William Gibbs McAdoo Papers, 1823-1992, bulk 1936-1941

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Summary

Creators:
McAdoo, W. G. (William Gibbs), 1863-1941.
Abstract:
This collection consists of papers related to the life and political career of American lawyer and politician William Gibbs McAdoo (1863-1941). Much of the correspondence deals with McAdoo's public appearances and engagements as a United States senator from California and also his failed attempt at re-election in 1938.
Extent:
12 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 3 oversize volumes.
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of letters, photographs and clippings related to the life and political career of William Gibbs McAdoo. Much of the McAdoo correspondence deals with his public appearances and engagements as a United States Senator and also his failed attempt at re-election in 1938. Also of interest is McAdoo's involvement with the first Pan-American flight in 1936 and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's campaign trip to California in July 1938. There are also materials related to McAdoo's involvement with the Liberty Bond Act during World War I and the construction and management of the Hudson River Tunnels. The earlier materials are letters to and from William Gibbs McAdoo's grandfather, Charles R. Floyd, chiefly dating from 1823 to 1845. Many of the letters are from his wife, Sophie Floyd, but of note are a few letters from Thomas Butler King.

Persons represented in the collection include: John Anson Ford, J. Edgar Hoover, Cordell Hull, Eleanor Wilson McAdoo, Doris Cross McAdoo, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Woodrow Wilson.

Biographical / historical:

William Gibbs McAdoo (1863-1941) was born in Marietta, Georgia, on 31 October 1863 to Mary Faith (Floyd) McAdoo and William Gibbs McAdoo. He was a practicing lawyer in both Chattanooga, Tennessee and New York City after passing the bar in 1885. William Gibbs McAdoo developed and oversaw the construction of the Hudson River Tunnels, acting as president of the company which operated them from 1902-1913. He served as vice chairman for the Democratic National Committee in 1912 and as a delegate for the Democratic National Convention in the years 1912, 1932, and 1936. McAdoo was also a member of President Woodrow Wilson's cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury from March 1913 to December 1918. He was Director-General of the United States Railroads during World War I from December 1917 to January 1919. One interesting fact about McAdoo that is little known is that he was the leading candidate for the Presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in 1920. He was a United States senator from California from 1933 until his resignation in 1936. He was then an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1938.

McAdoo was first married to Sarah Hazlehurst Fleming in 1885. His second wife was the daughter of President Woodrow Wilson, Eleanor Wilson, and they were married in 1914 but divorced at a later date. McAdoo's third wife was Doris Cross, whom he married in September 1935.

William Gibbs McAdoo died of a heart attack on 1 February 1941 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Meyer, Virginia.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Doris Cross McAdoo, October 1998.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following order:

  • Material relating to WGM while Director-General of US Railroads during World War I, 1918-1919 (Box 1)
  • Correspondence of Charles Floyd (grandfather of WGM), bulk 1823-1945 (Box 2)
  • William Gibbs McAdoo Papers (Box 3-11)
  • Oversize Materials (Box 12, 1 folder, and 3 volumes)

Note: the materials in Box 3-11 are organized broadly by year, but individual items do not follow strict chronological arrangement and there is date overlap among boxes.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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