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
Scope and Contents of the Materials
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
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
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[Box 11],
[Box 12],
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[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17],
[Box 18],
[Box 19],
[Box 20],
[Box 21],
[Box 22],
[Box 23],
[Box 24],
[Box 25],
[Box 26],
[Box 27],
[Box 28],
[All]
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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
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Box 2 -
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
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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
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Box 5 -
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
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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
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Box 8 -
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Box 15 -
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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Box 24 -
Box 25 -
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
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Box 27 -
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
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