The Ella Wells Stone Collection of Henry Wells' Papers, 1854-1968
Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- The Ella Wells Stone Collection of Henry Wells' Papers focuses mainly on the biographical aspect of his rise as the famous founder of the American Express Company, co-founder of the Wells Fargo Express Mail and Banking Service, and most notably, founder of Wells College in Aurora, New York
- Extent:
- 1 linear foot 1 box
- Language:
- English
Background
- Scope and content:
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The Ella Wells Stone Collection of Henry Wells' Papers focuses mainly on the biographical aspect of his rise as the famous founder of the American Express Company, co-founder of the Wells Fargo Express Mail and Banking Service, and most notably, founder of Wells College in Aurora, New York. The finding aid also covers intimate family documents as recorded by children, great, great-great-grandchildren, and historians of Henry Wells.
- Biographical / historical:
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Henry Wells was born in 1805 in Thetford, Vermont and moved to Central New York as a child. Wells started his own business as an express agent during the Erie Canal in the 1830's, where he began to expand mail service to Western New York. In 1850, Henry Wells formed the American Express Co. and became its first president. During this time, Wells moved his residence to Aurora, New York, building his estate at Glen Park. Wells later formed a partnership with E.B. Morgan to establish Wells Fargo & Co., the first transcontinental postal service. Wells retired from both Wells Fargo in 1867 and the presidency of American Express in 1868. In 1868, Henry Wells founded Wells College in Aurora, New York. Wells established his college after deciding not to accept the offer by Ezra Cornell to build a women's seminary on the Cornell University campus. Henry Wells died in Scotland in 1878 and was reburied in Aurora, New York.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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There is no restriction on access to The Ella Wells Stone Collection of Henry Wells' Papers for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.
- Location of this collection:
- Contact: