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 69
Minutes, speeches, notes 124473
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