Chester Alan Arthur papers, 1881-1885

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Chronological within each volume.

• Series I: Scrapbooks

Description

Summary

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.

• Series I: Scrapbooks

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

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 Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies 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.

Accruals

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

Immediate Source of Acquisition

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

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Processed by RBML staff in January 1955.

Surveyed Christina Hilton Fenn 03/24/89.

Revision Description

2009-06-26 File created.

2010-01-20 Legacy finding aid created from Pro Cite.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Subject

History / Biographical Note

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.