more documents---

58) Robert Mayer – dated October 21 1931, letterhead CHESS FEATURES Jose R. Capablanca, Editor. 1 page signed letter no carbon reply. Letter is requesting of Mr. Colby a talk to learn advice upon holding a return match between Mr. Capablanca and Mr. Alekhine. In an endeavor “to make the United States “depression-proof” or rather Depression-wise” by making it a chess conscious.”  He mentions the idea may be farfetched but states that the ingredients of chess possess all the ingredients and chaos of life itself. He states that the simple act might help restore sane and sound thought. He as well concludes that Chess “makes for mental fitness and I offer to you the leadership in proving our case.”  A very interesting and unusual concept indeed in very trying times.  The very letterhead and date of this letter is actually noted on the net by chess historian Edward Winter as being a great mystery of chess history.  Here is that mystery question answered.

(Historical note- the website http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter05.html notes that thre are only two copies of the letterhead as noted on this document and has no clue as to its date or period or who the gentleman Robert Mayer is. Well I have the evidence and dates to prove this info and have forwarded it to the website multiple times with no reply back. It appears they do not look or reply to offers of help.)

59) W. Kingsland Macy , ISIP – dated March 18 1930, Letterhead SUFFOLK REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE Bayshore N.Y. 1 page signed letter no carbon reply.  Mr. Macy was known as the “Little King of Suffolk County..” This letter is in reference to the same exact issue brought up by (57) Emile E. Rathgebers request on the framing of the new Tenth District.  Mr. Macy is sending Mr. Colby a copy of the bill and speaks of their mutual friend George Henry Payne. He states that the enclosed memorandum includes the constitutional history and copies of letters from Governors Charles S. Whitman and Nathan L. Miller.

(Historical notes- (November 21, 1889 – July 15, 1961) was a United States Representative from New York. Born in New York City, he graduated from Groton School (in Groton, Massachusetts in 1908 and from Harvard University in 1912. He engaged in wholesaling and importing from 1912 to 1915, served with the United States Food Administration and War Trade Board from 1917 to 1919, was president of Union Pacific Tea Co. from 1919 to 1922, was a member of a stock brokerage firm from 1922 to 1938, and was a banker and publisher. He was chairman of the Suffolk County Republican Committee from 1926 to 1951, was chairman of the New York State Republican Committee from 1930 to 1934, was delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1928, 1932, 1940, 1944, and 1948, and to the Republican State Conventions from 1928 to 1946. He was active in the investigation of the New York State Banking Department in 1929 and also in promoting the Seabury inquiry into the affairs of New York City in 1931 and 1932. He was a Regent of the State of New York from 1941 to 1953, and in 1946 was a member of the New York State Senate. Macy's hold over the Suffolk Republican party organization was so complete that he was called "The Little King of Suffolk County".)

60) Jacob Landau – dated January 10 1931, letterhead JTA JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY. 1 page signed letter no carbon reply. One of the Jewish community’s most influential men ever. Letter is in reference to Mr. Felix M. Warburg and his Wednesday January 14^th 60^th birthday. It explains that Mr. Warburg is a philanthropist and a leading member of the Jewish community. It states that he was the head of the Joint Distribution Committee that raised over 80 million dollars for Jewish relief funds as well as his interest in the Palestine people and nation to build a Zionist and non- Zionists state. Mr. Landau id requesting that Mr. Colby send a letter or note or message on occasion of Mr. Warburgs birthday.

(Historical note- In 1917, during the waning days of World War I, a 25-year-old journalist named Jacob Landau had a vision. The war had brought home the realization that what happens in our country affects more than just its own people - that the nation's fate is bound up with the fate of surrounding nations. At the same time, the continuing mass migration of Jews to the New World meant that more and more families were now separated by oceans. Jews in one part of the world had a personal interest in what was happening halfway around the globe. And the Jewish People as a whole had an increasing stake in the geopolitical developments transforming much of the Western world.  Landau realized that world Jewry needed a mechanism for transmitting vital information about what was happening to Jewish communities in various parts of the world. The Jewish People needed its own reliable source of information, so that it could keep its leaders informed about important developments of the day and, when necessary, motivate the community to action. And so, Landau founded the Jewish Correspondence Bureau, later renamed the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA). It was, in fact, the first news agency that not only gathered but also disseminated news in every part of the world.)

61) ALBERT SHAW – dated April 20 1931, letterhead THE AMERICAN REVIEW OF REVIEWS 55 Fifth Avenue N.Y. Albert Shaw – Editor – 1 page letter no carbon reply. The letter is in regards to a speech Mr. Colby had given recently and was supposed to been printed in full in the magazine. He states that he did however use a few quotes from the address.  He notes that the upcoming May edition will have an extended article of his own in the field of law and justice.  He states it is pivoted upon the nature and method of the so called “Insitute of Law….” At Johns Hopkins University.  He states that it was his pleasure to meet Mr. & Mrs. Colby at a Mrs. Logans home recently.

(Historical note-. (July 23, 1857 – June 25, 1947)  Born in Shandon, Ohio to the family of Dr. Griffin M. Shaw, Albert Shaw moved to Iowa in the spring of 1875, where he attended Iowa College (now Grinnell College) specializing in constitutional history and economic science and graduated in 1879. While a student, Shaw also worked as a journalist at the Grinnell Herald. In 1881 he entered Johns Hopkins University as a graduate student.  In 1883, Shaw secured a position on the Minneapolis Tribune but returned to John Hopkins to complete a Ph.D. His thesis, "Icaria: A Chapter in the History of Communism", was later translated and published in Germany. After graduation, he resumed work at the Tribune.  In 1888, Shaw took a sociological tour of Britain and the European continent. There he met British journalist and reformer William Thomas Stead, editor of the British journal Review of Reviews.  In the autumn of 1890 Shaw was elected professor of international law and political institutions at Cornell University but resigned the post in 1891 to accept Stead's invitation to establish an American edition of the Review of Reviews. Shaw served as Editor-In-Chief of this publication until it ceased publication in 1937, ten years before Shaw's death at the age of ninety.  Shaw married Elizabeth Leonard Bacon of Reading, Pennsylvania on September 5, 1893.  Shaw served as Editor-In-Chief of this publication until it ceased publication in 1937, ten years before Shaw's death at the age of ninety.)

62) Quincy Howe – dated March 23 1931, letterhead THE LIVING AGE 253 Broadway New York. 1 page letter with no carbon reply.  The letter is in regards to the text of Count Wladimir d’Ormesson’s proposal that France and the U.S. should allow German reparations to be cut in half for two years. He mentions that Mr. Colby , he thought, was already in contact with Mr. Watson of the Living Age in reference to the article.  He requests any comment Mr. Colby might make, good or bad, to clarify the issue.  Indeed number (63) is a letter from Mr. Watson to Mr. Colby.

(Historical note - Quincy Howe is a cultured, loquacious, birdlike Bostonian with a famous father (Pulitzer Prize Biographer Mark Antony DeWolfe Howe), a shrewd editorial sense, a mercurial mind. For twelve years he applied it to foreign affairs for The Living Age; for the last five it has glided around the offices of Simon & Schuster. For years Editor Howe was the No. 1 sniffer-out of British influence and propaganda in the U. S. His England Expects Every American To Do His Duty (1937) was hailed and reprinted in the Anglophobe Hearst press; his Blood Is Cheaper Than Water (1939))

63) Archibald R. Watson – dated March 25 1931, letterhead THE LIVING AGE 253 Broadway New York. 2 page signed letter no carbon reply.  Letter as with Mr. Howes letter is regards to  the cancellation of war debts not being urged upon the people at this time.  He speaks of Senator Smoot’s address from an American viewpoint.  He includes a list of prominent men who will be discussing the issue.  He speaks of Colonel House and of Judge Garrisons ill health. He states that he will keep Mr. Colby advised on all meetings and developments.

(Historical note – I can find no major notations on Mr. Watson in my Google searchs except that possibly he was of Manhattan, New York County, N.Y. Democrat. Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1944.)

64) Major J. Andrew White – dated June 20 1932, letterhead J. ANDREW WHITE 76 West 44^th Street New York.  (2 signatures in total)1 Signed letter & a signed 4 page resume of his life which he signs Maj. J. Andrew White at the top of the second page.  This is a VERY SIGNIFICANT LETTER IN THE HISTORY OF RADIO BROADCASTING !!  This letter is from Major J. Andrew White the well accepted pioneer of Radio broadcasting of fights and other media events nationwide. In this letter Mr. White very humbly requests that Mr. Colby speak to Mr. Sarnoff and Walter Gifford to put together an opinion of Major J. Andrew White. He encloses a statement by Gerald T. Hedge of Cincinnati about himself. He hopes to see Mr. Colby again soon.  In late 1921 RCA opened a short-lived broadcast station, WDY, in Roselle Park, NJ. (Some accounts incorrectly have WDY using WJY's old transmitter -- it actually had its own 500 watt set). J. Owen Smith was in charge of setting up WDY -- White was station manager. White served until 1923 as RCA's "director general of broadcasting". He also continued to announce, specializing in sports events and political conventions, and in a 1924 Radio Broadcast article was described as the "most famous announcer in radio". In 1926 White became the first president of the Columbia Broadcasting System, although he was eventually eclipsed and then ousted by William Paley.  The October, 1924 issue of Radio Broadcast featured an article reviewing the career of J. Andrew White. Not surprisingly, a major topic was the broadcast of the Dempsey-Carpentier fight three years previously. It is described as a "brilliant idea", but not Julius Hopp's -- he's never mentioned. Instead, White claimed credit for having originated the idea of broadcasting the fight, said to have been triggered by reading a newspaper account of the coming bout.  I put this review together because if there is a complete and accurate account of this historic broadcast I couldn't find it. And recent accounts seem to be getting even worse. Part of the problem is the natural expectation that earlier reviews are reasonably accurate and complete. Unfortunately, in many cases this is not true. Thus, later accounts have picked up and even amplified earlier mistakes and misrepresentations. In order to get an accurate view of early broadcasting events -- especially if RCA was involved -- a tremendous amount of time consuming detective work and fact checking is required. But if you don't put in the necessary work, instead of history you end up with something between "docudrama" and "myth". One benefit history can provide is a perspective on the present, by giving an accurate assessment of the past. But most accounts of this broadcast subtlety instill a sense that the United States has declined, since it no longer produces heroes like David Sarnoff, blessed with a clear and infallible vision, boldly leading the way for the bewildered masses. However, this is a false conclusion -- "hero-Sarnoff" never existed. It was actually the "bewildered masses" -- of whom we have plenty today -- who conceived the broadcast and were responsible for its success.
In my view the three who deserve the most credit for the success of the broadcast are Julius Hopp, J. Andrew White, and J. Owen Smith. Hopp, along with his Madison Square Garden associates, not only came up with the original idea and gathered various groups in support, he also had the lead in securing the halls and theaters. (And without an audience you don't have an broadcast). White appears to deserve the most credit on the logistics and publicity side --

(Historical notes - Wireless Age editor Major J. Andrew White served as the RCA announcer at the convention. The AT&T radio announcer was Graham McNamee. McNamee also covered sports for WEAF and later worked as an announcer for Universal Newsreels.

 According to the Wireless Age account, Hopp had been favorably impressed by their Second District Convention, held at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York from March 16th to 19th, which had been designed to introduce radio to the general public. (The Convention Committee chairman was J. Owen Smith, and one of the banquet speakers was Major J. Andrew Smith, both of whom would play important roles in the fight broadcast.)  Beginning in 1920 a series of cross-licencing agreements were made between AT&T and a number of other companies, including General Electric, over the use of radio patents. The agreements also carved up which areas the various companies would be allowed to pursue, a feature that eventually was found to violate antitrust standards. Under the agreements AT&T was assigned exclusive rights to "public service" uses of radio. Giving this a broad interpretation, the telephone company would later claim this gave it the exclusive right to interconnect phones lines to radio transmitters. According to the book "The WEAF Experiment" the telephone company had been closely monitoring KDKA's pioneering requests of phone lines for remote broadcasts. At first Westinghouse's requests were met, although as far as the telephone company was concerned it was merely extending a courtesy. Later AT&T would deny Westinghouse use of remote phone lines, under its interpretation of the agreements. Apparently AT&T decided there was no need to extend a similar exemption to RCA for the fight broadcast, and so denied the direct ringside connection. Once more a compromise was developed. Instead of being connected to the transmitter, the ringside line would run to an ordinary telephone handset located in the transmitter shack. There the ringside reports would be recorded and read over the air. "The Battle of the Century" White, a former amateur boxer, practiced announcing the fights -- there were six preliminaries scheduled in addition to the main event -- by commentating as he "fought himself" in the mirror. The Navy promised its stations would keep the longwave wavelength used by WJY clear of interference during the broadcast. According to the account in "This Fascinating Radio Business" White, Smith and Harry Welker (misidentified in this account and others based on it as "Walker") stayed up the entire night before the broadcast preparing the transmitter. Then White and Welker set things up at ringside, and once they surrendered their tickets they had to stay within the enclosure. A photograph of the two at ringside appears in the Wireless Age account. White would soon celebrate his 32nd birthday. Welker, described as "an auxiliary observer", appears to be in his twenties. There is a humorous story associated with Welker, which White mentions in a sidebar included the Wireless Age account. It was a hot sunny day, and White started announcing non-stop beginning around 11:30 AM. Welker had a thermos of ice water, which he was supposed to share with White. However, according to White, it was two and one-half parched hours into the four hour broadcast before Welker remembered to provide him with water. In spite of all the crises, traumas and fears of failure, the broadcast seems to have gone off well. (Dempsey retained the championship by knocking out his foe in the fourth round.) White did have one final moment of panic, however -- after the broadcast ended he momentarily became fearful that he had in fact been speaking for four hours into a dead phone line. Many of the reports carried in Wireless Age mentioned the high quality of WJY's signal, and the range of the reports suggests the transmission coverage met all expectations. However, Wireless Age can't be expected to have highlighted problems, which is why the lack of an independent QST report is a loss. A number of newspapers carried a short note that a radio enthusiast, one Casper Risley in Margate City, NJ, was badly shaken up while listening to fight returns (presumably WJY) when his aerial was struck by lightening, destroying his receiver. The Clemsford series had been highlighted by a June 15, 1920 concert by world famous opera star Madame Nellie Melba, sponsored by the Daily Mail of London, which was heard as far away as Paris. Also, radio was not the only technological advance vying for attention. At the time it was eclipsed by flashier innovations -- airplanes swooping over the arena, racing to deliver fight photos to distant newspapers in time for Sunday editions, and circling Paris ready to signal the outcome; "motion picture machines" on a special stand filming the bout's progress normally and in slow motion; and scores of telegraph lines running to ringside sending up-to-the-minute reports to Canada and the United States as far away as California, while other telegraph and cable lines were used to transmit photographs to newspapers beyond the range of the aircraft. In addition, promoted by the New York World, there was the magnificent "giant Underwood Typewriter", typing telegraphed fight results in three-inch (7.6 cm) letters for an appreciative crowd. (It's occasionally wistful to read about forgotten mechanical marvels in newspapers now defunct, both destined to be killed off by radio and its evil twin television).

The broadcast also doesn't seem to have had much impact in the boxing world. In his autobiography Dempsey mentions it only in passing, noting it was conducted with "Nat Fleischer and Andrew White nervously manning the controls". Nat Fleischer was a sports reporter for the New York Press -- a few months later he would start The Ring magazine. Fleischer's role in the broadcast actually seems to have been minor. He doesn't even mention the broadcast in his own autobiography, and in his biography of Jack Dempsey he devotes exactly two sentences to the topic, noting that "Major Andrew White was at the controls and I was his assistant" without specifying what that entailed.)

65) C.A. Austin (Speak-O Phone) – dated February 12^th 1932 & May 6^th 1932, Letterhead SPEAK-O-PHONE RECORDING STUDIOS , Inc. 201 West 49^th Street, New York.  2 signed letters & a single carbon reply plus a small billing card letterhead Speak-O-Phone for a set of phonograph records on Americas Policy Towards War Debts as broadcast Thursday Evening May 1932, cost $20.00. Letter one states that the company took the liberty of recording Mr. Colbys address over the radio the previous evening. It states that Mr. Colby was in exceptional form. And his talk on Lincoln was inspiring andthey felt it should be preserved. Of course today this would be illegal without prior authorization.  The second signed letter by Mr. C. A. Austin is basically the same exact thing as the earlier letter.  What is VERY interesting and telling is that in between the three correspondences that Mr. Colby does carbon reply to Mr. Austin and in his reply Mr. Colby states that he is very happy to retain coies of the recordings and has enclosed his check for $15.00 dollars in payment for them.  Mr. Colby is setting precedent her by telling them that since he did not give his permission to be recorded that he will pay $15.00 but not the $20.00 they have requested already three times.  I find this very funny and interesting and again shows the business savvy and future thought Mr. Colby put into all he did.

(Historical notes- C.A. AUSTIN & P. J.SCULLY were the owners operators of a New York based recording company in Manhattan that used metal discs to record upon.  Developed in the 1930s and used well into the late 1940s and 1950s as an inexpensive and accessible method of recording.  These are personal letters from these gentle man to Mr Colby in reference to their recordings of his speech on the radio February 11th 1932.  They were known for recording President Herbert Hoover and many other famous people that gave speeches over radio broadcasts.)

66) P. J. Scully- dated October 10^th & 16^th 1931 – letterhead SPEAK-O-PHONE RECORDING STUDIOS, Inc. 201 West 49^th Street, New York. 2 signed letters no carbon replies. Letter one is regards to the recording of Mr. Colbys recent address and the fact that  they are a one of a kind that dupicates can be made for half price of the $20.00 cost for the three record set. He also mentions that they have recorded in the past ten days recordings of many other notable speakers and events.  They offer to send a representative with a player to play the recordings for Mr. Colby to hear before purchasing.  Letter two is regards and asks how many duplicate sets he would be interested in purchasing. He as well asks if Mr. Colby would want his upcoming Madison Square Garden address recorded.  Of course there is no carbon reply as Mr. Colby had already informed Mr. Austin that he had sent $15.00 for a set of the record.  Mr. Colby was aware that recordings should have permission first even though that was not the policy as of yet to my knowledge, but as a lawyer Mr. Colby was aware of this I believe.

(Historical note - C.A. AUSTIN & P. J.SCULLY were the owners operators of a New York based recording company in Manhattan that used metal discs to record upon.  Developed in the 1930s and used well into the late 1940s and 1950s as an inexpensive and accessible method of recording.  These are personal letters from these gentle man to Mr Colby in reference to their recordings of his speech on the radio February 11th 1932.  They were known for recording President Herbert Hoover and many other famous people that gave speeches over radio broadcasts.)

THE NEXT 6 DOCUMENTS ARE IN REFERENCE TO THE TAGORE RECEPTION COMMITTEE WELCOMING SIR RABINDRA NATH TAGORE (noted Hindu poet- philosopher and Nobel Prize winner to New York City on October 15^th 1930-31)

67) Hari G. Govil – dated September 16 1930, letterhead INDIA SOCIETY OF AMERICA Inc. 1925 Times Bldg. New York, Bryant 0077, Executive Director. 1 page signed letter no carbon reply. Letter regards the upcoming visit of Sir Rabindra Nath Tagore he notes that the visit is to promote goodwill and better understandings between the Orient & the Occident.  He is inviting Mr. Colby to attend and become a member of the welcoming committee along with a long list of other distinguished gentlemen & women.  Of a very important historical note I have found on the internet that all sources say that the INDIA SOCIETY OF AMERICA was founded by Mr. Govil in 1931 however this document and its very letterhead predate that recogbition by a full year making it the OLDEST  known document that I have found in reference to this society.!!!!!!!!  Mr. Govil was a personal friend of Ghandi.

(Historical note- Executive Director of  "India Society of America" 1930.  Editor of "The Oriental Magazine", an outlet for Tagore, Gandhi and Bertrand Russell.)

68) Henry Morgenthau (2^nd Secretary of Treasury- F.D.R. Presidency) – dated November 3 & 13 1930, letterhead TAGORE RECEPTION COMMITTEE 20 West 43^rd Street New York.  2 signed letters & no carbon replies. The first letter is in reference to thanking Mr. Colby for his acceptance on membership of the Tagore Committee of which Mr. Morgenthau was the Chairman.  He is setting the first meeting of the committee to secure that it is a wonderful event.  He notes it will be the only meeting and that he hopes everyone can attend so as to not have any problems.  The second letter is the telling Mr. Colby that his invitation (#70) is within and says he hopes that he will attend with friends.  He notes that since not everyone will be able to meet in person with Tagore on the evening of the event that Mr. Tagore has agreed to set aside the evenings of November 17- 18 & 19^th for an open house to meet everyone who wishes to meet him informally. He states that from knowing Tagore that meeting him is an “occasion never to be forgotten.”

(Historical notes - (2nd Secretary of Treasury- FDR Administration)  (May 11, 1891 – February 6, 1967) In 1933, Roosevelt became President and appointed Morgenthau governor of the Federal Farm Board. Morgenthau was nonetheless involved in monetary decisions. Roosevelt adopted the idea of raising the price of gold to drive down the value of the dollar, thereby raising the price of all goods — especially farm goods. The idea came from Professor George Warren of Cornell University, and despite the opposition to the idea, Morgenthau was willing to help him. When Roosevelt told Morgenthau he was thinking of raising the price of gold by 21 cents, his entourage asked him why. "It's a lucky number," Roosevelt said. "Because it's three times seven." As Morgenthau later wrote, "If anybody knew how we really set the gold price through a combination of lucky numbers, etc., I think they would be frightened." In 1934, when (William H. Woodin #70) resigned because of poor health, Roosevelt appointed Morgenthau Secretary of the Treasury (an act that enraged conservatives). Morgenthau was an orthodox economist who opposed Keynesian economics and disapproved of some elements of Roosevelt's New Deal. To finance World War II, he initiated an elaborate system of marketing war bonds.  The Great Depression and its rampant unemployment were of primary focus for Morgenthau. And after almost two terms served by Roosevelt, Morgenthau, assessed the federal effort to relieve economic conditions by proclaiming, “We have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work. . . . After eight years of this administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started . . . and an enormous debt to boot! Indeed, the unemployment rate for 1939 was higher than the unemployment rate for 1931, but lower than 1932.  Morgenthau used his position as Treasury chief to investigate organized crime and government corruption. Treasury Intelligence and other agencies (the notoriously fragmented US federal law enforcement system had five in the Treasury Department alone) were uncoordinated in their efforts; efforts to create a super-agency were stalled by J. Edgar Hoover, who feared his FBI would be overshadowed. Nevertheless, Morgenthau created a coordinator for the Treasury agencies; although the coordinator could not control them, he could move them to some cooperation. Investigations of official corruption caused the fall of political boss Thomas "Big Tom" Pendergast of Kansas City. A Mafia-related shootout and massive official corruption led to successful investigations against the local Mafia head Charles Carollo and Tom Pendergast.  Other officials—as well as gangsters, in a few rare cases—were convicted because of Morgenthau's investigations.)

69) W. G. Harding – dated December 4 1930, , letterhead TAGORE RECEPTION COMMITTEE 20 West 43^rd Street New York.  1 signed letter & no carbon reply. Letter in reference to the Tagore reception and stating that REGRET that Mr. Colby cannot attend the reception and banquet on November 25 so they are sending him a memento of the evening (which I believe must be the attached booklet to this set of documents #72)

(Historical notes – oddly enough I cannot find any information on this gentleman on the net, he was not President Harding as he died in 1923 nor was he Governor Harding of Alabama or Cuban fame, nor was he General Harding of Tennesee.)

70) William H. Woodin (1st Secretary of Treasury- FDR Administration) – Dated February 2 1931, Letterhead WILLIAM H. WOODIN 30 Church Street N.Y..  Letter that is from after the Tagore Reception of November 1930.  This letter is asking for advice on Mr.Tagore from Mr. Colby and he wants to meet with Mr. Colby for a conference in regards to him at 2^nd East 67^th Street on Feb. 6^th.  He was the man that was replaced by # 68 Henry Morgenthau as Secretary of the Treasury.  Mr. Woodin was also a vice- president of the PENNFYLVANIA SOCIETY (as seen on letterhead #75)

(Historical notes- was a U.S. industrialist. He served as the Secretary of Treasury under Franklin Roosevelt in 1933.  Woodin resigned as Secretary of the Treasury at the end of 1933 and died in May 1934.  Woodin, a Republican businessman, was a major contributor to Roosevelt's campaign in 1932. He served as Treasury Secretary from March 1933 until he resigned effective December 31, 1933. Because of his poor health, for much of his tenure, Under Secretary Dean Acheson served as Acting Secretary of the Treasury.  Despite his illness, Woodin was involved in major decisions that the brand-new Roosevelt Administration took to combat the Great Depression.  On March 4, 1933, when President Roosevelt first took the oath of office, banks were closing their doors all over the United States as waves of panic led depositors to demand immediate payment of their money. Woodin was the point man in the Administration's declaration of a "Bank Holiday" which closed every bank in the U.S. until bank examiners could determine which were sound enough to re-open. With "seals of approval" from the examiners, depositors regained confidence, and the vast majority left their money in bank deposits. This became the fore-runner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other such Federal guarantees intended to foster the trust which is essential to the entire financial system.  Woodin also presided over the Roosevelt Administration's withdrawal from the international monetary conference in London and decision to take the United States off the international gold standard. While he was Secretary of the Treasury, the Administration also began the decision-making process that eventually led to the Administration's decision to buy all the gold in private hands in the United States (other than that used by dentists and jewelers) and to devalue the dollar. Under Secretary Acheson was so opposed to the latter two decisions that he resigned in protest.  Woodin was also an avid coin collector, and when gold was withdrawn from private hands, he made certain an exception was put in place for "rare or unusual" coin types. He was a member of the Union League Club of New York.  Woodin is the great-grandfather of mathematician W. Hugh Woodin.)

71) INVITATION TO THE TAGORE RECEPTION – requesting the pleasure of (Mr. Colbys) presence on November 25 1930, however he did not attend. It is a fold over invitation and on the inside is an “incomplete..” list of the Reception Committee in alphabetical order.

72) THE RECEPTION AND BANQUET BOOKLET IN HONOR OF RABINDRANATH TAGORE – dated Tuesday November 25^th 1930 seven o’clock, NO signature - location Hotel Biltmore – The Cascades Madison Avenue & Forty Third Street N.Y.C. – Poet Laureate of Asia, Apostle of World Unity, Founder – Visva-Bharati – International University, Nobel Prize Winner for Literature (1913).  The pamphlet is on heavy bound yellowish paper tied with a yellow string and has a golden emblem on the front.  It is eleven pages counting the front and back inside covers. It is a very elaborate brochure with multiple photographs and a beautiful print sketch of Tagore as well as multiple pages of text describing his work, endeavors and life as well as a list of the committee.  The inside of the thick covers has a writing by Tagore in both English and Bengali.

73) Fred D. Van Amburgh – dated November 20 1931, letterhead THE SILENT PARTNER (a partner edition magazine of hopeful, helpful, human service, Published by the Silent Partner Company 200 Fifth Ave. N.Y.C. 1 signed letter with no carbon reply.  Letter regards Mr. Colby speaking with a friend at the Rotary Club Robert C. Burnside.  Saying that Mr. Colby has “perfect Diction…” and is quite an individual.  He states that he is off to his farm for a few days. Wishing Mr. Colby a great holiday season.

(Historical notes –Biography - FRED DEWITT VAN AMBURGH - On a farm five miles east of the city of Binghamton, New York, is the permanent home of Fred DeWitt Van Amburgh. His place of business is located at No. 200 Fifth avenue, New York City. Some of the work that Mr. Van Amburgh has done for years has been on the quiet farm, but most of his work has been done in the collision of the greatest city of the world, New York. All of his writing is done after paying his own pay roll philosophy that is practical, workable. In the country and in the city he has shaped the messages of inspiration, good will and good cheer, which "The Silent Partner" carries each month to thousands of subscribers throughout the country. Mr. Van Amburgh's career as a publisher and writer extends over a period of some thirtyfive years and during that time his books and his magazines have reached a large and appreciative public.  Born in Newburgh, New York, April 5, 1866, son of John and Lucy (Early) Van Amburgh, Fred DeWitt Van Amburgh received a practical education in the public schools of Brooklyn, New York, and then entered railroad employ, in which line he continued until he was twenty one years of age. He then, on May 2, 1888, began his publishing career in the little town of Chenango Forks, and for five years he was the publisher of the Broome county "Herald," a village weekly. In 1893 he became interested, as one of the owners, in the Binghamton "Evening Herald," but two years later he severed his connection with that newssheet in order to become the publisher of the Binghamton "Saturday Post," an illustrated weekly. In 1911 Mr. Van Amburgh began publishing "The Silent Partner," a monthly magazine of inspiration and human interest, and during the twelve years which have passed since that time, the circulation of the friendly little magazine has steadily increased. The magazine has grown too, and at the present time (1923) has a national circulation. In addition to his activities as newspaper and magazine publisher and his writing for these publications, he has found time to become the author of five books, all inspirational in character: "The Silent Partner Scrap Book," "By the Side of the Road," "The Buck Up Book," "Just Common Sense," and "The Mental Spark Plug." Ho has also found time for platform work and one of his lectures "How to Fail" has been delivered more than six hundred times. Fraternally Mr. Van Amburgh is affiliated with Otseningo Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and with Kalurah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, both of Binghamton, New York. He is also a member of the Rotary Club, of New York, and past district governor of New York and New Jersey for the International Rotary, and a member of the Aldine Club, of New York. His religious affiliation is with, the Methodist church.  Fred DeWitt Van Amburgh married Carrie Seeber, on December 24, 1886, at Chenango Forks, New York, daughter of James D. and Mary (Sarineer) Seeber. Mr. and Mrs. Van Amburgh have no children.  Editor in chief: William Foote Seward, Librarian for the Binghamton Public Library, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1924.)

74) Jonathan Mitchell – dated June 26 & 30 1930, letterhead THOMAS STEEP & JONATHAN MITCHELL N.Y.C. 2 signed letters and one carbon reply. First letter is in reference to a book being financed by Wallstreet financiar (The lone wolf of Wall Street) Mr. Bernard M. Baruch about ex-President Woodrow Wilson.  The group of men writing the book for him want to schedule a meeting with Mr. Colby to ask him questions since he was Secretary of State in Wilsons administration and as well a personal friend. The second letter thanking Mr. Colby for a prompt reply and advises Mr. Colby that Mr. Baruch was in Europe at the present time and that upon his return he will contact Mr. Colby again. Mr. Colby replys to Mr. Mitchell within a few days and stated that he would be very interested in meeting with Mr. Baruch andthat anything he is interested in he would be as well, but that he wants to hear “directly ..” from Mr. Baruch prior to any interview.

(Historical note- Mr Baruch was then known as the (Lone Wolf od Wallstreet) by reputation from buying a stock seat and going head to toe with other Jewish/German immigrants.  His family was moved to the USA in 1855 by his father who in 1870 was a founding father of the KKK.  And was active in the association and createing their hate filled organizations against Black Americans until the government cracked down on the KKK in 1890.  His affiliation with the KKK and its resurgence in 1920 was no longer an issue as by then the KKK learned that hate and fear was necessary to use against Jewish people as well.)

75) Charles M. Schwab – dated December 4 & 10 1931, letterhead THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY (Mr. Schwab was the president) – 1 signed letter, the other is signed for him by Robert Spence assistant to the secretary and carbon reply. Mr. Schwab is inviting Mr. Colby to the 33 Annual Dinner of the Society at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf – Astoria.  First letter he states that Mr. Fred M. Kirby (distinguished philanthropist) of Pa. as well as speakers Mr. Charles N. Edge (noted British Mathematician), Honorable George W. Maxey (Pa. Supreme Court), Rev. W. Warren Giles (Ontario, Canada). He looks forward to Mr. Colbys acceptance.  Second letter is from the secretary sending Mr. Colby his tickets and guest instructions for the dinner on December 19^th 1931.  The carbon reply states that Mr. Colby accepts the invitation. And he as well notes that the list of speakers has “appeal and attraction…”.   Mr. Colby obviously a close friend to Mr . Schwab states that “ When you are in your usual form, my dear Charlie, nobody can tie you…”  THIS MAN LIVED THE MOST UNREAL LIFE OF ANYONE I HAVE YET ENCOUNTERED INTHESE DOCUMENTS !!!!

(Historical note -  (18 February 1862 – 18 October 1939) was an American steel magnate. Under his leadership, Bethlehem Steel became the second largest steel maker in the United States, and one of the most important heavy manufacturers in the world.  Schwab began his career as a engineer in Andrew Carnegie's steelworks and in 1897, at only 35 years of age, became president of the Carnegie Steel Company. In 1901, he helped negotiate the secret sale of Carnegie Steel to a group of New York-based financiers led by J.P. Morgan. After the buyout, Schwab became the first president of the U.S. Steel Corporation, the company formed out of Carnegie's former holdings.  After several clashes with Morgan and fellow US Steel executive Elbert Gary, Schwab left USS in 1903 to run the Bethlehem Shipbuilding and Steel Company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The company had gained shipyards in California, Delaware, and New Jersey through its brief but fortunate involvement as one of the few solvent enterprises in United States Shipbuilding Company. Under his leadership (and that of Eugene Grace), it became the largest independent steel producer in the world.  A major part of Bethlehem Steel's success was the development of the H-beam, a precursor of today's ubiquitous I-beam. Schwab was interested in mass producing the wideflange steel beam, but that was a risky venture that required raising capital and building a large new plant, all to make a product whose ability to sell was unproven. In his most famous remark, Schwab told his secretary, "I've thought the whole thing over, and if we are going bust, we will go bust big."  In 1908, Bethlehem Steel began making the beam, which revolutionized building construction and made possible the age of the skyscraper. Its success helped make Bethlehem Steel the second-largest steel company in the world. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was incorporated, virtually as a company town, by uniting four previous villages.  In 1910, Schwab broke the Bethlehem Steel strike by calling out the newly-formed Pennsylvania State Police. Schwab kept labor unions out of Bethlehem Steel, which was not organized until 1941, two years after his death.  During the first years of World War I, Bethlehem Steel had a virtual monopoly in contracts to supply the Allies with certain kinds of munitions. Schwab made many visits to Europe in connection with the manufacture and supply of munitions to the Allied governments, during this period. He circumvented American neutrality laws by funneling goods through Canada.  On April 16, 1918, Schwab became Director General of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, a board granted by Congress with master authority over all shipbuilding in the United States. He was appointed over Charles Piez, the former General Manager of the corporation. President Wilson had specifically asked Schwab to assume this responsibility. Schwab's biggest change to the shipbuilding effort was to abandon the cost plus profit contracting system that had been in place up to that time and begin issuing fixed-price contracts. After America's entry into the war, he was accused of profiteering but was later acquitted.  Schwab was considered to be a risk taker and was highly controversial. Thomas Edison once famously called him the "master hustler". His lucrative contract providing steel to the Trans-Siberian Railroad came after he provided a $200,000 "gift" to the mistress of the Grand Duke Alexis Aleksandrovich.  Schwab's innovative ways of dealing with his staff are given a mention in Dale Carnegie's most famous work, How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936). In 1928, Schwab was awarded the Bessemer Gold Medal for "outstanding services to the steel industry". In 1982, Schwab was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.  Schwab eventually became very wealthy. He moved to New York City, specifically the Upper West Side, which at the time was considered the "wrong" side of Central Park, and where he built "Riverside", the most ambitious private house ever built in New York. The US$7 million 75 room house combined details from three French chateaux on a full city block. After Schwab's death, New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia turned down a proposal to make Riverside the official mayoral residence, deeming it too grandiose. It was eventually torn down and replaced by an apartment block.  Schwab became notorious for his "fast lane" lifestyle including opulent parties, high stakes gambling, and a string of extramarital affairs producing at least one child out of wedlock. The affairs and the out-of-wedlock child soured his relationship with his wife. He became an international celebrity when he "broke the bank" at Monte Carlo and traveled in a $100,000 private rail car named "Loretto".Even before the Great Depression, he had already spent most of his fortune estimated at between $25 million and $40 million. Adjusted for inflation, that equates to between $500 million and $800 million in the first decade of the 21st century.  The stock market crash of 1929 finished off what years of wanton spending had started. He spent his last years in a small apartment. He could no longer afford the taxes on "Riverside" and it was seized by creditors. He had offered to sell the mansion at a huge loss but there were no takers.  At his death ten years later, Schwab's holdings in Bethlehem Steel were virtually worthless, and he was over US$ 300,000 in debt. Had he lived a few more years, he probably would have seen his fortunes restored when Bethlehem Steel was flooded with orders for war material. He was buried in Loretto at Saint Michael's Cemetery in a private mausoleum with his wife.)

76) WILLIAM BRITTON STITT – dated December 19 1932, letterhead OLCOTT, PAUL & HAVENS 40 Wall Street New York. 1 signed letter and no carbon. This leter is a request for Mr. Colby to sign a petition to set a Mr. Richard Cummins as the Surrogate of New York County.  He attached a copy of the petition for Mr. Colby to sign but apparently he did not sign it as it is still with the letter here.  Possibly he sent a copy of his own preparation.

(Historical note – Mr. Stitt was a personal friend and college fraternity brother of Robert Frost at Amherst College in the class of 1918.  Mr. Stitt as an Amherst Alumni  set up a huge theatrical grant.)

77) DR. W.W. SANFORD – dated February 18 1930, no letterhead a handwritten note on common paper requesting of Mr. Colby as so many people have  in this collection for a loan of money. 1 signed letter and a carbon reply. This Doctor is asking Mr. Colby to send his son who is attending Amherst College (even gives Mr. Colby his sons address) $53.00.  This is a very unusual request as it is not even mentioned as a loan or any repayment offered.  The Doctor simply says if Mr. Colby can find it within his understanding that it is a time of great need.  Mr. Colby replys that considering that he basically does not even know the Doctor or his son that he declines making a loan saying that he is acting on the principle that he simply can not loan people he knows well all they need much less someone who is “ hardly an aquaintence…”

(Historical note – no information on this doctor to be found through Google on the net. This was indeed one of the oddest requests so far, but I guess nothing ventured nothing is lost in trying.)

78) VICTOR F. RIDDER – dated September 20 1932, letterhead STATE OF NEW YORK- DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Office of THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WELFARE 22 North William Street N.Y.C.  1 signed letter no carbon reply.  A request and invitation for a dinner tendered to a Dr. Charles H. Johnson who had been the Director of the Dept. of Social Welfare from 1916 - Sept. 20 1932.  They are requesting him to be a guest speaker.

(Historical note – Victor F. Ridder and his brothers Bernard H. Ridder and Joseph E. Ridder were the publishers of the New York Staats-Zeitung In 1879, the property of the paper was changed into a stock company. When Oswald Ottendorfer died in 1900, the newspaper was sold to Herman Ridder and brothers. Ridder went on to contribute to the foundation of the Knight Ridder conglomerate, and the Staats-Zeitung gradually became a side line. It stayed in the Ridder family until 1953, when it was sold to the Steuer family who changed from a daily newspaper to three times a week and finally a weekly. In 1989, it was sold to Jes Rau.I have googled this gentleman and found only short references to his name on a site called THE GERMAN AND JEWISH INTELLECTUAL ÉMIGRÉ COLLECTION but I can not find the reference to his name on the site even though he must be there and considered a prominent Jewish Emmigrant.  Also I have found a note from the New york times archives in reference to his death )