Louis McHenry Howe Personal Papers, 1847-1958 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Collection Overview

Title: Louis McHenry Howe Personal Papers, 1847-1958

Primary Creator: Louis McHenry Howe (1871-1936)

Extent: 13.15 Cubic Feet

Arrangement: The materials in this collection were organized prior to their deposit at the Library by the Howe family and by historian Alfred B. Rollins, Jr., who was given special access to the papers for his book Roosevelt and Howe. Because of the unusual provenance and ownership circumstances of this collection, these folder titles and the basic arrangement have been retained. Researchers are encouraged to browse the entire finding aid as materials related to each other can be found throughout the collection rather than grouped.

Date Acquired: 07/00/1958

Abstract

This collection contains materials primarily related to the personal life of Louis McHenry Howe.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains materials primarily related to the personal life of Louis McHenry Howe. In addition, this collection contains correspondence and other materials related to Howe’s father, E. P. Howe; the life and political career of Howe’s wife, Grace Hartley Howe, and her family; and the two Howe children, Mary and Hartley. There is a minimal amount of material related to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Many of the older materials show clear signs of water damage, mildew staining and dirt. It was determined during processing and review that parts of the collection suffered damage during the great northeastern hurricane of 1938 that affected the Howe family residence in Massachusetts. Additional materials related to Howe’s official involvement in government activities and interaction with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are located in a separate collection of Louis McHenry Howe Official Papers.

Collection Historical Note

Louis McHenry Howe was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 14, 1871. When Louis was five years old, financial reversals forced the family to move to Saratoga Springs, New York. As a young man, he attended the Saratoga Institute, a private day school, but he had no formal college training. His father had purchased the Saratoga Sun in 1882 and Louis worked for him, eventually taking charge of the publication when his father became ill. He also assumed his father's supplemental position as local reporter for the New York Herald.

In 1906, Howe became involved in an attempt to reform the Democratic Party in New York State. As a newspaperman, Howe was able to serve the anti-Tammany Hall organization in many ways. In 1910, he met the young Senator from Dutchess County, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Drawn together by mutual political interests, the two became close friends. When Roosevelt was ill with typhoid fever during his 1912 campaign for re-election to the State Senate, Howe carried the campaign to a successful conclusion.

Howe went to Washington in 1913 as secretary, and later special assistant, to Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt. He was mainly a "trouble-shooter" using his political acumen to cut through government red tape.

The eight years in Washington were probably the most stable ones the Howe family ever enjoyed. When Roosevelt contracted polio in 1921, Howe committed himself to the job of secretary, friend and confidant to FDR, which was to be his role for the rest of his life. He was a nurse, business manager and morale booster for FDR. He encouraged FDR to make ship models, which were pitted against other models in challenge cup races. Howe wrote skits and poems and made up watercolor booklets about experiences he and Roosevelt shared. One such story was "The Log of the Houseboat Larooco," (located in the Roosevelt Family, Business and Personal Papers). He also managed to keep Roosevelt's name before the public in anticipation of the time when FDR would be ready to re-enter the political arena. Howe's timetable called for FDR to run for Governor of New York in 1932 and for the Presidency in 1936. The 1928 draft for Governor of Roosevelt changed the timetable, but not the program. Howe managed FDR's gubernatorial campaigns and acted as his secretary and chief advisor during the two terms as Governor of New York State. In 1932, he and James Farley went to the convention in Chicago to secure the presidential nomination for Roosevelt. After the election, Howe supposedly remarked that he had probably worked himself out of a job. To some degree this was true. Howe lived at the White House and had an office close to the President, but it was no longer possible for him to handle all the demands the job placed on a secretary. He established the first Press Intelligence Service; he was secretary and later executive director of the National Crime Commission; and he was actively involved in plans for the Civilian Conservation Corps and Subsistence Housing projects, particularly Arthurdale, West Virginia.

The heart condition and chronic asthma that had plagued Howe most of his life began to take its toll. He was dangerously ill by April 1935, but even after he was hospitalized in August of that year, he continued to be involved in affairs of government and the plans for the 1936 campaign. He suggested the creation of a Roosevelt Good Neighbor League to organize "non-partisan" clubs throughout the country. This was an effort to involve Republicans who supported Roosevelt but did not wish to be labeled Democrats. Howe did live to see Roosevelt re-elected. He died on April 18, 1936.

Administrative Information

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Access Restrictions: This collection is availble for use by the general public.

Acquisition Source: Mrs. Mary Howe Baker and Mr. Hartley Howe

Acquisition Method: The Personal Papers of Louis McHenry Howe were deposited at the Library in July 1958 as a loan from Mrs. Mary Howe Baker and Mr. Hartley Howe, the children of Louis and Grace Howe.

Appraisal Information: The Personal Papers of Louis McHenry Howe were deposited at the Library in July 1958 as a loan from Mrs. Mary Howe Baker and Mr. Hartley Howe, the children of Louis and Grace Howe. At the time the materials were deposited at the Library, they were placed under restriction, with access by researchers subject to the approval of the Howe Family. In 2005, following a review by the National Archives and Records Administration general counsel and after repeated attempts at contact with the Howe Family, it was determined that physical and intellectual ownership in these papers was now vested in the government. They are now open and available for researchers use without restriction.

Related Materials: Numerous collections including: President’s Official, Personal and Secretary’s Files, FDR Assistant Secretary of the Navy Papers, FDR Family, Business and Personal Papers, FDR Papers as Governor of New York, Louis McHenry Howe Official Papers, Eleanor Roosevelt Papers.

Box and Folder Listing

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[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
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[Box 18],
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[Box 20],
[Box 21],
[Box 22],
[Box 23],
[Box 24],
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Box 1

Photographs: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Louis M. Howe, Miscellaneous (Note: photocopies only - originals removed to Photograph Collection
Political and Campaign Materials, 1934-1936
Political and Campaign Materials, 1934-1936
Hartley, Mary J., 1921
Howe, Louis: Letters to wife and children
Howe, Louis: Writings for his children
Baker, Mrs. Robert: Letters to and regarding Louis M. Howe, 1930, 1935-1936
Howe, Grace: Letters to, 1917-1952
Howe, Louis, 1901-1933
Howe, Louis and Grace, 1905-1946

Box 2

Greeting Cards, 1916-1933
Articles by and about Louis M. Howe and Franklin Roosevelt: Programs
Howe, Grace: Notebook, c. 1932
Howe, Grace: Letters to, 1934, 1937

Box 3

Hartley, Mary J., 1906
Hartley, Mary J., 1909-1914
Hartley, Mary J., 1915-1921
Howe, Louis: Poem "Amber", 1887
Races and Whist Tournaments
Howe, Louis: Checkbook, 1912
Hartley, Mrs. Edward J., 1899-1900
Howe, Grace: Letters from mother Mary J. Hartley, 1922
Howe, Louis: "The King and the Page: A Fantasy", June 24, 1987
Howe, Louis and Grace: Saratoga Period, 1899-1909
Howe, Louis and Grace: Albany Period, 1911-1913
Saratoga Commission European Trip, 1910
Howe, Louis: Pencil Drafts Saratoga News Items and Races

Box 4

Howe, Louis M. and Hartley: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Period
New York Patronage and Politics: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Period
Howe, Louis: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Period
Roosevelt, Franklin D. - Materials for FDR Library
Roosevelt, Franklin D. - Materials for FDR Library
Howe, E. P. and Louis M.: Letters and Telegrams regarding stories
"Gift from Mary H. Bakers to FDR Library"
Hartley, Mary J. to Louis Howe, 1901
Howe, Grace: Letters before marriage
Howe, Grace: Letters, 1922-1931
Howe, Edward Hartley: Condolences, 1910
Howe, Grace to Mary J. Hartley
Borden, Bessey to Grace Howe
Howe, E. P.: Letters to
Catalog Sale Furniture, 1913
Personal Cards, Passes, Calling Cards: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Period
Christmas Cards: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Period

Box 5

"First Editions Autographs and Manuscripts", 1934
Schairer, John, "The Minerals of Connecticut"
Saratoga Commission European Trip, 1910
Saratoga Commission European Trip, 1910
Navy Department Period: Odds and Ends
Navy Department Period: Odds and Ends

Box 6

Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1913-1920
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1914-1918
Taft, Robert: Printed Materials
Roosevelt, Franklin D.: "Our First Frigates
Four Fragile Letters, 1847, 1849, 1967, 1909
Howe, Louis: Transcripts of Articles, 1932-1933
Howe: Louis: Article
Howe, Louis: Drafts of Speeches and Releases: Navy Department
Formal Invitations: Navy Department
Framed Prayer for Recovery of Louis M. Howe

Box 7

Howe, Grace: Patronage
Howe, Grace: Patronage
Campaign, 1934
Campaign - Massachusetts, 1934
Roosevelt Secretaries to Grace Howe
Durand, Margaret
Durand, Margaret
Howe, Louis: Funeral
Howe, Louis: Membership and Identification Cards
Daniels, Josephus, 1938
Miscellany, 1933
Howe Residence, Saratoga Springs, June 1958
Howe, Louis: Governorship, 1929-1933
Howe, Grace: Membership and Identification Cards
Howe , Grace: Trip to Europe, 1933-1934
Campaign, 1928
Howe, Louis: Pre-1928
Politics, 1937-1950
Howe, Grace and Massachusetts Democratic Campaign, 1934

Box 8

Howe, Louis: Writings by
Howe, Louis: Writings about
Campaign Materials, 1932
White House Invitations, Calling Cards, 1933-1948
Inauguration Materials, 1933
Inauguration Materials, 1933
Roosevelt, Franklin D.: Primary Campaign Clippings - Massachusetts, 1932

Box 9

Works Progress Bulletin, Massachusetts
Historical Interests
Howe, Louis: Correspondence, 1932-1936
Democratic Women's Club of Fall River: Recording Secretary's Minute Book, 1925-1932
Howe, Grace: Campaign Materials, 1936
Politics, 1929-1930
Howe, Grace: Campaign - Massachusetts, 1928
Requests for Help, 1934-1939

Box 10

Campaign Printed Materials, 1928
Howe's Children - Articles by Mary and Hartley
Howe, Grace: Polio, 1934-1949
Howe, Grace: Postmaster Congratulations, 1936
Howe, Grace: Postmaster Congratulations, 1936
Howe, Grace: Postmaster Congratulations, 1936
Howe, Grace: League of Nations Association, 1930-1939
Howe, Grace: Library Interests, 1932-1950
Howe, Grace: Massachusetts League of Women Voters, 1928-1934
Howe, Grace: Massachusetts State Politics, 1933-1934

Box 11

Roosevelt, Eleanor: Clippings
Civil Works Adminstration: Clippings
Massachusetts State Politics: Clippings
Fall River Labor Conditions: Clippings
Fall River Democratic Party: Clippings
Clippings, pre-1913
Roosevelt and Howe: Clippings, 1913-1928
Campaing: Clippings and Speech, 1920
Campaign: Clippings, 1924
Campaign: Clippings, 1928

Box 12

Works Progress Administration: Massachusetts
Howe, Grace: Postmaster Congratulations, 1936-1953
Family Welfare Association, 1930, 1934
American Association of University Women
Bristol City Agricultural School
Civilian Conservation Corps Camp, Fall River
Civil Works Administration, 1934
Federal Emergency Relief Administration, Fall River Democratic
SS Louis McHenry Howe, Dedication, Vancouver, Washington, 1946
Howe, Grace, 1926-1933
Howe, Grace, 1934-1936
Howe, Grace, 1937-1953

Box 13

Howe, Louis: Condolences, 1936
Howe, Louis: Condolences, 1936
Howe, Louis: Condolences, 1936
Howe, Louis: Miscellany, 1871=1912
Howe, Louis: Miscellany, 1921-1932
Howe, Louis to E. P. Howe
Navy Department Period, 1913-1932
Howe, Grace: Miscellaneous, 1921-1932
Howe: Grace: Mary Hartley
New England Oil
Howe, Louis: Grace Howe

Box 14

Sheehan, Blue-Eyed Billy
Povidence NEWS, Davis-Bigotry, October 12, 1928
Howe-Trumbull Broadcast, November 12, 1933
Howe Telegrams, 1899-1905
Osborne, Thomas Mott, 1919
Roosevelt, Elliot, 1950
Hoover, Herbert
Legislative Correspondents Programs, 1909, 1911
Howe, E. P.: Commission, Postmaster, Saratoga, 1894
Howe, Louis: Christmas Poem by, 1885
Howe, Louis: Condolence, 1936
Howe, Louis: Draft of Short Story
Howe, E. P.: N otebook, Hughes High School, 1856
Legislative Correspondents Dinner programs and guest lists, 1930
Howe, Louis: Bankbook used for Roosevelt Campaign, 1912
Undated notebooks
Old Newspapers, 1899-1902
Howe's Secret Service Identification, 1934

Box 15

Durand, Margaret "Rabbit", 1934-1937
Howe, E. P.
Howe, Louis, 1902-1935
Howe, Grace
Clippings
Printed Materials
Printed Materials

Box 16

Photographs: (Note: photocopies only - originals removed to Photograph Collection)
Roosevelt Statements, Press Release, Speech, 1929-1930
Campaign Propoganda
St. Bart's Article, 1902
Howe, E. P.: Letters and Materials
Howe, Louis and Grace, 1898-1905
Howe, Louis, 1906-1912
Howe, Louis: Letters and Materials, 1912-1932
Howe, Louis: Letters to, 1930-1935

Box 17

Howe, Grace: Correspondence, 1930
Howe, Grace: Correspondence, 1932-1933
Howe, Grace: Correspondence, 1933
Howe, Grace: Correspondence, 1933
Howe, Grace: Correspondence, 1933
Howe, Grace: Correspondence, 1933
Howe, Grace: Correspondence, 1934
Howe, Grace: Correspondence, 1934
Howe, Grace: Correspondence, 1935

Box 18

Howe, Louis to Grace Howe, 1898-1899
Howe, Louis to Grace Howe, January-April 1900
Howe, Louis to Grace Howe, May 1900
Howe, Louis to Grace Howe, June 1900
Howe, Louis to Grace Howe, July-December 1900
Howe, Louis to Grace Howe, 1901
Howe, Louis to Grace Howe, 192-1904
Howe, Louis to Grace Howe, 1905-1911
Howe, Louis to Grace Howe, 1915-1922

Box 19

Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, 1899
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, January-May 1900
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, May-June 1900
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, July-December 1900
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, April 1901
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, October-November 1901
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, 1903-1905
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, April 1905
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, 1906
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, 1911-1933

Box 20

Howe, E. P.: High School Papers
Howe, E. P.: Miscellaneous letters, Indianapolis
Howe, E. P.: Miscellaneous Cards and clippings, Indianapolis
Howe, E. P.: Letters from Richard Duncan
Howe, E. P.: Miscellaneous Materials, Saratoga
Howe, E. P.: Letters between E. P. Howe and his wife Eliza
Howe, E. P.: Letters to Louis, Grace and Mary
Howe, E. P.: Draft of essay on "Knowledge"
Howe, E. P.: Horse "Prince Louis McHenry"
Howe, E. P.: Franklin Life Insurance
Howe, E. P.: Bank Books
Howe, E. P.: Miscellaneous Cancelled Checks
Howe, E. P.: Miscellaneous financial notes, Indianapolis
Howe, E. P.: Papers referring to land dealings
Howe, E. P.: Deeds and mortgages
Howe, E. P.: Coupons on note to George Bissell & Co.
Howe, E. P.: Fire insurance policies

Box 21

Howe, E. P.: Household Bills
Howe, E. P.: Household Bills
Howe, E. P.: Household Bills
Howe, E. P.: Letters between Louis Howe and his mother Eliza Howe
Hartley, Mary J. to Grace Hartley Howe, 1899-1905
Hartley, Mary J. to Grace Hartley Howe, 1899-1905
Hartley, Mary J. to Grace Hartley Howe, 1899-1905
Hartley, Mary J. to Grace Hartley Howe, 1899-1905
Hartley, Mary J. to Grace Hartley Howe, 1899-1905
Howe, E. P. to "Kitty Puss", 1889
Navy Department Bookplates

Box 22

Roosevelt, Franklin D., 1913-1932
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 1935-1944
Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor
Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1921-1934
Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1915-1934
Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1935-1944
Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1945-1952
Roosevelt, Sara Delano
Roosevelt Greeting to Louis and Grace Howe
Roosevelt Secretaries to Grace Howe
Howe, Louis M., 1936-1958
Stiles, Lela, 1936-1950
Kennedy, Jay Richard, 1947-1949
Lorentz, Pare, 1949-1950
Sharon, John, et al.

Box 23

Hartley, Mary J. to Grace Howe
Hartley, Mary J. to Mary Howe
Howe, Louis to Mary Howe
Howe, Grace to Louis Howe, 1925
Howe, Mary to Louis Howe
Howe, Louis and Mary Houwe: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Period
Simpson, Maria Sharpe Duncan
Strong, Anna to Louis M. Howe
Howe, Louis: Saratoga Materials
Howe, Louis: West Indies, 1901-1902
Passport: Grace Howe and Hartley Howe, 1928
Passport: Grace Howe and Hartley Howe, 1933
Campaign Literature, 1932
Campaign Literature, 1932
Massachusetts Campaign Literature, 1934
Massachusetts Campaign Literature, 1934

Box 24

Howe, Louis: Congratulations, Post-November 1932
Howe, Louis: Congratulations, Post-November 1932
Clippings
Campaign Memorabilia
Howe, Louis and Grace: Social and Calling Cards
Brochures, pamphlets and cards
White House Invitiations
Invitations Miscellaneous
Calling Cards Miscellaneous

Box 25

Howe, Louis: Sympathy Cards, April 1936
Howe, Louis: Sympathy Cards, April 1936
Howe, Louis: Sympathy Cards, April 1936
Howe, Louis: Sympathy Cards, April 1936
Howe, Louis: Christmas Cards, 1938-1945
Howe, Louis: Christmas Cards, 1938-1945

Box 26

Certificatewith Seal, signed by Franklin Roosevelt and P. T. Barnum appointing Louis M. Howe as General Goat, February 15, 1930
Certificate, Men's Club First Methodist Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Maryland, May 17, 1933
Scroll advertisment, "The Executive Branch of our Government," James N. Buffington & Co. Insurance, Fall River, Massachusetts
Script, "Augustus Does Hit Bit", 1917
Clippings and newspapers pages, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Period
Playbills, playscripts and programs
Certificate and Navy Department Ltterhead
White House Calendars, 1933-1935
Drawings and Sketches
Collier's Magazines, 1932-1934

Box 27

Clippings regarding Franklin D. Roosevelt, Louis Howe and Grace Howe

Box 28

Photocopies: Howe, Louis: Drawings
Photocopies: Howe, Hartley, 1932-1944
Photocopies: Howe, Hartley: Trips to Montevideo and Geneva, 1933-1934
Photocopies: Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor to Howe Family, 1926
Photocopies: Howe, Mary to Parents, 1919-1937
Photocopies: Howe, Louis: Watercolors, Sketches and Etchings
Photocopies: Howe, Louis: West Indies Trip: List of Stories
Photocopies: Howe, Louis: West Indies Trip: The High Woods Dominica
Photocopies: Clippings
Photocopies: Correspondence
Photocopies: Correspondence