Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Abilene, Kansas
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DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER LIBRARY ABILENE, KANSAS SUMMERFIELD, ARTHUR E.: Additional Papers, 1908-1970 ACC: A78-19, A98-15 Accessions to the papers of Arthur Ellsworth Summerfield, Chairman of the Republican National Committee and Postmaster General of the United States, are received yearly from Mr. Summerfield’s widow. Because of the anticipated size of the collection in its entirety and the length of time involved before all of the materials will be received by the Eisenhower Library, each year’s accession is being processed and described individually as a series of the Summerfield papers. In this way, new materials will be made available for research each year. Mrs. Miriam W. Summerfield has executed instruments of gift for all of her late husband’s papers which have been presented to the Eisenhower Library. Literary rights in the unpublished writings of Arthur E. Summerfield, in these papers and in other collections of papers in the Eisenhower Library are reserved to Mrs. Miriam W. Summerfield during her lifetime and thereafter to the people of the United States. By agreement with donor, the following classes of documents will be withheld from research use: 1. Papers relating to the family and private business affairs of Arthur E. Summerfield 2. Papers relating to the family and private business affairs of persons who have had correspondence with him. 3. Papers relating to investigations of individuals or to appointments and personnel matters. 4. Papers containing statement made by of to Arthur E. Summerfield in confidence unless in the judgment of the Director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library the reason for the confidentiality no longer exists. 5. All other papers which contain information or statements that might be used to injure, harass, or damage any living person. SERIES DESCRIPTIONS Series I: POLITICAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1947-52 The Political Correspondence Series consists of letters, telegrams, printed material, newspaper clippings, and press releases relating to Mr. Summerfield’s activities with the Republican Party from 1947-1952, both on the national level and in the state of Michigan. On the national level, topics documented include Dwight D. Eisenhower’s nomination and campaign for president, Senator Robert Taft’s campaign for the Republican nomination, Adlai Stevenson, Communism in the United States, McCarthyism, and the controversial tenure of Guy George Gabrielson as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Among the individuals who corresponded with Mr. Summerfield were Sinclair Weeks, Earl Warren, Robert Taft, and Guy George Gabrielson. In the area of Michigan politics, this series contains material on Michigan Governor G. Mennen “Soapy” Williams, Senator Arthur Vandenburg, and Charles Potter’s campaign for the United States Senate, and the Michigan state conventions of the GOP. Despite the series title, there is material of a personal as well as political nature. The bulk of the personal correspondence is located in the folders for Dr. Earle Harris, Thomas E. Coleman, Milt Dean Hill, and B.E. Hutchinson. There is also material relating to Mr. Summerfield’s work as a trustee of Cleary College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The original folder titles and the alphabetical arrangement are as they were when the collection was received at the Eisenhower Library. In some instances the folder titles were assigned by the reviewing archivist and have been placed within brackets []. Series II: 1952 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AND CAMPAIGN, 1952 This series is divided into the following subseries: (1) Michigan Delegation Arrangements and Correspondence, (2) Campaign Correspondence, and (3) Printed Campaign Materials. The Michigan Delegation and Correspondence subseries dates from 1952 and consists of letters, telegrams, and a card index to hotel rooms and convention tickets. While the bulk of the subseries is concerned with accommodations and services for the Michigan delegation to the 1952 Republican National Convention, there is also some material on the Michigan delegates’ caucus in Chicago. The Campaign Correspondence subseries consists of letters and telegrams relating to the Republican campaign in Michigan as well as the national convention. The Printed Campaign Materials subseries was created by Mr. Summerfield’s staff during the 1952 presidential campaign. It consists of press releases and printed reports relating to various campaign topics such as Adlai Stevenson, communism, farmers, and veterans. The folder titles in this series are as they were at the time of deposit in the Library and the arrangement with each subseries is alphabetical. Series III: CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAMS, 1952 This series consists in its entirety of telegrams from both prominent individuals as well as the general public congratulating Arthur Summerfield on his elections as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. The materials were unarranged when they were received at the Eisenhower Library; the present arrangement and folder titles were assigned by the reviewing archivist. The telegrams are arranged alphabetically by state then by city or town and thereunder by the first initial of surname. Series IV: 1952 REPUBLICAN FINANCIAL FILE, 1952-53 The series of the Arthur Summerfield Papers which arrived at the Library labeled “1952 Republican Financial File” consists of bank statements, cancelled checks, checkbooks, invoices, notes, and financial statements. The materials were collected by Mr. Summerfield during his work with the Republican State Committee of Michigan in arranging the delegations accommodations at the 1952 Republican national convention. The original folder titles have been maintained and the folders have been arranged alphabetically. Series V: CABINET CONGRATULATIONS, 1952-53 Covering the late 1952 and early 1953 period, this series consists of incoming letters and telegrams offering congratulations to Mr. Summerfield on becoming Postmaster General select and of carbon copies of his letters of thanks. The series maintains the folder titles and alphabetical arrangement given to it by Mr. Summerfield. Series VI: POSTMASTER GENERAL, 1953-61 The Postmaster General Series is divided into five subseries: (1) Personal File, (2) Official File, (3) Postal Organization File, (4) Political File, (5) Patronage File. The folder titles and alphabetical arrangement of the subseries are as they were when received at the Library. The Personal File consists of letters, telegrams, newspaper clippings, printed material, and reports dating from 1953 to 1961. Despite the title of this subseries, much of the correspondence relates to Mr. Summerfield’s activities as Postmaster General. While there is some correspondence between Mr. Summerfield and his personal friends and business associates, the bulk of the subseries covers a wide variety of topics. Subjects discussed include the First International Congress of Philately, reorganization of the Department of Defense, pornography sent through the mail, and postal administration. There is also material concerning the United Auto Workers Union, Walter Reuther, and the National Automobile Dealers Association. Consisting of letters, telegrams, reports, and newspaper clippings, the Official File is the largest subseries of the series. Postal rate hikes, postal building designs and facility improvements, economic conditions during the Eisenhower administration, political cartoons, and the “Dog bite” conference of 1956 are some of the subjects documented in this subseries. Of particular interest among the folders which deal with automation and improvement of postal service are those concerning facsimile mail and missile mail. Facsimile mail is the electronic transmission of communications and missile mail is the launching of regular mail in small rockets. Neither of these innovative methods of mail delivery ever came into common practice during the Eisenhower administration. The Postal Organization subseries spans the years of 1953 to 1961 and consists of letters, reports, magazines, and newspaper clippings. The material in this subseries was sent to Mr. Summerfield by postal labor organizations to inform him of their positions on the various issues facing postal workers. The chief topic is personnel matters, especially pay raises for postal employees. Mr. Summerfield’s continuing interest in Republican Party politics on both the national level and in the state of Michigan is documented in the Political File subseries. The letters, telegrams, reports, and newspaper clippings of this subseries cover topics such as the Republican convention of 1960, the National Federation of Republican Women, and the Michigan State Central Committee. The Patronage File subseries consists entirely of letters and telegrams from persons seeking, either for themselves or for others, positions with the Post Office Department in either Washington D. C., or in other sections of the country. Series VII: SPEECHES, 1949-62 This series is made up of three subseries of material relating to Arthur Summerfield’s speeches. The original arrangement and folder titles have been maintained. The first and largest subseries is entitled “Speech Drafts and Correspondence.” It is arranged chronologically by date of the speech. The subseries reflects Mr. Summerfield’s activities as Postmaster General and as a Republican Party leader. In addition to speech drafts, the subseries contains correspondence concerning travel arrangements. Also included are several speeches delivered by Mr. Summerfield’s wife, Miriam, and other individuals.