Harry Balfe papers, 1837-1935, bulk 1900-1915

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Summary

Creators:
Balfe, Harry, 1860-1944
Abstract:
Collection primarily contains correspondence relating to the Panama Canal, 1900 to 1915.
Extent:
.42 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Harry Balfe papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

Items in this collection primarily relate to the Panama Canal, dating from 1900 to 1915. There are nine letters from the following senders: William McKinley's secretary, George B. Courtelyou; chief engineer of the Panama Canal, George W. Goethals; Admiral George Dewey; President Theodore Roosevelt, 1908 April 24 (facsimile, HM 76524); William H. Taft as Secretary of War, 1908 June 2 and June 6 (facsimiles, HM 76525 and HM 76526); Reverend J. F. Carson of Brooklyn, New York; and Will Rogers. In addition, there are a few items about horse showing including a photograph of a horse and two awards won by Balfe's horse "Maximum" in 1915, given by the National Horse Show Association of America. The ephemera includes Balfe's 1914 passport, a newspaper clipping, and a document appointing Tom Wentz Balfe to Captain in the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service in 1918. A number of items in this collection are facsimiles.

Biographical / historical:

Harry Balfe (1860-1944) was born in Newburgh, New York. In 1900, he embarked on a mercantile career and joined the firm of Austin, Nichols & Co. of New York as sales manager, then as manager and vice-president, and then president. When he retired in 1920, he was chairman of the board. Balfe was a friend of President Theodore Roosevelt, and during the building of the Panama Canal he made two trips to the canal zone on request of Roosevelt. Balfe was also requested by President William H. Taft to make another trip to the Panama Canal zone. In the 1930s, he was living in San Joaquin Valley, California, on a large ranch where he raised prize-winning horses. Balfe was married to May Adams of New York; they had three sons: Harry, Thomas, and Raymond.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Henry Clifford, December 1956.
Processing information:

This finding aid was created in 2022 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project with enhanced description of the presidential material present. The items had been assembled physically and arranged by Huntington Library former staff in the mid-20th century.

Arrangement:

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by sender.

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]. Harry Balfe 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
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