Finding aid to the McBratney Family Papers

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
MCBRATNEY FAMILY PAPERS
The collection includes research notes, correspondence, court records, and photographs
of the McBratney family, descendants of William Edgar McBratney (1892-1951) of Montclair,
New Jersey. It also includes a letter (1918) from King George V welcoming soldiers in World
War I and a letter from Eleanor Roosevelt (1935) concerning two sons of William Edgar
McBratney being stricken with polio.
[Detailed finding guide is available with the collection.]

MS1041

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
MCBRATNEY FAMILY PAPERS
The collection includes research notes, correspondence, court documents, and
photographs of the McBratney family, descendants of William Edgar McBratney (1892-1951) of
Montclair, New Jersey. It also includes a letter (1918) from King George V welcoming soldiers
in World War I and a letter from Eleanor Roosevelt (1935) concerning two sons of William
Edgar McBratney being stricken with polio.
BOX 1

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1-12
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McBratney – Genealogical forms and notes
McBratney Name and Line
McBratney Photographs
Edgar, Harper, Jameson Families
Maps
McBratney, William E., Sr. – World War I
[Sign] “Private Office of the Provost Marshal 29th Div.”
McBratney, William E., Sr. – World War II
Christian and Allied Families
Handy, Percy, Obenchain Families
McBratney – Notes and correspondence (Judy Shanks)
McBratney – Miscellaneous notes and correspondence
Edgar, Robert MacCheyne, Help Towards a Revival of Religion
Linen Trade Association, Annual Dinner Commemorating the
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Linen Trade Association 1891-1941

BOX 2

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18 Claridge Court, Montclair, New Jersey
Family Photographs – McBratney sons and family members
Miscellaneous Correspondence and photographs
Birth Registration (William E. McBratney, Sarah Galway)
Marriage Registration, Wedding Announcement
Photographs – Wedding Reception (1921)
William E. McBratney, Sr. Will and Death Notices (1951)
William E. McBratney, Jr. – Photographs and Miscellaneous Notes
John Greer McBratney – Miscellaneous Photographs and Articles
Robert Bruce McBratney - Photographs

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2-9

(Continued)
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MCBRATNEY FAMILY PAPERS, Cont’d.
BOX 3

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3-7

Letters and Notes – Fred P. Galway
Galway Family – Miscellaneous notes
Galway-Greer – Genealogist’s Findings (Mrs. Wilson)
Galway-Greer – Miscellaneous Notes
Galway-Greer – Photographs
Millmount House – Notes, Letters, Photographs
The Most Unpretending of Places: a History of Dundonald, County
Down by Peter Carr (Whiterow Press, 1987)
These Three Hundred and Forty Years of Witness: An Historical
Outline of Dundonald Presbyterian Congregation 1645-1985 –
By Alexander Hanna (Outlook Press, 1985) (copy of letter found in book)
History of Richhill Presbyterian Church – by Rev. Dr. A.R. Scott
(Outlook Press. 1972?)
The Romance of Dundonald – by John J. Marshall (Baird, 1929)

MS1041

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501

WILLIAM EDGAR MCBRATNEY (1892-1951)
William Edgar McBratney, son of John McBratney and Mary Harper Edgar, was born 9
October 1892 in St. Kilda (Melbourne), Victoria, Australia. He migrated to the United States in
1906 and began his employment in the linen firm established by his uncle. During World War I,
he served as a First Lieutenant in the infantry, and became the commanding officer of the 29th
Military Police Company and provost marshal. During World War II, he served as Captain and
was assigned to the military government branch. He saw service with the Fifth Army in Sicily,
Sardinia and the Italian mainland. He served as the military governor in the provinces of Pistola,
Lucca and Bolzano.
McBratney was executive vice-president of Robert McBratney and Co., Inc., linen
importers, of New York. He also served as president, vice-president and member of the board of
directors of the Linen Trade Association of New York. In his work with this organization he
took part in negotiations with the federal government on trade treaties and tariff questions.
William Edgar McBratney married Sara Canavan Greer Galway on 12 October 1921 in
County Down, Northern Ireland. Born 21 October 1897, she was the daughter of John Galway
and Sophia Greer. They were the parents of three sons.
William Edgar McBratney died 4 August 1951 in Montclair, New Jersey, and was buried
in Restland Memorial Park, East Hanover, New Jersey.
[McBratney Family Papers, MS1041, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA]

WILLIAM EDGAR MCBRATNEY, JR. (1923- )
William Edgar McBratney, Jr., son of William Edgar McBratney, Sr. and Sara Canavan
Greer Galway, was born 28 November 1923 in Montclair, New Jersey. He served as an officer
in the U.S. Navy during World War II. A graduate of the University of Virginia in 1947, he
excelled in track and basketball “in spite of being afflicted by polio as a youth.” On 20 October
1950, in Lynchburg, Virginia, he married Leila Percy Christian, daughter of James Dearing
Christian and Josephine Percy Handy. He worked at Scott Insurance in Lynchburg for thirty-five
years, retiring as vice-president. In addition to numerous community and church activities, he
also served as a board member and treasurer of Jones Memorial Library.
[McBratney Family Papers, MS1041, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA]

MS1041