Finding aid for the Anthony J. Celebrezze Papers, Series II


Repository: Western Reserve Historical Society
Creator: Celebrezze, Anthony J.
Title: Anthony J. Celebrezze Papers, Series II
Dates: 1929-1977
Extent: 24.51 linear feet (22 containers, 23 oversize volumes, and 1 oversize folder)
Abstract: Anthony J. Celebrezze (1910-1998) was an Ohio state senator (1950-1953), mayor of Cleveland (1953-1962), Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (1962-1965), and federal judge for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (1965-1980). The collection consists of correspondence, clippings, honorary certificates and resolutions, publications, speeches, and scrapbooks, covering Celebrezze's political and judicial career, and relating to Cleveland's budgetary, city planning, civil defense, public transportation and urban renewal issues during the 1950s and 1960s, and to the anti-poverty, civil rights, education, and health insurance programs of Presidents Kennedy & Johnson. Includes correspondence of John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Frank Lausche, Stephen M. Young, Michael DiSalle, Thomas Burke, Jack P. Russell, and Ralph Locher.
MS Number MS 4046
Location: closed stacks
Language: The records are in English

Biography of Anthony J. Celebrezze

Anthony Joseph Celebrezze (1910-1998) had a long career in law and government, serving as an Ohio state senator; Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio; Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare; and a federal judge.

The ninth of thirteen children, Anthony J. Celebrezze was born in Anzi, Italy, on September 4, 1910. His parents, both naturalized citizens of the United States, were visiting their native land hoping to find better employment when he was born. Anthony's father returned to the United States just before he was born, and two years later, he and his mother joined the rest of the family in Cleveland, Ohio. Meanwhile, his father had found work with the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad as a track laborer, and they lived in the East 28th Street-Woodland Avenue area of Cleveland. At age six, Anthony joined his older brothers selling newspapers in front of the Caxton Building in downtown Cleveland. In 1929 he graduated from Central High School, playing football there in his senior year. He attended John Carroll University for one year, and then transferred to Ohio Northern University. Encouraged by his brother Frank, he enrolled in law school at Ohio Northern, meeting his expenses by working for the New York Central Railroad. After receiving his law degree in 1936, he acquired his first legal experience working for the Ohio Bureau of Unemployment Compensation, and three years later opened his own law office. He practiced his profession for the next thirteen years, with time off for Navy service during World War II. In 1938, Celebrezze married his high school sweetheart, Anne Marco, and they had three children, Anthony Junior, Jean, and Susan.

Politics attracted him, and in 1950 as a candidate of the Democratic party, he won election to the Ohio Senate. Although reelected to the Senate in 1952, he chose to run for mayor of Cleveland as an independent Democrat. The incumbent mayor, Thomas Burke, had been appointed to the Senate upon the death of Robert Taft in 1953, and he, together with Governor Frank Lausche and Cleveland Press editor Louis Seltzer, supported Celebrezze's candidacy. Celebrezze was elected to the first of five two-year terms by a comfortable majority over Albert Porter, the regular Democratic party candidate and Republican William J. McDermott. In each subsequent election, his popularity with the Cleveland voters increases, and in 1961, he carried every ward in Cleveland, capturing 73.8% of the total vote.

He acquired a thorough knowledge of how the Cleveland municipal government worked and managed an efficient, well-run city during his administration. To take advantage of the St. Lawrence Seaway, he organized the Cleveland Seaport Foundation to promote Cleveland as a world trade center and supported an eight million dollar Seaway bond issue. During Celebrezze's five terms as mayor, progress was made on the $140 million urban renewal program, including Erieview and the Garden Valley housing project, and the construction of a freeway system serving Cleveland and its suburbs. Since much of the low income housing in the central city was razed to build the freeways, including the mayor's boyhood home, there was a shortage of adequate housing for those displaced by the construction. the heavy influx of migrants to the city in the 1950s exacerbated the overcrowding in some of the city's older neighborhoods, adding to the problem. The increases population and job layoffs contributed to the soaring relief costs the city had to address. To help alleviate these conditions, Celebrezze instituted a job retraining program with the cooperation of local industry, and he sought to transfer some of the relief costs to the county welfare department.

Controversy was generated over the building of a downtown subway to relieve traffic congestion and revitalize downtown businesses. While Celebrezze favored the proposal and the voters approved a $35 million bond issue to build it, County Engineer Albert Porter persuaded county officials that the subway was too costly, and the money would be better spent on the freeway system. Celebrezze was anxious to attract more convention business to the city, and in 1958 he negotiated with the Hilton Corporation to build a new hotel on the city-owned Mall. Resistance to selling part of the Mall for a commercial enterprise forced a referendum, and the Hilton-on-the-Mall was defeated.

Acting as a representative of the United States Conference of Mayors, Celebrezze gained national exposure in 1955 when he testified before Congress against the deregulation of natural gas. Also in 1955 he appeared before the House Committee on Public Works to support a bill to provide federal money for highway construction. He was elected President of the American Municipal Association in 1958 and became President of the United States Conference of Mayors in 1962.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy appointed Celebrezze Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, where he served for three years. He helped prepare and guide through Congress many of the social programs aimed at improving the opportunities available to all Americans. He resigned from office in July of 1965, and President Johnson appointed him a federal judge on the sixth circuit court of appeals. He relinquished his full time courtroom duties on October 1, 1980, assuming senior status, and continued to hear cases on a limited basis.

Among the honors and awards he received during his career were the Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and honorary degree of Doctor of Humanity from Wilberforce University, and the decoration of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Anthony J. Celebrezze


Scope and Content

The Anthony J. Celebrezze Papers, Series II, 1929-1977 and undated, consist of correspondence, clippings, honorary certificates and resolutions, publications, speeches, and scrapbooks, covering Celebrezze's political and judicial career, and relating to Cleveland's budgetary, city planning, civil defense, public transportation and urban renewal issues during the 1950s and 1960s, and to the anti-poverty, civil rights, education, and health insurance programs of Presidents Kennedy & Johnson. Includes correspondence of John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Frank Lausche, Stephen M. Young, Michael DiSalle, Thomas Burke, Jack P. Russell, and Ralph Locher.

Along with providing an overview of politics in Cleveland, Ohio during the 1950s and early 1960s, the Celebrezze Papers provide an insight into budgetary, city planning, civil defense, public transportation and urban renewal issues. The papers also furnish a glimpse of the development of the anti-poverty, civil rights, education and health insurance programs of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.


Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged in four series.
Series I: State Senator is arranged alphabetically by document type and then chronologically.
Series II: Mayor of Cleveland is arranged alphabetically by document type and then chronologically. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Series III: Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare is arranged alphabetically by document type and then chronologically. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Series IV: Judge of the Federal Circuit Court is arranged alphabetically by document type and then chronologically.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Related Material

The researcher should also consult MS 3884 Anthony J. Celebrezze Papers; and PG 353 Anthony J. Celebrezze Photographs.

Indexing Terms

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

Subjects:

Celebrezze, Anthony J. (Anthony Joseph), 1910-1998
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Appropriations and expenditures.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Civil defense.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Officials and employees.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Politics and government.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Public works.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Transit systems.
Cleveland (Ohio). Mayor.
Italian Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Ohio -- Politics and government.
Political campaigns -- Ohio.
Streets -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
United States -- Social policy.
Urban renewal -- Ohio -- Cleveland.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4046 Anthony J. Celebrezze Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of Judge and Mrs. Anthony J. Celebrezze in 1977.

Processing Information

Processed by Thomas Pappas in 1987.

Detailed Description of The Collection

Series I: State Senator 1950-1953

Box Folder
1 1 Correspondence 1950-1953
1 2 Scrapbook 1950-1953
1 3 Speeches 1951

Series II: Mayor of Cleveland 1929-1962 undated

Box Folder
1 4-16 Clippings 1929-1960
Box Folder
2 17-21 Clippings 1961-1962
2 22 Correspondence, A 1954-1961
2 23-24 Correspondence, achievement reports 1955-1962 undated
2 25 Correspondence, American Municipal Association, congratulatory messages 1958 undated
2 26-27 Correspondence, American Municipal Association, general 1955-1958 undated
2 28 Correspondence, American Municipal Association, presidency 1958-1960
2 29 Correspondence, annual reports 1957
2 30 Correspondence, Aquarium 1960
2 31 Correspondence, articles for publication 1954-1962 undated
2 32 Correspondence, Award of Merit Dinner 1955-1956
2 33 Correspondence, awards 1955-1962 undated
2 34 Correspondence, B 1953-1962
2 35 Correspondence, Bids - Longwood Development 1957
2 36 Correspondence, bonds 1958-1960
2 36 Correspondence, bridge 1953-1954
2 37 Correspondence, budget 1954-1955
Box Folder
3 38 Correspondence, budget 1960-1962
3 39 Correspondence, building code 1958
3 39 Correspondence, building standards 1953
3 40 Correspondence, Thomas A. Burke 1951
3 41 Correspondence, C 1954-1962
3 42 Correspondence, capital improvement program 1948-1958 undated
3 43 Correspondence, Catholic Charities 1962
3 44-46 Correspondence, Anthony J. Celebrezze 1933-1962 undated
3 47 Correspondence, Mrs. Anthony J. Celebrezze 1955-1960 undated
3 47 Correspondence, citations 1958
3 47 Correspondence, City Hospital 1956-1957 undated
3 48 Correspondence, city charter amendments 1953-1956 undated
3 49 Correspondence, city planning 1952-1956 undated
3 49 Correspondence, Kenneth Clement 1962
3 49 Correspondence, civil defense 1958-1961
3 49 Correspondence, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company 1954-1958 undated
3 50 Correspondence, collusive bidding 1960-1961 undated
3 50 Correspondence, Columbus Day 1958-1960
3 51 Correspondence, Committee for Civic Progress 1957-1960 undated
3 52 Correspondence, conflict of interest 1960
3 53 Correspondence, crane 1961-1962 undated
3 54-56 Correspondence, Cuban refugees 1962
3 57-58 Correspondence, Cuyahoga County Charter for Metropolitan Government 1947-1959
Box Folder
4 59-60 Correspondence, Cuyahoga County Charter for Metropolitan Government 1959-1961 undated
4 61 Correspondence, D 1953-1962
4 61 Correspondence, discrimination at the water plant 1960 undated
4 62 Correspondence, Drew Pearson's column on Mayor Celebrezze 1962
4 63 Correspondence, E 1954-1961
4 63 Correspondence, educational television 1961-1962 undated
4 64-65 Correspondence, East Ohio Gas Company rates 1955-1962 undated
4 66 Correspondence, Eisenhower's visits 1954 1961
4 67-69 Correspondence, Eriewview Development 1959-1962 undated
4 70 Correspondence, Exchange Club 1954-1962
4 71 Correspondence, F 1955-1962 undated
4 71 Correspondence, fair housing 958-1968
4 72 Correspondence, Fenn College 1962
4 72 Correspondence, Freedom Riders 1962
4 73 Correspondence, G 1954-1962
4 74-76 Correspondence, general 1952-1962 undated
4 77 Correspondence, Governorship campaign of 1958 1955-1958
Box Folder
5 78-80 Correspondence, Governorship Campaign of 1958 1956-1958
5 81-82 Correspondence, greetings 1957-1962 undated
5 83 Correspondence, H 1953-1962
5 83 Correspondence, health 1953
5 84-85 Correspondence, highway construction 1954-1957
5 86 Correspondence, Honolulu 1962
5 86 Correspondence, hotel reservation 1954-1961
5 86 Correspondence, hotel taxation 1955-1958 undated
5 86 Correspondence, housing 1959
5 87 Correspondence, Hunkey-Conkin Construction Company 1961-1962
5 88 Correspondence, I 1955-1962
5 88 Correspondence, inaugural ceremonies 1957-1961 undated
5 88 Correspondence, incinerator 1956 undated
5 89-92 Correspondence, intergovernmental relations 1957-1962
5 93-94 Correspondence, introductory letters 1953-1962 undated
5 95 Correspondence, J 1953-1962
5 95 Correspondence, Juvenile Department 1961-1962
5 96 Correspondence, K 1954-1961
5 96 Correspondence, key to the city brochures 1961-1962 undated
Box Folder
6 97 Correspondence, L 1953-1962
6 97 Correspondence, labor-construction 1958
6 97 Correspondence, law department 1958
6 98 Correspondence, levy 1956-1957 undated
6 99 Correspondence, M 1954-1962
6 100-101 Correspondence, Mall development 1954-1961 undated
6 101 Correspondence, Manpower Retraining 1962
6 102-103 Correspondence, mayoral campaign of 1953 1953
6 104 Correspondence, mayoral campaign of 1955 1955
6 105 Correspondence, mayoral campaign of 1957 1957
6 106 Correspondence, mayoral campaign of 1959 1959
6 106 Correspondence, mayoral campaign of 1961 1961
6 106 Correspondence, unidentified mayoral campaign undated
6 107 Correspondence, Morgana Run 1960-1961 undated
6 108 Correspondence, N 1953-1962
6 108 Correspondence, narcotics, grand jury reports 1954 undated
6 108 Correspondence, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 1961-1962 undated
6 109 Correspondence, O 1954-1961
6 109 Correspondence, Ohio Northern University 1953-1955
6 109 Correspondence, off-street parking 1960
6 109 Correspondence, outside residence 1958
6 110 Correspondence, P 1953-1962
6 111-112 Correspondence, Pan-American Games 1955-1959 undated
6 113 Correspondence, pay negotiations 1954-1958 undated
6 114 Correspondence, personnel 1953-1962 undated
6 115 Correspondence, Police affidavits 1953
6 115 Correspondence, Police Athletic League 1960
6 115 Correspondence, police prosecutor position 1958
6 115 Correspondence, pollution 1956-1961 undated
6 116 Correspondence, Port Authority 1951-1956 undated
6 117 Correspondence, ports 1960
6 118 Correspondence, President's Conference on Occupational Safety 1961-1962
6 119 Correspondence, Public Health and Welfare Department 1960 undated
Box Folder
7 120 Correspondence, R 1954-1962
7 120 Correspondence, rat control 1960
7 121 Correspondence, reports-planning 1959
7 122-124 Correspondence, William Rogers 1954-1962 undated
7 125 Correspondence, S 1953-1962
7 125 Correspondence, safety 1953-1954
7 126 Correspondence, salary 1953-1954 undated
7 126 Correspondence, sewers 1957-1962 undated
7 126 Correspondence, stadium 1958-1959
7 127 Correspondence, stadium concession 1950-1961 undated
7 128 Correspondence, subway 1953-1959
7 129 Correspondence, T 1955-1961
7 130-132 Correspondence, traffic 1953-1960 undated
7 133-134 Correspondence, transit 1954-1962 undated
7 135 Correspondence, Truman Dinner 1955
7 136 Correspondence, I 1956-1958
7 137-138 Correspondence, United States Conference of Mayors 1961
7 139 Correspondence, Unity Program 1961
7 140 Correspondence, urban renewal 1956-1960 undated
7 141 Correspondence, utilities-rezoning 1961-1962
7 142 Correspondence, V 1954-1961
7 142 Correspondence, veterans 1952-1954 undated
7 142 Correspondence, veto messages 1958-1962 undated
7 143 Correspondence, visitors 1956-1958
Box Folder
8 144 Correspondence, visitors 1959-1962
8 145 Correspondence, W 1953-1962
8 145 Correspondence, wage negotiations 1959-1960
8 146 Correspondence, Water Department 1953-1960 undated
8 147 Correspondence, West 6th Street Pier 1959
8 147 Correspondence, West 104th Zoning 1960 1962
8 147 Correspondence, White House 1956-1962 undated
8 148 Correspondence, Stephen young 1958-1961
8 149 Honorary certificates, degrees, and diplomas (oversize material removed to Oversize Folder 1) 1953-1962 undated
Folder
1 Oversize Folder 1: Maps 1953-1960
Folder
1 Oversize Folder 1: Posters (election) 1958 1961
Box Folder
8 150-158 Publications 1929 1953-1962
Volume
1 Oversize Volume 1: Scrapbook August-September 1953
Volume
2 Oversize Volume 2: Scrapbook August-November 1953
Volume
3 Oversize Volume 3: Scrapbook August 1953-January 1966
Volume
4 Oversize Volume 4: Scrapbook November 1953
Volume
5 Oversize Volume 5: Scrapbook November 1953-July 1954
Volume
6 Oversize Volume 6: Scrapbook September 1953-January 1954
Volume
7 Oversize Volume 7: Scrapbook January-April 1954
Volume
8 Oversize Volume 8: Scrapbook January 1954-May 1957
Volume
9 Oversize Volume 9: Scrapbook May 1954-August 1955
Volume
10 Oversize Volume 10: Scrapbook June-November 1954
Volume
11 Oversize Volume 11: Scrapbook November 1954-April 1955
Volume
12 Oversize Volume 12: Scrapbook February 1955-March 1958
Volume
13 Oversize Volume 13: Scrapbook March-November 1955
Volume
14 Oversize Volume 14: Scrapbook April-October 1955
Volume
15 Oversize Volume 15: Scrapbook July 1955-October 1961
Volume
16 Oversize Volume 16: Scrapbook November 1955-September 1956
Volume
17 Oversize Volume 17: Scrapbook September 1956-June 1957
Volume
18 Oversize Volume 18: Scrapbook February 1957-July 1958
Volume
19 Oversize Volume 19: Scrapbook September 1957-July 1959
Volume
20 Oversize Volume 20: Scrapbook November 1958-March 1959
Box Folder
9 159-179 Speeches, general 1953-1962
Box Folder
10 180 Speeches, general 1962
10 181-184 Speeches, KYW Broadcasts 1956-1957
10 185-188 Speeches, miscellaneous 1953-1962
10 189 Speeches, miscellaneous (not authored by Celebrezze) 1953
10 190 Statements, official mayoral 1954-1961 undated

Series III: Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare 1958-1965 undated

Box Folder
10 191 Appointment book 1963-1964
10 192-198 Appointment sheets 1962-1964
Box Folder
11 199-203 Appointment sheets 1964-1965
11 204 Appointment sheets, memoranda relating to 1964-1965
11 205 Briefing book, agenda for budget director's meeting with the secretary 1965
11 206-212 Briefing book, civil rights 1964
11 213 Briefing book, education 1961-1965
11 214-215 Briefing book, health insurance for the aged 1962-1963
11 216 Briefing book, hospital insurance for the aged under Social Security 1963
11 217 Briefing book, legislative reports 1962-1963
Box Folder
12 218-220 Briefing book, legislative reports 1963-1965
12 221 Briefing book, meeting with bureau of the budget on cost reductions 1965
12 222 Briefing book, poverty program 1963
12 223 Briefing book, miscellaneous 1963-1965
12 224-234 Call sheets 1962-1965
Box Folder
13 235-239 Call sheets 1965
13 240-253 Clippings (bound) 1962-1965
Box Folder
14 254-256 Clippings, loose 1962-1965 undated
14 257-262 Correspondence, alphabetical files, A - Z 1962-1965
14 263-270 Correspondence, alphabetical files, A - Mc 1962-1965
Box Folder
15 271-275 Correspondence, alphabetical files, N - Z 1962-1965
15 276-277 Correspondence, appropriations 1964-1965
15 278-279 Correspondence, Food and Drug Administration 1962-1965
15 280-283 Correspondence, Office of Education 1962-1965
15 284-286 Correspondence, Office of the Secretary, greetings 1963-1964
15 287 Correspondence, Office of the Secretary, memoranda 1963
15 288 Correspondence, Office of the Secretary, messages 1964
15 289 Correspondence, Office of the Secretary, reading file 1962
Box Folder
16 290-310 Correspondence, Office of the Secretary, reading file 1962-1964
Box Folder
17 311-313 Correspondence, Office of the Secretary, reading file 1965
17 314-327 Correspondence, Public Health Service 1962-1965
17 328 Correspondence, selected topics, A; Annual Recognition Dinner of the Greater Cleveland Council, Boy Scouts of America; and Artist Series (Cabinet) 1963-1965 undated
Box Folder
18 329 Correspondence, selected topics, cabinet meetings; Celebrezze commissions; and Celebrezze personal 1958-1964
18 330 Correspondence, selected topics, Celebrezze personal 1964-1965 undated
18 331 Correspondence, selected topics, Cleveland; Cleveland Committee for State of Israel Bonds Dinner; and Cleveland Symphony Orchestra 1963-1965 undated
18 332 Correspondence, selected topics, Democratic Convention; honorary degrees; honorary resolutions; and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 1963-1965 undated
18 333 Correspondence, selected topics, John F. Kennedy gravesite; John F. Kennedy Library; Boisfeullet Jones; and Robert Kevan 1962-1965
18 334 Correspondence, selected topics, Harold Levy; memberships-general; and memberships on committees 1962-1965
18 335 Correspondence, selected topics, Douglas MacArthur; National Association of Retail Druggists-reaction to Secretary's remarks; National foundation; Newman Club at the Naval Academy; Ohio Society of New York; and Order of the Sons of Italy in America Marconi Award 1962-1965
18 336-338 Correspondence, selected topics, patrons 1962-1965
18 339 Correspondence, selected topics, President's Committee for Traffic Safety; State Department; Vice President; Welfare Administration; and White House 1962-1965
18 340 Correspondence, selected topics, White House 1964-1965
18 341 Correspondence, selected topics, White House Staff Mess 1962-1963
18 342-349 Correspondence, Social Security Administration 1962-1965
Box Folder
19 350 Correspondence, Vocational Rehabilitation 1962-1964
19 351-352 Correspondence, Welfare Administration 1963-1965
19 353-357 Correspondence, White House 1962-1965
19 358-361 Correspondence, miscellaneous 1961-1965 undated
19 362-365 Publications, general 1962-1965
Box Folder
20 366-375 Publications, testimony before Congress 1963-1965
Box Folder
21 376-377 Publications, testimony before Congress 1965
Volume
21 Oversize Volume 21: Scrapbook July-December 1962
Volume
22 Oversize Volume 22: Scrapbook 1963
Volume
23 Oversize Volume 23: Scrapbook 1964-1965
Box Folder
21 378-393 Speeches, general 1962-1964
Box Folder
22 394-396 Speeches, general 1965
22 397-403 Speeches, testimony before congress 1963-1965

Series IV: Judge of the Federal Circuit Court 1965-1977 undated

Box Folder
22 404-405 Clippings 1965-1975 undated
22 406-407 Correspondence, congratulatory messages 1965
22 408 Correspondence, Eleanor Roosevelt Awards Dinner 1965-1966
22 409 Correspondence, general 1965-1977 undated
22 410 Invitations 1965
22 411 Publications 1965-1977 undated
22 412 Resolutions 1965
22 413 Speeches, general 1965-1975