Finding aid for the Sydney Hesse Papers


Title:
Sydney Hesse Papers
Repository:
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722
http://www.wrhs.org
Creator:
Hesse, Sydney
Dates:
1932-1936
Quantity:
0.10 linear feet (1 container)
Abstract:
Sydney Hesse was an Ohio state legislator from Cleveland, serving 1932-1936. During his tenure the legislature considered a ten percent tax on movie tickets and a general sales tax. The collection consists of an election certificate, campaign materials, constituent correspondence, legislation information, newspaper clippings, and a business card for the law firm of Hesse, Carney, Glick and Farina. The collection deals with Hesse's brief political career and the issues he faced as a legislator. The material also serves as an example of public opinion on the proposed movie tax and the sales tax proposal of 1933. The collection does not, however, indicate Hesse's position on these issues.
Identification:
MS 4389
Location:
closed stacks
Language:
The records are in English

Biography of Sydney Hesse

Sydney Hesse (d. 1986) was an Ohio state legislator from Cleveland elected in 1932. Apparently, he served only one term. The major issues Hesse confronted during his term dealt with proposals for tax increases. Much of his constituent correspondence opposes a proposed ten percent tax on movie tickets. Constituents opposed this tax because many of them felt that going to the movies was the only amusement available to them in the hard times of the Great Depression. Theater employees also opposed it because they feared losing their jobs. Another key issue the Ohio General Assembly faced during Hesse's term was the imposition of a general sales tax. Unfortunately, nothing in the papers indicates where Hesse himself stood on these issues.

Scope and Content

The Sydney Hesse Papers, 1932-1936, consist of Hesse's election certificate, campaign material, constituent correspondence, legislation information, newspaper clippings, and a business card for the law firm of Hesse, Carney, Glick, and Farina.

This collection relates to Hesse's brief political career and the issues he faced as an Ohio state legislator. The material also serves as a solid example of public opinion on the proposed Ohio movie tax and the sales tax proposal of 1933.

Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged by document type and then chronologically. It is maintained in two folders.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Hesse, Sydney, d. 1986.
Legislators -- Ohio.
Ohio -- Politics and government -- 1865-1951.
Political campaigns -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Politicians -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Taxation -- Law and legislation -- Ohio.
Taxation -- Ohio -- Public opinion.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4389 Sydney Hesse Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Sydney Hesse, 1974.

Processing Information

Processed by Richard Hite in 1989.