The collection primarily comprises documents, photos, ephemera, scrapbooks, and financial records produced by, collected by, or written about members of the Morris family of Morrisania (New York), New Jersey, and Newport (Rhode Island). The largest body of records were produced and compiled by Nathalie Bailey Morris and her husband, Lewis Gouverneur Morris II, between 1910 and 1935; however, this collection includes family materials produced as early as 1799. Alongside a small collection of personal papers and four photo albums, this collection also documents Nathalie Bailey Morris’s research and collecting practices, and her involvement in hereditary organizations. Supplementary to notes on the Morris family's genealogy and connection to other prominent early American families, including the Livingston, Schuyler, and Van Rensselaer families, this collection features a complete run of the first 21 publications by the Order of Colonial Lords of Manors in America. Additional family history research material, including some reproductions and excerpts from published works, is incorporated into 12 binders produced by Nathalie Bailey Morris to educate her daughters on their family’s summer house, Malbone Castle and Estate in Newport, R.I.. This collection also features records of manuscript and autograph material purchased at auctions by Morris. Beyond purchasing materials for display, Morris created a research file for each purchase with biographical or historical information about the items’ creator or creators and, often, a typewritten transcription of the item. Although many of these items were framed for display in Morris family residences, some manuscript materials remain with the records of their purchase and are contained within this collection.
All researchers seeking to publish materials from the collections of the PSNC Archives and Special Collections are requested to contact the archivist, prior to reproducting, quoting, or otherwise publishing any portion or extract from this collection. Although the Preservation Society has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim copyright ownership. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the copyright and to obtain any necessary permission from them.
The collection is open to the public, and there are no restrictions on access. However, the collection can only be seen by scheduled appointment.
Title of item, PSNCA.H.049: Morris Family papers, Box #, Folder #, Preservation Society of Newport County, Newport, R.I.
The collection is organized into five series by provenance and topic:
The Morris Family was prominent socially and politically in New York and New Jersey from their early governance as British colonies. In the mid-17th century, brothers Richard and Lewis Morris arrived in New York after a period of residency in Barbados and Jamaica (Eberlein and Renehan, "The Manor of Morrisania"). They purchased a plot of land which had been granted by the Dutch to Jonas Broncks (also spelled Bronx), located in what is now the New York City borough of The Bronx. The brothers continued to amass property: the original plot was expanded by a patent from Governor Andros, while the Morrises separately purchased a nearly 4000 acre tract in New Jersey and a portion of Shelter Island (Eberlein and Renehan; Jonnes, "It is a Veritable Paradise"). Richard Morris died only four months after the birth of his son, Lewis, in 1672. After the death of the elder Lewis in 1691, his nephew inherited the entirety of the Morris estates in New York and New Jersey, the former of which was consolidated into a Manor via a 1697 patent, making Lewis Morris the first Lord of the Manor of Morrisania (Eberlein and Renehan). He was also the first Governor appointed to lead the newly separate New Jersey colony, serving from 1738 until his death in 1746 (Lurie and Veit, "The Colonial Period: Early New Jersey").
The descendants of Lewis Morris (1671-1746) comprise a highly influential, multi-generational political family. Lewis Morris II (1698-1762) was the second Lord of the Manor, as well as the Vice-Admiralty Judge for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut ("New York Court of Vice Admiralty Records"). His son, Richard (1730-1810), would serve in the same judicial role, before resigning in protest to support the American Independence movement; after the Revolution, Richard would serve as Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court of Judicature ("New York Court of Vice Admiralty Records"). Other children of Lewis Morris II were also engaged in the Revolution, on both sides of the conflict: the third and final Lord of the Manor, Lewis Morris III (1726-1798), was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence, Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816) was the “Penman of the Constitution”, and Staats Long Morris (1728-1800) was a General in the British Army (Eberlein and Renehan; "Gouverneur Morris"; "Staats Long Morris"; "Lewis Morris"). Through advantageous marriages, the Morrises of Morrisania became connected with other prominent American families. Richard Morris’s granddaughter, Mary Morris (1790-1869) married James Alexander Hamilton, the son of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler. Lewis Richard Morris (1760-1825), a son of Richard Morris, married Ellen Hunt (1781-1865), sister of Vermont Governor Jonathan Hunt Jr.; he was therefore the uncle of famed architect Richard Morris Hunt ("Death of Richard M. Hunt").
The branch of the Morris family which is primarily the subject and creators of the material in this collection are the direct descendants of Richard Morris, the New York Supreme Court Chief Justice, through his son, Robert Richard Morris (1762-1851):
Nathalie was the primary collector of the material in this collection. As a descendant of multiple prominent New York families, she was a member of several hereditary and heraldic organizations, including the Order of Colonial Lords of Manors in America and the Colonial Dames of America, and conducted extensive research on her family history. She was also an avid collector of American art, autographs, manuscripts, and prints, as well as an amateur photographer and competitive tennis player. Nathalie was dedicated to the stewardship and organization of her collections, and wherever possible, the titles assigned to units in this collection have been taken directly from Nathalie’s folders and indices.
BibliographyGift of Alletta Morris McBean, 1986, as part of her willed bequest of Chepstow.
Portions of this collection had previously been organized by PSNC staff. These portions, namely the Malbone and Daguerreotype series, were maintained as separate series, but were reprocesed into more accessible arrangements. Nathalie Bailey Morris, herself, was actively engaged in organizing her records, and, wherever possible, her materials have been arranged and titled according to the order and titles she assigned.
Materials currently on display in Chepstow are expected to be added as an additional series as they are replaced by reproductions.
Contains handwritten notes on genealogy and family history for ancestors of Emily Morris Gallatin, including Westcott and Morris lines. Also contains a handwritten poem entitled "Sunset", dated to 1894. Likely produced by Emily Morris Gallatin.
Found in CW 1st Floor Libary, East Bookcase.
Found in CW 1st Floor Sitting Room in PSNC.8417, left drawer second from top.
Copy of a note by Alletta Strong.
Found in CW 1st Floor Sitting Room in PSNC.8417, bottom left drawer.
Copy of page 233 from a book whose title ends with "Of Old New York"
Receipt of payment for commission by Lewis G. Morris for the portrait of Mrs. Emily Lorillard Morris and her two sons, Fordham and Francis (PSNC.8365). Portrait currently hangs in the Chepstow dining room as of March 2026.
Matting and notes likely added by Nathalie Bailey Morris.
On very thin paper. Possibly produced by Nathalie Bailey Morris or Emily Morris Gallatin. Date undeterminable.
Circular no. 4, Series of 1910, whole no. 1009.
Book bound by Peter A. Mesier. Creator of contents unknown.
Contains extensive genealogy information and a Van Rensselaer family tree/pedigree.
This series consists of four subseries: Subseries 1: Photos, Subseries 2: Collecting, Subseries 3: Research, Subseries 4: Personal.
A matching brown notebook with identical handwriting is in PSNCA.H.043 (King/Armstrong/Rives Family Papers) in Series 1, Subseries 6.
Contains three sections divided by blue paper dividers. The first section contains a single page describing "The Birthplace of Washington" (oil painting). The second section is described as "List of East River views, for exhibition at Gracie Mansion, 1927. And later at Colonial Dames House 421 East 61t St. Lent by Mrs. Lewis G. Morris. 1015 Park Avenue." The third section is titled "East River prints, unframed".
Found in PSNC.8720 in CW 1st Floor Library.
Found in filing cabinet in CW 3rd Floor Linen Closet.
Found in filing cabinet in CW 3rd Floor Linen Closet.
Removed from card catalog (PSNCA.H.049.04.02-Box 09) to unfold materials.
Found in filing cabinet in CW 3rd Floor Linen Closet.
Found in PSNC.8720 in CW 1st Floor Library.
Includes a long excerpt from Alice Prescott Bedlow's 1875 diary. Also photos and programs from amateur theatrical performances staged by Henry Bedlow at Malbone, featuring Mary E. Powel and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Morris Hunt.
Contains photos and postcards of historic homes in Newport, as well as correspondence between Mrs. Morris and Charles O. Cornelius of the Metropolitan Museum of Art documenting Mrs. Morris's role in securing pieces of Vaucluse for an exhibit of historic doors in the American Wing.
Photos, correspondence, auction catalogs, and articles documenting work by Anne (or Ann) Hall and her connections to the Hall, Howe, and Morris families. Also some documentation of work by Baroness Von Maydell and other women artists in the Nathalie Morris's collection.
Contains lists of contents of other scrapbooks in this series, including the missing volumes (Books V and VII). Also contains some additional typewritten copies of letters and some notes on family history.
'News clippings, ephemera, and correspondence about Newport history. Also documentation of purchases made by Nathalie Morris at the auctions of Henry Bedlow and Harriette Hall Bedlow's estates and the execution of the Bedlows' wills.
Photostat negatives of articles, photos, ephemera, etc. contained in other scrapbooks in this series.
Inscribed "Harriet D'Wolf - Mrs. J. Prescott Hall, 'The Mount' Bristol."
Inscribed "Alice Bedlow, Geneva. June 1869."
Signed by Edna Donnell to Mrs. Lewis Morris (Nathalie Bailey Morris).
Signed by auctioneer Wallace H(?) Kay.
Found in magazine file (PSNC.8720) in Chepstow 1st Floor Library.
Found in CW 1st Floor Sitting Room in PSNC.8417, bottom right drawer.
The packaging in which Lewis G. Morris's checkbook was wrapped when it was removed from PSNC.8417.
Found in CW 1st Floor Sitting Room in PSNC.8417, bottom right drawer.