Chester Alan Arthur papers, 1881-1885

Creator:

Extent:

19 linear feet 76 volumes in 38 boxes

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

Newspaper clippings relating to the career, life, activities, and political milieu of Chester A. Arthur, compiled for him while he was president, and covering only the period of his presidency. The clippings are mounted in 76 volumes and were gathered from both the major New York papers had local and specialized journals from all over the country. The volumes are grouped in several sequences as follows: 45 volumes labelled "Current Comment" 1881-1885; 6 volumes "Presidential Predictions, 1883-1884; 7 volumes "Canal and foreign questions" 1881-1885; 2 volumes "Personal" 1882-1883; 3 volumes "Appointments" 1882-1885; 3 volumes "Conventions" 1881-1884; 2 volumes "Civil Service" 1881-1885; 2 volumes "Mormonism" 1881-1885; 2 volumes "Southern" 1881-1884; 1 volume "Financial and Statistical" 1881-1885; 1 volume "Tariff discussions" 1884-1885; 1 volume "Social" 1884-1885; 1 volume "Miscellaneous notes" 1884-1885.

Biographical / historical:

President of the United States, 1881-1885.

Chester A. Arthur was elected vice president in 1880. After the assassination of President James A. Garfield in 1881, he became president on 19 September of that year. As president, Arthur distanced himself from the Stalwarts and attempted to deal with government corruption. He launched investigations of the civil service and the post-office and was instrumental in helping to pass the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883. After losing the support of the Stalwarts and failing to make new political alliances with reformers, he was not nominated by his party for the presidency in 1884. He died of Bright's disease on 18 November 1886.

Acquisition information:

Purchase ca. 1949. Accession number--M55-01.

Processing information:

Processed by RBML staff in January 1955.

Surveyed Christina Hilton Fenn 03/24/89.

Arrangement:

Chronological within each volume.

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Alan Chester Arthur papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

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Collection