Democratic Party National Committee Papers, 1928-1948 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

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Collection Overview

Title: Democratic Party National Committee Papers, 1928-1948

Primary Creator: National Committee of the Democratic Party (1928-1948)

Extent: 261.45 Cubic Feet

Arrangement: This is a collection in 26 series.

Abstract

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) Papers document the political activities, community organizing, campaign strategies, polling and data analysis, and direct public correspondence of the Democratic Party leadership from 1928 to 1948. The collection holds a significant quantity of FDR's direct correspondence with the general public during his 1932 campaign as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection consists of the records of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), 1928-1948. Materials in this collection are related primarily to the nominations, campaigns and elections of Franklin D. Roosevelt as president of the United States in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944. The collection contains correspondence exchanged among Franklin D. Roosevelt, many Democratic Party officials, activists and supporters, and the general public; patronage correspondence related to persons seeking positions in the government; campaign research materials and subject files; campaign literature; newsclipping files and scrapbooks; copies of Roosevelt campaign speeches and press releases.

A small amount of material in this collection pertains to Democratic Party activities following Roosevelt's death in 1945 and to the campaign and election of Harry S. Truman as president in 1948.

For political historians these papers present a rich portrait of a time when campaigns began to adopt a more scientific approach to elections that reflected growing voter registration efforts across the country. Almost half the collection consists of individual files on the 48 states. In addition, the human element is very much on display as there are files on dinner speeches, patronage requests, as well as some 30 boxes of clipping and memoribilia. Two individuals that figure heavily into this collection are DNC Chairman James Farley and his associate Emil Hurja. The latter, an influential political statistian and polling specialist, donated papers to the FDR library.

Researchers should also consult the records of the Women's Division of the DNC, a seperate but related collection that also contains a great deal of FDR's 1932 campaign correspondence and many additional records of the Party's political organizing of the New Deal era.

Administrative Information

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Access Restrictions: This material is subject to copyright restrictions under Title 17 of the U.S. Code.

Acquisition Source: National Committee of the Democratic Party, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, James Farley, and Lela Stiles

Acquisition Method: The papers were donated to the Library by the National Committee of the Democratic Party, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, James Farley, and Lela Mae Stiles.

Related Materials: Numerous collections in the Library including: President's Official, Personal, and Secretary's Files; Women's Division of the Democratic Party National Committee Papers; Mary Dewson Papers; Stephen T. Early Papers; Harry L. Hopkins Papers; Louis M. Howe Papers; Emil Hurja Papers; National Committee of Independent Voters for Roosevelt; Eleanor Roosevelt Papers

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence, 1928-1933],
[Series 2: Campaign Materials, 1932],
[Series 3: Library and Research Bureau Papers, 1928-1933],
[Series 4: 1932 Campaign File - Newspaper Clippings [by state]],
[Series 5: Newspaper Clippings [by subject], 1931-1932],
[Series 6: 1932 Campaign Literature Files - Newspaper Clippings],
[Series 7: Patronage Correspondence, 1932-1933],
[Series 8: Patron Correspondence and Records, 1933-1940],
[Series 9: Applications for Positions, 1934-1936],
[Series 10: Democratic National Convention, 1936],
[Series 11: Willkie Index - Speeches and Statements],
[Series 12: Correspondence of James A. Farley, Chairman, 1936],
[Series 13: Election Forecasts, October 1936],
[Series 14: Democratic National Committee Campaign Correspondence, 1940],
[Series 15: 1940 Campaign Correspondence - Publicity Suggestions],
[Series 16: Correspondence with State Leaders (Elections and Newspaper Clippings), 1936-1937, 1940-1948],
[Series 17: Correspondence with Prominent Democratic Leaders, 1941-1948],
[Series 18: Presidential and Federal Appointments],
[Series 19: Campaign of 1942],
[Series 20: Miscellaneous Speech Materials and Speech Drafts],
[Series 21: Campaign of 1944 - Democratic National Convention],
[Series 22: Miscellaneous Papers [general subject files], 1932-1948],
[Series 23: Roosevelt - Speeches and Statements (Clippings)],
[Series 24: Roosevelt - Campaign Speeches],
[Series 25: Roosevelt - Miscellaneous Materials, 1929-1945],
[Series 26: Duplicates Unless Otherwise Noted [press releases]],
[All]

Series 7: Patronage Correspondence, 1932-1933

This series contains correspondence files of endorsements of persons for positions in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration, including Cabinet appointments and appointees to other government agencies. The endorsement correspondence in this series was received by the Democratic National Committee following Franklin D. Roosevelt's election in 1932. Arranged by title of position and government department or agency.

Box 451

Lists of Persons Receiving Endorsements

Box 452

Endorsements for Secretary of Agriculture: Davey. Martin L.

Box 453

Endorsements for Secretary of Agriculture: Elam-Myers
Endorsements for Secretary of Agriculture: Miller, Cap. E

Box 454

Endorsements for Secretary of Agriculture: Murphy, Frank W.-Simpson, John A.

Box 455

Endorsements for Secretary of Agriculture: Smith-Young

Box 456

Endorsements for Secretary of Commerce: Byrd-Wardell
Endorsements for Secretary of Interior: Aldrich-Ross, J.D.

Box 457

Endorsements for Secretary of Interior: Ross, Nellie T.-Woodring; Miscellaneous
Endorsements for Department of Justice (Attorney General): Atkinson-Reed, James A.
Endorsements for Department of Justice (Attorney General): Mullen-Reed, James A.

Box 458

Endorsements for Department of Justice (Attorney General): Richberg-White; Miscellaneous
Endorsements for Secretary of Labor: Alpine-Perkins, Frances

Box 459

Endorsements for Secretary of Labor: Post-Witter; Miscellaneous
Endorsements for: Secretary of Navy
Endorsements for: Postmaster General
Endorsements for: Secretary of State A-Z

Box 460

Endorsements for Secretary of Treasury: Barry, David-Steagall, Henry B.

Box 461

Endorsements for Secretary of Treasury: Steagall, Henry B.-Young, Owen; Miscellaneous

Box 462

Endorsements for Treasury Department: Bureau of Customs
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Bureau of Internal Revenue, Alabama-Texas

Box 463

Endorsements for Treasury Department: Bureau of Internal Revenue, Utah-Wyoming
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Assistant Secretary of Treasury
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Coast Guard
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Comptroller of Currency
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Construction Programs
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Federal Farm Loan Board
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Bureau of Printing and Engraving
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Public Health Service
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Treasurer of United States
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Director of the Mint
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Register of the Treasury Department
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Solicitor for Treasury Department
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Supervising Architect
Endorsements for Treasury Department: Miscellaneous
Endorsements for Secretary of War
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Aeronautical Board
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Aviation
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Bureau of Budget
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Bureau of Reclamation
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Department of Engineering
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Disarmament Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Federal Board of Vocational Education
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Federal Farm Board
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Federal Home Loan Bank Board

Box 464

Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Federal Power Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Federal Radio Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Federal Reserve Board
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Federal Trade Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Government - District of Columbia
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Government Printing Office
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Hospital Division
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: International Boundary Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Interstate Commerce Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Interstate Joint Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: International Monetary Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: International Silver Conference
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Leopard Island
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Muscle Shoals
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: oil Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Patronage - Miscellaneous
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Police Department
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Prohibition Enforcement
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Public Buildings

Box 465

Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: United States Board of Mediation
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: United States Board of Tax Appeals
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: United States Civil Service Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: United States Employees Compensation Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: United States Shipping Board
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: United States Tariff Commission
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Veterans' Bureau Administrator
Endorsements for Miscellaneous Agencies: Veterans' Administration Hospital
Endorsements for Positions: Panama Canal Zone
Endorsements for Positions: Philippines

Box 466

Endorsements for Positions: Puerto Rico
Endorsements for Positions: World Economic Conference
Unspecified Endorsements: A-P

Box 467

Unspecified Endorsements: R-Z