Finding aid for the William McKinley Papers


Repository: Western Reserve Historical Society
Creator: McKinley, William
Title: William McKinley Papers
Dates: 1850-1912
Extent: 6.50 linear feet (16 containers and 1 oversize package)
Abstract: William McKinley (1843-1901) was the 25th president of the United States. He was shot on 6 September, 1901 and died eight days later. During the American Civil War he was Commissary Sergeant with the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His brother-in-law, Andrew J. Duncan also served during the Civil War. The collection consists of photographs, general correspondence, family papers, financial papers, Civil War records of McKinley and A. J. Duncan, and letters of condolence and other material relating to McKinley's death in 1901.
MS Number MS 3201
Location: closed stacks
Language: The records are in English

Biography of William McKinley

William McKinley was born on January 29, 1843, in Niles, Ohio, the son of an iron founder. From 1861-1865 he served in the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Regiment and was mustered out at the rank of major. He began to study law in 1865 under Charles E. Glidden of Mahoning County, Ohio, and graduated from law school at Albany, New York, in 1867. He was appointed prosecuting attorney for Stark County, Ohio, in 1869.

On January 25, 1871, McKinley married Ida Saxton of Canton, Ohio. He was elected to the United States Congress in 1876 as Republican representative from the 17th Ohio district. In 1880 he was made temporary chairman of the Ohio Republican Convention and became permanent chairman in 1884. Also in 1880, he became a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

McKinley was elected governor of Ohio in 1891. The following year he became the permanent chairman of the Republican National Convention. In February 1893, he incurred debt totaling some $130,000 after the failure of Robert L. Walker, a friend to whom he had endorsed notes, but funds were raised by unknown friends to meet the deficit, and his political career was unharmed.

McKinley was elected President of the United States in November of 1896, and was re-elected in 1900. He was shot by Leon F. Czolgosz at Buffalo, New York, on September 6, 1901, and died on September 14, 1901.


Scope and Content

The William McKinley Papers, 1850-1912 and undated, consist of photographs, general correspondence, family papers, financial papers, Civil War records of McKinley and A. J. Duncan, and letters of condolence and other material relating to McKinley's death in 1901.

This collection is of necessity incomplete, for McKinley left few personal papers, and many of his official records are in other repositories. However, photographs, a few letters, family papers, Civil War records, and letters and papers relating to McKinley's death found in this collection give a fairly balanced representative selection.

The larger part of the collection is made up of ten bound volumes of letters of condolence received by Mrs. McKinley after the shooting and death of the President in 1901. Other material relating to his death includes a book of music written in his honor and papers, programs, and tickets relating to the funeral and memorials, as well as a group of telegrams sent from Buffalo during the last illness of McKinley.

Family papers include miscellaneous papers and letters from the McKinley family and also from the family of A. J. Duncan, who married McKinley's sister, Sarah, and whose Civil War letters and diary form an interesting part of this collection. McKinley's service in the American Civil War is represented by several folders of quartermasters' records, covering the years 1863-1864, when McKinley was Commissary Sergeant with the Ohio 23rd Volunteer Regiment. Of special note in this series of material are two receipts, dated 1850, for the sale of negro slaves, that are attached to an A. J. Duncan letter dated August 9, 1864.

A group of financial papers includes evidence of indebtedness made in 1893, when the failure of a friend whom he had backed put McKinley in debt some $130,000. Also here are evidence of payments made by the trustees of the Walker-McKinley Fund, 1893, together with subscription lists for the fund and letters from donors and interested parties.


Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged by subject.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Separated Material

Photographs previously retained with this collection have been removed to the WRHS Photograph and Print Collection.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Duncan family.
McKinley family.
McKinley, William, 1843-1901 -- Assassination.
McKinley, William, 1843-1901 -- Monuments, etc.
McKinley, William, 1843-1901.
Presidents -- United States -- Miscellanea.
Soldiers -- Ohio -- Correspondence.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 3201 William McKinley Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

In this collection, many of the papers relating to the private and political life of William McKinley, given to the Western Reserve Historical Society over a period of years, have been combined for ease of access. Seven groups of papers relating to this prominent politician and twenty-fifth President of the Untied States have been put together here.

Processing Information

Processed by Carole E. Fryer in 1962.

Detailed Description of The Collection

William McKinley Papers 1850-1912 undated

Box Folder
1 1 Collection of letters from William McKinley, and some undated autographs; letters are arranged chronologically and addressees include Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Duncan, Abner McKinley, R. W. Taylor, and William G. Rose 1867-1897 undated
1 2 Manuscript copies of six political speeches dates vary
1 3 Printed copies of speeches, including: The official nomination of McKinley as Presidential candidate and his speech of acceptance, June 18, 1896; McKinley's letter of acceptance to the above, August 26, 1896; Address of President McKinley at the dedication of the Grant monument, New York, April 27, 1897; Address of President McKinley to the officers and students of the University of Pennsylvania, February 22, 1898; Message of the President of the United States to the two houses of Congress at the beginning of the 56th Congress, 1899; and Inaugural address of William McKinley, March 4, 1901 1896-1901
1 4-5 Memorabilia of McKinley's public life and other miscellaneous papers dates vary
Box Folder
2 1 Miscellaneous McKinley family letters 1865-1890
2 2 Notes, newspaper and magazine clippings, lists of names, and other miscellanea relating to the McKinley family dates vary
2 3 Civil War letters of A. J. Duncan to his family 1861-1865
2 3 Attached to a letter dated August 9, 1864 are two receipts for the sale of negro slaves 1850
2 4 Civil War diary of A. J. Duncan 1861-1864
2 5 Miscellaneous letters and papers relating to the Duncan family dates vary
2 6-7 Miscellaneous legal papers dates vary
Box Folder
3 1-5 Quartermaster papers of 1st Lieutenant William McKinley, Jr., A. A. Q. M., 23rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; reports of stores, etc., received and expended 1863-1864 undated
Box Folder
4 1 Cancelled checks signed by William McKinley 1875-1892
4 2-3 Evidence of William McKinley's indebtedness; these groups of papers are numberd 2-55, but several of them are missing 1893
4 4 Subscription lists for the Walker-McKinley Fund 1893
4 5 Letters from donors to the Walker-McKinley Fund 1893-1899
4 6 Evidence of payments made by the trustees of the Walker-McKinley Fund (cancelled checks) 1893-1894
Box Folder
5 1-3 Telegrams sent by George B. Cortelyou and D. J. Alexander giving information about President William McKinley's condition and death after the shooting 1901
5 4 Telegrams and newspaper clippings announcing the shooting of President William McKinley 1901
5 5 Miscellaneous printed material relating to McKinley's death, including memorial addresses and dedication programs at Niles and Canton, Ohio 1901
5 6 Programs for the McKinley Day banquets given by the Cuyahoga Tippecanoe Club 1908 1912
5 7 Typescript and printed copies of biographical articles on McKinley's life and college career dates vary
5 8 Letters of condolence sent to Mrs. McKinley and others after the death of President William McKinley (loose) 1901
Box
6 Scrapbook of music and songs written in memory of President McKinley and sent to Mrs. McKinley; also a bound volume of letters of condolence, arranged alphabetically, A - C 1901
Box
7 Bound volume of letters of condolence, arranged alphabetically, D - G 1901
Box
8 Bound volume of letters of condolence, arranged alphabetically, M-R 1901
Box
9 Bound volume of letters of condolence sent by secret societies 1901
Box
10 Bound volume of letters of condolence went by churches and other similar organizations 1901
Box
11 Bound volume of telegrams of condolence, arranged alphabetically, A - K 1901
Box
12 Bound volume of letters of condolence and memorial resolutions sent by woman's clubs 1901
Box
13 Bound volume of letters of condolence and memorial resolutions sent by posts and departments of the Grand Army of the Republic 1901
Box
14 Bound volume of poems written in memory of President McKinley 1901
Box
15 Bound volume of memorial resolutions sent by various cities, fraternal groups, political organizations, schools, leagues, and similar organizations 1901
Box
16 Photographs, mainly of McKinley in public and private life, including a box of stereopticon slides (removed to the WRHS Photograph and Print Collection) dates vary
Box
17 Oversize Package: Photographs, mainly of McKinley in public and private life, including a box of stereopticon slides (removed to the WRHS Photograph and Print Collection) dates vary