Finding aid for the James A. Garfield Family Papers
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Title: |
James A. Garfield Family Papers |
Repository: |
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722
http://www.wrhs.org
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Creator: |
Garfield, James A. Family |
Dates: |
1849-1938 |
Quantity: |
0.60 linear feet (2 containers and 2 rolls of microfilm) |
Abstract: |
James Abram Garfield was the twentieth president of the United States. He grew up in Orange, Ohio, graduated from Williams
College in 1856, became president of Hiram College in Portage County, Ohio, and was a lay minister of the Disciples of Christ
Church. He was elected to the Ohio Senate, and in 1858, married Lucretia Rudolph. Garfield served in the Civil War, as a lieutenant-colonel
of the 42nd Ohio regiment. He was a major general when he resigned in 1863 to take a seat in the United States House of Representatives,
where he served for 17 years. Nominated in 1880 as a compromise Republican presidential candidate, his campaign was conducted
from Lawnfield, his Mentor, Ohio, home. Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881, and died September 19. He was survived by his widow,
Lucretia Garfield, and by his children; Mary, who married his former secretary, Joseph Stanley-Brown, Irvin McDowell, Harry
Augustus, who became president of Williams College, James Rudolph, a Cleveland attorney, Republican politician and member
of Theodore Roosevelt's cabinet, and Abram, a Cleveland architect. The collection consists of correspondence, diaries, deeds,
herbariums, receipts, architectural plans, and probate documents. The correspondence represents Garfield's Civil War and political
careers, and commentary by Garfield and other family members on politics, the Republican Party, Garfield's assassination,
as well as family relationships and management of Lawnfield as a family property. Lucretia R. Garfield's letters and papers
cover travel and include details of farm life, remodeling, and management at Lawnfield. Joseph Rudolph, brother of Lucretia,
managed the farm at Lawnfield, and also administered the estate of James A. Garfield. Some estate documents are included.
Rev. Mark Hopkins, president of Williams College, received almost daily telegrams on the President's medical condition during
the weeks after the assassination, which are included in the collection. The diaries of the president's mother, Eliza Ballou
Garfield, are also included, and cover such topics as travels, household details, life in the White House, births, deaths,
and illness, as well as the war and Garfield's political career. Correspondence and other documents written by Garfield's
sons; James Rudolph, Harry Augustus and Irvin Garfield, and by his daughter and son-in-law, Joseph and Mary Garfield Stanley-Brown,
are included. Other correspondents include Salmon P. Chase, Sara Williams Garfield, L.W. Whitney, John Newell, Rutherford
B. Hayes, W. S. Rosecrans, Carl Schurz, and A. H. Smith.
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Identification: |
MS 4575 |
Location: |
closed stacks |
Language: |
The records are in English |
Biography of the James A. Garfield Family
The James A. Garfield Family lived at Lawnfield, a farm in Mentor, Ohio, purchased in 1876. James Abram Garfield (1831-1881)
was the twentieth president of the United States. He grew up in Orange, Ohio, graduated from Williams College in 1856, became
president of Hiram College in Portage County, and was a lay minister of the Disciples of Christ Church. He was elected to
the Ohio Senate, and in 1858 married Lucretia Rudolph (1831-1918). He volunteered when the Civil War broke out, was appointed
lieutenant-colonel of the 42nd Ohio regiment, and served with distinction in the western campaigns. He was a major general
when he resigned in 1863 to take his seat in the House of Representatives where he served for 17 years. Nominated in 1880
as a compromise candidate to heal the divisions within the Republican Party, he ran his successful presidential campaign from
the front porch of the Lawnfield home. His brief term was spent initiating civil service reforms and reconciling party factions.
He was shot on July 2, 1881, while preparing to leave for a trip to Williams College, died on September 19, and is buried
in Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. His children who survived him were Mary, who married the president's former secretary,
Joseph Stanley-Brown, Irvin McDowell, Harry Augustus, who became president of Williams College, James Rudolph, a Cleveland
attorney, Republican politician and member of Theodore Roosevelt's cabinet, and Abram, a Cleveland architect.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for President James A. Garfield
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for James Rudolph Garfield
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Garfield Monument at Lakeview Cemetery
Scope and Content
The James A. Garfield Family Papers, 1849-1938 and undated, consist of correspondence, diaries, deeds, herbariums, receipts,
architectural plans, and probate documents.
This collection is of interest to the student of James A. Garfield and his family. The correspondence represents Garfield's
Civil War and political career, and commentary by Garfield and other family members on politics, the Republican Party, the
assassination, as well as family relationships and management of Lawnfield as a family property. Lucretia R. Garfield's letters
and papers cover several trips, and deal with details of farm life and management at Lawnfield and the redecoration and remodeling
of the homestead. Her brother, Joseph Rudolph and his wife, Lida, joined Lucretia at Lawnfield, and he managed the farm,
along with James R. Garfield, who also lived there with his wife and sons. Joseph Rudolph administered the estate of James
A. Garfield, and some estate documents are included. Reverend Dr. Mark Hopkins, president of Williams College, received
almost daily telegrams on the President's medical condition during the weeks after Garfield was shot, which are included here.
The diaries of the president's mother, Eliza Ballou Garfield, who lived with her son's family, comment on such family topics
as travels, household details, life in Washington and in Ohio, births, death and illness, as well as the war and Garfield's
political career. Her diary for January 1 to July 2, 1881, covers President Garfield's term and her residence in the White
House with his family.
Statement of Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by individual names, and then by document type.
Restrictions on Access
While there are no access restrictions on this collection, researchers will be asked to use the microfilm of the collection.
Related Material: Related Material
The researcher should also consult MS 4579 James A. Garfield Family Papers, Series II.
Separated Material: Separated Material
Portraits and photographs have been removed to the print and photograph collection.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects:
Garfield family.
Garfield, Eliza Ballou, 1801-1887.
Garfield, Harry Augustus, 1863-1942.
Garfield, Irvin McDowell.
Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881 -- Assassination.
Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881.
Garfield, James Rudolph, 1865-1950.
Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, 1832-1918.
James A. Garfield National Historic Site (Mentor, Ohio)
Presidents -- United States -- Family.
Stanley-Brown, Joseph, 1858-1941.
Stanley-Brown, Mary Garfield, 1867-1947.
Preferred Citation
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4575 James A. Garfield Family Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Acquisition Information
Gifts of the Lake County Historical Society in 1988 and Mrs. Elizabeth C. Kraemer in 1968 (E. B. Garfield diary,
1881).
Processing Information
Processed by Ann B. Ameling in 1991. Microfilmed by Bernard Watford in 1991.
Detailed Description of The Collection
James A. Garfield Family Papers, 1849-1938; undated
Box 1 / Folder 1
Garfield family, letters, from L. A. Boynton to General, October 9, 1871
Box 1 / Folder 1
Garfield family, letters, from Nellie to sister, July 22, 1875
Box 1 / Folder 2
Garfield family, Lawnfield, statement of expenses from W. H. Card, decorator, 1886-1887
Box 1 / Folder 3-6
Garfield family, Eliza Ballou (1881 diary removed to the WRHS rare book room), 1865
Box 1 / Folder 7
Garfield, Harry A., letter to Mary, April 8, 1889
Box 1 / Folder 8
Garfield, Harry A., letter to Joseph Rudolph, June 1, 1905
Box 1 / Folder 9
Garfield, Harry A., letter from George Batchelor, May 1913
Box 1 / Folder 10
Garfield, Irvin, letter to Mrs. Garfield, April 8, 1886
Box 1 / Folder 11
Garfield, James Abram, herbarium, Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 1850
Box 1 / Folder 12
Garfield, James Abram, letters (reproductions and copies), to Rev. Bro. Hayden on preaching activities, July 17, 1855
Box 1 / Folder 12
Garfield, James Abram, letters (reproductions and copies), to Cousin Henry [Boynton] on use of typewriter, February 11, 1876
Box 1 / Folder 12
letters (reproductions and copies), to Mrs. Mary Field, with cover letter from F. W. Field, August 17, 1880
Box 1 / Folder 12
Garfield, James Abram, letters (reproductions and copies), to Capt. Garrison, with cover letter from Earl L. Corb, West Virginia
University, August 20, 1880
Box 1 / Folder 12
Garfield, James Abram, letters (reproductions and copies), to Eliza Ballou Garfield, with photograph of Eliza, reproduction
with eulogy, two reprints of letter, August 11, 1881
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Sister Lucelia on memory of friends, November 28, 1858
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Schenk on forwarding his interests, January 10, 1866
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to E. A. Wright on revenue offices, January 21, 1869
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to General H. Porter on President Grant's
visit to Northern Ohio Fair, July 13, 1870
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to J. G. Blaine, on newspaper gossip, November 27, 1871
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to A. Babcock, about Ezra and Almeda Booth, May 2, 1876
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Republican party members, appended to
letter from Whitelaw Reid, March 12, 1878
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to General George B. Wright, on battle
of honest money, January 6, 1879
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Messrs. Shober & Carqueiville on lithographs, July 27, 1880
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Rev. Mark Hopkins on visit to Williams, June 22, 1881
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), from Rutherford B. Hayes, on prayers for
recovery, July 16, 1881
Box 1 / Folder 13
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to sister Azora, verse, undated
Box 1 / Folder 14
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), from Treasury Dept. settling account with
Quartermaster, July 21, 1862
Box 1 / Folder 14
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), fragment, 1868
Box 1 / Folder 14
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), from Office of the Admiral, April 22, 1881
Box 1 / Folder 14
Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), invitations, 1868
Box 1 / Folder 15
Garfield, James Abram, letters (transcripts), to S. P. Chase, January-July 1863, with cover letter from Richard G. Johnson
to James R. Garfield, (1903), January-July 1863
Box 1 / Folder 15
Garfield, James Abram, letters (transcripts), W. S. Rosecrans to S. P. Chase, June 30, 1863
Box 1 / Folder 15
Garfield, James Abram, letters (transcripts), James A. Garfield to J. W. Shuckers, July 14, 1876
Box 1 / Folder 15
Garfield, James Abram, letters (transcripts), W. S. Rosecrans to J. W. Shuckers, (July 14, 1882), with cover letter from Richard
G. Johnson to H. A. Garfield, (1906), 1882
Box 1 / Folder 16
James Abram, letters (transcripts) to and from Carl Schurz, 1880-1881, with cover letters from Frederic Bancroft to James
R. Garfield, (1912), 1880-1881
Box 1 / Folder 17
Garfield, James Abram, estate of, administrators letters, November 4, 1881
Box 1 / Folder 17
Garfield, James Abram, estate of, statement, May 6, 1882
Box 1 / Folder 18
Garfield, James Abram, estate of, documents re release of right of way to New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Company, June 23, 1881
Box 1 / Folder 18
Garfield, James Abram, estate of, summons to estate of James A. Garfield, December 27, 1881
Box 1 / Folder 19
Garfield, James Abram, estate of, inventory and appraisement, November 12, 1881
Box 1 / Folder 19
Garfield, James Abram, estate of, correspondence of Joseph Rudolph, administrator, with George U. Rose regarding claim against
estate, 1882-1883
Box 1 / Folder 20
Garfield, James Rudolph, agreement, trustee of title to French coach horse, Gregory, May 5, 1895
Box 1 / Folder 21
Garfield, James Rudolph, letters to Harry R. Collacott, 1903
Box 1 / Folder 22
Garfield, James Rudolph, letters to Vaughn E. Wyman re: Painesville property, 1930-1938
Box 1 / Folder 23
Garfield, James Rudolph, and Joseph Rudolph, warranty deed from Alvin R. Daniels and wife, recorded, September 12, 1887
Box 1 / Folder 23
Garfield, James Rudolph, and Joseph Rudolph, mortgage deed to Alvin Daniels and wife, recorded, September 20, 1887
Box 1 / Folder 23
Garfield, James Rudolph, and Joseph Rudolph, quit claim deed from Eunice Barber, Vandalia L. Carroll, et. al., recorded, July 18, 1896
Box 1 / Folder 24
Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, herbarium, Garrettesville, Portage County, Ohio, 1849
Box 1 / Folder 25
Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letter from Elizabeth Rudolph, July 26, 1875
Box 1 / Folder 26
Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letters received, 1882-1883
Box 1 / Folder 27
Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letter from Joseph [Stanley-]Brown on proposed remodeling at Lawnfield, with architectural drawings, May 22, 1885
Box 2 / Folder 28
Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letters to Joseph and Lida Rudolph, 1887-1902
Box 2 / Folder 29
Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letters from Abbie Easton re: Geauga Seminary, September 13, 1897
Box 2 / Folder 30
Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, receipts for household repairs and remodeling expenses, 1885-1886
Box 2 / Folder 31
Garfield, Sara (Ray) Williams, letters, to Mrs. Garfield, February 12, 1897
Box 2 / Folder 31
Garfield, Sara (Ray) Williams, letters, to Lida Mason Rudolph, August 16, 1921
Box 2 / Folder 32
Hopkins, Rev. Dr. Mark, telegrams from L. W. Whitney with bulletins on President Garfield's medical condition, July-September 1881
Box 2 / Folder 33
Newell, John, statement on illness and death by A. H. Smith, 1894
Box 2 / Folder 34
Rudolph, Joseph, notes, 1891
Box 2 / Folder 34
Rudolph, Joseph, cash book, 1901-1902
Box 2 / Folder 35
Stanley-Brown, Mary Garfield and Joseph, wedding register, June 14, 1888
Box 2 / Folder 36
Stanley-Brown, Mary and Joseph, wedding invitations and at-home cards; and 50th wedding anniversary greetings, verses, undated