Series I: General Scrapbooks, 1918-1945
This series covers Van Namee's relationship with Alfred E. Smith, containing clippings, ephemera, and photographs from 1918 through 1945. Included are articles about Smith's tenure as governor, Smith's 1928 Presidential run, and details of Smith's later life and marriage. Also included are photographs and letters from Van Namee's own life, including his marriage to Rose Fallon, a successful florist, and his appointment and tenure as New York's Public Service Commissioner. Articles and ephemera from other events of the period--such as articles about Hitler's death, tickets from the New York World's Fair, and programs from racing and boxing events--are included throughout. Items relevant to Tammany Hall, Mayor Jimmy Walker, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Pope Pius XI, and New York Irish Catholics are also present.
Box 1
Vol. 1, 1926-1935
(News clippings related to Al Smith's tenure as governor and his Presidential campaign; letter from FDR to Van Namee; Van Namee's wedding; Van Namee's trips to Europe; material concerning Mayor Jimmy Walker)
Box 2
Vol. 2, 1918-1920
(News clippings related to Al Smith's first election as Governor; Van Namee's nomination as Public Service Commissioner; letters of congratulation for appointment)
Box 3
Vol. 3, 1919-1925
(Clippings, mostly about Smith's second election as Governor and about New York City politics)
Box 4
Vol. 4, 1920-1928
(Clippings about Al Smith's second tenure as governor; photos of Van Namee vacations; pamphlets and clippings regarding Smith's 1928 presidential run)
Box 5
Vol. 5, 1927-1932
(Clippings and pamphlet literature from Smith's 1928 presidential run and its aftermath; Van Namee vacation photos)
Box 6
Vol. 6, 1938-1940
(Clippings regarding the death of Pope Pius XI, lead up to WWII, New York politics, Van Namee trips to Europe in 1938 and 1939)
Box 7
Vol. 7, 1940-1945
(Clippings related to WWII, Hitler's death, Al Smith's death and funeral, Van Namee's retirement)
Series II: 1928 Campaign Scrapbooks, 1928
The second series contains six scrapbooks devoted to Smith's 1928 presidential campaign. Two of these contain printed matter published by Smith's campaign, such as posters, promotional pamphlets, and transcripts of Smith's speeches. The other four scrapbooks contain extensive clippings from nearly all American newspapers during the campaign, covering topics that range from the controversy surrounding Smith's Catholicism to his debates with Herbert Hoover over economic policy and public education.
Box 8
Scrapbook of pro-Smith political pamphlets from Smith's 1928 presidential campaign., 1928
Box 9
Second scrapbook of pro-Smith political pamphlets from Smith's 1928 presidential run, with index., 1928
(Labeled 'Miss Moran' on front)
Box 10
First Scrapbook of news coverage and commentary related to the 1928 presidential election, 1928
Box 11
Second scrapbook of news coverage and commentary related to the 1928 presidential election, 1928
(Labeled vol. 2 on spine)
Box 12
Third Scrapbook of news coverage and commentary related to the 1928 presidential election, 1928
Box 13
Fourth Scrapbook of news coverage and commentary related to the 1928 presidential election, labeled Oct 23, 1928 - Nov 10, 1928, 1928, 1928, 1928
Series III: Ephemera and Miscellanea
The third series contains two scrapbooks of ephemera. One covers the year 1932 exclusively, with material relating to the Great Depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Van Namee's own activities in New York. The final scrapbook contains a wide variety of valuable ephemera, mostly relating to New York Democratic politics. Materials are wide ranging and include items like the key to Tammany Hall, dinner invitations to the Manhattan Club, and brochures and tickets from the 1928 and 1932 Democratic National Conventions.