James A. Garfield papers, 1856-1881

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881
Abstract:
This collection consists primarily of letters written by James A. Garfield, from 1856 to 1881, mostly written while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet (1 flat box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. James A. Garfield papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists primarily of letters written by James A. Garfield, from 1856 to 1881, mostly written while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Letters to Tracy W. Scott discuss congressional business, appointments, land, and the postal service, especially the post office at Chester Cross Roads, Ohio. Letters to Edmund Burritt Wakefield pertain to congressional committees and elections, appointments, politics, and the Crédit Mobilier scandal; they also discuss education, reading and literature, writing, and health. The collection contains two personal letters to Garfield's cousin, Henry B. Boynton, and two items relating to the Garfield Fund, established to benefit Lucretia Garfield following the shooting of James A. Garfield.

Biographical / historical:

James A. Garfield (November 19, 1831-September 19, 1881), the twentieth president of the United States, was born in Orange (now Moreland Hills), Ohio. In 1858, he married Lucretia Rudolph (1832-1918). During the Civil War, Garfield served in the 42nd Ohio infantry as a colonel; he was promoted to brigadier general in 1862 and fought in the battle of Shiloh. Later that year, he was elected to the U.S. Congress, representing Ohio as a Republican; he continued to serve in the Union Army until December 1863. During Garfield's lengthy tenure in the House of Representatives, he focused on financial policy and was Chair of the House Appropriations Committee from 1871 to 1875. In 1873, he was accused of accepting stock during the Crédit Mobilier scandal, which involved the corrupt financing of the Union Pacific Railroad. That same year he was caught up in another scandal over the increase in congressional salaries. Garfield was elected U.S. Senator in 1880, but at the Republican National Convention that year a divided party elected him their presidential candidate; he defeated the Democratic candidate Winfield Scott Hancock in November. His brief tenure in office was marked primarily by political infighting over cabinet and other presidential nominations. On July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot in Washington, D.C., by the assassin Charles J. Guiteau; he died of his wounds in New Jersey on September 19, 1881, at age 49.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Elizabeth and Milan Wakefield, November 1939.
Processing information:

This collection was processed in 2021 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project. The items had been arranged as the Garfield File by Huntington Library staff in early- or mid-20th century; material was rehoused during reprocessing. Previously assigned item-level call numbers have been retained. The number of pages for each item is noted in parentheses in item-level Scope and Contents notes. Page count for letters does not include envelopes. Previously assigned legacy terminology regarding autograph status was retained; items marked autograph indicate the item is in the handwriting of the author of the letter.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. James A. Garfield papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

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