Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Sulzer, William, 1863-1941
- Abstract:
- The Sulzer mss., 1917-1932, but principally 1927 and 1928, are papers of William Sulzer, 1863-1941, lawyer, member of the New York state legislature, U.S. congressman, and governor of New York.
- Extent:
- 1 Box (1 standard)
- Language:
- Materials are in English
- Preferred citation:
[Item], Sulzer mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
William "Plain Bill" Sulzer, 1863-1941, was a lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and 39th Governor of New York (and the only New York governor to be impeached).
He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, attended Columbia College, and was admitted to the New York bar in 1884. He entered politics with the backing of the Tammany Hall Democratic political machine, beginning by serving as a stump speaker, before going on to serve in the New York House of Representatives (1889-1894), as speaker of the house (1893), as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions (1892-1912), and in the U.S. House of Representatives (1895-1912). In 1912, he was elected governor of New York. Sulzer's investigations into corruption caused him to break with Tammany Hall boss Charles F. Murphy, leading to Sulzer's impeachment and removal from office. After a failed governorship run in 1914, he retired from politics and returned to practicing law.
- Scope and Content:
Included are letters, telegrams, pamphlets and newspaper clippings relating in the main to politics and to Sulzer's private affairs. The political material relates largely to the election of 1928 and shows Sulzer as anti-Al Smith, anti-Catholic, and as a prohibitionist. The letter regarding his private affairs are concerned principally with his law business, his Alaskan mining interests, and his Oklahoma ranch. Letters from John Nance Garner, Samuel Insull, and Charles Michael Schwab are included in the collection.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift: 1932
- Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into the following series: Correspondence and Printed.
- Physical location:
- Lilly - Stacks
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
This collection is open for research.
Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Item], Sulzer mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
1200 East Seventh StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
(812) 855-2452liblilly@indiana.edu