Guide to the James Carson Needham Papers M0069

Processed by Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Patricia White
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
1997 ; revised 2019
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: James Carson Needham papers
Identifier/Call Number: M0069
Identifier/Call Number: 285
Physical Description: 5 Linear Feet (11 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1893-1936
Abstract: Correspondence, papers, speeches, and photographs relating to Needham's congressional career, his connections with the Newman Oil Company in the 1920's, and the Covered Wagon Babies Club (of which Needham was a founder).

Scope and Contents

The James Carson Needham papers cover a span of years from 1893 to 1936, the bulk of the material being between 1898 and 1908, in the 1920s and early 1930s. The subject matter contains very little of any personal nature.
The Congressional correspondence reflects his committee work and his interest in conservation, forestry and irrigation. There also seems to be quite a number of letters regarding California Indians and reservations. Campaign lists, election returns, political advice and requests for patronage are frequent. The correspondence also reveals the groups that opposed him, particularly the Catholics, the "Whiskey vote" and the veterans.
There are some papers relating to his law practice and judgeship, but these are very sparse. The Newman Oil Company seems to figure quite prominently, and legal papers as well as business correspondence are contained in this material.
The Covered Wagon Babies and their Club are probably the second most important group in the Needham papers. There are clippings and photographs as well as correspondence, and the letters describe experiences and quote from diaries. Needham is probably best known as a founder of this organization.

General note

Many of the folders contain handwritten lists of correspondents and descriptive notes on the contents of the letters. Folders have been numbered consecutively regardless of box number.

Biographical / Historical

James Carson Needham was born on September 17, 1864, in an emigrant wagon along the Carson River in Nevada. His parents were on their way to California. He spent his early life on a farm and in Santa Clara where he attended the public schools. In 1886, Needham graduated from the University of the Pacific, and in 1889, from the Law Department of the University of Michigan. He took a year away from law school, from September 1887 to September 1888, to work as a clerk in the Adjutant General's office of the War Department in Washington, D. C.
Needham was admitted to the bar in 1889 and practiced in Modesto, California. The following year he was an unsuccessful candidate for the California Senate. In 1894, he married Dora Dietta Parsons. In 1899, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and remained in that body until he was defeated for re-election in 1913. His Congressional career was not particularly outstanding; he was one of a majority whose names were known to colleagues and local constituents, but not nationally. Needham served on the Public Lands Committee and, in his campaign, was given credit for securing National Irrigation legislation. He also served on the Committee for Insular Possessions. One correspondent writes that Needham obtained the new Federal Building for Fresno "almost as easily as the people buy postage stamps in the building after it is finished."
After being defeated for the Congress in 1913, he resumed the practice of law in San Diego until 1916. In 1919 he was appointed judge of the Superior Court in Modesto and held this position until 1935. From 1922-1928, he also served as president of the Newman Oil Company.
For the Diamond Jubilee of September 9, 1925, Judge Needham and Justice Elijah Carson Hart organized a search for Californians who had been born in covered wagons. (Hart was born in a covered wagon somewhere along the Carson River in Nevada just two days after Needham). They found 75 names (not all Californians) and formed the Covered Wagon Babies Club which met each year in a different California town on September 9. Needham died in Modesto in 1942.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item] James Carson Needham Papers, M069, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Provenance:

Gift of Mrs. J. C. Needham

Conditions Governing Use

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Needham, James Carson

box 1, folder 1-4

Correspondence - Out 124509 1893 Sept. 29-1900 Feb. 17

Container Summary: 4 bound volumes
box 2, folder 5-8

Correspondence - Out 124507 1900 Feb. 16-1901 Jan. 25

Container Summary: 4 bound volumes
box 3, folder 9-12

Correspondence - Out 124505 1901 Jan. 25-1902 Feb. 1

Container Summary: 4 bound volumes
box 4, folder 13-16

Correspondence - Out 124503 1902 Feb. 3-1904 Jan. 12

Container Summary: 4 bound volumes
box 5, folder 17-20

Correspondence - Out 124501 1904 Jan. 12-1905 Jan. 5

Container Summary: 4 bound volumes
box 6, folder 21-24

Correspondence - Out 124499 1905 Jan. 5-1908 Dec. 22

Container Summary: 4 bound volumes
box 7, folder 25

Correspondence - Out 124497 1893 Aug. 28-1928 Apr. 12

box 7, folder 26-41

Correspondence - In, A - Mil 124495

box 8, folder 42-54

Correspondence - In, Mit - Z 124493

box 8, folder 55

Correspondence - In, Unidentified 124491

box 8, folder 56-59

Correspondence - General (not to Needham), A - W 124489

box 9, folder 60

Congressional business - reports and speeches 124487

box 9, folder 61-63

Newman Oil Company - correspondence and general business, legal, financial 124485

box 9, folder 64

Patronage - petitions and appointments 124483

box 9, folder 65

Election returns and political lists 124481

box 9, folder 66

Invitations 124479

box 9, folder 67

Legal papers 124477

box 9, folder 68

Miscellaneous 124475

box 9, folder 69

Minutes, speeches, notes 124473

box 9, folder 70

Financial 124471

box 9, folder 71

Clippings 124469

box 9, folder 72-74

Printed matter - Congressional business, political 124467

box 10, folder 75-80

Covered Wagon Babies - correspondence - in, A-Z 124465

box 10, folder 81

Covered Wagon Babies - correspondence - out 124463 1925-1931

box 10, folder 82

Covered Wagon Babies - correspondence - general, A - Z 124461

box 10, folder 83

Covered Wagon Babies - photographs and clippings 124459

box 10, folder 84

Covered Wagon Babies Club, 124457 1925-1936

box 10, folder 85

Clipping scrapbook 124455 1898 Nov. 30 -1900 Oct. 6

Box 12, folder 86

Clipping scrapbook 124453 1898 Aug. 15 -1898 Nov. 4

Box 12, folder 87

Clipping scrapbook 124451 1899 Nov. 22 -1900 Feb. 1

Box 11, folder 88

Clipping scrapbook 124449 1900 Oct. 4 -1902 Aug. 2