Search

Correspondence and business papers of Henry Gassaway Davis (1823-1916), a successful businessman and politician from West Virginia. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1904. The collection largely documents his business and political career, although there are personal papers in the collection as well. His business interests were largely concerned with coal mining, timber, and railroads. Types of documents include letters, reports, account books, and maps, among other material. Much of the correspondence is arranged alphabetically. The scope and content note of each record series provides substantial detail regarding content.

Correspondence and other papers of politician and industrialist Henry Gassaway Davis (November 16, 1823 - March 11, 1916), a Democrat who served in the West Virginia Legislature, 1866-1871, and the U.S. Senate, 1871-1883. Davis was also the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 1904. A reel of microfilm includes two private account books (1867-1915) and a letter book (1898-1916), which mentions several state and national Democratic leaders including Stephen B. Elkins and John T. McGraw. There is information on the congressional election of 1900 and the candidacy of Colonel T.B. Davis. The microfilm also includes miscellaneous clippings, newspapers, letters, and printed items relating to Davis' business affairs, the Davis Child Shelter, and the West Virginia Semi-Centennial Celebration. An addendum of 1996/09/27 contains an H.G. Davis letter book (January 4 - March 16, 1914) and three of his scrapbooks of clippings. Scrapbook subjects include railroads and coal trade (1883-1893); WV politics (1868-1883); and railroads, national politics, and national economy (1872-1883).

Additional papers of Henry G. Davis, mainly cancelled checks and check tubs. There are several letters, telegrams and freight bills, 1875-1897; and bank statements; U.S. geological Survey Maps; and a picture of George R. Latham.

Correspondence, legal papers, speeches, clippings, photographs, and printed material of a Randolph County prosecuting attorney, mayor of Elkins, judge of the Twenty-second Judicial Circuit, Democratic politician, and state governor, 1933-1937. Also features personal correspondence in Series 10.

Correspondence, messages, and state papers of West Virginia's twentieth governor, 1937-1941, and manuscript drafts of "West Virginia: A Guide to the Mountain State (1941)," the Works Project Administration's Federal Writer's Project's work on West Virginia. Also included are assorted speeches and addresses given by Holt, newspaper clippings and articles regarding Holt's successor as Governor of West Virginia, Matthew Neely, and other political figures, and correspondence with governors from other states regarding the Hatch Act of 1939.

The official papers of the 17th governor of West Virginia. Gore's career began in World War I when he was assistant food administrator in West Virginia; and in 1921 he went to Washington as a livestock appraiser and specialist in marketing livestock in the Department of Agriculture; he was appointed Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, and upon the Death of Henry C. Wallace, was made Secretary of Agriculture (November 22, 1924- March 4, 1925). In addition to his papers as Governor, other series show his activities in producers' co-ops, the Farm Bureau, the Federal Farm Board, the West Virginia Public Service Commission, the Weston and Union Livestock Sales companies, and West Virginia politics. The collection includes a 1925 scrapbook of photographs documenting the activities of the 4-H camp at Jackson's Mill near Weston, West Virginia.

A typed letter signed from Howard M. Gore, Secretary of Agriculture to Congressman Ernest R. Ackerman justifying the work of the USDA representatives in foreign countries to study agriculture conditions, to further research in pest control, and to determine the product standards of other nations to be met by U.S. exporters of raw and processed agricultural products.

Official papers of Gov. Hulett C. Smith's administration covering budgetary, state agency and institutional matters, recommendations and proposed legislation. Prominent topics dealt with are crime, federal aid, locks and dams, mental health and pollution. There is correspondence with: Health, Education and Welfare, Housing and Urban Development, Office of Economic Opportunity of the United States government; the Democratic party on the county and national level; the National Governors Conference and with 49 states.