Anacostia Community Museum Archives
Col. West A. Hamilton papers
Hamilton, West A., Colonel
ACMA.06-006
Archival Resource Key
4.5 Linear feet
9 boxes; 1 folder oversize
1887-1991
bulk 1937-1978
The Col. West A. Hamilton papers, which dates from 1887 to 1991 and measures 4.50 linear feet, are the personal papers of West A. Hamilton most noted for his service on the Board of Education for Washington, D.C. The papers comprise books, certificates, correspondence, photographs, and scrapbooks.
English
.
Biographical/Historical note
Col. West A. Hamilton was born in 1886 to John A. Hamilton, a missionary and social worker, and Julia West Hamilton, a prominent club woman and activist in the Washington D.C. area. Mrs. Hamilton socialized with some of the most well known African American intellectuals of her time, including Mary McLeod Bethune. It was the early experiences of his parents' work with their community that would influence Hamilton later in life.
Throughout his life Col. Hamilton's activities could be divided into three areas: the military, public service, and private business. As a child Hamilton earned his education through Washington's public school system. He graduated from Dunbar High School and went on to receive his teaching degree from Minor Teachers College. After working as a teacher for ten years, Hamilton enlisted with the National Guard for the first time in 1905. It would be the first of many reenlistments and would include World War I, riding with the 10th Cavalry Regiment Buffalo Soldiers near the Mexican border, and commanding the 366th Infantry in North Africa and Italy during World War II. In 1983 Col. Hamilton became an honorary Brigadier General at the age of 96 for his long and distinguished service with the U.S. Armed Forces.
While working as a teacher and joining the military, Hamilton was also an entrepreneur. Joining forces with his brother Percival Y. Hamilton, the Hamilton brothers went into the publishing business and produced their own newspaper called the Sentinel. They established the Hamilton Printing Company in 1910 and worked from two previous locations before permanently locating on the corner of 14th and U St from 1922 to the 1970s.
Outside his many careers Hamilton carried on his mother's altruistic pursuits and involved himself heavily in club work and civic organizations. He served on Washington D.C.'s Board of Education, the Board of Elections, the recreation board, as well as, the American Legion and the Masons. For many years his mother, Julia West Hamilton, served as President of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA and Col. Hamilton continued her work with the organization.
Col. Hamilton married twice but never had children. He died in 1985 just shy one year from his 100th birthday.
Scope and Contents note
The papers which date from 1887-1991, bulk dates 1937-1978, document the personal and public life of Col. West A. Hamilton. The majority of material relates to Col. Hamilton's involvement with Washington D.C.'s educational system, both as a teacher and civic activist. A series of letters in particular highlight his efforts to help Dunbar High School, which he was an alum. There are also documents and photographs from his long serving military career and printing business.
Arrangement note
The papers are arranged into six series. Folders are arranged alphabetically within series, while documents are organized chronologically. Four series contain oversized material and include: Biographical Files, Career, Photographs, and Printed material. Non archival materials associated with the papers are housed in the Collections Department.
- Series 1: Biographical files
- Sub-series 1.1: Correspondence
- Sub-series 1.2: Education
- Sub-series 1.3: General
- Series 2: Books
- Sub-series 2.1: Club Books
- Sub-series 2.2: Fiction
- Sub-series 2.3: Religious Books
- Sub-series 2.4: Text Books
- Series 3: Career
- Sub-series 3.1: Committee Work
- Sub-series 3.2: Correspondence
- Sub-series 3.3: General
- Series 4: Financial Records
- Series 5: Photographs
- Series 6: Printed Materials
Conditions Governing Access note
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Preferred Citation note
The Col. West A. Hamilton papers, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution, gift
of Col. West A. Hamilton estate.
Ownership and Literary Rights
The Col. West A. Hamilton papers are the physical property of the Anacostia Community Museum. Literary and copyright belong to the author/creator or their legal heirs and assigns. Rights to work produced during the normal course of Museum business resides with the Anacostia Community Museum. For further information, and to obtain permission to publish or reproduce, contact the Museum Archives.
Provenance
The Col. West A. Hamilton papers were donated to the Anacostia Community Museum in [1994].
Processing Information note
Finding aid prepared by Kim L. Dixon, 2010-05.
Finding aid encoded by Elizabeth Bauerle, 2011-12.
Certificates
Minutes
Yearbooks -- 1940-1950
Photographic prints
African American educators
Ledgers (account books)
Correspondence
African American military personnel
Reports
Awards
Washington (D.C.)
Photographs
Books
Diaries
Magazines (periodicals) -- 20th century
Greeting cards
District of Columbia. Board of Trustees of Public Schools
Dunbar High School (Washington, D.C.)
Hamilton, West A., Colonel
Public Schools of the District of Columbia
Biographical files
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1.25 Linear feet
undated
1908
1927 - 1978
Scope and Contents
This series contains material related the personal life of Col. West A. Hamilton. The series comprises correspondence, educational experiences, and the records of his day to day life. A large portion of the series documents Hamilton's love of greeting cards. There are several folders worth of the cards, as well as, a scrapbook that appears in the oversized section of the collection.
Correspondence
1.1
Archival Resource Key
General
Archival Resource Key
undated
1927 - 1928
1
1
Greeting Cards
Archival Resource Key
undated
1972 - 1975
1
2
Invitations
Archival Resource Key
1957 - 1969
1
3
Liberia
Archival Resource Key
1950 - 1951
1
4
Scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
1974 - 1977
[oversize]
1
5
Scrapbook—Loose Cards
Archival Resource Key
1975 - 1978
1
6
Scrapbook—Loose Cards
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
7
Scrapbook—Loose Cards
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
8
Education
1.2
Archival Resource Key
International Correspondence Schools
Archival Resource Key
1908
1
9
Prairie View A&M College
Archival Resource Key
1948
1974 - 1978
1
10
Prairie View A&M College of Texas Yearbook
Archival Resource Key
1949
1
11
Prairie View A&M College of Texas Yearbook
Archival Resource Key
1952
2
1
Prairie View A&M College of Texas Yearbook
Archival Resource Key
1975
2
2
General
1.3
Archival Resource Key
Prairie View A&M College of Texas Yearbook, 1975
Archival Resource Key
2
3
Calendar Books
Archival Resource Key
1941
2
4
Calendar Books
Archival Resource Key
1956
2
5
Calendar Books
Archival Resource Key
1957
2
6
Calendar Books
Archival Resource Key
1958
3
1
Calendar Books
Archival Resource Key
1959
3
2
Calendar Books
Archival Resource Key
1978
3
3
Hamilton, Julia West
Archival Resource Key
1948
1978
3
4
Membership Cards
Archival Resource Key
1945 - 1949
undated
3
5
Frederick Douglass Garden Apartments dedication and unveiling ceremonies signed by West A. Hamilton
Archival Resource Key
1 Item
7 15/16 x 5 1/2 inches.
1981 September 19
3
6
Oversized
Archival Resource Key
Scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
1974 - 1977
9
1
Col. West Hamilton certificate of Supreme Grand Inspector General of the 33 degree
Archival Resource Key
1 Item
1 oversize folder
20 1/16 x 16 inches.
1964 October 19
1
Certificate of Honorary Member to West A. Hamilton from The Grand Orient of IEPO
Archival Resource Key
1 Item
1 oversize folder
20 11/16 x 16 1/16 inches.
1955 October 17
2
Architectural drawing- perspective of "Julia West Hamilton Junior High School"
Archival Resource Key
1 Item
1 oversize folder
13 7/8 x 15 9/16 inches.
undated
3
Books
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1.5 Linear feet
1901 - 1949
1887
Scope and Contents
This series contains books of various subject matter from Col. Hamilton's collection. Hamilton was a member of the Masons and there are two books referring to the rituals and practices of the organization.
Club Books
2.1
Archival Resource Key
Ritual for Opening, Closing, Burial Ceremonies…
Archival Resource Key
1949
3
6b
3
6b
Ritual of the Subordinate Lodges Under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge
Archival Resource Key
1928
3
7
3
7
Standard Masonic Monitor…
Archival Resource Key
1917
3
8
3
8
Untitled [Military Book]
Archival Resource Key
circa 1945
3
9
3
9
Fiction
2.2
Archival Resource Key
The Man Who Couldn't Sleep, by Arthur Stringer
Archival Resource Key
1919
4
1
Mystery Reader, by Dorothy B. Hughes
Archival Resource Key
1942
4
2
The Sleeping Sphinx, by John Dickson Carr
Archival Resource Key
1947
4
3
Whisper Murder!, Death Lifts the Latch, Somewhere in the House
Archival Resource Key
1946
4
4
Religious Books
2.3
Archival Resource Key
The Book of Common Prayer
Archival Resource Key
1944
5
1
Gospel Hymns No. 5 with Standard Selections, by Ira D. Sankey…
Archival Resource Key
1887
5
2
Text Books
2.4
Archival Resource Key
American Institute of Electrical, Engineers
Archival Resource Key
1909
5
3
Durell's Arithmetic Book Two
Archival Resource Key
1913
5
4
French Test Papers
Archival Resource Key
1901
6
1
Introduction to the Study of Law in Suffolk Law School
Archival Resource Key
1924
6
2
Modern Music and Musicians Part One: Compositions
Archival Resource Key
1912
6
3
The Standard Book of Play
Archival Resource Key
1946
6
4
Career
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1 Linear foot
1933 - 1979
undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains material related to Col. Hamilton's extensive committee work within the city of Washington D.C. and include Board of Education meeting minutes and a series of letters focus on the restoration of Dunbar High School's swimming pool. There is also correspondence related to the Hamilton Printing Company. In particular there are a couple of letters referring to the liquidation of the business in the 1970s
Committee Work
3.1
Archival Resource Key
Board of Education—Meeting Minutes
Archival Resource Key
1970
1961
6
5
Board of Education—General materials
Archival Resource Key
1958 - 1961
6
6
Board of Elections
Archival Resource Key
1955 - 1958
6
7
Building Laborers' Local Union No. 74 Scholarships
Archival Resource Key
1974 - 1975
6
8
D.C. Recreation Board Meeting materials
Archival Resource Key
1961
7
1
Financial Ledger
Archival Resource Key
1962
7
2
Correspondence
3.2
Archival Resource Key
Dunbar High School
Archival Resource Key
1954 - 1960
7
3
General
Archival Resource Key
1957
7
4
Hamilton Printing Company
Archival Resource Key
1967 - 1976
undated
7
5
General
3.3
Archival Resource Key
Certificates/Awards
Archival Resource Key
1933 - 1979
undated
[oversize]
7
6
Dunbar High School—Programs
Archival Resource Key
1941
7
7
Notes—American University
Archival Resource Key
circa 1954-1955
7
8
Notes—Church Sermon
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
9
Oversized
Archival Resource Key
Certificates/Awards
Archival Resource Key
1954 - 1979
9
2
Financial records
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.25 Linear feet
1941 - 1982
Scope and Contents
This series contains records covering the financial dealings of the Hamilton Printing Company and Col. Hamilton's personal transactions.
Bills—Hamilton Printing Company
Archival Resource Key
1948 - 1976
7
10
Bills—Personal
Archival Resource Key
1950 - 1982
7
11
Contracts
Archival Resource Key
1976
7
12
Hamilton Printing Company—Ledger
Archival Resource Key
1949 - 1953
7
13
Hamilton Printing Company —Ledger
Archival Resource Key
1958 - 1970
7
14
Taxes
Archival Resource Key
1957 - 1960
1941
7
15
Photographs
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.25 Linear feet
1937 - 1971
1905
Scope and Contents
This series contains images from Col. Hamilton's personal and professional lives. Hamilton also collected photographs of military dignitaries, which appear in this series.
Personal Photographs
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
16
Military
Archival Resource Key
undated
1971
1937
1905
[oversize]
7
17
Personal Photographs
Archival Resource Key
1942 - 1971
undated
[oversize]
7
18
Oversized
Archival Resource Key
Military
Archival Resource Key
1905
10
10
Personal Photographs
Archival Resource Key
undated
9
4
Printed materials
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
0.25 Linear feet
1939 - 1982
undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains artwork, brochures, booklets, and clippings related to different aspects of Col. Hamilton's life and work.
Artwork/Quotations
Archival Resource Key
undated
[oversize]
8
1
Education
Archival Resource Key
1982
1952
1961
1974
8
2
General
Archival Resource Key
undated
1939 - 1960
8
3
General
Archival Resource Key
1972 - 1977
1991
undated
8
4
Oversized
Archival Resource Key
Artwork/Quotations
Archival Resource Key
1943
1980
undated
9
5