Re: Wilbur T. Gracey
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In reply to:
Re: Wilbur T. Gracey
Robert K. Salin 10/08/09
Bob, an interesting question, perhaps a possible relative might know, Lets hope somebody reads this query.I have searched for an obituary notice without success. Searching did produce information unknown to me.Putting it together eg
Wilbur Tirrell Gracey, b 26 Feb 1877 East Weymouth MA; Wilbur married Enid Yale 22 July 1906. They had a child Yale W. Gracey [Don’t know what the W stands for perhaps its Wilbur], b 3 Sep 1910 in China, I think Yale is referred to as Wilbur Graceyleaving Genoa, Italy to arrive 1919 - New York. {There is a reference to a Wilbur Y Gracey in 1930 in Napa, California. Yale Gracey and his wife tragically died 5 Sep 1983 Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills ? CA. I dont know if his papers were acquired by the Disney studio or perhaps given to a University?
Wilbur Tirrell Gracey was educated in public and private schools of Massachusetts; employed as clerk, insurance agent, and manager; general commission merchant; appointed Marshal at Foochow 1899; also Vice-Consul later that year; appointed Vice and Deputy Consul 1902; appointed Vice and Deputy Consul; Marshal and Vice and Deputy Consul at Foochow 1905; during 1905 he wrote REPORT ON RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF U.S. CITIZENS IN CHINA. 1905. 1 cm, 1/2 in. 1 vol. [Typed copy of a report prepared by Wilbur Gracey, a U.S. consular officer in Nanking see http://www.archives.gov/research/state-dept/finding-aids/inventory15-part3.pdfhttp://www.archives.gov/research/state-dept/finding-aids/inventory15-part3.pdf.During that year he was also Vice and Deputy Consul-General at Hongkong 1905; Consul at Tsingtau 1906; Consul at Nanking 1910; Consul at Progreso [Yucatan,mex] 1912. Consul at Seville 1914; Consul of class seven by act approved 1915; appointed Consul of class six 1916; detailed to Monterey 1918. as has residence in Oakland, Cal in 1918.;thereafter there is a trace of travelling eg leavingTampico to arrive 1919 - New York. In 1920 he appears to be living inAlameda, California He leaves Southampton to arrive 1922 - New York.He leaves Liverpool to arrive 1924 - New York.He is leavingSouthampton, England to arrive 1926 - New York . In 1930 he appears to be living in Gloucester, New Jersey. Bob you have Woodbury, which probably is the same place? Then I spotted you Bob on Gloucester County, NJ Genealogy Forum. Next I find he was directing a play in 1937-38 ‘Ghost Train’ in Philadelphia, then I spot later that year a coincidence or otherwise a Ted Hesser is directing 'Post Road', this director continues directing plays until 'Two Dozen Red Roses' inJan 1956. I wondered if Ted hesser wrote about himself or had in depth interviews.
Thereafter I have no more information other than the books. Olive Growing in Spain 1918 Oysters 1941 ‘by the Philadelphia Unit of Pennsylvania Writers' Project, Dept.of Public Instruction for the Work Projects Administration. W.P.A’,Frogs 1942’ written by Wilbur T. Gracey and Irwin Shappin of our Philadelphia Unit’. ]Lords of the Old West 1942 These last two were published in 1942, when he would have been 65.A long time ago on browsing books by Workers of the Writers’ Program of the Work Projects Administration in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I thought the workers had to be living in the support group area.So I think that the focus stays on Philadelphia to find what happened next.Then I found another book ‘Lenni Lenape (Len ah pay) Indians in fact and fancy’: A Federal Writers Program sponsored by Pennsylvania Historical Commission (This is Bucks County series) by Wilbur T Gracey (Unknown Binding - 1945)
I dont think he goes back to his diplomatic career in WW2, however as a person of such stature, he must be remembered much more than I have found.He could of course be buried anywhere from East Weymouth MA to California.I didn’t get access to the series Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) which is on CDs as well as in bookform.Sources genforum.genealogy.com/gracey/messages www.archive.org/stream/registercontaini1918unit/registercontaini1918unit_djvu.txt and passenger lists on Rootsweb/Ancestry. Perhaps amember could enlighten us.
Bob, I live in England with my local library being renovated, so I don’t think I am going to find anything further quickly. I wondered if familysearch.com had some clues, or the main reference department in Philadelphia Libraries. Jim