Winans Family Genealogy Papers, 1903-1972

Summary

Extent:
6.7 Cubic Feet 23 boxes, 0.7 Cubic Feet, 2.1 Cubic Feet, 2.2 Cubic Feet, and 1.7 Cubic Feet
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Winans Family Genealogy Papers. [box #, folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Background

Scope and content:

Twenty-three boxes of genealogical records generated by the Winans family of Rochester. The records include genealogical record sheets, notes, newspaper clippings, journals, postcards, correspondence and other materials collected by Ira Winans and his descendants.

Biographical / historical:

The Winans family were amongst the early Dutch settlers of Staten Island. They entered into Monroe County, New York in the persons of Theodore Edward Winans and Cynthia Caroline Root, who were amongst the earliest settlers in the present town of Chili. Their son Ira Winans, the primary creator of this collection, was born December 26, 1839. His family moved to Rush, New York, while he was a child. Ira Winans studied as a young man at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. By 1861, he was in New York City, where he enlisted as a lieutenant in the 99th New York Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. By the war's end, he was serving with the 25th U.S. Infantry Regiment, a regular army unit, as a major. Following the war, Ira Winans returned to Rochester, where he found work as a traveling salesman for Hubbard, Aldridge and Miller, a furniture manufacturer; he would stay in this line of work for the rest of his career. On June 21, 1870, Ira married Sarah Edwards Peck in Roxbury, Massachusetts. They would make their home at 7 Buffalo Street in Rochester, though they would move several times in the ensuing decades. Together, they had six children: Edwin Peck (1871-1875), Henry Edwards (1873-1946), William Wallace (1874-1938), Elizabeth Hooker (1876-1954), Helen Root (1879-1958) and Irene duPont (1882-1936). Ira Winans was a member of the First Baptist Church for 61 years, joining it 1870, and was also active in Union veterans groups. Starting in 1906, he began to actively research the Winans family genealogy, creating the collection seen here. He contributed to the creation of the Winans Family Record. Ira Winans passed away on November 2, 1931, and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Miss Helen Winans, granddaughter of Major Ira Winans. The date of the donation is not recorded.
Arrangement:

This collection consists of 23 boxes arranged in 3 series:

Series I: Genealogical Record Sheets
Series II: Correspondence
Series III: Notebooks
Physical description:
Condition is generally fair, with dry, brittle and dirty paper. Objects show signs of poor long-term storage conditions prior to donation to the library.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Preferred citation:

Winans Family Genealogy Papers. [box #, folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Location of this collection:
Rundel Memorial Building
115 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
585-428-8370
lochist@libraryweb.org