| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Garfield, James A. Family |
| Title: | James A. Garfield Family Papers |
| Dates: | 1849-1938 |
| Extent: | 0.60 linear feet (2 containers and 2 rolls of microfilm) |
| Abstract: | James Abram Garfield was the twentieth president of the United States. He grew up in Orange, Ohio, graduated from Williams College in 1856, became president of Hiram College in Portage County, Ohio, and was a lay minister of the Disciples of Christ Church. He was elected to the Ohio Senate, and in 1858, married Lucretia Rudolph. Garfield served in the Civil War, as a lieutenant-colonel of the 42nd Ohio regiment. He was a major general when he resigned in 1863 to take a seat in the United States House of Representatives, where he served for 17 years. Nominated in 1880 as a compromise Republican presidential candidate, his campaign was conducted from Lawnfield, his Mentor, Ohio, home. Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881, and died September 19. He was survived by his widow, Lucretia Garfield, and by his children; Mary, who married his former secretary, Joseph Stanley-Brown, Irvin McDowell, Harry Augustus, who became president of Williams College, James Rudolph, a Cleveland attorney, Republican politician and member of Theodore Roosevelt's cabinet, and Abram, a Cleveland architect. The collection consists of correspondence, diaries, deeds, herbariums, receipts, architectural plans, and probate documents. The correspondence represents Garfield's Civil War and political careers, and commentary by Garfield and other family members on politics, the Republican Party, Garfield's assassination, as well as family relationships and management of Lawnfield as a family property. Lucretia R. Garfield's letters and papers cover travel and include details of farm life, remodeling, and management at Lawnfield. Joseph Rudolph, brother of Lucretia, managed the farm at Lawnfield, and also administered the estate of James A. Garfield. Some estate documents are included. Rev. Mark Hopkins, president of Williams College, received almost daily telegrams on the President's medical condition during the weeks after the assassination, which are included in the collection. The diaries of the president's mother, Eliza Ballou Garfield, are also included, and cover such topics as travels, household details, life in the White House, births, deaths, and illness, as well as the war and Garfield's political career. Correspondence and other documents written by Garfield's sons; James Rudolph, Harry Augustus and Irvin Garfield, and by his daughter and son-in-law, Joseph and Mary Garfield Stanley-Brown, are included. Other correspondents include Salmon P. Chase, Sara Williams Garfield, L.W. Whitney, John Newell, Rutherford B. Hayes, W. S. Rosecrans, Carl Schurz, and A. H. Smith. |
| MS Number | MS 4575 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The James A. Garfield Family lived at Lawnfield, a farm in Mentor, Ohio, purchased in 1876. James Abram Garfield (1831-1881) was the twentieth president of the United States. He grew up in Orange, Ohio, graduated from Williams College in 1856, became president of Hiram College in Portage County, and was a lay minister of the Disciples of Christ Church. He was elected to the Ohio Senate, and in 1858 married Lucretia Rudolph (1831-1918). He volunteered when the Civil War broke out, was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 42nd Ohio regiment, and served with distinction in the western campaigns. He was a major general when he resigned in 1863 to take his seat in the House of Representatives where he served for 17 years. Nominated in 1880 as a compromise candidate to heal the divisions within the Republican Party, he ran his successful presidential campaign from the front porch of the Lawnfield home. His brief term was spent initiating civil service reforms and reconciling party factions. He was shot on July 2, 1881, while preparing to leave for a trip to Williams College, died on September 19, and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. His children who survived him were Mary, who married the president's former secretary, Joseph Stanley-Brown, Irvin McDowell, Harry Augustus, who became president of Williams College, James Rudolph, a Cleveland attorney, Republican politician and member of Theodore Roosevelt's cabinet, and Abram, a Cleveland architect.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for President James A. Garfield
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for James Rudolph Garfield
The James A. Garfield Family Papers, 1849-1938 and undated, consist of correspondence, diaries, deeds, herbariums, receipts, architectural plans, and probate documents.
This collection is of interest to the student of James A. Garfield and his family. The correspondence represents Garfield's Civil War and political career, and commentary by Garfield and other family members on politics, the Republican Party, the assassination, as well as family relationships and management of Lawnfield as a family property. Lucretia R. Garfield's letters and papers cover several trips, and deal with details of farm life and management at Lawnfield and the redecoration and remodeling of the homestead. Her brother, Joseph Rudolph and his wife, Lida, joined Lucretia at Lawnfield, and he managed the farm, along with James R. Garfield, who also lived there with his wife and sons. Joseph Rudolph administered the estate of James A. Garfield, and some estate documents are included. Reverend Dr. Mark Hopkins, president of Williams College, received almost daily telegrams on the President's medical condition during the weeks after Garfield was shot, which are included here. The diaries of the president's mother, Eliza Ballou Garfield, who lived with her son's family, comment on such family topics as travels, household details, life in Washington and in Ohio, births, death and illness, as well as the war and Garfield's political career. Her diary for January 1 to July 2, 1881, covers President Garfield's term and her residence in the White House with his family.
While there are no access restrictions on this collection, researchers will be asked to use the microfilm of the collection.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 4579 James A. Garfield Family Papers, Series II.
Separated MaterialPortraits and photographs have been removed to the print and photograph collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4575 James A. Garfield Family Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gifts of the Lake County Historical Society in 1988 and Mrs. Elizabeth C. Kraemer in 1968 (E. B. Garfield diary, 1881).
Processed by Ann B. Ameling in 1991. Microfilmed by Bernard Watford in 1991.
James A. Garfield Family Papers 1849-1938 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Garfield family, letters, from L. A. Boynton to General October 9, 1871 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Garfield family, letters, from Nellie to sister July 22, 1875 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Garfield family, Lawnfield, statement of expenses from W. H. Card, decorator 1886-1887 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3-6 | Garfield family, Eliza Ballou (1881 diary removed to the WRHS rare book room) 1865 1873 1875-1876 1881 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Garfield, Harry A., letter to Mary April 8, 1889 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Garfield, Harry A., letter to Joseph Rudolph June 1, 1905 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Garfield, Harry A., letter from George Batchelor May 1913 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Garfield, Irvin, letter to Mrs. Garfield April 8, 1886 | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Garfield, James Abram, herbarium, Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio 1850 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (reproductions and copies), to Rev. Bro. Hayden on preaching activities July 17, 1855 December 15, 1855 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (reproductions and copies), to Cousin Henry [Boynton] on use of typewriter February 11, 1876 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | letters (reproductions and copies), to Mrs. Mary Field, with cover letter from F. W. Field August 17, 1880 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (reproductions and copies), to Capt. Garrison, with cover letter from Earl L. Corb, West Virginia University August 20, 1880 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (reproductions and copies), to Eliza Ballou Garfield, with photograph of Eliza, reproduction with eulogy, two reprints of letter August 11, 1881 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Sister Lucelia on memory of friends November 28, 1858 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Schenk on forwarding his interests January 10, 1866 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to E. A. Wright on revenue offices January 21, 1869 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to General H. Porter on President Grant's visit to Northern Ohio Fair July 13, 1870 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to J. G. Blaine, on newspaper gossip November 27, 1871 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to A. Babcock, about Ezra and Almeda Booth May 2, 1876 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Republican party members, appended to letter from Whitelaw Reid March 12, 1878 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to General George B. Wright, on battle of honest money January 6, 1879 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Messrs. Shober & Carqueiville on lithographs July 27, 1880 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to Rev. Mark Hopkins on visit to Williams June 22, 1881 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), from Rutherford B. Hayes, on prayers for recovery July 16, 1881 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), to sister Azora, verse undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), from Treasury Dept. settling account with Quartermaster July 21, 1862 | |||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), fragment 1868 | |||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), from Office of the Admiral April 22, 1881 | |||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (originals are housed in the WRHS rare book room), invitations 1868 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (transcripts), to S. P. Chase, January-July 1863, with cover letter from Richard G. Johnson to James R. Garfield, (1903) January-July 1863 1903 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (transcripts), W. S. Rosecrans to S. P. Chase June 30, 1863 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (transcripts), James A. Garfield to J. W. Shuckers July 14, 1876 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Garfield, James Abram, letters (transcripts), W. S. Rosecrans to J. W. Shuckers, (July 14, 1882), with cover letter from Richard G. Johnson to H. A. Garfield, (1906) 1882 1906 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | James Abram, letters (transcripts) to and from Carl Schurz, 1880-1881, with cover letters from Frederic Bancroft to James R. Garfield, (1912) 1880-1881 1912 | |||||||||
| 1 | 17 | Garfield, James Abram, estate of, administrators letters November 4, 1881 | |||||||||
| 1 | 17 | Garfield, James Abram, estate of, statement May 6, 1882 | |||||||||
| 1 | 18 | Garfield, James Abram, estate of, documents re release of right of way to New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Company June 23, 1881 | |||||||||
| 1 | 18 | Garfield, James Abram, estate of, summons to estate of James A. Garfield December 27, 1881 | |||||||||
| 1 | 19 | Garfield, James Abram, estate of, inventory and appraisement November 12, 1881 | |||||||||
| 1 | 19 | Garfield, James Abram, estate of, correspondence of Joseph Rudolph, administrator, with George U. Rose regarding claim against estate 1882-1883 | |||||||||
| 1 | 20 | Garfield, James Rudolph, agreement, trustee of title to French coach horse, Gregory May 5, 1895 | |||||||||
| 1 | 21 | Garfield, James Rudolph, letters to Harry R. Collacott 1903 1906 | |||||||||
| 1 | 22 | Garfield, James Rudolph, letters to Vaughn E. Wyman re: Painesville property 1930-1938 | |||||||||
| 1 | 23 | Garfield, James Rudolph, and Joseph Rudolph, warranty deed from Alvin R. Daniels and wife, recorded September 12, 1887 | |||||||||
| 1 | 23 | Garfield, James Rudolph, and Joseph Rudolph, mortgage deed to Alvin Daniels and wife, recorded September 20, 1887 | |||||||||
| 1 | 23 | Garfield, James Rudolph, and Joseph Rudolph, quit claim deed from Eunice Barber, Vandalia L. Carroll, et. al., recorded July 18, 1896 | |||||||||
| 1 | 24 | Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, herbarium, Garrettesville, Portage County, Ohio 1849 | |||||||||
| 1 | 25 | Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letter from Elizabeth Rudolph July 26, 1875 | |||||||||
| 1 | 26 | Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letters received 1882-1883 | |||||||||
| 1 | 27 | Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letter from Joseph [Stanley-]Brown on proposed remodeling at Lawnfield, with architectural drawings May 22, 1885 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 28 | Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letters to Joseph and Lida Rudolph 1887-1902 | |||||||||
| 2 | 29 | Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, letters from Abbie Easton re: Geauga Seminary September 13, 1897 | |||||||||
| 2 | 30 | Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, receipts for household repairs and remodeling expenses 1885-1886 1901 | |||||||||
| 2 | 31 | Garfield, Sara (Ray) Williams, letters, to Mrs. Garfield February 12, 1897 | |||||||||
| 2 | 31 | Garfield, Sara (Ray) Williams, letters, to Lida Mason Rudolph August 16, 1921 | |||||||||
| 2 | 32 | Hopkins, Rev. Dr. Mark, telegrams from L. W. Whitney with bulletins on President Garfield's medical condition July-September 1881 | |||||||||
| 2 | 33 | Newell, John, statement on illness and death by A. H. Smith 1894 | |||||||||
| 2 | 34 | Rudolph, Joseph, notes 1891 1902 | |||||||||
| 2 | 34 | Rudolph, Joseph, cash book 1901-1902 | |||||||||
| 2 | 35 | Stanley-Brown, Mary Garfield and Joseph, wedding register June 14, 1888 | |||||||||
| 2 | 36 | Stanley-Brown, Mary and Joseph, wedding invitations and at-home cards; and 50th wedding anniversary greetings, verses undated | |||||||||