Aloha- i am going to list the documents i have researched so far within the collection i have to see if there is an interest in all i have. thank you steve forthe guidence... i hope someone can help me out as i would hate to see this collection just disappear... joed
THIS IS THE FINALIZED LIST OF ALL OF THE COLBY LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS THAT ARE IN PLASTIC BAGS…
1) SENATOR ROBERT F. WAGNER (n.y.)- ( Dec. 19th 1931 letters) There is 1 signed letter from Senator Wagner on United States Senate letterhead paper (signed very friendly simply as “Bob..” stating his pleasure to add Mr. Colby to his mailing list and sorrow in missing Mr. Colby on his most recent visit to Washington D.C. Also included are two unsigned carbon copies of replies to the Senator from Mr. Colby. One of which is a congratulatory note, dated November 10th 1932, on Senator Wagner’s “triumphant re- election.”, the other is thanking him for adding Mr. Colby to the Congressional Record mailing list dated December 19th, 1931.
(Historical notes- Robert Ferdinand Wagner I (June 8, 1877 – May 4, 1953) was an American politician. He was a Democratic U.S. Senator from New York from 1927 to 1949. Senator Wagner was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1926, and reelected in 1932, 1938 and 1944. He resigned on June 28, 1949, due to ill health. He was unable to attend any sessions of the 80th or 81st Congress from 1947 to 1949 because of a heart ailment.[2] Wagner was Chairman of the Committee on Patents in the 73rd Congress, of the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys in the 73rd and 74th Congresses, and of the Committee on Banking and Currency in the 75th through 79th Congresses. He was a delegate to the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in 1944.
Wagner, who had known the future President when they were in the New York state legislature together, was a member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Brain Trust. He was very involved in labor issues, fought for legal protection and rights for workers, and was a leader in crafting the New Deal.
His most important legislative achievements include the National Industrial Recovery Act in 1933 and the Wagner-Steagall Housing Act of 1937. After the Supreme Court ruled the National Industrial Recovery Act and the National Recovery Administration unconstitutional, Wagner helped pass the National Labor Relations Act (also known as the Wagner Act) in 1935[3], a similar but much more expansive bill. The National Labor Relations Act, perhaps Wagner's greatest achievement, was a seminal event in the history of organized labor in the United States. It created the National Labor Relations Board, which mediated disputes between unions and corporations, and greatly expanded the rights of workers by banning many "unfair labor practices" and guaranteeing all workers the right to form a union. He also introduced the Railway Pension Law, and cosponsored the Wagner-O'Day Act, the predecessor to the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act.)
2) Samuel. B. Thomas- November 16th 1932- letterhead SAMUEL B. THOMAS Counselor at Law 150 Broadway New York. 1 signed letter congratulating Mr. Colby and Governor (N.Y.) on “the GREATEST Democratic victory in history as well as wishing Mr. Colby should return to the seat of Secretary Of State again. He also sends Mr. Colby a copy of a small summary (32 pgs) of his & Edward Williams latest publication- “THE WAY OUT OF PROHIBITION, Demonstrating that “The Constitution Prohibits Prohibition..”. The summary booklet is also in this set of documents. No carbon reply found yet.
(Historical Notes- Mr. Thomas was a New York lawyer who defended William Sulzer during his impeachment in 1913. He was the Commonwealth Land Party candidate for Justice of New York Supreme Court 1st District in 1924. He died on October 11, 1943. Mr Thomas also wrote a book on Governor W. Sulzer called According to the hagiographic 1914 book, The Boss or the Governor, by Samuel Bell Thomas).
3) William Sulzer – June 12th 1930 – letterhead Wm. SULZER Counselor at Law, 115 Broadway New York. 2 signed letters marked “Personal..” First Letter written to “My Dear Secretary..” and informs Mr. Colby that he will be leaving for his journey to Alaska in mid-June and not returning until October. He hopes to meet with Mr. Colby on his return and requests a bunch of paperwork be returned so he can take them to Alaska with him. Second letter dated April 5th 1930 “Just a line to show you which way the wind is blowing..” and as a reminder that he will be calling him by phone the next week in reference to a Mr. Grace & Mr. Schwab. 1 carbon copy page reply from Mr. Colby saying the documents on loan will be returned and offers the Honorable Mr. Sulzer a “pleasant and PROFITABLE trip.
(Historical notes- Mr. Sulzer was an American lawyer and politician, nicknamed Plain Bill Sulzer, eventually after impeachment he was known s the “Great Mcginty”. He was the 39th Governor of New York and a long-serving congressman from the same state. He was the first and so far only New York Governor to be impeached. His brother Charles August Sulzer served in Congress as a delegate from the Territory of Alaska. He resigned from Congress effective December 31, 1912, having been elected Governor of New York in November 1912 for the term beginning on January 1, 1913. A few months into his term, Sulzer was alleged to have diverted campaign contributions to his own use and to have lied. Sulzer had enjoyed Tammany Hall support as the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1912. On August 13, 1913, the New York Assembly voted to impeach Governor Sulzer, by a vote of 79 to 45. Sulzer was served with a summons to appear before the Court for the Trial of Impeachments, and Lieutenant Governor Martin H. Glynn was empowered to act in his place pending the outcome of the trial. However, Sulzer maintained that the proceedings against him were unconstitutional and refused to vacate his office. The court convicted Sulzer on three of the Articles of Impeachment on the afternoon of October 16, finding him guilty of filing a false report with the Secretary of State concerning his campaign contributions, committing perjury, and advising another person to commit perjury before an Assembly committee. According to the hagiographic 1914 book, The Boss or the Governor, by Samuel Bell Thomas, a crowd of 10,000 gathered outside the Executive Mansion on the night Governor Sulzer left Albany. He engaged in the practice of law in New York City until his death there November 6, 1941, aged 78. He was interred at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hillside, New Jersey
Sulzer's official portrait is one of two Governors of New York that do not hang in the "Hall of Governors," the main hallway leading to the Executive Chamber, located within the New York State Capitol in Albany. The other is that of Governor Eliot Spitzer.)
4) ARCH SELWYN- October 22 1931 & December 15 1931 – Letterhead Offices of ARCH SELWYN SELWYN THEATRE 229 West 42nd Street New York. 2 signed personal letters to Mr. Colby. First letter is signed very personally just “ARCHIE..”. It offers a copy of a new play by Mr. Ben Levy (Mr. Levy had two plays “Mrs. Moonlight & Art & Mrs. Bottle” the season before. He requests Mr. Colby read the manuscript and would offer his opinion because he was worried that the Church would not approve. Mr. Selwyn also states how happy he was at seeing the night before, but felt the play was a “PUNK SHOW. That should be left in the hands of the French exclusively…” The second signed letter was signed “Arch Selwyn..” and requests the company of both Mr. & Mrs. Colby to be his exclusive guests at the opening of “The Devil Passes..” starring Arthur Byron, Basil Rathbone, Robert Loraine, Mary Nash, Diana Wynyard, Cecilia Loftus, Ernest Thesiger, & Ernest Cossart. In the lot is an unused ticket to the play. Also is a carbon reply in which Mr. Colby accepts the invitation for January the 4th 1931. Mr. Colby reminisces about the “old days..” when they got together and requests that they could meet for a luncheon mid-day meal for a little reunion.
(Historical information- In 1918, Edgar and Arch Selwyn opened the Selwyn Theatre on the already crowded Forty-Second Street. The Selwyn was an Italian Renaissance style theater designed by George Keister , an architect who specialized in theater work. The theatre was decorated in gold and blue with large murals adorning the walls. It seated 1,000 people and contained two levels of box seats.
On October 2, the Selwyn Theatre held its grand opening with Information, Please, starring Jane Cowl. This show was a flop and only had 46 performances. Jane Cowl return in the Selwyn's next production, The Crowded Hour. This show tripled the run of Cowl's first performance, but it was not until 1919, that the Selwyn had its first hit with the musical Buddies. The biggest hit ever staged at the Selwyn was The Royal Family, in 1925. The subject of the play was the on- and off- stage feud between the Drews and Barrymores. The show ran for 345 performances.
When the depression hit, Selwyn Theatre suffered like the rest. No show lasted for more than a week, and like the others, this theatre because a movie house.)
5) BURTON K. WHEELER (SENATOR MONTANA)- February 4 1931- Letterhead UNITED STATES SENATE “Committee on Agriculture and Forestry”. 1 signed letter from Senator Wheeler. Letter refers to a phone call from Mr. Colby to the Senator on January 27th 1931 and apologizes for being so busy as of late that he had neglected his personal correspondence. The Senator references an article of Mr. Colbys and gives his full approval if Mr. Colby so agrees the Senator will insert it immediately into the Congressional Record as he feels it is due the publicity it deserves. The letters Senator Wheeler refers to are attached as carbon copies. The first dated January 27th 1931 is in reference to Mr. Colbys recollections of Ex-Prime Minister Stanley Baldwins’ refusal to sell his shares in Baldwin’s Ltd. And the fact that he foresaw the depression and was unwilling to unload his losses on people who would have bought the shares on the credibility of his name and company. Mr. Colby references the “standards of business morals..” that are prevalent in that time period. He also brings into play yhe economist of the Chase National Bank. He reiterates that it was heard on the radio that German investments at the time were sound and safe. He notes that the public is “not willing to absorb the financial losses known as Flops..” Barrons Weekly also is mentioned. The second carbon reply references the Senator using Mr. Colbys “quib..” in his Congresional record and its “ enlightenment..” however it appears he was looking for publicity which I assume he was not. He mentions on his next trip to Washington DC that he would like to get together.
(historical Information- .February 27, 1882 – January 6, 1975) was an American politician of the Democratic Party and a United States Senator from 1923 until 1947. He graduated from the University of Michigan law school in 1905. He initially headed for Seattle, Washington, but after getting off the train in Butte, Montana and losing his belongings in a poker game, he settled there) and began practicing law. Wheeler won election to the United States Senate from Montana in 1922 with 55% of the vote over Republican Congressman Carl W. Riddick and served four terms, being reelected in the 1928, 1934 and 1940 elections.)
6) George S. Silzer – November 22 1932 – letterhead George S. Silzer Counselor at Law 35 Nassau Street New York.. 1 signed letter reminding Mr. Colby that Mr. Silzer had retired from the banking business when the Interstate Trust Co. was absorbed by the Chase National Bank. He gives Mr. Colby his new address. 1 carbon copy reply from Mr. Colby wishing him best of luck in his new practice in New Jersey.
(Historical notes- April 14, 1870 – October 16, 1940) served as the 38th Governor of New Jersey. Silzer was a member of the New Brunswick board of aldermen from 1892 to 1896. He was a member of the New Jersey Senate from Middlesex County from 1907 to 1912. He served as Governor of New Jersey from 1923 to 1926. He was appointed chairman of the New York Port Authority, serving in that role from 1926 to 1928. He died on October 16, 1940 of a heart attack as he was on his way to Pennsylvania Station in Newark from his law offices in that city.)
7) OWEN D. YOUNG- July 8 1930 – Autographed pamphlet NATIONAL ELECTRIC LIGHT ASSOCIATION Fifty- Third Annual Convention Address – 1 signed note on Pamphlet Has a handwritten note on it “To Bainbridge Colby, Esq., An appreciative and charitable reader? Forever Owen D. Young” published San Francisco, California June 19, 1930. (Contains a few handwritten corrective remarks on several pages, it is a 17 page pamphlet) New York Times Man of the year 1929
(Historical notes- (October 27, 1874 - July 11, 1962) January 6, 1930 TIMES MAN OF THE YEAR. Mr. Young was an American industrialist, businessman, lawyer and diplomat at the Second Reparations Conference (SRC) in 1929, as a member of the German Reparations International Commission.)
8) Jesse Isidor Straus Esq.- letterhead 720 Park Avenue Jesse Isidor Straus- April 1 1932. 1 Personalized and signed private stationary invitation to an informal dinner in honor of Senator Thomas F. Walsh of Montana on April 23rd 1932. 2 carbon copies of Mr. Colbys replies (April 29th 1932) telling Mr. Straus that “it was an interesting evening.. of table talk.. and the occasion was one of rare pleasure and intellectual profit..” April 2 1932 a letter to Mr. Straus accepting the invitation.
(Historical note- This letterhead is directly from the most famous address in N.Y.C., (June 25, 1872–October 4, 1936) served as the American ambassador to France from 1933 to 1936. He was the eldest son of Isidor Straus (1845–1912), who died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic, co-owner with his brother Nathan Straus of the department store R.H. Macy & Co. His uncle Oscar Solomon Straus (1850–1926) was the first Jewish United States Cabinet Secretary, serving as Secretary of Commerce and Labor from 1906 to 1909. Roosevelt appointed him Chairman of the state's Temporary Emergency Relief Administration (TERA), which provided unemployment assistance to ten percent of New York's families, in 1931.)
9) Joseph P. Tumulty – November 26 1930, November 26 1930, Western Union Telegram (DO NOT USE W.U. INAUCTION EBAY!!) Nov. 26th 1930, March 20 1931- Letterheads LAW OFFICES JOSEPH P. TUMULTY 1317 F Street, N.W. Washington D.C. - 3 signed letters by Mr. Tumulty. First reference the telegraph invitation to speak at the Friendly Sons dinner. Second is in reference Mr. Colby’s generous reply and manuscript offered. Third references what a great speech and deep impression it made. 2 carbon reply’s from Mr. Colby to Mr. Tumulty, whom he refers to as “Joe..” 1st references his lifelong membership to the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and he states that some of his fondest functions he ever attended were St. Patrick’s Day dinners. Spoke about the wonderful conversations. 2nd carbon reply is a two page note to “Joe…” thanking him for his letter and saying it is a prized possession. He spoke of the great service at the Mayflower and of the hospitality he had in Washington D.C. He tells “Joe..” that the affair was full of “High Class Company…” He especially loved the skit put on by “Joe..’ called “The Homecoming..” And states that the New York Chapter should invite the artists to come to N.Y. to re-produce the sketch to “cement the N.Y. & Washington D.C. chapters. He requests information on Colonel O’Brian. Also included in this set is the original Western Union Telegram dated Nov. 26th 1930.
(Historical notes- Private Secretary to Woodrow Wilson from 1911-1921. A New Jersey attorney from a middle class Irish-Catholic family, Tumulty became an important figure in state-level Democratic circles, in the progressivist mold of William Jennings Bryan. After a stint in the New Jersey Assembly (1907-1910), where he sponsored unsuccessful reformist legislation to regulate railroad and utility rates, Tumulty served as an adviser to gubenatorial candidate Woodrow Wilson in the election of 1911. Pleased with Tumulty's assistance, Wilson appointed Tumulty to be his private secretary in 1911 which he ably filled for ten years, including during Wilson's years as president.
During his tenure as Wilson's secretary, Tumulty filled many different roles, including press secretary, public relations, campaign organizer for the Catholic and Irish vote, and adviser for minor patronage appointments. His relationship with the president was nearly severed over his opposition to Wilson's remarriage only a few months shortly after the death of his first wife, but Wilson declined Tumulty's offer to resign. Despite this, however, the relationship between the two was never again as close.
A 'conservative progressive' in his own estimation, Tumulty was a proponent of women's suffrage, war-time censorship and was a supporter of A. Mitchell Palmer's deportation of 'red' aliens in 1919. It was ultimately his support of Palmer and of the 'wet' Catholic presidential candidate, James M. Cox that led to his final break with Wilson in 1922, and ended Tumulty's influence in Washington. He remained in Washington as a practicing attorney until his death in 1954.)
10) Carl Van Doran – November 17 1932 & December 7 1932 – Letterhead CARL VAN DORAN 55 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK - PURLITZER PRIZE WINNER !! 2 signed letters from Mr. Doran to Mr. Colby. The first letter requests the attendance of Mr. Colby at a Reception to honor distinguished authors such as James Branch Cabell, Richard Boleeslavski, Helen Woodward, Van Wyck Brooks, Phil Strong, T. S. Stribling, Claude G. Bowers, Lion Feuchtwanger, William McFee, and Mary Austin, to be hosted by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. The second letter is noted as a pleasure to welcome Mr. Colby as a member of the committee to the “Authors of the Year…”. It lists all the new members, a very long list of very influential persons. 1 carbon reply from Mr. Colby that states he is pleased to be included in this project and how impressed he is.
(Historical notes- (September 10, 1885 – July 18, 1950) was a U.S. critic and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer. He was the brother of Mark Van Doren and the uncle of Charles Van Doren. He was born in Hope, Vermilion County, Illinois on September 10, 1885 to a country doctor and was raised on the family farm. He earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1907 and a doctorate from Columbia University in 1911 and continued to teach there until 1930. He was a world federalist and once said, "It is obvious that no difficulty in the way of world government can match the danger of a world without it". Van Doren's study The American Novel, published in 1921, is generally credited with helping to re-establish Herman Melville's critical status as first-rate literary master. From 1912 to 1935, Van Doren was married to Irita Bradford, editor of the New York Herald Tribune book review. He married Jean Wright Gorman in 1939, but divorced in 1945. Van Doren died in Torrington, Connecticut on July 18, 1950)
11) Dr. Leo S. Rowe – December 22 1929 & December 27 1929 – letterhead paper Director General Pan American Union (union of American Republics) Actual embossed thick paper- 2 signed letters. First is the 22nd and is a birthday greeting from Dr. Rowe to Mr. Colby. The second letter is the 27th and sends “cordial wishes.” For the new year of 1930.
(Historical notes- The Director General Pan American Union (union of American Republics) Dr. Leo Stanton Rowe was born in McGregor, Iowa, on September 17, 1871, and died on December 5, 1946, in Washington, D.C. He served with exemplary dedication and vision as Director General of the Pan American Union, from 1920 up to the day of his death. He devoted the greater part of his life to fostering understanding and integration among the American nations, demonstrating special interest in the education of Latin American youth, whom he assisted during his lifetime, and to whom he bequeathed most of his assets in his will. Dr.Leo S. Rowe was educated in Pennsylvania, receiving a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1900 President William McKinley appointed him a member of the commission to revise and compile the laws of Puerto Rico. He served on various posts in the Inter-American Commission until he was appointed Asst. Secretary of the Treasury in 1917, serving until 1919 when he transferred to the State Department, Latin American division. In 1920 he becamse director general of the Pan-American Union. Rowe also was one of the incorporators of The Brookings Institution in 1927. He never married.)
12) GEORGE Z. MEDALIE- September 16 1931 – Letterhead DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE NEW YORK - 1 signed Letter is a thank you note Mr.Colby concerning a Joseph E. Brill who apparently became N.Y. Republican candidate for New York state senate 18th District, 1932; American Labor candidate for delegate to New York state constitutional convention at-large, 1937 .
.( Historical notes- November 21, 1883 New York City - March 5, 1946 Albany, New York. Mr. Medalie was an American lawyer and politician. He graduated from Columbia Law School in 1907, and practiced law in New York City. He was Special Assistant New York State Attorney General in charge of the prosecution of election frauds from 1926 to 1928. In 1931, he was appointed by President Herbert Hoover U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Medalie appointed Thomas E. Dewey as his Chief Assistant, and when Medalie resigned in November 1933, Dewey acted as U.S. Attorney for a month. In 1932, he ran on the Republican ticket for U.S. Senator from New York, but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat Robert F. Wagner (in this collection coincidentally is a document from Senator R.F. Wagner, although not in reference to this document). On September 28, 1945, he was appointed by Dewey, now Governor, to the New York Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of John T. Loughran as Chief Judge, and died in office)
13) The RT. Honorable LORD WRAXALL- June 10th 1931- Letterhead SLOANE 4400 81. EATON SQUARE S.W.I - Letter regards sending a photograph of the Lord to Mr. Colby. There is only 1 signed letter from the Lord. He states his only decent photo is one dressed in his Masonic garb. He had just been appointed to the Treasurer of His Majesty’s Household, in full dress uniform. He looks upon his visit to America with very great pleasure. He felt the Sesquicentenial celebration was a success stating that Masonic feeling in the masonic world had been improved without doubt. He was appreciative with the hospitality of Mr. Colby. He speaks of Lady Wraxall and he attended functions such s the Derby run at Epsom , a vey good race. The winner was “Cameronian..” The best horse won he states. He states that possibly ¾ of a million watched the Downs. He also attended the Trooping of the Color held normally on the Kings birthday, June 3rd, but was held off to the 6th that year. He states it is a magnificent pageant from the 1800’s with the battalion of Guards carrying the color of the Kings Guard. His brother Colonel Evelyn Gibbs, was commanding the Coldstream Guards, and commanded the parade. The king was present on horseback to inspect the troops, followed by the playing of bands as the color was trooped down the lines of guards. His brother lead the parade and at the end rode to Buckingham palace with His Majesty. King George the Fifth was dealing with the severe depression of the time and it affected him greatly as Lord Wraxall states, the King Died in 1936, leaving the crown to Queen Elizabeth who rules still today. The lord thanks Mr. Colby for a wonderful evening at his home with Mrs. Colby. As a Ps. The Lord mentions having had a close friend by the same name as Mr. Colby who hunted with the Duke of Beaufort hounds from wales in his personal handwriting, a rare thing indeed. There are 2 carbon copies of Mr. Colby’s replies to the lord thanking him for a wonderful visit and states that the photograph of the Lord held a special place in his library (which was lost to history unti my friends and I found the underground bunker) He tells the Lord he loves the English life He tells the lord that Mrs Colby indeed was happy to have the lord visit her home. The second carbon letter reply on the eve of the Lords sailing back to England, and thanks the Lord for the true spirit he brought to the craft of Masonry He tells the Lord he will be there at the ship to shake his hand upon his leaving on the ship headed home.
(Historical notes- personal letters dated 10th june 1931 just months before his death of pneumonia at 58)George Abraham Gibbs, 1st Baron Wraxall, PC (6 July 1873 – 28 October 1931), was a British Conservative politician. In 1906 Gibbs was elected Member of Parliament for Bristol West (succeeding Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), a seat he would hold until 1928. He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Colonial Secretary Walter Hume Long (his father-in-law) and as a government whip from 1917 to 1921 in the coalition ministry of David Lloyd George. In 1921 he was appointed Treasurer of the Household, a post he continued to hold also under Bonar Law and Baldwin until 1924 and again from 1924 to 1928. Gibbs was admitted to the Privy Council in 1923 and in 1928 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Wraxall, of Clyst St George in the County of Devon. He also served as a colonel in the North Somerset Yeomanry.)
14) Wm. Jay Schiefferlin- December 10 1931- Letterhead The NEW YORK COMMITTEE OF ONE THOUSAND 25 East 26th Street N.Y.C. , Chairman - 2 signed letters from Mr. Schiefferlin to Mr. Colby. First in reference to the radio station WGBS broadcasting from the 27th floor of the Lincoln Hotel offering a 15 minute radio show each Tuesday at noon. He is requesting Mr. Colby to take one of those slots as a spokesman for the Committee of One Thousand. Second letter Requesting Mr. Colby as a Democrat to support Judge Seabury and favor a completion of the city-wide inquiry. Hopefully to urge other Democrats to support the assemblyman. Hoping the speech will have an excellent effect. Also attached is a summer of hopeful topics for the speakers and another that lists the Key to the Papers all of which apparently are in reference to the Railways. There is also a short 4 page pamphlet written y Mr. Schiefferlin attached called “Suggestions for Speakers of the N.Y. Committee of One Thousand. This Pamphlet is a tell all short piece on corruption within the City as well as Tammany leaders in the mannerisms of “cruelly exploited girls, bought judgeships, undue influence by district leaders, Tammany leaders banking untold sums of money in return for influence, that taxpayers have had to supply the money for all such matters ( sounds familiar today does it not) Money earmarked for unemployment was diverted from school districts and parks so that office leaders were allowed to engage in professional gambling, in political clubs, that crime and racketeering have flourished with police protection, city money appropriated for unemployed was diverted to reward voters, that huge sums were paid in the guise of legal fees to other Tammany leaders. (if the Olvany firm banked at least 5.25 million dollars in 6 years, how much money was taken in excess profits as a result of the “influence use???” Should not the citizens who pay the bribes receive condemnation as well as the politicians accepting them? (again does this sound familiar in today’s world). Read the pamphlet enclosed it is EYE OPENING and as relevant today as it was in 1931s depression. (Are WE not ALL accountable at SOME level??? Republican & Democrat & teaparty alike??)
(Historical note- William Jay Schieffelin of the drug firm of Schieffelin & Co. From the 1880s through the beginning of the 20th century, he firm was integral in the introduction for sale in the United States such drugs as, phenacetine, sulfonal, veronal, HEROIN and aspirin.)
15) Bainbridge Colby – November 26 1929 – Letterhead BAINBRIDGE COLBY BAR BUILDING 36 WEST 44TH STREET New York –1 Signed Letter written to Mr. Schmelzel. Esq. – A letter written by Mr. Colby To Mr. James H. Schmelzel, Esq. - Reference a letter he received upon his return from Europe. This was about a small New York Telephone Company Bill for services at his apartment on 1136 Fifth Avenue which Mr. Schmelzel subletted from Mr. Colby for several months in 1929. He notes that the dates on the bill coincide with the time of his occupancy. He notes it is a small matter and hope that he will pay it without the need for Mr. Colby to further bother him on the matter.
1 Signed handwritten note on Mr. Colbys letter from Mr. Schmelzel stating that he vacated the apartment on April 7th 1929 so the first bill listing did not belong to him. He claims that from “time to time… he paid phone bills to Mr. Colby and refers Mr. Colby to look through his own records (instead of sending evidenc of such himself) He states that because of this the last two items wer taken care of (again with no attached evidence by way of canceled check or proof that they were) Then in a very cocky undertone (in my opinion that is..) that it “is a LATE DATE to take them up…” Signed James Schmelzel. (I hope that I can find the reply I am sure Mr. Colby sent back to this gentleman because as a powerful and highly regarded and winning attorney I feel that after reading other of Mr. Colbys’ replies in regards to what to me seems like a definitive “I am not paying you, and it is YOU that needs to provide the evidence tone that Mr. Colby regardless of the small amount would NOT take lightly the disrespectful return of his polite and courteous request for payment that eventually Mr. Schmelzel did eventually pay the bills—lol)
(Historical note – The honorable Bainbridge Coby- Mark Twains attorney, Woodrow Wilsons Sec. of State, financier, Masonic brother, huge influence in foreign affairs throughout multiple presidencies, great orator, man of vision and forsight, the “dapper…” gentleman.)
16) Simon H. Rifkind – November 5 1932- Letterhead UNITED STATES SENATE Committee on Foreign Relations- 1 signed letter from Senator Rifkind referencing copies of the Congressional records Mr. Colby had requested in earlier documents (in this collection) from Senator Wagner of N.Y.. Mr. Rifkind was Senator Wagner’s legislative secretary 1927 to 1933. This short letter explains to Mr. Colby that copies of the Congressional Record was an item that each Senator has access to only a limited supply of copies due to cost and wanted to know if Mr. Colby was still in need of receiving copies of the updates on a regular basis or if he had just wanted them (I assume) during the period of time he had requested them. Mr. Rifkind simply requested that Mr. Colby need only add a yes or no to the bottom of this letter and return it stating no postage was required. Again I will venture a guess that since this letter still exists that Mr. Colby either replied in a separate letter of which I do have not as yet found a carbon copy of or he simply ignored it and did not reply (from my research into this gentleman I would presume that he wrote back on his own paper with his yes or no reply as Mr. Colby with each document I read instills in me that he was not of the nature or callousness to simply ignore anyone, his character seems to be a man who held respect and being polite in high esteem and not the kind of person to disregard anyone whether it be a positive or negative approach that was advanced towards him. And as such this was a polite, well explained letter from close friends of his friend’s personal employee.) As is seen in the historical notes I have found below Mr. Rifkind was far more than a simple secretary, he was indeed a man of great knowledge an influence who in his own way set precedent on how subtlety and quiet passion could and did reflect on his accomplishments in life and his manner kept him close to the most powerful of men/woman of his era. He not only was able to fill his jobs missions with grace and humility, he at the same time found the delineation between government and religious freedom. After studying what little I could about him I came to these conclusions and as I peer today at the political landscape of not just America, but indeed the world, I see an empty space where a man such as he is not filled. In fact todays political clime is such that what we have as choices are not truly choices as much as taking sides, and in Mr. Colbys words we are sinking into a world led by religious zealousness much more than a world that has learned from the past and is falling more each day by either materialism or people who never stray from the right or left sidewalks for fear of what they may encounter by removing their blinders and taking the roads center line and finding strength in the hazards of the mid roads full of potholes and danger and dealing with the necessary problems instead our choices are either/or. His approach was to love the concepts our forefathers envisioned, a nation where pride is born of stirring the melting pot. Instead of sitting on the sidelines safe, he evolved into a man who feared not the mixture of culture, religion and politics, indeed I feel he only feared their separation as the “nullificationists..” would have things be. (Again do we not see the same today with the Tea party? There is an old adage in Polynesian cultures that befits the political folly of todays “choices. You see when you go “crabbing.” There is no need to cap your pail for fear of losing because even though the crabs may appear to be working as a team to escape the loss of freedom and one reachs the edge of their cave two others will grab its legs and pull him/her back down into the pit of failure!!
(Historical note- (June 5, 1901 – November 14, 1995) He was a prominent United States federal judge and trial lawyer Born in Lithuania, Rifkind immigrated to the United States in 1910. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School, and received a B.S. from City College of New York in 1922 and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School in 1925. From 1927 to 1933, he was legislative secretary to Senator Robert F. Wagner, in which capacity he helped create important aspects of New Deal legislation including Section 7(a) of the National Industrial Recovery Act. He was partner at Wagner, Quillinan & Rifkind from 1930 to 1941. Rifkind was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 25, 1941, to become a Federal District Court judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, filling the seat vacated by Robert P. Patterson, Sr.. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 3, 1941, and received his commission on June 6, 1941. In 1945, Rifkind took a leave of absence from the bench to serve as adviser on Jewish affairs to the Theatre Commander of United States forces in Europe, helping the U.S. Army aid Holocaust survivors in the wake of World War II. Rifkind resigned from the bench in 1950, and until his death in 1995 served as a litigation partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Over the course of his tenure he came to be seen as the guiding spirit of the firm. Rifkind's work as a lawyer covered a vast range of matters affecting American political, social and economic life. He was appointed by the United States Supreme Court to sort out the rival claims of various western states to the Colorado River, was tapped by President John F. Kennedy to investigate railroad labor issues, and helped create (and later served as General Counsel of) the Mutual Assistance Corporation for New York City during New York's bankruptcy crisis in the 1970s. Rifkind represented a number of famous clients in high-profile court cases. He worked for Jacqueline Kennedy, United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas in a U.S. House of Representatives impeachment inquiry, and represented Madame Chiang Kai-shek in a defamation suit. In less glamorous, but equally important cases, Rifkind represented a wide variety of corporations, including General Motors Corporation and Pennzoil. United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas called Rifkind "the most outstanding advocate of all" the lawyers who appeared before the Court between 1939 and 1975. Today I will change but one thing in that statement, his actions did not end in 1975, he still reigns today & tomorrow from the looks of things.)
17) Harry D. Phillips – February 7 1931 – Letterhead SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SUBMETERING Appointed by THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK, INC. 12 East 41st Street N.Y, N.Y. – Executive Secretary- 1 signed letter to “PROPERTY OWNER.” (not directly to Mr. Colby) This was a message for everyone being affected by the Edison Companies attempts to take rights away from property owners. It dealt with their intent to “Sub meter.” tenets. The letter explains that this battle is being fought with the simple assumption of apathy and divide and conquer. This is a large 4 page add to educate property owners to the fact that “IF..” they do not come together because if they win the case it would mean that personal income will be reduced while at the same time profits for Edison will increase as substantially as do your private operation of your out buildings. The Committee is begging for moral & financial support. The committee request a stipend of 5% of your annual electric bill in order to be able to fight the lawyers who have their knowledge and success directed from within the Edison Electric co.’s deep pockets.
(Historical note-? Not sure if this is correct H.D. Phillips, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Appointed by President Kennedy(1963-1979) Nominated: June 4, 1963- Confirmed: June 28, 1963
Appointed: July 3, 1963 - Entered on Duty: July 19, 1963
Chief Judge: August 26, 1969-January 14, 1979 - Senior Status: January 15, 1979
Died: August 3, 1985 - Years of Service: 22 years)
18) Critchell Rimington – June 23 1931 & July 30 1931- Letterhead THE JOHN DAY COMPANY Inc... PUBLISHING, 386 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK CITY- 2 signed letters to Mr. Colby. First letter reference a small bit of the magazine “NATION..” stating that Mr. Colby might be interested in it (I have not found the article but there are a lot of cut outs in the box so it may be here) He also mentions that he would like to do lunch one day with Mr. Colby. Second letter is about sending Mr. Colby two of the John Day pamphlets under separate cover. He mentions that Mr. Colby may enjoy the actual content of the pamphlet but is mostly interested in sharing the company’s newest experiment in pamphleteering which is explained on the back ( agin I have not located the pamphlets if they are in the box of stuff I have.
(Historical notes- Associated Editor of The John Day Company Inc. Publishers Author –
1)1942 "Fighting Fleets" by Critchell Rimington --composed primarily of black and white photographs of different naval vessels followed by short descriptions.
2) The Sea Chest “A Yachtsman Reader”
3) Merchant fleets: A survey of the merchant navies of the world
19) Homer S. Pace- 27th April 1931 – letterhead THE GREAT HALL 40 MONROE PLACE
1 signed letter refers to Mr. Pace noticing that Mr. Colby had a “very evident interest in good printing…”. Mr. Pace offers Mr. Colby 3 volumes printed by PLANDOME PRESS noting Mr. Colby will probably especially like “THE FICHET LETTER…” A great sales pitch is obviously what this letter was meant to be by his words. 1 carbon reply from Mr. Colby thanking him for the gifts and states that they are “striking examples of printing craftsmanship. Mr. Colby states that he placed a special request for Mr. Pace to supervise & prepare the History of the KANE LODGE (the Masonic body that Mr. Colby was associated with). Please note that Mr. Colby made an error in his carbon reply, he misread Mr. Paces middle initial and put a D. instead of the S. it should have been for ( St.Clair).
(Historical notes- I am as well a proud member of the Masonic body here in the Valley of Hilo, Hawaii on the Big Island. And now a small part of Kane Lodge is home here as well in the form of Mr. Colbys Masonic Degree is as well. April 13, 1879—May 22, 1942) was an American business educator and innovator in the field of accountancy who, along with his brother Charles Ashford Pace, founded Pace University in New York. A native of Rehoboth, Ohio, Homer Pace first worked as an assistant to his father, John Fremont Pace, a Civil War veteran, in editing and publishing a weekly newspaper. He left journalism following his father's death in 1896. After working as a secretary and bookkeeper in Michigan, Texas and Minnesota, he secured a position with the Chicago Great Western Railroad. In January 1901, he was transferred to New York to serve as manager of the New York City office and, in 1902, became the Secretary of the Mason City and Fort Dodge Railroad, an affiliated line. In 1904 he passed the New York State C.P.A. examination.
In 1906, Homer Pace left the railroad to begin a business of his own. Together with his brother Charles, an attorney, he established the partnership of Pace & Pace for the purpose of preparing candidates for the New York State C.P.A. examination. In its early years, the Pace & Pace partnership ran schools that featured courses in accountancy and business law in a number of cities throughout the United States. The Pace Standardized Course could also be taken by correspondence. One of these schools, the Pace Institute of Accountancy in New York City, was chartered as Pace Institute in 1935. Homer Pace served as the president of the New York State Society of CPAs from 1924 to 1926. In 1918-19 he was Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.
The Pace brothers prepared their own curriculum and also developed a series of lectures on the theory and practice of accounting and business law. These evolved into written textbooks used by all Pace students. Charles Ashford Pace died in 1940, and two years later Homer Pace, who continued to serve as the first president of Pace Institute, was fatally stricken with cerebral hemorrhage while working at his office in the Institute. He was five weeks past his 63rd birthday. During his lifetime, he always emphasized that he was, first and foremost, a teacher and an educator. That was how he chose to be remembered: on his gravestone is carved the epitaph he wrote for himself, “Homer St. Clair Pace, Teacher”.
The Institute he founded along with his brother Charles became Pace College in 1948 and Pace University in 1973. In 2002, The YMCA of Greater New York Hall of Fame featured a selection of the important people in the organization's history, which included original photographs of Charles and Homer Pace, among others. In 2004, The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants inducted Homer Pace into its Hall of Fame.)
20) Charles T. Bryan – C.P.A. – January 21 1930 – Letterhead PACE, GORE& McLaren Accountants and Auditors 225 New York. 1 signed Letter to Mr. Colby in reference to Supreme Court ruling on Gould V. Gould, 245 U.S. 151 as precedents for possible use by Mr. Colby in reference to whatever the talk he mentions was about.
(Historical note- chairman of the board of trustees of Pace Institute from 1942 to 1954, died yesterday at St. John's Hospital, Elmhurst, Queens. He was 77 years old and lived at 84-09 35th Avenue, Jackson Heights, Queens.
21) Pace, Gore & McLaren- April 5 & June 2 1930 – Letterhead PACE, GORE & McLAREN 225 Broadway New York – 2 letters group signed with all three names (obviously by one person though) April 5 letter is in reference to starting work on Mr. Colbys fiduciary affairs in respect to years 1927 -28 -29. They have some concerns that they are telling Mr. Colby needs to be addressed in regards to certain items & exhibit (attached to this particular letter are two copies of exhibits A – C). 1 carbon reply dated 1931 from Mr. Colby to basically James W. McLaren thanking him for his faithfulness and efficiency and wishing him Mary (his wife?) and the three children. 1 carbon from Mr. Colby May 20th 1930 making payment and specifically expressing his appreciation of a Mr. Cook and oddly sounding as though he was beginning to look for someone to handle his fiduciary needs as they have become simple and require only the basic help of a bookkeeper every (fortnight?) two weeks or so.
22) Pace, Gore & McLaren – June 2 1932 - Letterhead PACE, GORE & McLAREN 225 Broadway New York- 1 group signed letter - VERY ODD LETTER as in MAY 2oth 1930 carbon with payment Mr. Colby spoke as though he KNEW something was wrong and even as HAPPY and enthusiastically positive and full of graciousness to the firm he was asking and speaking about Mr. Cook and NEW blood to handle his suddenly simple needs in financial matters. It is shown on the net in multiple locations , such as the man who even picked Homer Pace posthumously for inducted into the CPA Hall of Fame, Allan M. Rabinowitz states that the firm of , Pace & Pace, merged into the international accounting firm of Pace, Gore & McLaren until it dissolved in 1933, at the depth of the Great Depression (http://www.nysscpa.org/trustedprof/504/tp10.htm) However in my collection of trash I have carried around since 1965 I have a signed letter by the 3 members of the firm regretfully wrote a letter to the Honorable Bainbridge Colby on June 2nd 1932 that as of that date the firm was officially dissolved. They give Mr Colby a heads up on who to go to for future accounting needs. What is even cooler that I found in the trash is that Mr Colby must have been using his psychic séance powers which he notes in several letters to friends as having participating in even in Washington D.C. in a letter written in may 20th 1930 his feelings that he would begin a search for a new person to handle his small financial matters.
(Historical note- a pioneer in the field of accounting education. Born in a log cabin in Rehoboth, Ohio, in 1879, he went on to become an accomplished educator, an author of widely read accounting literature, a leading practitioner and professional, and a charismatic inspiration to thousands of accounting students and colleagues in a broad variety of pursuits. During 1904, Homer started tutoring CPA examination candidates at his Brookly home, and he passed the June 1904 exam. In 1906, he left the railroad, and in October, with $600 borrowed from the railroad's treasurer, he opened a one-classtoom school serving 12 students in the Tribune Building at 154 Nassau Street in Manhattan, alongside the Brooklyn Bridge and across the street from City Hall. This partnership venture, titled Pace & Pace, included his lawyer brother Charles and had as it prime objective the preparation of canddates for the New York State CPA exam.
Initially, the course of study comprised classes held two nights a week for 66 weeks, consisting of lecturers on accounting, law, and applied economics. Over the ensuing years, the brothers continually enhances and updated these lecturers. They also agreed to furnish faculty and texts for new accounting classes at the 23rd Street YMCA in New York City. These efforts met with quick success: Their very first student, James F. Hughes, went on to establish his own CPA firm, become the president of both the New York State (1935-37) and New Jersey State societies of CPAs, and become an accounting instructor at Columbia University.
Leading New York City accountants showered compliments on the Pace brothers' texts. The schools' enrollments increased due to referrals by accounting firms and satisfied students as well as the brothers' excellent marketing skills. Within three years, hundreds of students were enrolled in the courses that were now being offered in a number of YMCA schools. These successes led to additional YMCA extension and Pace private schools in major cities throughout the country, all featuring the Pace standardized courses. They advertised that instruction was being provided by practicing attorneys and CPAs. By 1919, more than 4,000 students were taking these courses in just the New York City metropolitan area; by 1921, they were offered in more than 50 schools.
In 1921, concerned with maintaining the highest standards of quality, the brothers decided to confine their efforts to the Pace private schools. A few years later, they further determined to devote their attention only to their first school, although several other schools continued to offer Pace courses under a franchise arrangement. The first school continued to expand its business curriculum, eventually becoming Pace Institute. It added to its liberal arts offerings, in 1935 becoming a corporation, in 1942 a nonprofit institution, in 1948 a college, and in 1973 a university with campuses in New York City and Westchester County. It is probably the only major U.S. university that had its beginnings as a school of accounting.
Homer Pace was the top administrator at Pace & Pace and served as the president of Pace Institute. During World War I, in 1918-19, he went to Washington, D.C., as acting deputy commissioner of what we now know as the 1RS, and developed the operations of the Income Tax Unit. he was an accomplished writer and editor, playing founding and central roles for the Pace Student, an accounting, business, and career-advice publication that first appeared in 1915, and for the American Accountant, which succeeded it in 1927. The latter publication, catering to the interests of practicing accountants, had a broad subscription base and ran until 1933, when the economics of the Great Depression brought it to a halt.
Pace & Pace, the accounting firm founded in 1906, was succeeded in 1928 by the international accounting firm of Pace, Gore & McLaren, an affiliation of 40 local independent accounting firms with offices in every state and Canada, Europe, and Cuba. Again due to the Great Depression, the affiliation was dissolved in 1933. A highlight of Homer Pace's distinguished career was his service as president of the New York State Society of CPAs from 1924 to 1926.
Homer Pace was noted for his superb organizational skills, excellent writing and public speaking abilities, ability to motivate and inspire, public relations expertise, professional standards, and high moral character. The accounting texts he authored were frequently updated during his lifetime and covered a four-year curriculum that included bank, stock brokerage, municipal, nonprofit, estate, and insurance accounting as well as public auditing. They remained in print for half a century.
Homer Pace was revered by his colleagues and students alike because of his profound positive career and personal influence on countless thousands of them, many of whom he also trained to become competent instructors. He was a tireless worker and possessed a rare blend of morality, practicality, foresight, and creativity. The light from the torch of knowledge that he lit continues to shine brightly as Pace University prepares for its centennial celebration this year.
He died in May 1942 at the age of 63. His tombstone reads, "Homer St. Clair Pace, Teacher.")
23) Stuart G. Gibboney – March 1930 & October 19 1932 – Letterhead THOMAS JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION National Headquarters 115 Broadway New York City – 2 Signed letters from Mr. Gibboney 1st letter dated march 1930 letter regards suggesting that Admiral Richard Byrd be elected as guest of honor for the March 24th meeting. Requesting Mr. Colby to attend. Second letter dated Oct. 1932 referencing the Board of Governors and the Educational Committee presenting the Jefferson Memorial Foundation The Presidential Medal to Attillic Piccirilli also that the Governor of Virginia the Honorable Jno. Garland Pollard will be the speaker. No carbon replies found.
(Historical notes - (1877-1944) was a New York City lawyer who was the driving force behind the organization and early operation of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and served as its President for 20 years (1923-1944). Gibboney was born in Wytheville, Virginia. In 1903, he received a law degree from the University of Virginia and moved to New York City to begin his practice. During his career he was a member of several firms including Gibboney, Johnston & Flynn (with fellow Foundation member Henry Alan Johnston); Barber, Watson & Gibboney; and Gibboney and O'Brien. His specialty was banking litigation and during President Wilson's administration, he served as counsel to the federal commission which established the Federal Reserve Board. A life-long Democrat, Gibboney was active in Woodrow Wilson's presidential campaign and in the reorganization of the Democratic Party in New York City. In addition to organizing the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in 1923, Gibboney was chairman of the Sesquicentennial of American Independence and the Thomas Jefferson Centennial Commission (created in 1926), elected chairman of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission (1939), and the Thomas Jefferson Bicentennial Commission (appointed by President Roosevelt in 1940). In 1943, Gibboney retired from his law practice and moved to Charlottesville, where he lived in the Weaver's Cottage. He died in Charlottesville the following year at the age of 66. After organizing the Foundation, Gibboney began a nationwide campaign to raise one million dollars to be equally divided for the purchase of the house and for an endowment fund dedicated to preservation and education. The final payment on the house was made in 1940, and in 1941, Gibboney reported that $200,000 had been spent on restoration and refurnishing.)
24) Miss Louise Alice Williams – January 5th 1932- No letterhead handwritten letter to Mr Colby. Very beautiful 1 signed handwritten letter on one sheet of paper, written to save space obviously and is all over the sheet. There is a carbon reply dated January 8th 1932 from Mr Colby stating he received her letter of the 5th and his pleasure in knowing she is continuing to do her recitals of her reminiscences of the touching life in the south. He tells Miss Williams that he and Mrs. Colby are happy to allow her to use their names at liberty fr references to her list of patrons.
(Historical notes- It has been hard to find any information on Miss. Williams other than a small article in the New York Times magazine {http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0E11FB3C5B1B7B93C...} referencing one of her shows that included her singing and telling stories of the old south.)
25) H. Craig Severence – October 11 1932 & June 26 1930 – Letterhead H. CRAIG SEVERENCE 36 WEST 44th STREET NEW YORK. 2 signed letters June letter is a thank you for an invitation from Mr. Colby to attend a dinner at his Masonic lodge (Kane Lodge), the dinner is in honor of Admiral Byrd. The second letter is Oct. 11 1932 in reference to the renovations and restorations to the property destroyed by fire at Bucknell University. Mr Severence is requesting reference from Mr. Colby for the Honorable Judge Warren J. Davis. There are two carbon replies the first is the letter of reference from Mr. Colby to the Honorable James A. Wetmore. The second is a personal letter to “My Dear Craig.” giving him notice to terminate his tenancy in 1933.
(Historical notes- (1879 – 2 September 1941) was an American architect who designed a number of well-known buildings in New York City, including the Coca-Cola Building, Nelson Tower and most prominently, 40 Wall Street. In his early career, Severance worked for Carrere and Hastings and later, in partnership with William Van Alen. The partnership ended on unfriendly terms, and in the late 1920s, the two found themselves in competition to build the world's tallest building, with Severance's 40 Wall Street and Van Alen's, Chrysler Building. Although the Chrysler Building claimed victory with its spire at 1,046 feet, Severance protested that his building had the highest usable space. The issue became moot when the Empire State Building was completed less than a year later.
26) HENRY ALLAN PRICE – March 1 1931 – Letterhead HENRY ALLAN PRICE SILVERMINE NORWALK, CONNECTICUT – 1 beautifully signed letter to his “Brother..” as in Masonic lodge, in reference to a poetry reading Mr. Price had done the year before at the Kane Lodge. The poem he references is not attached in this set though. Also is the carbon of Mr. Colbys reply about the poem printed in the Herald-Tribune sends his regards and hopes to see him soon. Possibly the Tribune in Jamestown n.y. may have the poem he is talking about in their archives.
(Historical notes- Henry Allan Price, born July 1868 in Brooklyn, New York, was the oldest son of George Allen Price and Adelaide (Wentz) Price of Brooklyn, New York. Henry ("Harry") Allan Price was educated at Yale University and worked professionally in Brooklyn as an artist, but was better known to many in New York state as an entertainer )
27) George C. Priestley – Nov.2 1931 & August 31 1931 – Letterhead HOTEL WARWICK SAINT LOUIS – 2 signed letters, August 31 letter written on Hotel Warwick stationary speaks of enjoying meeting Mr. Colby and of breaking his arm which was areason to not communicate sooner. He is speaking about the oil and gas business and the depression and his properties known as the Sinclair-Prairie-Tidewater mergers. He is talking about a trip east where he feels that t would be important to meet with Mr. Colby and his attorney traveling companion Mr. John Hargan who wants to discuss legal matters involving an interview and advice. The second letter I a short note in reference to his meeting with Mr. Thomas Edison and of his meeting Mr. Colby in a few days in New York. Also is a two page breakdown of stock information and shares.
(Historical notes- Wealthy oilman with huge properties and investments in both the oil and gas industries)
28) JOSEPH WILLICOMBE esq- November 2 1932 – Letterhead LOS ANGELES EXAMINER Office of the Publisher Broadway at Eleventh St. Los Angeles. 1 signed note to Mr. Colby saying he was sorry to have missed him in Cleveland and mentions an editorial on “Hofstadter..” Carbon reply from Mr. Colby thanking him for the note and co-operation with Mr. Burlingham and saying that it will give Mr. Hearst pleasure to see the letter from Mr. Burlingham.
(Historical note- he was Mr. Hearsts private secretary and there are more documents in the collection I need to add into this log when I find them again )
29) John B. Trevor – November 25 1931 – letterhead JOHN B. TREVOR 11 EAST 91st street New York- Feb.5th 1938. This set is from Mr. Trevor to Mr. Colby it contains a small business card with a note to Mr. Colby 1 letter signed “Joe..” It is attached to a copy of a paper Mr. Trevor had written in November 25th 1931 called “ THE CRISIS..”, it is 30 pages long. Also in the set is a copy of the “NATIONAL REPUBLIC..” magazine article from December 1935 which has an article written in it called “CONSTITUTIONAL TINKERING..” and a large photograph of Mr. Trevor on the front page. This magazine is published in Washington D.C. and calls itself a “Magazine of Fundamental Americanism..” this issue is Volume XXIII Number 8 .
(Historical notes - 1878–1956) was an American lawyer and "one of the most influential unelected officials affiliated with the U.S. Congress." He was very active in the immigration debate, once described as "the most influential lobbyist for restriction." Along with Pennsylvania senator David A. Reed, and with strong support from the AF of L labor leader Samuel Gompers, he was influential in shaping the Immigration Act of 1924, which put in place restrictive immigration quotas and stood until 1964. Because of his work in uncovering Bolshevist terrorists in New York, many of whom happened to be Jewish, Trevor was accused of being anti-Semitic and was the object of numerous attacks on his character. For example, historian William H. Tucker makes this unfounded accusation: "Trevor developed a plan to suppress a mass uprising of Jewish subversives in New York City, going so far as to order 6,000 rifles and a machine gun battalion for deployment in Jewish neighborhoods in anticipation of a disturbance that never took place." In 1954 the Atlanta Constitution published an article falsely associating Trevor with an organization called the Coalition of Patriotic Societies that supposedly was pro-Nazi. Though retracted on the front page of the Atlanta Constitution on January 23, 1957, the original false story continued to be picked up by publications such as Rolling Stone (October 1994), authors Adam Miller and J.W. Bendersky, as well as many others. These false accusations persist today, and have tarnished Trevor’s reputation and that of the American Coalition of Patriotic Societies.)
30) Jouett Shouse – January 5 1932 – Letterhead DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING WASHINGTON D.C. – 1 signed Letter to Mr. Colby telling him that upon his return from a trip South during the holidays he received his letter. This note is in reference to the “torturous..” course his Christmas card to the Colbys took. A carbon reply from Mr. Colby thanks him for his holiday greetings and tells him of the address errors to be corrected.
(Historical note- He was an American lawyer, newspaper publisher, and leading Democratic politician. A conservative, he was best known for opposing the liberal New Deal in the 1930s.Born in Midway, Kentucky, his family moved to Mexico, Missouri in 1892 where he attended public school. After studying at the University of Missouri at Columbia he returned to his native Kentucky where he served on the staff of the Lexington Herald from 1898 to 1904 and eventually became the owner/editor of The Kentucky Farmer and Breeder.In 1911, Jouett Shouse moved to Kinsley, Kansas where he married. He became involved in agricultural and livestock businesses and served on the Board of Directors of the director of the Kinsley Bank. He was elected a state senator in 1913 then in 1915 was elected to the United States Congress where he served until 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson appointed him as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. At the Treasury Department he was in charge of customs, internal revenue and reorganized the War Risk Insurance division until November 15, 1920 when he resigned "in order to adjust his personal affairs." Shouse was very active in the Democratic Party and was appointed chairman of the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee in May 1929.. His powerful position in Washington politics led to him being on the cover of the November 10, 1930 issue of TIME magazine. He opposed the nomination of Franklin D. Roosevelt as the Democtic Party's candidate for president and along with John J. Raskob supported the candidacy of Alfred E. Smith. In 1932 Jouett Shouse divorced his wife of twenty-one years and married the wealthy divorcee, Catherine Filene Dodd. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, the new Mrs. Shouse was a daughter of A. Lincoln Filene, head of Filene's department stores. She would serve on the Board of Trustees of the Filene Foundation. After their marriage, Jouett and Catherine Shouse took in and brought up a boy whom they renamed William Filene Shouse. After Roosevelt's election, Shouse left his leadership position to become president of the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment. That organization played an important role in bringing about the repeal of prohibition in 1933. He was the president of the American Liberty League, 1934-40. Regarding the controversial NRA, the Shouse was ambivalent. He commented that "the NRA has indulged in unwarranted excesses of attempted regulation"; on the other, he added that "in many regards [the NRA] has served a useful purpose." Shouse said that he had "deep sympathy" with the goals of the NRA, explaining, "While I feel very strongly that the prohibition of child labor, the maintenance of a minimum wage and the limitation of the hours of work belong under our form of government in the realm of the affairs of the different states, yet I am entirely willing to agree that in the case of an overwhelming national emergency the Federal Government for a limited period should be permitted to assume jurisdiction of them." Shouse practiced law in Kansas City, Missouri as well as in Washington, D.C. In 1953, he was appointed chairman of the Board of Directors of New York City-based Anton Smit and Co. Inc., now part of 3M. Jouett Shouse grew up in Kentucky where Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing was an integral part of daily life as well as the state's economy. According to a 1916 article in the New York Times, for many years he was actively engaged in promoting the Thoroughbred interests of Kentucky. Shouse and his second wife Catherine owned Wolf Trap Farm in Vienna, Virginia where they raised and bred boxer dogs as well as Thoroughbred horses used as show hunters and for competing in flat racing. A part of the farm was later donated by Mrs. Shouse to become the site of the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Jouett Shouse retired in 1965 and died in 1968. He is buried in the Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky)
31) Walter E. Spahr – January 6 1936 – Letterhead WALTER E. SPAHR. 1 signed Letter references two purposes. One is about the article from the New York Herald Tribune wed. Jan. 5th? Called the “ROOSEVELT DEPRESSION..” The second reason for the letter is in reference to how how to reach Mr. Spahr on the letterhead of the “Economists’ National Committee..” which is not in the attached however. There is no carbon reply attached either that I have found yet.
(Historical note- 1891 – 1970 - Author "OUR IRREDEEMABLE CURRENCY SYSTEM (1891 - 1970) received his M.A. from the University of Wisconsin and his Ph.D. from Columbia University. After teaching at various colleges and universities (including Dartmouth and Columbia) he joined the faculty of New York University in 1923, where he taught until his retirement in 1956. He was the Chairman of the Department of Economics from 1928 to 1956. One of the founders of the Economists' National Committee on Monetary Policy, Walter Spahr was its Executive Secretary from 1933 until the time of his death, and the editor of the widely distributed "Monetary Notes." From 1937 to 1966 he was one of the trustees of the Tax Foundation. Walter Spahr was the author of numerous books and monographs.
He spoke that as long as the supply of money and credit was tied to gold, and the people were free to exchange the paper l.O.U.'s issued by the government for gold, the people could control the amount of fiat money which the government could create out of thin air. Deficit spending was limited, because the people could stop it at any time by demanding gold for the government's paper promises, wherever the people felt that their savings were endangered. Instead of having to rely on vague and rarely kept campaign promises, the people had a direct and highly effective way of expressing their choice between monetary stability and government spending, by simply converting the government's paper promises into gold.
As Walter Spahr pointed out, redeemability represents the basic control mechanism which the people have over their rulers, and quite logically, most politicians, the vast bureaucracy, and the pressure groups which benefit from public largess do not like the democratic controls by the people. Over a period of more than forty years they have, therefore, gradually "unshackled" themselves of these restraints. The Committee for Monetary Research and Education Inc. feels that a rereading of Spahr's dire predictions made a quarter of a century ago should be helpful in the light of present developments. They might help to awaken the American people to the dangers which threaten the nation and the entire free world.)
32) Simon Rasch – march 1 1932 – Letterhead SEVENTH MASONIC DISTRICT ASSOCIATION inc. 1 signed letter Thanking Mr. Colby for notes of his recent address on the George Washington Bi- Centennial Celebration at the last meeting . And promising to take Mr. Colby to Camp Seven after the 1st of April. Mr Colby carbon reply telling him he did not have a manuscript of the feb 27th speech. It was a extemporaneous address.
(Historical notes- Lawyer; Practiced Here for 40 Years Ex-District Deputy of Masons. Kane Lodge New York Seventh Masonic District Association. Found article in N.Y.Times http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30C17FB3459167B93C...)
33) I. Maurice Wormser – March 22 1931 & March 4 1932 & march 19th 1932 & march 31 1932 – 4 signed letters from Mr. Wormser two are typed and signed the other two are handwritten letters. Letterhead is I. Maurice Wormser or WORMSER & KEMP Counsellors at Law 475 Fifth Avenue New York. 1st handwritten letter on a card type paper is about that days New York American magazine reprinting his article on Unemployment Relief and thanking Mr. Colby also is the carbon reply from Mr. Colby agreeing with the estimate of the article by Mr. Charles E. Elbert.. 2Nd letter is in reference to Mr. Colbys talk at the New York Delta Upsilon subject matter it is written by Mr Wormers “cousin Rene Wormser about the recent publication of his cousins book “FRANKENSTEIN, INCORPORATED.” he recommends that Mr. Colby read the book. The 3rd letter is requesting that Mr. Colby possibly write a letter to the Commonwealth expressing his views on the recent article by Mr. Wormser. The 4th letter is handwritten and tells Mr. Colby that he has requested that his publishing house send Mr. Colby a copy of his newest book “Frankenstein, Incorporated..” and calls his attention to chap. V “Corporate Ills And Abuses…” There is a 6 page carbon reply dated March 1 1932 from Mr. Colby which has as its subject matter the South American loan to Lima Peru. It is in regards to what appeared to be a good investment and brings into play the creation of Protection Committees. He in detail brings into question whom the organizations are meant to protect. He in essay type detail describes Lima Peru and its position as in reference to Gold. It is a quite detailed essay on the situation in the investments in the city’s bonds and uses as reference the E.H. Rollins & sons inc. paying agents explanations.
(Historical note - He was an author who was interested in the American involvement in foreign affairs and the stock market.)
34) Frederick Salathe, Jr. – November 1 1930 – Letterhead FREDERICK SALATHE, Jr. - 1 signed letter reference his regrets his missing Mr. Colby before he left New York. He is speaking about financing of a project in Mexico city. He actually changes his offer of financing from $550,000.00 to a total of $100,000.00. He is searching through friends to take part in the project. He is requesting Mr. Colby offer a prospectus of a commitment of 5 or 10 thousand dollars. Mr. Colbys carbon reply He speaks of the “WONDERS..” of the speed of “AIRMAIL…” taking on one day. He says he would like to participate but that without further studys he would only be investing in his “faith..” in Mr. Salathe Because of this he state that at the moment he does not see it any way to make even a modest commitment.
(Historical note- could not find much on google about the history of Mr. Salathe however by reading the letter to Mr. Colby it would seem that he was interested in a project which is not detailed in the letters however Mr. Colby notes the same and states that without more information he could not see his way to make a promise to invest in such a project which he has no information on.)
35) Gustave W. Thompson – November 30 1931 – letterhead 39 PLAZA STREET BROOKLYN, N.Y. . 1 signed two page letter involving GERMAN WAR DEBTS ( I WANT THIS TO BE SET WITH THE STANDARD RECORDS I HAVE UNCOVERED !!!!!) Mr. Thompson recounts that we as AMERICANS should NOT be held accountable for these REAL debts. It decribes that the DEBTS owed the United States “CANNOT “ be repaid.” And that it inextricable ties us unjustifiably and will cause our nation to suffer. It deals with the reparations and CANNOT BE separated from “our sovereignty and should be considered a process of “NATIONAL SLAVERY WHICH IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN UNIVERSALLY CONDEMNED….” Any debt that cannot be paid is an impairment of sovereignty…” It references the Versailles Treaty it is a “dishonest way of doing what cannot be done directly…” We cannot force such nations as France and England to pay debts owed and ignore Germany’s debts in sincerity is implied I believe. It is an ACADEMIC argument, but in my opinion an argument that since then history have proved factual. “IF ARGUMENTS ARE BASED SOLELY UPON EXPEDIENCY YOU CAN JUSTIFY ALMOST ANYTHING…” !!!! He basically stands by the proposition that we need to view what is “FUNDAMENTALY RIGHT “!!! And as such due simply on the fact that a country cannot stand in honor of their debts that their sovereignty should be questioned. Mr. Colby carbon reply is here and he thanks Mr. Thompson for his interesting observations on intergovernmental debts, with particular sight on the obligations of Germany. Please NOTE THAT THESE ARE DEBTS INCURRED after ww1 and PRIOR TO THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF HITLERS REICH which while still wondering about how Germany could possibly pay their ww1 debts were indeed at the same time receiving as I have proven in my research in one year alone of 1931 has already incurred loans reaching beyond 3 BILLION dollars from Jewish German wall street brokers already. These NEW LOANS surpassing the DEBTS that Germany already owed!!!!!! Does this sound familiar to Afghanistan and todays billion dollar loans even as they are cursing America!!!
(Historical note- involve observations upon intergovernmental debts and the war obligations of Germany as well as discussing the Versailles German Sovereignty.)
i am continuing to list documents but this is not something i really know how to do... joed
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