The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
WADE, Festud John
W&mb % lf$$
Mm* i*#o P* KarMait
laahliigtoii, S*CU
S * a r lb*S# f m r W % :
In your ooo$»mtlw Xatta? of $«tai*y I i s j»g&rii to thai gap#rs
of your lata JM&ar* f#atm« Jaha ftrfa, you aaiitdoaatf ttafc yom kad writtati
to your alatar for lafaqaAlatt* and a£ao to th# &raanti$* fnufc Go* l a
St* &oula« lay 1 togais* itartAttr yom iuroa hail sny Anrtter « n l i $ t o the*
^ t o x w ^ u t a of tba paponif
l a have mot teard fjrom tite Marcaiitlla ftttut 60^ dlz*ct # but in*
d&Motly «* l a a i » i i that tfaoro wmvm no pag«*s on fUa tltfiro* ®xc#pi# of
wmrmtig th* official nimttoii of tha old Xferauitil* Drturfc Co* Sl&aaTO;haw
alaa aiN^ftslj»itfeit so papers w r o iofosttfd with another logical plae%
ttaa ifUitoBfl l i s t o r l o a l fioelaty, aa ectt&ada that thay *H«t b# sooaahatra la
t i t fowofaioit of tha finiljr*
If you feawa any im%imr imtormtlm for m on tha subject or aig*
gaationa as- to what itartliar taqalr&aa w# oa» wmkm$ w should ba most gtmia**
fttl*
SiitooBtly jwtun*,
ferpttrlto
Burnatt
Ht0«refa Aaaociata
11/25, /55 Matter of ¥ade 1 s papers considered closed* Miss Burnett has made card
saying no papers found. IB
iice
•;
JAW
3
... *.„
l9^ti
MRS. LEE P . WARREN
25n
J
MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE N. W.
DLAAM
WASHINGTON, D. C.
v
COMMITTEE ON THE Mi$TOf!¥
Of THE
v
y FEDERAL RESERVE S Y S T E « _ ^ \
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WADE, Festus John
COMMITTEE ON THE HISTORY OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
33 LIBERTY STREET, N E W YORK 45, N E W YORK
TELEPHONE: RECTOR 2-5700, EXTENSION 286
ALLAN SPROUL, Chairman
W. RANDOLPH BURGESS
ROBERT D. CALKINS f
F. CYRIL JAMES
WILLIAM MCC. MARTIN, JR.
WALTER W. STEWART
DONALD B. WOODWARD, Secretary
MILDRED ADAMS, Research Director
With cooperation of
THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
722 JACKSON PLACE, N. W.
WASHINGTON 6, D. C
WADE, Festua John
Xteeanber 2% %9$k
Mm* lee Ftottlt Warrenf
2$%1 fessacteaetts Ave.»f AM*,
Washington^ B»C*
Bear Ira* Warren*
I t ytm sea .f^crni the aboire letterhead^ t h i s Contitee I t
w r y mtieli interested in materials whieh coneem the early days of the
{federal Beserve % s t « u
Under a grant fro® the leokefeHer foundation* l i s t
Mildred Adaas* lesearch Director of the shore Cosndttee* has hmn int#i**
viewing persons who had a pert In fowling end developing the ffederal
Wammm System* Sha hae been seeking to locate and preserve whatever
mmw&B and jnaterlaXs there pay exist in private hands shied* may l a t e r
he made available to a selected grtmp of outstanding scholars* In t h i s
effort wswaiiid lite to enlist your help*
We hope that there say assist* either in jmr family*!
possession or injMn* library^ a eeileetion of pipers l e f t by ymm
l a t e h«thtr # C^^\ v fest|i2j^to:^ «te% while pmsldaofc of the &reaiitile
f m s t Soitpafiy* oontrffiifid gra&tly to the dtvelop»nt of Federal fiessrre
poller in the St# Somis Inderal BSMMPTO l i f t riot* As yon say recall* he
*as a mfear of the federal Advisoiry 0omneil frcaa 19^2 to 192lu If there
i s stteh a collection* ue wettld be aNptsb gp*t*JUL for inlbfwtloii on i t s Whereabouts* contents* else and avaflaMUty to students*
i&y 1 express in sdvanes the <kmBdttas*s thanks for any
help yen can give tie*
Sincerely youfs*
Ksrgasrlte Bwraett
WADE, Festua John
TkMM&mr 2$$. l$$h
lira* l l i a a t e t h (toeae* Idbxag|ia&
Union f l t e t r i o Co* of Xlaaoorlj
315 I* t w l f t h BttOevanft,
Saint Loui% 1 # Xlaaaarl*
Bear IQiMheth,
ftaak you ao ©mob for yomr very tnforaatim lotto? of
Decanter 2 | about t t e peepers of 4oim ffesfcos ttade# 1 ham jmafe flnlahad
writing a l#tt«* to lira* l#eo P a t t l t menraa* ahose nana yon miggottod^
fa hope ate will bo ablo to prwride us with sew i&fcaution* If not^
we stay again tarn t o yom for ftarthor laqplxy into t t e eootsats of the
mtaitoa of the old tereentila Trust Company so far a t they related t o
the F#d#-»1 fteg#rire %atea» HcMmer, i f t t e aiattiss w#r# not ladaaed*
that aoald aeon t o present a largs problem* Bui 1 do apptaeiate your
g0fisrtii20 offer t o pnr«e tha natter favtter for ma if n t t l be*
1 mas glad to get tmn of yon and yoar doings* low happy
yom m a t hm® beam a t Chrlstae* to have your ehildrom «* mi your g n a t *
aottl *» idth F0m» % d§f* turned oat t o bo mah happier than 1 anticipated*.
% f a #t t e r tea bean oritio&Uy i l l eimeo the teginiitag of lotwibar (te
i t f3 )bnt te shotted daeldtakt SagyromnsBi juat before Ohilataasj aa t t e t
ho was able to join ma a t t t e dianer table and on joy opening his proaoiit #
Bert t h i s le&*ap in our as3Ki#ty eaaa too lata for so to think of Christ**
mas earde so ttey Jtasi did not go out thia year* i an gcdag t o t r y
gradually t o mmmmr notes I raeslvad ao that ay oit-of-t^wi frianda
'«ill teoir a t e t happened*
^jr work with t t e tesexve Cmndttaa i s T#iy intoreating*
I t ia a far^aoeing project with neny *aalfioattoms • 1 hope your oun
work ia affording yoa satisfaction and t t e t yem new foal <golt<e a t
h©»e»
With may ba.it wishes for t t e la* f#ar # 1 -am
83acaza3jf yonrst
lafgaerite Burnett
lIsrioxEiiEiGTRiG C O M P A N Y OF MISSOURI
315 ¥ORTH TWELFTH BOULEVARD
SAIMTIJOUIS ^MISSOURI
December 23, 195U
Miss Marguerite Burnett
Comm, on The History of
the federal Reserve Systemf
33 Liberty Street
lew York k5> *. Y,
Dear Marguerite:
& » C
€ S V i* O
^f\i -11 ^
- •* * 'V* ^ ?^l ftftJirw1
Cn
^
, ,
n
* ^ ^ * ***"** ^'fc*
Connie Pfaff turned your letter over
to me and I will try to answer it as "best as I can,
•When I was writing the history of Mercantile-Commerce
Bank and Trust Company I tried to find Festus Wade's
papers, I talked to Mrs. Crunden Wa#e, a former
Librarian, who was Festus Wade, Jr*s divorced wife.
She told me that Festus, Jr, had them in their home
and he took the papers with him when they were divorced,
I wrote him several times and he promised to look for
them hut he did not do so. He took his life a couple
of years ago and the papers were not found so far as
we know, I checked with the Librarian of the Missouri
Historical Society and she said they had none of Mr,
Wadefs papers, hut they have had correspondence with
his sister who had heen most cooperative ahout other
matters, I would suggest that you write to her as
a source of possihle help. Her address iss
^0
A?'
Mrs, Lee Pettit Warren
2511 Massachusetts Avenue, I,W,
Washington, D. C #
v
Thgm^^LM^.JSmSE^
of Mr
« Vade*s &*
^Mwc^itile, nothing that I know of, except the minutes
of the ^ l a n ^ r can tile Trust Company, lo doubt there is
material in them about Mr, Wadefs participation in the
founding of the Federal Reserve system, 1 did not use
them to any great extent in my thesis "but if there is
anything that X could look up for you I am sure I can
get permission to do so.
Sincerely,
Live Better. • ^
^
jQ^^^Z^
. &> tfU~~iti*
*~-
£
^ "
^ T
WADE, Festus John
Bttwfotr 10* US&
Mm Ctattttwsnt P£mit0 M®mmmh Mbtrnptom
Itotenl lfctt«**t Bunk of SI* t*omi»#
SfcJ&otla* f,t 80 #
Sotr Gtattl**
I mooter i f yon oas fetlp ut Icxttit th# offieiAl mud p*£vt6t
ftqptrt of J0to UMAIW IfcMtt* •tthot t a pmrnM^ ©f t t e lliretBt&St frosfc Co**
of -8fc» Zotadt* f » m l # f m i l l hit dumih te 1$3?» i t «#«» to h*vt pltgrtd
*--]ptttdfetiii pawrt in tfe* tartly days of tint I M t s t l l§s«nr# %tt«a# Iter oat
'ttoim* *•>' * * • * ttthtar of th® Stdtftil JUvitmgr (knaoiX A n t I f I t *• 19tfc#
Perhaps
you should first discuss the matter with Elizabeth
f
Owens.
1
don
t
remember
jgtfe when she began her career as librarian with
%h§; &MmM3B l t a t t 0o# tad da«M> i t «tt at tojftar at ttt 2 0 % tent $to§
might well know something about records or papers MlQllBJtK to his long
mgjim* Of ootrtt* 1 iwsifetr Ite fed tfewy o* WmMm^mikL of t i t l i b *
rarjr collection twfc 1 feel quite sure that official correspondence and
otter pipits vovdd tevo town mtttaMd t&atriit#t J5»r Ifctlr adrohiirta ir^tas*
•If tMrtJtfag of ia*#.»^fc 4taMi&i'*aNt & m Hit. Itevtt&fltiKIt ,****•
foVtoo&i yon find t*fc * * » * ** ooeli §e% la't^meh *&&h'mnfc&* of »r#
jfa&t'*t JtalSjr* It i t ptttllAt tfetfe hit mptvt feat* vaaaJ»a& witteSa- Ida
own family* If not, thej would know what diaposition had been saade of
th6m#
Any iB&fat&tcai or tlaaa t l i t t yot eau ttife tp t i l l bo * t * y
much appreciated•
flitttwtly yoawt
Sugatrlta Banatft
WAGNER, Robert F* (Senator)
See memo under JOHMSOM, Hiram (Senator)
in correspondence folder
dated March 28, 1955
WALKER, CharjV
COMMITTEE OH THE HISTORY OF THE FfiDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM'
33 Liberty Street, New York 4-$, New York
Telephone* EEctor 2-5700, Extension 236
L>«t3TJ©MnBr
i »
Bear Dr. Boppi
Among various people who have been suggested ti possible
candidates for the writing of the history is Mr. Churls tolker,
formerly of the federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia end now,
a© I understand, at the University of Texas. This suggestion
waa wade by one of thy men on the research staff of the Hew York
Batik, but he was somewhat tentative about it m.& warned me that
I ought to check with you about Mr. Valker before going any further.
I will be most grateful for any information and any coicsent that
you oara to send us.
A recent letter frois Dr. Vood says that he tried to
reach you by mall at Candlevood Lake, but his letter was returned.
Ha expected to be back in Missouri about the 9th of September.
Cordially yours,
Mildred Adams
Besearch Director
Dr. Karl Bopp
Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Philadelphia 1, Pennsylvania
i w 4
M
See correspondence under MILLER, Jo Zach
WALLACE, Robert P.
WALLACE, Robert F.
Kerch 9, 1956
Dear Bob:
1 find i n the February 1956 issue of the Journal
of P o l i t i c a l Economy an a r t i c l e by Kobert J% Wallace of
the S t a t e College of Washington on "The Use of the P r o gressiva Discount Rate by the Federal Reserve System, 9
I do not km* "Wallace personally, but h i s mother
i s a secretary in the Federal Rf?serve Bank of Kansas City,
md he himself did graduate vork on Federtl Reserve
matters end wrote a t h e s i s for which he had access to the
papers and memories of Governor J» Z. Miller of Kansas
City, who vas probably the inventor of the progressiva
discount rate* His writing i s simple and d i r e c t . I send
you h i s name as a person you aey want to consider as
on© more p o s s i b i l i t y for monographs.
Sincerely yours*
Mildred Adams
Dr# Robert D. Calkins
The Brookings I n s t i t u t i o n
722 Jackson Place »• V.
Washington 6* D. C#
WALLACE, Robert F.
Starch 9* 1956
Bear I>r# Wallaces
We were delighted to get in toe &ail this morning a reprint
of your article on *Thert Use of the Progressive Si ©count Bate by the
Federal Reserve System, lhia i s exactly the kind of think that I
have been looking for, fend i t i s very nice to have i t in one package.
tour note on Page 61 crediting Governor $$ Z« Miller of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City with being the chief supporter
of t&e progressive dlecouut rate plan was particularly interesting to
me in view of ay attempt to track down his piece in the picture
through the Kttneas City Bank files* lour mother was very helpful in
t h i s , but we were, *§ I think you know, balked by the fact that Kansas
City had thrown out MM of i t s early files* Under those circumstances, your own memory of what you saw in Governor MiHer 1 s f i l e s
becomes highly important, and students have reagon to be glad that
that particular footnote was written*
I only wish that Governor Miliar*I files or the pertinent
Kansas City flies s t i l l existed* I tried to track this back in the
f i l e s of the Board of Governors but again could not get back of the
Board's f i r s t official notice of i t *
these historical pussies and barricades are always fun to
work against, and one keeps hoping to turn up key papers which will
resolve them* If a t any time you get further into t h i s , we would
appreciate i t i f you -would l e t ua know* thanking you again for
your kindness, I am
Vmry sincerely yours,
Mildred Adams
Dr* Robert F* Wallace
State College of Washington
Bureau of Economic and Business
Research
Pullman, Washington
January 14, 1955
Deer Mr. Walton;
3henks so much for your l e t t e r of January 10th«
¥e would baffle been g r e a t l y cheered had i t been possible to
turn up new and f r u i t f u l material about Canadian a t t i t u d e s
toward the Federal Reserve System, but we send vans thanks
for your kindness i n t r y i n g , and p a r t i c u l a r l y for your
thoughtfulness in passing the query on to Mr* 3 . A. Craig.
I t was most generous of you.
Very sincerely yours,
Mildred Adams
Mr» §» JU Walton
Economic Adviser
Bank of Montreal
Montreal 1, Canada
RECEIVED
c.c. Mr. Donald B. Woodward
r
COMMITTEE ON THE HISTORY
ESTABLISHED 1817
OF THE
HDEHAL
HEAD OFFICE
P.O. BOX 6002
Tenth
January
1955
Dear Miss Adams,
I have taken some time in showing your
letter of November 30th to a number of my colleagues in the Bank and discussing it with the®
in. the hope of bringing to light some out-of-theway material about the Federal Reserve System as
a contribution to the useful work of your Committee, but I am afraid that my efforts have been
without fruit. Our Library has been unable to unearth anything except the familiar published
sources and those to whom I have spoken can recall nothing that would shed new light on the history of the System.
As one further avenue of enquiry, however,
I am taking the liberty of sending a copy of your
letter to Mr. H.A. Craig, a former officer of the
Bank who is now retired and living at North Gower,
Ont. Mr. Craig was, I know, deeply interested in
the Federal Reserve System in the years preceding
and following the inception of Canada's Central Bank
in 193^ and it may well be that he will have something to contribute by way of memoirs or unfamiliar
material towards your project. I am asking him to
reply to you direct.
With regrets that I cannot be more helpful and wishing you every success in your undertaking,
X am,
Yours very truly,
E.A. Walton
Economic Adviser
Miss Mildred Adams,
Research Director.
Committee on trie History of the
Federal Reserve System,
•*""»
* « « * SYSTEM
WARDEN, Dorothy
See KENT, Fred I.
(Miss Warden was Mr. Kent's secretary)
See also under BROOKINGS INSTITUTION correspondence letter
from Mr. Akers of August 9$ 1955
WARBURG, Paul M.
February &, 1954
Beer Jimmy s
Because of your interest in banking matters, I
think you ¥iH. want to know about at project that needs your
help. A small committee, on which I eft active, is working
to get track of materials which bear on the early history
of the Federal Reserve Board, Because of the important
pert your father played In its formative days, a knowledge
of his papers would be of the greatest value to us. Of
course, he used some of the?* in writing hie famous book, but
he was a man of inch abundant Ideas that there must be
other memoranda and correspondence -which bear on the subject.
Miss Mildred Adams, research director for the Committee, tells me you were kind enough to agree to let her see
what you have of those papers in your Greenwich library.
I hope your schedule is such that it may be possible for yon
to see her in the near future. We shall deeply appreciate
any cooperation you can give her*
Sincerely yours,
V* Randolph Burgess
Mr. James F. Warburg
70 East 45th Street
Hew Xork City
¥AR FIHAWCE CORPORATION
March 30, 195$
Miss Marguerite Burnett
Research Associate
Committee on the History of the
Federal Heserve System
33 Liberty Street
New York k%> New York
Res War Finance Corporation Records
Dear Miss Burnetts
Your letter of March 17th requested information concerning the
location of the records of the War Finance Corporation.
The enclosed t!Registration of Record Group 15U, Records of the
War Finance Corporation "contains a statement of the records of this
Corporation that are in the National Archives and in the General Services
Administration, Federal Records Centers at Alexandria, Virginia, and St.
Louis, Missouri.
The correction indicated in the cubic footage of records in the
National Archives is explained by the transfer of the personnel records and
pay-rolls to the General Services Administration Federal Records Center, St.
Louis, Missouri, and the disposal (since May 1951) of certain fiscal
records, the contents of which are substantially duplicated in other
retained records.
The records of the Corporation that are in the National Archives
are in the Fiscal Section of this Branch. If you wish to use the records
in the National Archives, you should come to Room 11B and ask for Dr.
Holdcamper, telephone extension 6it96. A copy of the *f Regulations for the
Public Use of Records in the National Archives11 that includes a statement
of our hours of business is also enclosed.
Very truly yours,
For: ThasrPage
Chief Archivist, Legislative,
Judicial, and Diplomatic
Records Branch
EnclosuresJ 2
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Registration of Record Group No. iSU
RECORDS OF THE WAR FINANCE CORPORATION
The War Finance Corporation was created by an act of Congress approved
April $, 1918, to give financial support to industries necessary to the
prosecution of the war and to banking institutions that aided such industries.
After the Armistice its activities were extended to assist in the transition
to peacetime conditions. In the spring of 1919 it undertook the financing
of the railroads, which were still under Government controlj under an act
of March 3, 1919, it made loans to American exporters} and under the
Agricultural Credits Act of August 2k, 1921, it made advances for agricultural purposes to banking and financial institutions and to cooperative
marketing associations. To facilitate the handling of the agricultural
loans, it established Agricultural Loan Agencies in the principal agricultural and livestock sections of the country and cooperated with several
livestock loan companies in making loans. It began liquidation of its
activities on January 1, 1925. B»y an act of March 1, 1929, the liquidation
of its remaining assets and the winding up of its affairs were assigned to
the Secretary of the Treasury, who delegated these responsibilities to a
liquidating committee. Under the President's Reorganization Plan No. II,
the Corporation was abolished effective July 1, 1939 > and the Secretary of
the Treasury was charged with terminating all its business not later than
December 31 of that year.
Description of records transferred:
Headquarters records consisting of minutes of meetings of the Directors
and of the Liquidating Committee of the Corporation, with indexes; account
books and other fiscal records relating to loans and advances made by the
Corporation; correspondence with field offices and others; and personnel ,#
pay-roll, and other administrative records; and records of Agricultural
Loan Agencies consisting of account books, correspondence, and pay rolls•*
Inclusive dates: 1918-39* Quantity: 972 cubic feet. Accession:
931 • Custody: General Records Branch. With the exception of 1 cubic foot
of correspondence found among unaccessioned records of the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation and transferred by that agency to the National Archives,
all the records were received from the Department of the Treasury#
The Washington officers loan case files, correspondence relating to
activities of Agricultural Loan Agencies, and reading files of correspondence
of certain of the Agencies, amounting in all to 82$ cubic feet, are in
Federal Records Center No. 3, at Alexandria, Va. Duplicate copies of minutes
I of meetings, 1921-January 1931> which were authorized by Congress for disI posal, were, upon the Library1s application to the Archivist, transferred
1
to the Hoover Library on War, Revolution, and Peace, at Palo Alto, Calif.
(over)
* Washington Office personnel jackets and payrolls and payrolls of the
Agricultural Loan Agencies are now in the General Services Administration
Federal Records Center, 172i* Locust Street, s t . Louis 3, St. Louis, Missouri*
Description of records not transferred:
The minutes of meetings of the Liquidating Committee for the period
Feb* 1, 1931-June 30* 1939$ were being bound when the records were
accessioned^ and their whereabouts is unknown.
Related records:
None.
Rev. 2, May l£, 19&«
DC 51-8141
DigitizedGSA-WASH
for FRASER
WAR FIMtfCE CORPORATION
Kove iber 25, 1955
Rational archives k Records Service
General Services Administration
Washington, 25, D*C.
Gentle saens
In onr f i l e s we have the carbon of a l e t t e r addressed to
yon on Iferch 17, 1955 which contains a notation that an answer was
received dated March 3 0 . However, we are unfortunately unable t o
locate t h i s reply now, and have no record on our c ards of the i n formation i t contaiied.
If i t would not be too such trouble could you please s^nd
ns a copy of your reply ef March 30, or, i f preferable, a new reply
givinr the desired information. The text of our l e t t e r of inquiry
read as follows!
•Will you please infora us whether the f i l e s and records
of the ftar Finance Corporation have been deposited with
you. Also, whether any of the f i l e s s t i l l reiaain with
the Secretary of the Treasury, to whoa the functions
of the Corporation were transferred in 1939."
Very truly yours,
Marguerite Burnett
Research Associate
WAR FINANCE CORPORATION
March 17, 1955
Sational Archives & Records Service
General Services Administration
Washington, 2£, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Will you please inform us whether the files and records of
the War Finance Corporation have been deposited with you. Also,
whether any of the files still reaain with the Secretary of the
Treasury, to whoa the functions of the Corporation were transferred
in 1939.
Very truly yours,
Marguerite Burnett
Research Associate
(¥-
WARREN, ueorge F.
April 30, 1956
Dear Mr* Snyder:
It vas most kind of you to send us
such detailed information about the papers
of Dr» George Warren*
We are not at this
moment ready to make decisions about micro**
filming| but this data will help us when ve
reach that point*
Gratefully yours»
Mildred Adams
Mr* Phil L. Snyder
Assistant Archivist
Boardman Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca* New Xork
¥AKREN, George F .
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
ITHACA, NEW YORK
Rl£
COLLECTION OF REGIONAL HISTORY
BOARDMAN HALL
ceiven
&
April 27, 1956
*^#
API? 3 9 if 50
Miss Mildred Adams, Executive Director
Cimmnm mi T^&e*^.>
Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System
OFT**** *-"'^^V
33 Liberty Street
* ^ f t * t£S£ii£ S¥S1»
Hew York 4.5, New York
Dear Miss Adamsj
Mrs. Fox has been ill and out of the office} therefore I am answering
your letter to her of March 26.
There is no guide to the Warren Papers. They are arranged chronologically for the most part, with some subject matter cutting across a perfect
chronological arrangement.
Unfortunately the Warren Papers do not lend themselves to an easily
defined and limited category that would cover his activities as economic
adviser to President Roosevelt. It might be helpful in deciding just what
you want microfilmed if I gave you a fairly detailed description of the
papers relating to these activities.
The Warren Papers include very little correspondence between Warren
and others who were interested in governmental fiscal policies in the 1930 f s.
Nor do they include any material that would present, such as a diary would,
the "inside story11 of Warren1 s relationship to the Roosevelt Administration's
fiscal policy.
The Papers do contain copies of articles and speeches (mimeographed for
the most part) that set forth Warren's views on currency and other economic
matters. The Papers also include articles, speeches, open letters, editorials, and other such material relating to economic problems in the 1930fs
and which was sent to Warren as an individual concerned with such problems.
For example, the Committee for the Nation to Rebuild Prices and Purchasing
Power (J.H. Rand, Chairman) sent its reports and recommendations to Warren.
Warren also kept a newspaper clipping file and a diary. The latter,
however, is only an account of Warren's activities from July 1936 through
1937. The diary is simply a perfunctory record of Warren's public activities (speeehis, for example) and not a detailed narrative of his non-public
activities (unreported governmental economic talks for example).
The newspaper clippings cover the years 1933 through 1937 and are quite
§xtensive« They include reports on Warren's activities, editorials on
Warren's recommendations, and comments on the economic problems of the
1930's generally.
PTq.lc5
http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/
XD
Federal Reserve Bank
Louis
•rj-n"ofJ*St.
P h i l L . Snyder
assistant Archivist
WARREN, George B. (Papers)
March, 1956
See correspondence with Mrs. Edith Fox of Cornell Univ. Libraiy
concerning papers of Warren, Robert Treiaan, Willard Straight
filed under
THEMAM, ROBERT H.
WARREtf, Robert Bef.ch
May 9, 1956
Sear Dr. James J
In going through some of the Benjamin
Strong files today, I ran across pencilled notations by Robert Warren, and was reminded that ve
had not heard recently of the fate of that book of
his essays which you were to edit*
If this i s a reminder which should not be
made, please disregard it* ¥e are so surrounded
with postponements on our own account mat we take
those tilings as normal* But i f by any happy chance
the book i s going well, we would be most eager to
hear about it*
Cordially yours,
Mildred Adams
Br* F« Cyril James
Principal and Vioe Chancellor
McGill University
Montreal 2, Canada
WAKHEH, Robert B.
PRINCIPAL AND VICE-CHANCELLOR
m R , u
^ECEl¥ED
JUL 2 8 fSBh
McGILL UNIVERSITY
MONTREAL, a
July 27th,
1 9 5 5.
coMtttnes ONTOEHISTORY
OF THE
Dear Miss Adams,
It is not your sins of omission in reading but mine
of delay in writing that are at fault. The job of editing
Robert Warren's papers in publishable form is by no means easy because,
not unnaturally, a great deal of what he wrote was significant only
for the date at which he was writing it and would not I think make
interesting reading, except for a few of his friends, at the present
time. Even under the original agreement with the Rockefeller foundation
I did not expect to finish the job until December 31st, 1955 and I am
now inclined to think that it will carry over until the summer of ! 56.
1 might add that if additional material comes in the volume may be still
more delayed but I hope not very seriously.
With renewed good wishes, I remain,
Cordially yours,
Miss Mildred Adams,
Committee on the History
of the Federal Reserve System,
33 Liberty Street,
New York 45, N.Y.
WARREN, Robert B.
July 21, 1955
Dear Dr. James*
In talking with a couple of the Committee
members the other day, a question was raised sbout the
papers of Robert Varren which were sent up to you in
Canada and which you have been editing in your "spare1'
time. These Committee members are understandably eager
to read Mr. barren's essays, and they asked me to find
out whether a publication date had been set, and if so,
when it was.
If the letters are already out, you will, X
hope, forgive us our sins of omission in not reading the
right book review®•
Cordially yours,
Mildred Adams
Dr. F. Cyril James
Principal and Vice Chancellor
McGill University
Montreal 2, Canada
WARREN, R o b ^ r t ' t e a c h '
MCGILL
UNIVERSITY
P R I N C I P A L A N D VICE-CHANCELLOR
F. CYRIL JAMES
May 19th
19 5 4
Dear Miss Adams,
The last few days since ®y return from Hew lork have
been more busy than I expected so that you must excuse the
tardy arrival of these documents.
I an, however, sending
you a copy of the list of Robert Warren's manuscripts now
in say possession and am also sending a copy to Donald
yjoodward.
4s a legally minded precaution, I should point
out that this is the list which I received from Peter
Warren and there has not yet been an opportunity to check
it carefully against the piles of material on ay table,
Knowing the care with which Pater iarren sorted his
father's manuscripts, I do, however, feel pretty sure
that It is accurate.
I tell you once again how much I enjoyed our chat
last Thursday and look forward to hearing aore about
developaent of the project after you have crossed the
Rockefeller hump.
Cordially yours.
Miss Mildred adams,
Research Director, Coaw&ttet on the History
of the Federal Reserve System,
33 Liberty Street,
wm torn 45* ».*.
Encj
copy to Mr. D. Woodward with list of manuscripts.
a t'-c
W1RREN,
ROBERT B.
PRINCIPAL AND VICE-CHANCELLOR
F. CYRIL JAMES
McGILL UNIVERSITY
MONTREAL, 2
April 26th
19 5 4
Dear Miss McKinstry,
When I returned from Toronto to my office, this morning,
I found your letter of April 23rd and the parcel of Robert
Warren's papers both awaiting me in my office.
Although I agreed some weeks ago to Dr. Willits1
suggestion that I might edit a selection of Warren's papers for
publication, I have not yet had an opportunity to examine them
and sort them out for this purpose so that I must, at the moment,
send you this interim reply by way of acknowledgement.
I need
scarcely add that after I have had an opportunity to study the
manuscripts, I shall be delighted to talk the situation over with
you since my own idea of a published collection of papers that
reveals the mind and character of an outstanding man, does not in
any way conflict with your own long range plan of producing
monographs regarding particular aspects of Federal-Reserve banking
history.
As to your question regarding Canadian economists who
might be interested in participating, I should like to know a
little more about the scope of the project before attempting an
answer and, since I expect to be in New York City on Thursday,
May 13th (for a meeting of the McGill Graduates Society), I
wonder if there might be some opportunity for a chat.
With best wishes, I remain,
Cordially yours,
Miss K. McKinstry,
Research Assistant,
Committee on the History of the;Federal Reserve System,
33 Liberty Street,
NEW YORK 45, N.Y.
WARREH, Robert B.
April 23, 1954
Br* F* Cyril Jeiaes
Principal and Vice-Chancellor
McGill diversity
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Dear Dr. James:
Shortly before his death. Professor Robert B. Warren of Princeton had
been devoting some time to an examination of the Strong collection at the
lev York Reserve Bank with a view to setting up a system of central archives
here and to writing a study on central bank cooperation. Unfortunately, because of his chronic ill health, he was unable to do more than make a farm*
limlnary survey of the materials here and write a few internal memoranda
which are now in the Bank*3 files.
Recently with a great from the Rockefeller Foundation, Miss Mildred Adams,
Research Director for the above Committee, has been engaged in interviewing
people now or formerly connected with the Reserve System and in seeking to
locate and list materials within this Bank, at the Board, and in the files of
other Reserve Banks which could be used as a basis for later historical studies
of the Federal Reserve System.
In this connection, she has examined the files on which Professor Varren
had been working. Recently we wrote to Mrs* Varren to find out whether her
late husband may not have left other papers* In reply, her eon Peter ham
informed us that a collection of his father1 s memoranda relating to the Reserve
System have been turned over to you and that we have their permission to look
these over when you have finished with them. He said he was not sure how long
you intended to keep them and suggested that we get in touch with you. We
are glad to know of your interest in the Varren papers and wonder whether we
might not learn from you what your own current research program is. We arm
also wondering whether you may not have available for our use a subject
classification of the Varren memoranda. We are at this stage mainly concentrating on a survey of source materials and hope, if this exploratory phase is sue*.
cessful, that we may be able to farm out much of the actual writing of monographs
and full-scale studies to qualified scholars in the field of financial history*
We shall be most grateful to you for any information you can give us about
the sise and contents of the Warren collection. We would welcome also any suggestions of Canadian economists who might have a particular interest in the work of
this Committee and who might be considered later on for possible writing assignments.
Sincerely yours,
Research Assistant
WARREN, Robert B.
April 23, 1954
Deer Mr. barren:
I should like to thank 7 0 % oa behalf of
Ifiss Adams, for jour very prompt aad generous response
to oar inquiry about your father's papers. As 70a
suggested, we have written to Dr. James to find oat
what his current research program is and to secure from
him, If possible, a subject H a t of the memoranda
which he has borrowed from you.
Ve are moat grateful to Mrs. Warren aad to
70a for granting us permission to use the memoranda
you mentioned when Dr. James releases them.
Sincerely yours,
Mr* Peter B. Warren
527 West 121st Street
Hew Tork 27, lew Tork
VARREN,ROBERT B.
PETER
B.
WARREN
S 2 7 W E S T 121ST S T R E E T
N E W Y O R K 2 7 . N. Y.
April 19, 1954
RECEIVED
APR 2 2 1954
ATtfiHttW-
Dear Miss McKinstrys
With reference t o your l e t t e r of April 16 t o my mother
concerning papers written by my father on the Federal
Reserve System, which she has j u s t sent me, you are
welcome t o use the memoranda which you might need for
your study•
At the moment, horever, these papers are in the hands
of Dr- F„ Cyril James, at tfj^McGill University. I do
not know how long he intends t o keep them but suggest
t h a t you write him d i r e c t l y so t h a t he will be aware
of your i n t e r e s t *
Very t r u l y yours,
WARREN, Robert B.
April 16, 1954
Dear Mrs* Warren:
As you aay recall, your late husband was
much interested in working oa the Benjamin Strong collection at the New York Reserve Bank, and only his
untimely death brought this important piece of research
to an end before he was able to collect all the necessary
materials and get down to the actual vritiiig. This has
beam left unfinished ever since, for the Bank has not
found anyone so well qualified as Dr. Warren to carry oa*
Recently, however, a Committee has been set up
under the Chairmanship of Mr* Sproul, President of the
Federal Reserve Bank of Mew lork, which is undertaking
to locate, inventory, and wherever possible acquire
materials useful for later historical studies of the Federal
Reserve System and of the Mew York Bank in particular.
In this connection, ve have had some access to the memoranda which Dr. Warren was working on and have come upon
a few fragmentary notes of his which ve found in the files
here* Ve are wondering whether he say not have left other
papers, correspondence, or notes bearing on his survey of
the Strong files or on his earlier work at the Reserve
Board or the Sew lork Bank which you might be willing to
have the Research Director for the above Committee, Kiss
Mildred Adams, look over and list or which you might vent
to turn over to the above Committee* lou may be sure that
any assistance you may give will be most sincerely
appreciated.
Tours very
truly,
Research Assistant
Mrs* Mildred flak Warren
R. F. D* fZ
Princeton, lev Jersey
WATSON, Thomas J,
(papers)
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
5 9 0 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK 3 3 , N. Y.
Ef y
OFFICE OF
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
/ll/G
August 4, 1955
r*S3$,
^ /#&
* * * * * * ON
TNI*,*
M r . Donald B . Woodward, SecretaryCommittee on the H i s t o r y of the F e d e r a l
R e s e r v e System
33 L i b e r t y S t r e e t
New York 45, New York
Dear M r , Woodward:
In the a b s e n c e of M r . Watson, who i s a t p r e s e n t out
of the city, I w i s h to acknowledge your l e t t e r of July 26th concerning the p r o j e c t of the Committee on the H i s t o r y of the F e d eral Reserve System.
I know M r . Watson will be i n t e r e s t e d to know of the
efforts being put forth toward the p r e p a r a t i o n of the h i s t o r y of
the F e d e r a l R e s e r v e System. Your l e t t e r will be brought to
his attention a s soon a s he r e t u r n s , and I feel s u r e that he will
wish to cooperate with you in every way he can.
With b e s t w i s h e s , I a m
Sincerely y o u r s ,
^JlJiiau^
UJ>. £ o - * c ^ i L ^
W.W.Ward
Office of M r . T h o s . J . Watson
WWW:br
WELLS, Marion
See correspondence under FORGrAH, James
McMIDER, Charles
¥1TM0RE, Frank
WELLS, ftolla
A
—,••••••""'""""
February Ik,
-
1955
Mr. Srastus Wells,
lii06 Boatmen^ Bank Bldg.,
St* Louis, Mo*
Dear Mr* Hells,
This w i l l acknowledge receipt of your l e t t e r of February k
and also the book referredto - "Episodes of my Life", by Bolla Wells*
Our Research Director, Miss Mildred Adams, has asked me
to t e l l you how much we regret the l o s s of those voluminous personal
f i l e s of your father* It i s one more unfortunate example of destruction
of valuable records wanted by the Committee that makes us r e a l i s e how
urgent i t i s t o search out and preserve other h i s t o r i c f i l e s .
It was very thoughtful of you t o send us that handsome
book, which ftfvea many authoritative facts and incidents in your father's
career. We read with much interest the chapter on the Federal Reserve
Bank of St* Louis* But one comment there made us more than ever aware
of what we had l o s t in the author's f i l e s , i . e . "A narration in d e t a i l
of the operations of the bank would be too tedious a story* n The d e t a i l s ,
of course, would n&rer have proved "tedious 0 t o our Committee*
May we again express our appreciation of your g i f t , which
w i l l be an Important addition to our source material on the Federal Heserve System. We are also glad to have the references to material in
the collection of the Missouri Historical Society.
Yery truly yours,
Marguerite Burnett
WELLS, Rolla
February 7, 1955
Dear Mrs* Bieses
Tour letter of February 4th, vith the additional reference to Mr. Rolls Veils, has been gratefully
received in this office.
this is not "meagre information* in any
sense, as every little bit is grist to our mill* Anything further -which you may turn up will be greatly
appreciated, as is the material you have already been
kind enough to furnish.
Very sincerely yours,
Mildred Adams
Mrs. Frances Biese, Archivist
Missouri Historical Society
Jefferson Memorial Building
St* Louis 12, Missouri
WELLS, Rolla
ECEIVED:
FEB - 7 «S5
E R A S T U S
W E L L S
-IBA-«M.W&«UIL£UWA— 1406 Boatmen's Bank Bldg,
SAINT LOUIS
» M M r * w ?•? r-*e HISTORY
February 4, 1955,
p S I l l ^ i H i ^ ^ x ^ *>*S*fl$ji#
Miss Marguerite Burnett,
Committee on the History of
The Federal Reserve System,
33 Liberty Street,
New York 45, N. Y.
QAM, zl/f/s'f
My dear Miss Burnett:
Your letter of January 31, 1955 in
reference to my father, Rolla Wells who died on November
30, 1944 at the age of $9, and his connection with our
Federal Reserve System has been received*
The contemplated research by your
Committee relative to material having to do with the early
days of the Federal Reserve System presents an extremely
interesting undertaking, particularly from 1914 to 1919,
its earliest and formative period.
The late Mrs. M. W. Hofman was my
fatherfs secretary for a great many years, and without my
knowledge, hence consent or approval, destroyed his voluminous files, and on this account I am unable to supply information which otherwise could have been tabulated and sent
to you. Due to ill health, my father was unable to be in
our offices for about two and one half years prior to November 30, 1944, and this extremely short sighted action on his
secretaryfs part took place about one and a half years prior
to his death.
Under the circumstances, as here-tofore set forth, the only contribution I am able to supply is
in the sending to you under separate cover the "Episodes of
My Life" by Rolla Wells, in which you will find, beginning
with Page 3&L, his reference to the Federal Reserve Bank
of St. Louis.
Wishing you success, I am,
Yours very truly,
WELLS, E o l l a
MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL BUILDING
ST. LOUIS 12, MISSOURI
CHARLES VAN RAVENSWAAY
Director
irtpcpyji^feo
7 ffl
D e a r M i s s Adams:
mimmiZ
C« THE H13T08*
Of THE
Inadvertently I seem to
the copy of our file cards on Rolla
Wells•
Really, i»m embarrassed to send this
meagre information, and do so only
in the interests of thoroughness.
Thank you for your recent letter in
which you so graciously offer to share
any Wells material coming to your
attention* We shall continue to search
at this end»
Sincerely,
Miss Mildred Adams
33 lLiberty
Street
^
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33
iberty S
treet
&&JL
New York U5, New Tov^¥7/^^/z^y^{
.
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Collections, Missouri Historical Society,
St. Louis
Wells, Rolla
ST. LOUIS MISCELLANEOUS
M
Program of Testimonial Dinner to Wells (4/14/1909).
Wells, Rolla
I. H. LIONBLRGJbR COLLECTION.
tas^~^
Sketch of Rolla Wells, including the following:
Letter written by Mr. Lionberger to Dr. Hibben
in re Princeton degree conferred on Rolla Wells.
Letter in re Wells1 refusal to run again for
office of Mayor of St. Louis.
Wells, ftolla
ELECTION PAPERS
v
^
Democratic ticket nominating Wells for Mayor ().904).
WELLS, Rolla
February 1, 1955
Dear Mrs* Bieae:
It m& most kind of you to m&ke further inquiry
about tlie papers of Mr* Boila Mells, and %m perticulurly appreclete jour t&ougntfulness in sanding us photostat copies
of various of your reference cards on Mr. Mells*
We will certainly follow your suggestion and ^rits
to Mr* Eraatus Wells of 53 Kingsbury flsee* If us get say
information vtiich leads further, you may rest assured that m
i & H share it «tth you*
Igain thanking you for your kindness, I sm
¥ery sincerely yours.
Mildred Adams
Mrs* Frances Bless, Archivist
Missouri Historical Society
Jefferson Memorial Building
St* Louis 12, Missouri
YELLS, Rolls
January 31, 1955
Mr # Erastus Wells,
53 Kingsbury Place ,
St* Louis, Mo.
Dear Mr* Wells,
lour name has been given to us by the Missouri Historical
Society as a possible source of information about your father, the late
Kolla Bells.
As indicated in the above letterhead this Coxnittee is much
interested in all aiaterial relating to the early days of the federal ftes*
erve System. Since Mr* Wells was contacted with the Federal Hsserve Bank
of St. Louis in an official capacity during a long and formative period,
1911* - 30, and was actually its first Governor from 1911* to 1919, we feel
it wouM be important for scholars to have access to his papers and business
records if they are still in existence.
We hope that there sasy be a collection of such papers, either
in your faa&ly^ possession or in some library* If such is the case, we
should be grateful for information as to the whereabouts of the collection,
its contents, sisse and availability to students for reaearch purposes*
May I express in advance t&e Coraiittee's thanks for aoy help
you c&& give us.
?ery truly youra,
Marguerite Burnett
Instituted 1866
Consolidation of the Missouri Historical Society and the Louisiana Purchase Historical Association 1925
<w UtPL h U»*tzh LMJ^ I kite
RECEIVED
MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY
:
•IAN 2 ' 1955
COMMITTEE ON THE HISTORY
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL BUILDING • ST. LOUIS 12, MISSOURI
Qp JHg
FEDERAL, RESERVE SYSTEM
CHARLES VAN RAVENS WAAY. Director
JdHmBTy
2$ ,
19f>5>
Miss Mildred Adams, Research Director,
Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System,
33 Liberty Street,
New lork ii£, New York.
Dear Miss Adams:
Our delay in responding to Miss Marguerite Burnett's
request for information concerning the late Rolla
Wells, to be relayed to you, was occasionaed in the
interests of wider inquiry than our records reveal.
(c^y<v_^
Our only result in the above inquiry was to the
effect that Mr. Brastus Wells of 53 Kingsbury Place
may have material of use to you, and we suggest that
you write to him direct.
We are attaching the few items we have on Rolla Wells,
via a photocopy of our index cards. We shall be glad
to share any of these with you on microfilm or
photostats.
Sincerely yours,
enc.
y
Archivist
PRIVATILY SUPPORTID FOR THE PUBLIC OOOD
(From Missouri H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y , S t . L o u i s , Mo., w i t h l e t t e r l/25>/5>5)
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WELLS, Rolla
January 17, 1955
See letter from Western Historical Manuscripts Collection at d, of
Missouri filed under REED, James (papers;
VELLS, Rolle
January % 1955
Missouri Historical Society,
Jefferson Memorial Building,
St+ Louis, Missouri.
Gentlemen ,
As, you see from the above letterhead this committee is very
much interested in material which concerns the early days of the Federal Reserve System. We would like to know if you hare on deposit any
of the papers of the late Rolla Wells, who was prominently identified
with the Federal Reserve Bank of St # tools from 191U to 193G* serving
as its first Governor from 191fa ** 19* and thereafter as Class C Director and, finally, Chairman of the Board*
If you have such a collection would you be good enough to indicate its sise and describe its contents, e»g« the approximate number
of papers, the period covered, and whether it is organised and available
for research work by students. We would be particularly interested in
knowing whether any list or register has been made of the contents*
Should there be no papers of fiolla Wells in your libraxy could
you suggest any other possible location that we could investigate or
names of members of his family or other sources to vhich we could write
for information•
Any information that you can give us will be mach a ppreciated
by our Research Director, Hiss Mildred Adams.
Vezy truly yours,
j t I-*
Marguerite Burnett
WEMERSBACK, John F.
See under WIGGIN, Albert
Correspondence September 8, 1955» Sept. 14., 1955
WESTERFIELD, Ray
See under FISKE, Robert correspondence
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS
COLLECTION
See correspondence under DAVIS, Chester with Mr. John A. Galloway
raSTERJS UMOU TELEGRAPH CO*
km*** 12* 1955
Itearltr* Saac^i
Iholfcsad i& a chaek for $2*99 in ptgmrat
of the attached bill* fills cable was aent by
Xt»e Ada&a on faer paraonal account* and i s tfaera**
for© being paid by bar rather than by the Federal
Baaerva Bank af Sew Tork to ^hcm I t ^iau euriglaallar
charged*
Sincerely,
Irma Bursteln
Secretary
Mr* 6* B* Flaney
VaataxB Ifaioa falagmjpl* Co*
£G Hsidaoii 8tot*t
Sew Xork, 8* Jm
Baa*
(MISC I36.3-MOM-S.5I)
MISC. 136
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK,
ROUTE SLIP
T O
#
—U«»1.J
«6 7 / ^
» ^
fTr-i!*-**-*
,^
ill
WETMOfffi,
January 12, 1956
Dear Miss Wells:
Thanks so much for /our letter of
January 9th, -with its information about Mr«
Vetaore's files*
I am also very glad to learn that you
and Hiss Vhaley are working on the Forgan papers•
I hope that means new file boxes for than because I know you were -worried about the state
of the old boxes. It will be wonderful to have
them in more useable shape, and I will certainly
let you know before anyone comes hopefully to
work on them.
Cordially yours,
Mildred Adams
Miss Marlon E. Veils, Librarian
The First National Bank of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Frank
VEThOfiE, Frank
BECElVftO *2
OftMt
FEOCIW-
EPHONE
ATIKLIN 2 - 6 8 0 0
January 9t 1956
Miss Mildred Adams, Executive Director,
Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System,
33 Liberty Street,
New York 45, New York,
Dear Miss Adams:
Please forgive me for not replying to your
letter of November 4th sooner, November unquestionably is our
most hectic month of the year, for we are preparing for our
annpal Correspondent Bankers Conference. By the time thffryears
Conference was over on November 30, we were completely inundated
with our piled-up work. Then 1 took sick and the month of
December was wrecked. So much for excuses!
Mr, Wetmore's
a find as he was one of those
keeping things. His complete
file drawers and much of that
matters. For your records, I
two drawers.
files did not amount to too great
persons who did not believe in
records were in less than three
related to personal and family
think we would be safe in saying
Miss Whaley snd 1 have begun to work on the
Forgan papers and we are finding it an utterly fascinating job.
It is slow going but we are cleaning up one file box each time,
we work and that is two Saturdays a month. We havenft touched
the Fed material yet, hoping to work out a pattern of
arrangement first, I do hope you will give us advance warning
before you are ready to work on them, so we can be ready for you J
With warmest greetings and b e s t wishes for the
New Year,
Sincerely,
S
Marion E, Wells,
Librarian,
METrf:cjr
i
WETMORE, Frank (Papers)
December 27, 1955
Pear Mise Welle*
Miss Adams wrote you on November 4th requesting
certain information on the Frank Vetsiore papers which
vers found in the sub-basement of the First Hational Bank*
Hy fear is that that letter went astray v.n&
never reached your desk, so I am quoting the pertinent
paragraph*
•Would it be possible to let us know here iaany
file drawers or file cases of these papers there aret
That is a rough me*sure, but in the case of things
which are still filed in the office fashion, it does
help,"
We are trying to standardise our records of
such collections, and will be most grateful for any
information you can send us*
Very sincerely yours,
Irma Bursteln
Assistant
Miss Marion Wells
Librarian, First Rational
Bank of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
WETMORE, Frank (Papers)
Movember A» 1955
Dear Hias Veilst
Ve are engaged in trying to amplify certain
scraps of information which have been gathered concerning collections of papers which are of particular
interest to this Committee* I brought back from
Chicago certain measurements of size for both the
Forgan and Traylor papers, but at the time I was there
you had not yet discovered that the Frank Vetaore
papers were also in the sub-basement.
Would it be possible to let us know how
many file drawers or file cases of these papers there
are? that Is a rough measure, but in the case of
things which are still filed In the office fashion,
it does help*
X hope things are going well with you and
that you may come this way again in the near future*
Cordially yours.
Mildred Adams
Miss Marlon Veils
Librarian, First National
Bank of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
WETMORE, Ffank (Papers
July 6, 1955
Deer Miss Welle:
Thanks so much for your note of June
30th about the Wetaiore papers* Vhea you get
back from your vacation md have a chance to
examine them, we will be delighted to know vhat
is in them*
I aa so gled you liked the way
Marguerite Burnett handled the program on Comciany Archives* She will greatly appreciate
your compliments* I had a/note f£oa her the
other day spying that she was feeling better
but still had & somewhat sore throat*
Bo have a lovely vacation, end write
us when you get back*
Cordially yours.
Mildred Adams
Miss Marion E. ¥ells
librarian, Fir3t Rational
Bank of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
WETMORE, Frank
€H4M1SE. NUMBIM
ilEHllBJyJOl
TELEPHONE
FRANKLIN 2 - 6 8 0 0
rff^llVED
JUL 5 ^SS
Miss Mildred Adams, Executive Director.
Committee on the History of the Federal R e s e r ^ W I ^ J f
N^iorr^N?6!!
mWm
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Dear Kiss Adams:
Yes, to our surprise, the Wetmore papers have
been found• However, they are not as voluminous as either
the Forgan or Traylor papers. Evidently Mr. Wetmore was not
an active letter writer•
There is one folder which is marked "Federal
Reserve Banks and matters" and the contents possibly would
measure 2 inches in debtfu Unfortunately, 1 have not had
time to go through it as I am getting ready to leave on a
vacation this week end. As soon as I return, we will
endeavor to see what the folder contains.
It was wonderful having Marguerite Burnett with
us in Detroit this year and she did a beautiful job in
moderating our program on Company Archives- In fact, I
thought her comments were more valuable than those of our two
speakers, for she was speaking from experience - and in our
own language. I hear she had a tonsilectomy and hope she
will be fit as a fiddle soon.
With kind remembrances to you both#
Sincerely,
X ^ A ^ r ^ T4
Marion E. Wellsf
Librarian.
M5W:cr
teJ2^£*^_
SffiB^ffifflBf?
WETMORE, Frank 0 ,
(papers)
June 27, 1955
Dear Hiss Wells*
A note from Jo Ann Aufdenkamp tells me that you
have found the Frank 0. Vetmore papers, that is wonderful.
Given your reputation, I am sure you w i H hang onto thea
and give them a proper setting.
Could you let us know how big the box is and
roughly how much there is in it? I know how busy you are,
and I do not ask a more thorough inventory, but we would
like to know whether this is one file drawer, a carton or
a box the size of that which commonly holds typing paper.
Any description you can give us w i H be of help»
thanks so much for your good cooperation. It
means a great deal to this project*
Cordially yours,
Mildred Adams
Hiss Marion Veils, librarian
First national Bank of Chicago
Dearborn, Clark & Monroe Streets
Chicago, Illinois
WETwORE, Frank 0/
(p-pers)
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO
TO? Mildred Adams
FROM:
Jo Ann Aufdenlcamp
Thanks for your letter. I sent a card
off to Marguerite today and several of the
other librarians in Chicago will do likewise.
Just talked to Marion Wells. They had
found the Frank 0. Wetmore, or is it TShetmore,
papers. Just one box on the Fed. Don't know
what size box. But I was afraid if I did not
drop you this note this minute neither Marion
or I would think to let you know later.
JUN27ff§
COM "tTTr: -?* THE HISTORY
Or .H
FEDERAL Huzt.«i£ SYSTEM
WHITE, Harry Dexter
May H» 1956
&ear Mr* Clark:
Thanks so nuch for your kindness in trending
us a copy of the l i s t of Harry Eexter White papers
r e l a t i n g to national end i n t e r n e t i o n a l monetary and
financial a a t t e r s 1930 to 1943• I t I s a very i n t e r e s t i n g l i s t * I f the contents are as good as the
t i t l e s , i t should be very helpful to students of
monetary a f f a i r s i n t h a t period.
Gratefully yours*
Mildred Adams
Mr, Alexander P. Clark
Curator of Manuscripts
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Finance Section
Princeton d i v e r s i t y Library
Princeton, flew Jersey
WHITE, Hariy Dexter
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
THE LIBRARY
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
ILLIAM S. Dix, Ubraricffl*b | j g $*% ggk | %jr |g«r m**
JLAWRENCE HEYL, Associau\iW$iaW^
"^* * ™ * ^ ® ^
WAT
Defartment of Rare Books
*«i Sfecial Collections
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$MKNM. MSSSNVK mtmm
Miss Mildred Adams
Committee on the History of the
Federal Reserve System
33 Liberty Street
New ^ork Jtf, N. *•
Dear Miss Adams,
It will be quite all right for
you a copy of the inventory of the
White *apers and this will be sent
you as soon as it ca.n be prepared,
days.
us to send
Harry Dexter
along to
in a few
Sincerely yours,
Alexander ? . Clark
Curator of Manuscripts
c/d
WHITE, Harry Dexter
Ifey U, 1956
Dear Mr. Clark:
Thanks so much for your letter of May 2nd
sending us information about the Harry Dexter White papers*
We would very much like 8 copy of the Inventory if one
could be nsade for us»
I note you say that sowe of the memoranda and
notes duplicate wh&t is in the Treasury file. Our experience has been that those files *re so hu^e and decentralized that one is fortunate to find material duplicated
outside, as it is far easier to handle removed from the
mass*
We will ewait vord from you on possible duplies tioa of the inventory«
Sincerely yours,
Mildred Adams
Mr* Alexander P* Clark
Curator of Manuscripts
Princeton University Library
Princeton, Hew Jersey
WHITE, H a r ^ Dexter
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
THE LIBRARY
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
/ILLIAM S. Dix, Librarian
LAWRENCE HEYL, Associate Librarian
Defartment of Rare Books
and Special Collections
N
*K*V*IVKD
Mies Mildred Mams
™® $ 1258
Committee on the History of thj^.*,™..
mmm
Federal Reserve System
\S^mm
33 Liberty Street
•"*-*m mm
New York 45, New torls.
Dear Miss Adams:
Replying to your letter of the 30th, Princeton
has a random collection of the papers of Harry
Dexter White. These consist mostly of memoranda
and notes, with no correspondence to speak of.
Some of this duplicates what is now in the Treasury
Department. In amount there are approximately 15
filing boxes (for vertical file folders) of the
kind that measure 5 inches from front to back.
The papers are divided into three main groups:
Pre-War (1930-1939), War and Immediate Post-War
(1939-1945), and Post-War (1945-1948). There are
35 "units" ranging in size from one folder to several notebooks of material. The units are labelled
with such subject headings as "gold, " "silver,"
"China," "monetary and fiscal studies."
I will find out if I can have a copy of this
inventory prepared for you, and if possible will
send it along if you would like a c&py.
Yours very truly,
Alexander P. Clark
Curator of Manuscripts
c/d
WHITE, Harry Dexter (Papers
April 30, 195©
Dear Mr* Clarkt
Ve are told that the papers of Harry Dexter White, who was for many
yearsfttreasury official and finally became Under Secretary during the
Booaevelt regime, were given to the Princeton LibraryfcyMrs* White, and that
this collection includes a good deal of important material on the Bretton
Woods Conference*
Could you tell us in the first place whether this information Is
correct* And if so, may we know the following details?
1* low big la the collection, In terms of running feet of shelf
space, number of manuscript boxes, number of items, or whatever
measure of sl«e you hevet
2* How is it organised?
3* Is there an inventory of papers, or some listing which will
tell us the details we need to know about what periods are
covered, and what events or trends treated at length!
We will be moat grateful for this information or any other you may
care to send us about the White collection*
Host sincerely yours,
Mildred Adams
Mr* Alexander P* Clark;
Curator of Manuscripts
International Finance Section
Princeton University
Princeton, Mew Jersey
WHITE, S i r Thomas
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COMMITTEE ON THE HISTORY
OF THE
IEDERAE RESERVE SYSTEM
L
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^r^tx.
WHITE, Sir Thomas
December 29, 1954.
Dear Sir Thomas:
I an writing you at the suggestion of Mr* S. W. Taylor, Deputy
Minister of Finance, with whom I have been communieating about details
in the project on which this Committee is engaged. May I begin by telling you something of the Committee's work.
¥e started in January with Rockefeller funds on a quick and
intensive search for unpublished papers which bore on early phases of
the history of the Federal Reserve System, and we had considerable good
fortune in locating several collections which hold high promise. For
example, the papers of Senator Carter Glass had been *rough-sorted* into
423 boxes and deposited in the library of the University of Virginia.
These we have h&d examined in detail and as inventory made, so that students may now judge from the catalogue whether or not they need to go to
Virginia to read the correspondence from t specific man or on a specific
subject, The papers of Kr. Qiarles Hamlin, an early member of the Federal Reserve Board and one who served for many years, are in the Library
of Congress, have recently been freed of seal and are open to research.
The papers of Ogden Mills, Secretary of the Treasury end Chairman of the
Federal Reserve Board in 1932-33* we found in a garage on Long Island
and were at least partly responsible for the fact that they have now
been taken to the Library of Congress. And to move to a later period,
the papers of Dr. Bamanuel Goldenweiser, long Director of Research for
the Federal Reserve Board, have been gathered together, catalogued and
are now awaiting decision as to a final place of deposit.
These are a few of our most rewarding finds* Altogether, we
have located a surprising number of collections. At the same time, we
have been reaching for the memories of men who were early in positions of
responsibility within the System, and by means of interviews, we have
caught at least the flavor and some of the incidental color and bias of
early days.
As this research process continues, and with it a hunt for the
men equipped to engage in writing the comprehensive history which is the
purpose of this project, we find our scope of inquiry broadening to include the international field which has been so important in various
1
«4*
aspects of American central banking. Mr. Taylor tells ae that you were
Minister of Finance in Canada from 1911 to 1920. He thinks it possible
that in that capacity you may have knovn the men who were then creating
the Federal Reserve System and leading it through its early years. We
do not wsnt to put you to too much effort, but ve would treasure any
personal recollections you may find time to give us of contacts with the
senior Federal Reserve officers. Ve ere very much aware that the point
of view north of the border is sometimes extremely valuable in setting
people and institutions in proportion.
In addition to expressing gratitude for your aid in this, I
would like to take this occasion to send you the best of greetings for
the New Year.
Very sincerely yours,
Mildred Adams
Sir Thomas White, Director
Gentian Bank of Commerce
Toronto, Canada
WHITEHEAD & HOAG
May, 1956
See correspondence with Fnitehead and Hoag concerning commemorative medal
for F. R. System owned by Francis W. Foote, filed under
FOOTE, F R A W C I S W.
WICKEMS, Aryness
February ll f 1954*
Miss Jjryneae ilck@n%
Pepmty GmmtmXmBV$
Bepcrtaemt of laibor,
Washington* ]>• C*
Bear Ary&eae*
I** coming dova to lashlmgton mext week (the week of the 15th)
&nd ahall be hoping that J O B have fouod those &otea kept during the 1933
bamk holiday*
1*11 call you ^hmn I get to tewiu
Cordially yomr%
Hil4red Adajnet
Research Slreetor*
MA:ek
VIGGia, Albert
SIXTY-FIVE BROADWAY
NEW YORK 6, N. Y.
September 14, 1955
Mrs* Ellen Singer, Research Assistant
Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System
33 Liberty Street
New York 45, New York
Dear Mrs. Singer:
I am very sorry to say that we are unable to be of
assistance in furnishing any material on the Federal
Reserve from Mr. Wigginfs papers.
Several moves since Mr. Wiggin retired from the
Chase National Bank in 1933 made it necessary to discard
many of his corporate and personal correspondence files
in order to preserve the great amount of the financial
records that were always associated with his activities.
With regrets.
Yours very truly,
JFW:HS
^ ^ ^ i o h n F^ Wernersbach
WIGGIU, A.
c
September 8, 1$$$
Mr* John F* Wernersbach
Estate Offices, Alfred H* biggin
65 Broadway
Mew Xork, lew York
Dear Mr* Wernersbach:
Mrs* Sherborne Prescott has suggested that you
might be able t o help this Committee in i t s search for papers,
memoranda, speeches, correspondence relating t o Federal Reserve
natters*
Mr. Wiggin's distinguished career and interest in
financial problems early brought him t o the attention o f t h i s
Committee who wrote Mrs* Prescott asking about his papers. She
has referred us t o you, though she did not give much hope that
among IMi^apers would be material germane t o Federal Reserve
^ s t c r y * However, she told us you would be the final authority*
Could you l e t me know at t h e above address,
or by telephone, i f there i s any material on the Federal Reserve
among Mr* Wiggin's papers* We are most anxious t o add this
information to the register of private papers we are compiling*
Very sinljkrely yours.
Mrs* Ellen Singer
Research Assistant
WIGGIN, Albert
"Hicx^oi*y HIIOU"
QueejJWicH, CojJjJecTicUT
REC
3 VED
• - - >
1 .1
COM .i: v i t; E '• N THE HISTORY
Of >HE .
FtJu *L <uStRVE SYSTEM
August 30th,1955
Mr .Donald B.Woodward,Secretary
Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System
33 -Liberty Street
New York 45
Dear Mr.Woodward:
My apologies for t h i s tardy response to your
l e t t e r of July 2 6 t h , r e l a t i v e t o the interest that my fathor
Albert HtWiggin took in the Federal Reserve System,but I hate
been in Europe and received your l e t t e r only last week.
I am afraid that I cannot help you in t h i s matter,
except to say that I am sure that my father never made a speech on
t h i s subject,as he never w spoke" unless i t was absolutely necessary
and I am almost equally sure t h a t he never wrote an a r t i c l e on the
subject. I would suggest t h a t you get in touch with Mr.John F .
Wernersbach at 65 Broadway (at the E s t a t e Offices of Libert H.Wiggin).
Mr.Wernersbach was Mr.Wiggin's secretary for forty years and i f anyone
would know anything about the information you seek,he would be the one.
frith r e g r e t s that I cannot be more helpful,
Sincerely yours, ^-^
Mrs Sherburne Prescott
VIGGIN, Albert
September 2, 1955
Dear Mrs. Pre3cott;
Mr. Woodward has asked me to reply to
your letter of August 30th written in response
to his request for information about your
father*& papers.
He had hoped that there might be
memoranda, speeches, correspondence and so
forth in your possession, but I take it from
what you say that if this material still
exists, Mr. John Vernersbach would know about
it. We will get in touch with him hopefully.
Thanking you for your courtesy, I am
Very sincerely yours,
Mildred Adams
Mrs. Sherburne Prescott
Hickory Hill
Greenwich, Connecticut
WIGGUH, Albert H
(papers, Mrs. Prescott, C.)
July 26, 1955
Mrs. Sherburne Prescott
Hickory Hill
Greenwich, Connecticut
Dear Mrs* Prescott:
Remembering the active interest which your father, Mr* Albert H.
Viggin, took in the Federal Reserve System, the members of this Committee
have asked me to bring to your attention the history project on which
we are now engaged and to ask for it your cooperation*
The project was started in the belief that the time had come for a
new look at the long course of Federal Reserve history. Too many of the
men who created the System were no longer available to tell historians
what really happened on disputed points* Even their papers were dispersed
and in certain instances destroyed* Before the losses mounted higher, it
was felt thct a real effort should be made to record memories and locate
correspondence and other papers that might be of value to the historian*
About a year and a half ago the staff assembled by this Committee,
with the aid of a small grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, began to
interview people who had played an important part in the System1s foundation
and development, and to locate and catalogue information and material
which might be valuable to the historian*
The pilot project was so successful that in June the Rockefeller
Foundation made us a five-year grant to further the Committee1s work* Ve
have been, since July, 1954, working with the assurance that we had time
in which to continue the program of collecting memories and papers from
the men who have made the System what it is*
Our executive director, Hiss Mildred Adams, may already have communi*
cated with you on these matters* If not, may 1 say that we would like
very much to know whether your father left papers which are concerned with
his Federal Reserve experience* Speeches and articles interest us, and
particularly the things which have not been published - the working
correspondence, the diaries, the journals, the memoranda which show what
happened when, and why* We would like to know anything you care to tell
us about the whereabouts of such papers, their buiJ:, their condition and
their arrangement; are they with you or have they been deposited in some
library for the use of students? If you are ready to dispose of any you
may have, we would be glad to assist In putting them in an appropriate
repository* If you are not ready, we hope you will remember, in providing
for their disposition, that such contemporai? working $apers are the very
stuff of life for an historian* Xour father's are needed by the historians
of the System he helped to build*
I will hope to hear from you about this*
Very sincerely yours,
Donald B* Woodward
Secretary
WILLIAMS, John Skelton
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF RICHMOND
H E C 4.1VED
HUGH
LEACH
PRESIDENT
APR 31958
Wurrrce ON THE HISTORY
0FTH6
A
P r i l 2>
1956
¥mmi mmwi $mm
Dear Miss Adams:
lour letter of March 28 to Mr* Leach,
which was received during his absence on a
business trip, will be brought to his attention
upon his return to the bank around the middle
of April.
Sincerely yours,
(Mrs.) Cecelia 0. Cottrell
Secretaiy to Mr. Leach
Miss Mildred Adams, Executive Director
Committee on the
History of the Federal Reserve System
33 Liberty Street
New York 45, New Yoik
WILLIAMS, John Skelton
March 28, 1956
Dear Mr. Leach*
The coming of spring, however cold and snowy her© in Hew Tork,
reminds me of Richmond and then, inevitably, of two archival details
which were left unfinished* The first concerns possible papers left
by Governor Seay in the hands of his wife, the second has to do vith
the papers of John Skelton Williams*
Last year you were kind enough to check on these Matters
for us, c-.nd I am hoping you will again take them In hand for us* If
Mrs* Seay is still living I assume there will be no ohange in the situation, but for tiie sake of our ovn records, we would like to know whether
any s^ore of Governor Seay's papers have been made available for your
archives*
Also in the motter of Mr, Williams' papers, do you know
whether any progress has been m&de toward getting them into a responsible library? The choice at one time lay between the firginia Historican Society in Richmond and the University of firginia at Charlottesville* ^is son, Mr. John Skelton Williams, was our informant.
Any information you can get for us on these two collections
will be most gratefully received*
Very sincerely yours,
Mildred Adams
Mr* Hugh Leach, President
Federal Reserve Bank
Richmond 13, Virginia
WILLIAMS, John Skeiton
October 24, 1955
Dear Mr* Williams:
In checking over various items loft unfinished I
am reminded that it is some time since we have asked whether
or not you have deposited your father's papers in a library,
as you thought last year that you might do» Ve do not want
you to feel badgered at this inquiry, but neither do we want
to neglect asking a question of this sort and find ourselves
uninformed as to things that may have happened since a similar question was laat asked,
Xour father's material is so rich in terms of early
Federal Reserve history that we are eager to know that it is
in a place where students can use it*
Very sincerely yoursf
Mildred Adams
Mr* John Skeiton Williams, Jr*
Equitable Life Assurance Co.
Richmond, Virginia
WILLIAMS, John Skelton
(Papers)
See correspondence, December 1954» with Mr. Leach, filed under
correspondence RICHMOND FEDERAL RESERVE BAHK
WILLIAMS, J.S.
(papers)
December 6, 195-4
Bear Mr* Leach;
lou were so kind and hospitable to me when I was in Richmond last
spring that I am taking the liberty of asking your advice and, if possible,
your aid on a quest which has thus far been fruitless.
As I think you knew at the time, one of the distinguished Richmond citizens whose papers I hoped to locate was John Skelton Williams,
Comptroller of the Currency from 1914 to 1921 &.n& thereby influential in
the early days of the Federal Reserve System.
thanks to a Bank suggestion, I found the Comptroller*s son, Mr*
J'ohn S. Williams, at the office of the Equitable Assurance Company where he
was employed* He was interested in this history project and pleased that
we were interested in his father*s papers. He told me that the family was
thinking of depositing the papers either in the University of Virginia Library at Charlottesville or in the Virginia Historical Society at Richmond*
1 suggested that, as Mr. Williams was a federal official, the
feasily might consider sending the papers to the Library of Congress. Secondly, as the Carter Glass papers are in the University of Virginia Library, and knowing that that library was equipped to handle scholarly needs,
I suggested that the papers might go to Charlottesville* Mr* Williams promised to let me know when the family made their decision.
Since then, we have heard only silence* I wrote Mr* Williams a
follow-Hip letter repeating that we were eager to know where the papers were
going. I have just had word that Dr. Elbert ftinc&id &nd Dr. Francis Berkeley, Curator of Manuscript® fit Charlottesville, have also written Mr. Williams inviting him to deposit the papers in the University library.
What I am now wondering is whether you would feel you could &dd
your own co&sidersbi* y r o ^ w s in this matter. Regardless of whether the
Williams family chooses to put the papers in Richmond, Charlottesville, or
Washington, the important thing, from the point of view of people interested in the Federal Reserve System and the various influences flaying on its
early days, is that they deposit them in ft plaet where the collection can
«*2«*
b e readily available to students* A word from the P r e s i d e n t o f the F e deral R e s e r v e B a n k o f Richmond should represent the final push needed t o
m o v e the Wliliaais family t o a c t i o n . W e w o u l d b e most grateful i f y o u felt
it w i s e t o say that w o r d .
V e r y sincerely y o u r s ,
Mildred Adams
Mr. Hugh Leach
President
Federal Reserve Bank
Richmond, Virginia
WILLIAMS, John Skelton
December 6, 23£S 1954See under correspondence LIBRARI OF CONGRESS letter to Miss K. Brand
WILLIAMS, John Skeltbn
April 26, 1954
Mr. 1. S. Williams
Equitable Life Assurance Society
5th and Main Streets
Bichmond, Virginia
Dear Mr. Villieaet
la our quest for materials relating to
the early history of the Reserve System, we recently
vrote to your Bother in Florida to see whether or
not she night have still in her possession privets
papers of your late father which sight he relevant
to later historical studies which nay be written
under the auspices of the above Cosnittee. Is have
today received a note from her advising us that she
had the impression that Mr. Williams left most of
his papers in the Government files, but she fry
kindly suggested that we night get la touch with
you on this natter«
Miss Mildred Adams, Director for this Com*
mittee, is expecting to pay a brief visit to Richmond
on the last weekend of this month. She has asked me
to write you to Inquire whether she might have an
opportunity to see you during her visit, either on
Friday, April 29th, or Monday, May 3rd* She will
telephone your office after her arrival to find out
whether it will be possible for you to see her on
either of the dates mentioned.
Sincerely yours,
Research Assistant
WILLIAMS, John S k e l t o n
July l j
&5A
Vm&T Mr. VtlllaOTl
In ahecfeifif over r e c o r d s of ny v«yry pltftMttt v i s i t in
fichmond I find t h a t ve t a l k e d about your ohm for d e p o s i t i n g
your f a t h e r * • papers e i t h e r i a t h e Q a l v e r a l t j of V i r g i n i a a t
C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e o r with the V i r g i n i a M s t o r i c a i f o c i - t y a t
r-lehmond. l a I r@%zmb®T, you had ftot siase up your isiad which
p l a c e of d e p o s i t t h e family would c h o o s e .
t h i s .is j u s t t o &»k i f you would fee so kind eg t o
l e t Hi know vnen you bee* Mda your choice and where t h e papers
f i n a l l y go. They s r e , of c o u r s e , I TllttftMe s o u r c e of imfoasatlofl
concerning the F e d e r a l r e s e r v e System and we » r e e a g e r t o tOMW
where M l m l a i a ralght c o n s u l t the** I f when you d e p o s i t HMM you
make any s o r t of a l i s t of t h e c o n t a c t s of the c o l l e c t i o n , we
would be very g r a t e f u l i f we could have • copy for our own f i l e s .
Thank y-u r.p&ia f o r your kindness i s o i l
this,
Very glno**r#ly y o u r e ,
KiX4red M a a a
Research Mrector
Mr. J . 0, VilliRcta
£ q u l t a b l e L i f e Aesuranet Co.
Mchaonrt, V i r g i n i a
CASA ROSA
BOCA RATON
FLORIDA
lUu Axon. Vww* V x A ) ^ ^ £ L
Wv<jYoU-*-(\
V^rtT^O t^^1—
£*^
2^
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
JAMES WILSON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
MclNTIRE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
UNIVERSITY STATION
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
February 27, 1954,
Miss Mildred Adams,
33 Liberty Street,
New York 45, N.Y.
Dear Miss Adams:
Doubtless you will recall your desire that
I should obtain the address of Mrs. John Skelton.Williams*
I went to Richmond as I assured yotTTHiat I would and there
attempted to obtain the desired information. I learned
that Mrs. Williams is now Mrs. W U J i f f i j a i ^ ^
tt^Ajbu, U*
whose address is Casa Rosa, Boca Raton, Florida, where she
j ^
^
expects to remain until mid April.
&
^os
I did not learn her Richmond address, i.e.
the one to which she will return when she comes back from
Florida, but I can easily do so in case you might desire it.
It was a pleasure to meet you and it is a
pleasure to perform this small service. In the event that
you should need my assistance in any other respect, do not
hesitate to call on me.
Sincerely yours,
^tf-lC
EAK:lc
E. A. Kincaid,
Associate Director,
School of Business Administration.
WILLIS, H# Parker
Mftfttll U« i f Si
D«*r M f * Wttllit
Thamk yon Cor ycmr letter of March Z tettfog me of the
*tete of you* father % papers* and of tike w4liti$gue§fi #1 your Ihmily to
go over them to w e what ouiterlalo might properly lit turned over to
Columbia Uaiv* rally, assuming that atra&gome&t* caa bo completed
to deposit them there«
I find It difficult* howeverf to tadieaie to you what kind
of letter* and papern would fee of Interest to the Vatwrsftty or to the
Cowiooiitee on the Htntery of the Federal Reservs System* 1 thtak that
what Columbia would want would be all of the paper a and letters* to
detoriniae wtaiever light both the Important and the less important*
the public aad the personal* jomight throw on the work of one of He moot
active and emlasnfc ecmomiite* I kaow that it Ims beem the experience
of the CommttCoa that thia is the best way to get such papers Into shape
for scholarly u « *
The daeisioa* of course* la en* to he made by you and
your family* If you do go ahead with the pvelimiaary sorting job yon
haw to miad* we ahall them be glad to tee what arrangements can be
mad* fer the preservmtioa of a selection of material*
Stsosirtly*
ABaaffMNMA
AillM
Mr* Farteer ©• WlIUs*
c/o Federal R#aerv% Bank of Boston*
Boston 6, Mass.
WILLIS, H. Parker
COPY
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
PARKER B* WILLIS
FINANCIAL ECONOMIST
March 2, 1956
Mr* Allan Sproul, Chaiiman
Gommittee on the Histoiy of the
Federal Reserve System
c/o Federal Reserve Bank of New Xork
New fork, New Xork
Dear Mr* Sproul*
thank you for your letter of February 23 suggesting the possibility
that an arrangement can be made with Columbia University to sort, classify, and
catalogue my father* s papers dealing with the Federal Reserve System*
It is good
to know that you are interested in this matter*
Before reaching a conclusion on this plan, let me review briefly the
status of the materials on Staten Island and that part of my discussion with Miss
Adams over two years ago about the papers* When Miss Adams visited the bank-'- she
suggested that she be pem&tted to send a person to Staten Island to review
whatever papers there were and later arrange removal of useful papers to a point
where they could be worked on at leisure* I told her at that time that there are
two collections of papers• One of these is in my father1s study*
is stored in several large wooden boxes in the basement*
Hie other
These boxes hold a
miscellaneous collection of materials taken from the study in the Washington
house*
I went there and cleared the study about 1939 when the house was sold*,
My father had rented the house but had reserved and locked the study as a storage
room*
I found in the room a group of files, some loose letters and manuscripts,
and some books* It was a part of the accumulation of his years in Washington and
the materials involved a number of things in ^hich he was interested*
I do not
have a clear recall about the value of any of it and I did not do a thorough
inspection and sorting job when the things were packed*
this later*
It was planned to do
~ 2 ~
Willis
Since Miss Adams1 visit, I have made a routine review of the papers
in the study at Staten Island and have not turned up anything of real value.
Nothing has been done on the boxes in the cellar and I have some reservation as
to whether there is anything of interest to the Coaisittee in the boxes . As I
told Miss Adams* I believe as do other members of the family that my father
incorporated much of what might be considered of value in his publications between
1914 and 1926.
The family is willing to resolve all doubt about this by an intensive
check of what is stored on Staten Island*
Before the Columbia plan can be
considered, however, it will be necessary for me and one of my brothers to go to
Staten Island and spend several days opening the boxes and making a preliminary
sort of materials in the hope of turning up something. Once some order has been
established, a person designated by the Committee could come to the Island and
review the situation. It should be added that my father did not keep an ordered
file of letters and memoranda dealing with the work on the Reserve Act and the
formative years of the System. Also we moved several times between Washington
and Staten Island and SQT mother thinks that some things were lost in the process
- necessarily this did not help the collection of papers.
Before I start on the preliminary worjc will youtgive me some idea of
the kind of letters or other papers which will be of interest to the Committee.
I think I know what is being sought for but information on this point will be
helpful.
I am soriy to have delayed answering your letter. I waited, however,
until I had had a chance to discuss the problem again with isy mother and brothers.
We are all glad that the Committee's work is going forward.
Sincerely,
Parker B. Willis
WILLIS, H*. r a r k e ^
••^
A *
Vthtwrt
t
.»>,
21* lfS6
Iff* Fatten H, wnite*
Federal Reserve- Bajik #f Boston,
Boston 6, M.ass.
Dear Mir* W tttiit
1 think you kaow # | the task which has |««m undertaken fey
the Committe* oa the Hletory 01 A t Federal Reserve System, on whose
tctttifcM* I am writing.
Mis* A4MKt» ©»# Executive DteMtttft tells m« that she lias
talked with ysu about your father's papers which were left i s your dMffgt*
that such accumulations aye roost difficult to sort and catalogue MM! p i in
us&hU' fo?m, ao that tbey may become ft weans of scholarly study and ftMtftvelu
It |« one of those things which families usually intend to do, but never gel
to doing until by ill chance the paper a are 4«stroyed m lost,
to axyasge | # deposit such coilectkms with m educational iastitution which
wilt undertake the job of putting such papers in shape for scholarly use, W«
mm SriUrttetttarty i*itere«t©& ia h«lf>iiag t© .develop «l CoSimafeift tfetv«««tfcy* lay
this meajw, a collection #f source iri ate rial which can bscome » nucleus for &
principal fiaancial ceeter of the country atio the world, should become the
repository of papers of this character. It would seem moat appropriate In the
case #f ycur father's papers because Columbia was one part of his busy life, «ad
I femrt rs&soa to believe that the University feels this way about it.
t air, writing to ask if ysu will not gift ua permission to try %u
arrange with Columbia to haw the papers t&ken to the University, there to bt
SfUHM* claaaified, and c&t&lojiuec* so that they may fetttoat * ^erniRoent p*ft
of the record of the times, and it coati&uitig source of stimulation of studsmts
fft the general field of money and banking arid, particularly, «€ students of
the history of the Federal Reserve System.
-*-
M r . Willtt
l/U/M
I hope that you will be able to tell me that the Committee
on the History of the Federal Re serve System has your permission to
prttttml In tMt way* It wttttfct fee a wntifewMle ftiMIe fttrvie** 1 mm BWN* •
Staat**ly»
:
• •*-*
*?* •
Ch&itm&n*
mmm
WILLIS, H. Parker
Kerch 12, 1956
Dear Mr* Sproul:
this draft to Mr. Willis seems to meeexactiy
right* I will proceed at once to see what Bon and I
can do with the Beekh&rt-Wyers suggestion,
Also my thanks for your good editing on the
too draft agenda* Dr* Calkins may have additions on
Friday*
Faithfully yours,
Mildred Adams
Mr* Allan Sproul
33 liberty Street
Hew Tork 45, N* I*
Enc.
HLLIS, H. Parker
Karen 8, 1956
Be&r Mr. Bproull
If I rf)t.d Kr. Willis corraetly, what he says in
two pftgas i s •Ho** In your letter of February 23rd, at tha
bottom of I'^ge 1, you stated very clearly vast m asked of
hiau In r&ptyi he follows ths* line he took two years ago,
a line from vhich I hed hoped that your good letter would
divert him.
2here must be some reason why Mr» Willis finds i t
00 hard to comprehend that idiAt w® really vent for Columbia
i s the whole collection of Villia papers as such, bad as
wall ao good* trivi&l as wall &e important! the body of the
man's wor&, not a carefully sorted section of i t which haa
baan approved by the family* Ho two scholars would value
tha various items from exactly tha mm® point of view. Uhat
wa need ia not some artificial measure of whet might interest
any one student at any one tijse, but everything that haa
baan left*
tha problem la how to say a l l this to Mr* Willis
in a way that will persuade hie to l e t tha whole mass of
stuff go* Co you think that a request from Columbia i t s e l f
might &l&&m himt I can't believe ha really vants to go
through a l l those boxes that have stayed in tha basement for
so long* Or i s this situation hopelessly bound in a veb of
old fear, suspicion and resentment?
Perhaps i f wa shifted ground, stopped talking about
the Federal Reserve System and had tha request put on tha
ground that Columbia wanted the whole collection of papers
of one of i t s active and important economists, so as to show
tha range of tha man's work and interests, wa might gat action*
Hiss MeXinstry suggests that if one of Dr.
Willis1 old students, Margaret Myers of Yasser for Instance,
^who is Mrs* Hsggot Beskh&rt, coulc be inspired to show an
interest is the papers, they might be recovered through
good offices of that sort*
Or would Arthur Willis, who has, Z understand,
recently left this Bank, intercede vith his brother for us?
the situation puzzles me* I hate to give up
hope of getting the papers out, but ay experience has been
that collections sorted by a f easily have little but *hct
one night call souvenir value« Columbia would hardly want
such sterile vestiges* nor would we went to recossaend them.
If any of the above suggestions sounds possibly
fruitful, I will be glad to follow them up* What I need
is your judgment as to taeties«
Mildred Adams
Mr* Allan Sproul
33 liberty Street
Hew Xork 45* 8* £•
WILSON, Woodrow (Centennial)
c
April 23, 1956
Woodrow Wilson Centennial
Committee
Staunton
Virginia
Gentlemen*
Xour kind invitation to attend the Woodrow
Wilson Centennial Celebration on April 2Sih was reported to the moat recent meeting of this Committee.
They ask me to express their pleasure that the 100th
birthday of the founder of the Federal Reserve System
is being observed with fitting ceremonies and under
such distinguished auspices* As it is unfortunately
not possible for an officer of this Committee to be
present, they have asked Mr* Hugh Leach, President of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Virginia to
attend on behalf of the entire Committee* Mr. Leach
will communicate with you*
Hay X take this occasion to send you er^ry
good wish for the success of the commemoration*
Very sincerely yours,
Mildred Adams
Executive director
WIJJiTOM, David
S e e under DECKER, E . T.
WISCONSIN STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
See correspondence under HUSTIiiG, PAUL 0. concerning his papers
deposited there*
@FedFRASER