Guide to the James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor Diaries and Correspondence, 1933-1947

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Social Sciences --Political Science --General Social Sciences --Political Science --State Government Social Sciences --Political Science --Federal Government Social Sciences --Business and Economics Social Sciences --Law Geographical (By Place) --California

Guide to the James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor Diaries and Correspondence, 1933-1947

Collection number: BANC MSS C-B 549

The Bancroft Library



University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

Processed by:
The Bancroft Library staff
Encoded by:
Brooke Dykman Dockter
© 1997 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Collection Summary

Collection Title: James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor Diaries and Correspondence,
Date (inclusive): 1933-1947
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-B 549
Creator: O'Connor, James Francis Thaddeus, 1886-1949
Extent: Number of containers: 21 volumes Number of microfilm reels: 2
Repository: The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Languages Represented: English

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor Diaries and Correspondence, BANC MSS C-B 549, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Scope and Content

James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor (1886-1949) was appointed Comptroller of the Currency by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 and served until 1938 when he resigned to campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in California. Unsuccessful in this bid, he returned to the practice of law in Los Angeles and in September 1940 was appointed U.S. District Judge, Southern District.
This collection of letters and diaries was purchased by the Bancroft Library from John Valentine in April 1955. The diaries (v. 1-8) cover the period April 1933-December 1940. They include comments on political and international events; meetings with the President, legislators and members of the Roosevelt administration; Democratic national conventions and political campaigns; conferences and speaking engagements; and social activities. Many have clippings pasted in. The correspondence (v. 9-21) covers the years 1933-1947, and consists primarily of letters addressed to him, with a few carbon copies of his outgoing letters. They relate in general to his appointment, his work as Comptroller and New Deal banking legislation, his speaking engagements, social activities, his political campaigning, his resignation, appointment to the bench, etc. The volumes are arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically thereunder by name of correspondent, but there are many missing portions. A partial list of correspondents is included with this report.

 

Diaries

volume Vol. 1

Apr.-Dec. 1933

volume Vol. 2

1934

volume Vol. 3

1935

volume Vol. 4

1936

volume Vol. 5

1937

volume Vol. 6

1938

volume Vol. 7

1939

volume Vol. 8

1940

 

Correspondence

volume Vol. 9

1933-1934, A-J (K-Z missing)

volume Vol. 10

1935, A-G

volume Vol. 11

1935, H-N

volume Vol. 12

1935, O-Z

volume Vol. 13

1936, H-O (A-G missing)

volume Vol. 14

1936, P-Z

volume Vol. 15

1937, H-N (A-G missing)

volume Vol. 16

1937, O-Z

volume Vol. 17

1938, M-Z (A-L missing)

volume Vol. 18

1939-1940, M-Z (A-L missing)

volume Vol. 19

1941, M-Z (A-L missing)

volume Vol. 20

1944, A-Z

volume Vol. 21

1947, A-Z


 

Abbott, Horatio J.

 

3 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10. Letters, 1934, written for Democratic National Committee

 

Adams, Alva Blanchard, 1875-1941

 

Letter, Nov. 22, 1934, v. 9

 

Adams, Morgan

 

Letter, Mar. 12, 1934, v. 9

 

Aldrich, Winthrop Williams, 1885-

 

4 letters, 1934-1947, v. 9, 10 & 21

 

Arden, Elizabeth

 

Letter, Apr. 30, 1947, v. 21

 

Bailey, Josiah William, 1873-1946

 

Letter, Sept. 25, 1934, v. 9

 

Baker, Newton Diehl, 1871-1937

 

2 letters, 1933, v. 9

 

Ball, Joseph Hurst, 1905-

 

2 letters, 1944, v. 20

 

Bangs, Tracy R., 1862-1936

 

Letter, May 2, 1934, v. 9

 

Baruch, Bernard Mannes, 1870-1965

 

3 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Baxter, Bruce Richard, 1892-

 

Letter, Oct. 17, 1934, v. 9

 

Berge, Wendell

 

2 letters, 1944-1947, v. 20 & 21

 

Bingay, Malcolm Wallace, 1884-1953

 

3 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Bocqueraz, Leon

 

Letter, Apr. 24, 1935, v. 10

 

Booth, Evangeline Cory, 1865-1950

 

Letter, Nov. 13, 1933, v. 9

 

Borah, William Edgar, 1865-1940

 

Letter, Aug. 12, 1935, v. 10

 

Brown, Charles Milton, 1865-

 

4 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Brown, Francis C.

 

2 letters, 1934, v. 9

 

Bryan, William Jennings, Jr.

 

4 letters, 1936-1937, v. 14 & 15

 

Buck, Frank H.

 

2 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Bulkley, Robert Johns, 1880-

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Burke, Edward Raymond, 1880-

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Burke, John, 1859-1937

 

3 letters, 1933-1935, v. 9 & 14

 

Byrd, Harry Flood, 1887-

 

6 letters, 1933-1947, v. 9 & 21

 

Campbell, H. Donald, 1879-

 

2 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Cantwell, John Joseph, 1874-

 

5 letters, 1933-1947, v. 9, 10, 20 & 21

 

Carrillo, Leo

 

Letter, Aug. 29, 1935, v. 10

 

Carrington, Richard Adams, 1889-

 

Letter, June 1, 1944, v. 20

 

Carter, Amon Giles, 1879-1955

 

Letter, Jan. 8, 1934, v. 9

 

Chandler, Claude

 

Letter, May 31, 1935, v. 10

 

Clark, Charles Edward, 1889-

 

Letter, Aug. 30, 1935, v. 10

 

Clark, Thomas Campbell, 1899-

 

7 letters, 1944-1947, v. 20 & 21

 

Collier, Frank C.

 

7 letters, 1933-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Connally, Thomas Terry, 1877-

 

2 letters, 1933-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Conner, Bennett

 

4 letters, 1933-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Coolidge, Thomas Jefferson, 1915-1959

 

7 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Copeland, Royal Samuel, 1868-1938

 

Letter, May 23, 1935, v. 10

 

Coughlin, Charles Edward, 1891-

 

Letter, May 31, 1935, v. 10

 

Couzens, James, 1872-1936

 

19 letters, 1933-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Cowles, Gardner, 1903-

 

Letter, Apr. 21, 1947, v. 21

 

Cox, James Middleton, 1870-

 

Letter, Apr. 19, 1937, v. 9

 

Cummings, Homer Stille, 1870-1956

 

23 letters, 1933-1944, v. 9, 10 & 20

 

Curtis, Jesse William, 1865-

 

Letter, Nov. 30, 1934, v. 9

 

Daniels, Josephus, 1862-1948

 

3 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Dawes, Charles Gates, 1865-1951

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Dawes, Henry May, 1877-1952

 

Letter, July 26, 1935, v.10

 

de Mille, Cecil Blount, 1881-1959

 

2 letters, 1933, v. 9

 

Democratic Party. California. State Central Committee

See Harrison, Maurice E.

 

Democratic Party. National Committee

 

Letter, Oct. 10, 1944, v. 20

See also Abbott, Horatio J.; Morgan, William Forbes; MacMillan, E. J.

 

Dern, George Henry, 1872-1936

 

4 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Dockweiler, Isidore Bernard, 1867-1947

 

Letter, Jan. 29, 1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Dockweiler, John Francis, 1895-1943

 

2 letters, 1834-1835, v. 9 & 10

 

Doherty, Frank P.

 

3 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Donahey, Alvin Victor, 1873-1946

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Douglas, Helen (Gahagan), 1900-

 

Letter, Feb. 18, 1944, v. 20. Signed: Helen Gahagan.

 

Driscoll, Denis Joseph, 1871-1958

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Eagle, Joe Henry, 1870-

 

2 letters, 1934-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Early, Stephen, 1889-1951

 

3 letters, 1940, v. 18. Written while secretary to President Roosevelt.

 

Eccles, Marriner Stoddard, 1890-

 

3 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Farley, James A., 1888-

 

52 letters, 1933-1947, v. 9, 10, 20 & 21

 

Fee, James Alger, 1888-1959

 

4 letters, 1944, v. 20

 

Fleishacker, Herbert, 1872-

 

Letter, Nov. 26, 1934, v. 9

 

Fletcher, Duncan Upshaw, 1859-1936

 

5 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Ford, Edsel Bryant, 1893-

 

Letter, July 11, 1935, v. 10

 

Ford, Thomas Francis, 1873-1958

 

3 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Frazier, Lynn Joseph, 1874-1947

 

Letter, Aug. 1, 1935, v. 10

 

Gearhart, Bertrand Wesley, 1890-

 

Letter, Aug. 19, 1935, v. 10

 

Giannini, Amadeo Peter, 1870-1949

 

7 letters, 1933-1935, v. 9 & 10

 

Giannini, Lawrence Mario, 1894-1952

 

Letter, Dec. 8, 1947, v. 21

 

Giesler, Jerry

 

3 letters, 1944, v. 20

 

Gifford, Charles L.

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Glass, Carter, 1858-1946

 

Letter, July 7, 1933, v. 9.

See also Pittman, Key.

 

Goldsborough, Phillips Lee, 1865-1946

 

4 letters, 1935, v. 10

 

Gore, Thomas Pryor, 1870-1949

 

Letter, Apr 21, 1934, v. 9

 

Hale, Marshal, 1866-1945

 

Letter, Aug. 16, 1937, v. 15

 

Hall, Peirson Mitchell, 1894-

 

4 letters, 1934-1937, v. 9 & 15

 

Hancock, Frank

 

3 letters, 1935, v. 11

 

Harl, Maple Talbot, 1893-1957

 

3 letters, 1947, v. 21

 

Harrison, Maurice Edward, 1888-1951

 

6 letters, 1933-1937, v. 9, 11 & 15. Some written for the Democratic Party, California, State Central Committee.

 

Harrison, Pat (Byron Patton)

 

2 letters, 1936-1937, v. 13 & 15

 

Hays, Will H., 1879-1954

 

3 letters, 1944, v. 20

 

Hearst, William Randolph, 1863-1951

 

Letter, Jan. 7, 1935, v. 11

 

Hoover, John Edgar, 1895-

 

3 letters, 1937, v. 15

 

Hopper, Hedda

 

Letter, May 14, 1933, v. 9

 

Howe, Louis McH

 

5 letters, 1934, v. 9. Written while secretary to President Roosevelt.

 

Hull, Cordell, 1871-1955

 

12 letters, 1934-1944, v. 9, 11, 13, 15 & 20

 

Humphrey, William F.

 

Telegram, Oct. 19, 1937, v. 15

 

Hurley, Patrick Jay, 1883-

 

Letter, May 15, 1935, v. 11

 

Ickes, Harold Le Claire, 1874-1952

 

3 letters, 1934-1944, v. 9, 13 & 20

 

Jackson, Robert Houghwout, 1892-

 

Letter, Apr. 18, 1936, v. 13

 

James, William P., 1870-1940

 

7 letters, 1933-1937, v. 9, 11, 13 & 15

 

[Jeritza, Maria] 1887-

 

Letter, July 7, 1947, v. 21. Signed "Vera" and filed as Maria Jeritza Sheehan.

 

Johnson, Hiram Warren, 1866-1945

 

Letter, Apr. 8, 1936, v. 13.

 

Jones, Jesse Holman, 1874-1956

 

10 letters, 1934-1937, v. 9, 11, 13 & 15

 

Kahn, Florence (Prag), 1868-1948

 

Letter, July 27, 1935, v. 11

 

Kelly, David George, 1890-

 

4 letters, 1944-1947, v. 20 & 21

 

Kelly, Edward Joseph, 1876-1950

 

4 letters, 1937-1944, v. 15 & 20

 

Kennedy, Joseph Patrick, 1888-

 

4 letters, 1935-1937, v. 11 & 15

 

Knight, Goodwin Jessm 1896-

 

Letter, Aug. 29, 1936, v. 13

 

Kyser, Kay

 

2 letters, 1947, v. 21

 

La Follette, Robert Marion, 1895-1953

 

Letter, July 31, 1935, v. 11

 

Landi, Elissa

 

25 letters, 1935-1937, v. 11, 13 & 15

 

Langer, William, 1886-1959

 

10 letters, 1936-1947, v. 13, 15, 20 & 21

 

Le Hand, M. A.

 

7 letters, 1936-1937, v. 13 & 15. Written while secretary to President Roosevelt.

 

Lewis, James Hamilton, 1863-1939

 

2 letters, 1936, v. 13

 

Littell, Norman Mather, 1899-

 

2 letters, 1944, v. 20

 

Lloyd, Harold, 1894-

 

Telegram, Dec. 5, 1935, v. 11

 

McAdoo, William Gibbs, 1863-1941

 

31 letters, 1935-1937, v. 11, 13 & 15

 

McClatchy, Charles Kenny, 1858-1936

 

Letter, Aug. 4, 1935, v. 11

 

McComb, Marshall Francis

 

Letter, Mar. 1, 1930, v. 11

 

McCormick, Paul John, 1879-

 

11 letters, 1935-1947, v. 11, 15, 18, 19, 20 & 21

 

McGrath, James Howard, 1903-

 

2 letters, 1947, v. 21

 

McGucken, Joseph Thomas, 1902-

 

3 letters, 1941-1944, v. 19 & 20

 

McIntyre, Marvin Hunter, 1878-1943

 

14 letters, 1936-1938, v. 13, 15 & 18. Written while secretary to President Roosevelt.

 

McLean, Evalyn Walsh

 

7 letters, 1937-1944, v. 15, 18 & 20

 

McMahon, Brien, 1903-

 

8 letters, 1937-1947, v. 15, 18, 20 & 21

 

MacMillan, E. J.

 

2 letters, 1936, v. 13. Written for the Democratic National Committee.

 

McNutt, Paul Vories, 1891-

 

2 letters, 1935-1941, v. 11 & 19

 

Mamoulian, Rouben, 1898-

 

2 letters, 1937, v. 15

 

Margold, Nathan Ross, 1899-

 

Letter, July 24, 1935, v. 11

 

Mayer, Louis B., 1885-

 

6 letters, 1935-1947, v. 11, 13, 15, 18, 20 & 21

 

Merriam, Carroll Burnham, 1870-1941

 

8 letters, 1936-1941, v. 13, 15, 17, 18 & 19

 

Merriam, Frank Finley, 1865-

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 11

 

Miller, Justin, 1888-

 

2 letters, 1940, v. 18

 

Moffett, James Andrew, 1886-

 

4 letters, 1935-1947, v. 11 & 21

 

Moore, Minor, 1876-

 

Letter, Oct. 3, 1935, v. Il

 

Morgan, William Forbes, 1879-1937

 

10 letters, 1935-1937, v. 11, 13 & 15. Many written while secretary of the Democratic National Committee.

 

Morgenthau, Henry, 1891-

 

37 letters, 1935-1944, v. 11, 13, 15, 18 & 20

 

Morley, Felix, 1894-

 

Letter, May 12, 1936, v. 13

 

Murphy, Frank, 1890-

 

12 letters, 1939-1947, v. 18, 19, 20 & 21

 

Murray, James Edward, 1876-

 

3 letters, 1935-1938, v. 11 & 17

 

Myers, William Irving, 1891-

 

Letter, Mar. 7, 1935, v. 11

 

Neely, Matthew Mansfield, 1874-1958

 

7 letters, 1936-1940, v. 13, 15, 17 & 18

 

Norbeck, Peter, 1870-1936

 

Letter, Aug. 23, 1935, v. 11

 

Nye, Gerald Prentice, 1892-

 

Letter, Aug. 16, 1935, v. 11

 

O'Connor, Basil, 1892-

 

6 letters, 1944-1947, v. 20 & 21

 

Olson, Culbert Levy, 1876

 

2 letters, 1939, v. 18. One written for him by his son, Richard.

 

Parker, John Johnston, 1885-1958

 

2 letters, 1944, v. 20

 

Parsons, Louella (Oettinger), 1893-

 

2 letters, 1936-1944, v. 14 & 20

 

Pearson, Drew, 1897-

 

4 letters, 1944-1947, v. 20 & 21

 

Pepper, Claude Denson, 1900-

 

Letter, Aug. 25, 1947, v. 21

 

Perkins, Frances, 1882-1965

 

Letter, May 25, 1933, v. 18

 

Pierce, Walter Marcus, 1861-1954

 

2 letters, 1937-1938, v. 16 & 17

 

Pittman, Key, 1872-1940

 

2 letters, 1935-1938, v. 12 & 17. Enclosure to letter of Jan. 21, 1935: copy of letter from Carter Glass to Pittman, Jan. 19, 1935.

 

Pole, John William

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 12

 

Prentiss, William, Jr.

 

7 letters, 1935-1937, v. 12, 14 & 16

 

Price, William Jennings, 1873-

 

3 letters, 1935-1938, v. 12 & 17

 

Radcliffe, George L., 1877-

 

6 letters, 1935-1943, v. 12, 16 & 18

 

Ransom, Ronald, 1882-

 

7 letters, 1937-1941, v. 16, 18 & 19

 

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, Pres., U.S., 1882-1945

See Early, Stephen; Howe, Louis McH.; Le Hand, M. A.; McIntyre, Marvin H.; Tully, Grace

 

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1914-

 

2 letters, 1940, v.18

 

Roosevelt, James, 1907-

 

22 letters, 1935-1947, v. 12, 18, 20 & 21

 

Roper, Daniel Calhoun, 1867-1943

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 12

 

Rossi, Angelo Joseph, 1878-1948

 

Letter, Oct. 30, 1939, v. 18

 

Sabath, Adolph Joachim, 1866-1952

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 12

 

St. Sure, Adolphus Frederic, 1869-1949

 

6 letters, 1941-1947, v. 19, 20 & 21

 

Sandlin, John Nicholas, 1872-1957

 

2 letters, 1935, v. 12

 

Schenck, Joseph M.

 

5 letters, 1936-1938, v. 14, 16 & 18

 

Schwellenbach, Lewis Baxter, 1894-

 

Letter, Aug. 18, 1941, v. 19

 

Scott, Joseph, 1867-

 

7 letters, 1940-1947, v. 18, 20 & 21

 

Shaw, Frank L., 1877-1958

 

3 letters, 1936, v. 14

 

Sheehan, Winfield R., 1883-1945

 

8 letters, 1935-1937, v. 12, 14 & 16

 

Sheen, Fulton John, 1895-

 

2 letters, 1940-1947, v. 18 & 20

 

Sheppard, Harry Richard, 1885-

 

9 letters, 1937-1944, v. 16 & 20

 

Sheppard, Morris, 1875-1941

 

5 letters, 1935-1938, v. 12, 16 & 17

 

Snyder, John Wesley, 1895-

 

2 letters, 1947, v. 21

 

Speilman, Francis Joseph, Cardinal, 1889-

 

2 letters, 1940-1941, v. 18 & 19

 

Stephens, Albert Lee, 1874-

 

Letter, Jan. 22, 1947, v. 21

 

Stephens, Harold Montelle 1886-

 

6 letters, 1935-1941, v. 12 & 19

 

Storke, Thomas More, 1876-

 

5 letters, 1936-1937, v. 14 & 16

 

Tolan, John Harvey, 1877-1947

 

Letter, July 28, 1935, v. 12

 

Townsend, John Gillis, 1871-

 

3 letters, 1935-1938, v. 12 & 17

 

Tully, Grace

 

3 letters, 1944, v. 20. Written while secretary to President Roosevelt.

 

Tumulty, Joseph Patrick, 1879-

 

Letter, Jan. 22, 1935, v. 12

 

Tydings, Millard Evelyn, 1890-

 

May 4, 1944, v. 20

 

Vandenberg, Arthur Hendrick, 1884-1951

 

Letter, Jan. 23, 1947, v. 21

 

Vanderbilt, Cornelius, 1898-

 

15 letters, 1935-1947, v. 12, 14, 20 & 21

 

Vickers, Joseph W.

 

Letter, Aug. 26, 1936, v. 14

 

Walker, Frank Comerford, 1886-

 

8 letters, 1940-1944, v. 18, 19 & 20

 

Warner, Jack

 

3 letters, 1944-1947, v. 20 & 21

 

Warren, Earl, 1891-

 

2 letters, 1944-1947, v. 20 & 21

 

Welsh, Martin I., 1882-

 

4 letters, 1940-1941, v. 18 & 19

 

Wilbur, Curtis Dwight, 1867-1954

 

5 letters, 1941-1944, v. 19 & 20

 

Yankwich, Léon René, 1888-

 

Letter, May 15, 1947, v. 21

 

Zanuck, Darryl Francis, 1902-

 

Letter, Aug. 17, 1944, v. 20