"
8 3
  1. Labeled "San Diego"
8 4
  1. Unmarked
8 5
  1. 8 mm film reels (2 ) in 5 1/8 inch (13 mm) metal storage canisters
    1. Labeled "Las Vegas, Apple Valley"
8 6
  1. Labeled "Rose parade, JOW"
8 7
  1. 8 mm film (5) on 2¾ inch  (7 mm) inch reel magazines in original Cine-Kodak Kodachrome storage boxes
  1. February 1951, labeled "Mrs. Blake's horse"
8 8
  1. February 1951, labeled "Oakland"
8 9
  1. October 1951
8 10
  1. October 1951
8 11
  1. January 1952
    Certificates
EL1 1 Graduation and registered nurse license certificates of Julia Wells, 1914-1918 (3 items) – see Extra Large folder below
    Funeral papers concerning death of Julia Wells, 1963
9 1 Funeral papers
  • Booklet of funeral home, Turner & Stevens Co., Pasadena, California
  • Calling card and folder of funeral home (2 items)
  • Florist cards that accompanied flowers sent to funeral home, 1963 (23 items)
  • Guest register for funeral, Turner & Stevens Co. funeral home
9 2 Funeral papers continued from above
  1. Letters, cards and telegrams of condolence, 1963, to Esther Coates, friend of Julia Wells (20 items)
  2. Lists and addresses of people, including friends to contact, and people to receive acknowledgements for flowers (5 items)
  3. Obituary clippings (3 items)

Series 2: Nina Legge Wharton Papers

Box Folder Description
    Probate Papers for Estate of Nina L. Wharton
9 3 Probate papers for the estate of Nina L. Wharton
  1. Probate court papers
    1. Notices of filing of report of inheritance tax appraiser (2 items)
    2. Inventory of estate
  2. Will of Nina L. Wharton, 1956
9 4 Tax returns for estate of Nina Wharton
  • Tax returns, 1950-1956, for Nina L. Wharton, including federal and California income tax and federal estimated tax (15 items)
  • Gift tax return of Julia Wells, 1958
9 5 Letters and invoices concerning probate of Nina L. Wharton estate
  • Letters, 1957-1958, from Attorney John D. Babbage to Julia Wells regarding settlement of the estate of her friend, Nina L. Wharton, for which Julia served as executrix (6 items)
  • Letter, 1957, from a broker, Marvin Kuppinger, to Attorney Babbage regarding sale of shares of stock in the estate
  • Invoice, 1952, for preparation of tax returns
  • Invoice, 1958, for appraisal of estate assets
    Genealogical tables for family of Nina L. Wharton
EL Rolled Genealogical chart, 1921, of the family tree of Nina Legge Wharton, compiled by N. Earl Wharton - stored rolled (see Extra Large section below)
EL Rolled Genealogical chart, undated, of the family of Nina Legge Wharton, compiled by N. Earl Wharton - stored rolled (see Extra Large section below)
    World War I correspondence and papers of husband, N. Earl Wharton, 1917-1921
9 6 Letters from N. Earl Wharton to family, 1917 (7 items)
9 7 Letters from N. Earl Wharton to family, 1918 (14 items)
9 8 Letters from N. Earl Wharton to family, 1919 and undated (12 items)
9 9 Memoranda from N. Earl Wharton, 1920-1921, regarding continuation of war risk insurance and order for victory medal (5 items)
9 10 Military orders and military pass for N. Earl Wharton, 1919-1920 (7 items)
9 11 Military report and cover memorandum to Chief of Naval Operations, 1919, with suggestions for a proposed International Bureau of Communications for the League of Nations
9 12 Narrative of N. Earl Wharton's experiences in 1918 while accompanying the President from Paris to Rome
9 13 Newspaper clipping, undated, of lyrics for "Hurrah for Baffin's Bay"
Last Updated: February 25, 2022