Finding aid for the Stephen M. Young Photographs

Biography of Stephen M. Young

Stephen Marvin Young (1889-1984) was raised in Norwalk, Ohio on the farm of his parents, Stephen M. and Belle M. (Wagner) Young. His father was a judge in Huron County. After attending Norwalk High School, Young studied at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He later transferred to Adelbert College of Western Reserve University and subsequently entered the Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law at Western Reserve University. In 1911, he received his LL.B. Degree and was admitted to the Ohio Bar.

As a young attorney, he developed an interest in public service and served two terms in the Ohio General Assembly, first in 1913 and again in 1915. He then served as assistant prosecuting attorney of Cuyahoga County (1917-1919) and as chief criminal prosecuting attorney (1919-1920). In 1922, he became the Democratic nominee for Attorney General and in 1930 and 1936 was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. As a member of the Ohio Commission on Unemployment Insurance (1931-1932), he championed unemployment insurance and worker's compensation.

First elected as Ohio's United States Representative-at-Large in 1932, Young was reelected by his constituents in 1934 and 1940. When the United States entered World War II, Young, who served in the field artillery during World War I, again chose active duty rather than a home front position. In 1945, he became Allied Military Governor of the Province of Reggio Emilia in Italy. Among the decorations and honors he received for his military service were the Bronze Star, four battle stars, the order of the Crown of Italy, and the personal commendation of General Mark W. Clark.

After further service in the Eighty-first Congress in 1948, and as President of both the Cuyahoga County Bar Association and the War Veterans Bar Association, Young left a lucrative law practice to seek office as a United States Senator. In the fierce campaign of 1958, he defeated John W. Bricker, a veteran of thirteen years in the Senate. Among those instrumental in waging a successful campaign was Harry S. Truman who toured Ohio on Young's behalf. The "Right to Work" issue which Young opposed and his opponent favored was an important factor in his campaign. In 1964, at the age of seventy-four, he once gain waged a successful campaign, defeating Robert Taft, Jr. In this year the Johnson landslide was instrumental in his victory.

Throughout his Senatorial career, Young served on three major Committees: Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Armed Services, and Public Works. His outspoken views, particularly on the subject of the "immoral and undeclared war in Viet Nam," has been the subject of much controversy. His highly volatile responses to constituents whose letters were either abusive or offensive have also been a well-publicized aspect of his career.

Stephen M. Young married Ruby Louise Dawley on January 18, 1911. They had two sons, Stephen M. Young, Jr. and Richard Dawley Young, and one daughter, Marjorie L. (Mrs. Robert R. Richardson). Ruby Young died in October 1952, and on March 28, 1957 Stephen Young married Rachel Louise Bell.

Scope and Content

The Stephen M. Young Photographs, ca. 1950-1970, consist of 41 black and white photographs of Stephen M. Young, and also several autographed photographs to Young from other United States senators. The photographs measure 16 x 19 inches and smaller.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

The researcher should also consult MS 3670 Stephen M. Young Papers; and MS 5179 Stephen M. Young Papers, Series II.

Indexing Terms

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

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 169 Stephen M. Young Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

These photographs were removed from MS 3670 Stephen M. Young Papers. Gift of Stephen M. Young in 1971.

Detailed Description of The Collection