MSS 6 Arthur Lovett Garford Papers

              OHIO
H I S T O R Y
MSS 6
Arthur L. Garford Papers
38 cubic f e e t
Physical Description of t h e Arthur L. Garford Papers
T3e Arthur L. Garford Papers d a t e from 1877 t o 1933 and occupy
t h i r t y - e i g h t cubic f e e t . The papers c o n s i s t of general correspon-dezce,
business records, mining records, speeches, miscellaneous
pa? ers, and nineteen bound volumes. The general correspondence is
arranged chronologically within each f o l d e r . The other papers a r e
arranged chronologically within each group.
The general correspondence d a t e s from 1877 t o 1933 and comprises
the bulk of the c o l l e c t i o n ( ca. 37,000 l e t t e r s ) . The l e t t e r s
r e f l e c t Garford's personal dealings with many philanthropic a c t i v -
i t i e s , s o c i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , l a r g e business t r a n s a c t i o n s , public
f i g u r e s , p o l i t i c a l intimates and b u s i n e s s p a r t n e r s as well as a
host of lesser- known i n d i v i d u a l s . S p e c i f i c subject c a t e g o r i e s
cc;- ered as well as an a l p h a b e t i c a l index of correspondents with
Cates of correspondence are included in the inventory.
The business records c o n s i s t of balance sheets and correspondence
generated by three of G a r f o r d ' s b u s i n e s s i n t e r e s t s . The records
include balance sheets dating 1921 t o 1928 of t h e Cleveland Auto-
= t i c Machine Company, Garford's l a r g e s t i n d u s t r i a l concern. The
correspondence of the Electro Alloys Company dates from 1919 t o
1923 and has not been included with the general correspondence
because ~ a r f o r d p e r s o n a l l yh ad l i t t l e or nothing t o do with the
transactions mentioned t h e r e i n . " I have i n s t r u c t e d t h a t here-a
f t e r any l e t t e r which comes t o my o f f i c e , having t o do with the
E l e c t r o Alloys Company s h a l l be forwarded t o your o f f i c e . . . "
m o t e Garford to h i s son- in- law, James B. Thomas, on November 17,
1920. The correspondence of the Martin & Mage O i l Company & Aero-space
Manufacturers included with the business records was an
a d l i t i o n t o the c o l l e c t i o n in 1967. Researchers should note t h a t
other correspondence and papers p e r t a i n i n g t o the World War I
Hartin bomber appear elsewhere i n the c o l l e c t i o n (- s e e - a l s o subject
c a t e g o r i e s covered by the papers, and miscellaneous m a t e r i a l ) .
% e mining records date from 1906 t o 1925 and include r e p o r t s and
rriscellaneous material p e r t a i n i n g t o Garford's mining i n t e r e s t s i n
the southwestern United S t a t e s .
The collection of Garford's p o l i t i c a l speeches included with t h e s e
gapers date from 1908 t o 1924.
The miscellaneous material d a t e s from 1896 t o 1927 and includes
l i t e r a t u r e from Garford's s e n a t o r i a l campaign of 1914; a p e t i t i o n
of the Roosevelt Club i n support of Garford's nomination and
e l e c t i o n ; a c e r t i f i c a t e and list of the Roosevelt Memorial Associ-a
t i o n chairmen and o f f i c a l s ; and a document of the F i r s t Charter
C o n i s s i o n of Elyria, Ohio ( 1913). A f o l i o of photographs,
s p e c i f i c a t i o n s , and patent a p p l i c a t i o n s r e l a t i n g t o the Martin
k r b e r ; advertisements f o r Garford automobiles and bicycle p a r t s ;
2- 1 various other business and personal papers a l s o are included.
The volumes consist of e i g h t l e t t e r - p r e s s copies of general corre-sxndence
daticg from July 1 , 1902 t o August 17, 1912 ( ca. 5000