Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1973 The iH storian as Lobbyist: J. Franklin Jameson and the Historical Activities of the Federal Government. Alan Harvey Ginsberg Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Ginsberg, Alan Harvey, "The iH storian as Lobbyist: J. Franklin Jameson and the Historical Activities of the Federal Government." (1973). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 2393. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/2393 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 73-27,835 GINSBERG, Alan Harvey, 1942- THE HISTORIAN AS LOBBYIST: J. FRANKLIN JAMESON AND THE HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Ph.D., 1973 History, modern 3 University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan © 1973 ALAN HARVEY GINSBERG ALL RIGHTS RESERVED —. o — . THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. THE HISTORIAN AS LOBBYIST: J. FRANKLIN JAMESON AND THE HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of History by Alan Harvey Ginsberg B.A., Trinity University, 1963 M.A., Louisiana State University, 1968 May, 1973 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In preparing this dissertation, I have had the help of numerous individuals who I would like to acknowledge here. Dr. John Porter Bloom, Mr. Harold W. Ryan, and Mr. Fred Shelley, all on the staff of the National Archives, guided me to and familiarized me with the records in the National Archives. Mrs. Carolyn Sung, on the staff of the Division of Manuscripts of the Library of Congress, helped me to utilize efficiently materials in the Division of Manuscripts. Dr. Roy P. Basler, Chief of the Division of Manuscripts of the Library of Congress, granted me permission to consult the papers of J. Franklin Jameson. Mr. Francis Christie Jameson, of Washington, D. C, saved me much time by allowing me to photocopy selections from the Jameson Papers. The library "staff of College of the Mainland, Miss Cindy Dugas, Mrs. Ann Kimzey, Mrs. Mary Drue McGraw, Miss Sherilyn Shaw, and Mr. Bob Slaney, obtained materials for me on inter- library loan and helped me to solve some difficult research problems. Mr. George Thomas, Director of Academic Programs at College of the Mainland, my immediate supervisor, always was supportive and understanding when my work on this dissertation conflicted with my professional responsibilities. Professor John L. Loos, Chairman of the Department of ii History at Louisiana State university, introduced me to many of the techniques of historical research and helped me to think through questions related to this dissertation. Special thanks go to Professor Burl Noggle of Louisiana State University, my major professor. Professor Noggle first awakened my interest in J. Franklin Jameson. He helped me to define the scope of this dissertation and aided me as I did my research. He reviewed the manuscript with rapidity and thoughtfulness; his comments and suggestions always were offered in a constructive and humane manner. My greatest debt is to my wife Emily. Without her patience, understanding, and support, this dissertation might never have been completed. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii ABSTRACT V CHAPTER I. "A GATHERER AND DISPOSER OF OTHER MEN'S STUFF" 1 II. THE MAKING OF A LOBBYIST 10 III. THE LAYING OF A FOUNDATION: THE MOVEMENT FOR A NATIONAL HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS COMMISSION 39 IV. "SOMETHING MORE RESTRICTED": PROPOSALS TO COMMEMORATE THE TREATY OF GHENT AND TO PUBLISH RECORDS OF THE REVOLUTION. ... 71 V. THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND DOCUMENTARY HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS IN THE 1920'S . 101 VI. THE TERRITORIAL PAPERS 131 VII. THE JOURNALS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AND THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON . 179 VIII. THE MOVEMENT FOR A NATIONAL ARCHIVES— THROUGH JUNE 28, 1916 196 IX. THE MOVEMENT FOR A NATIONAL ARCHIVES— THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF THE APPROPRIATION OF 1926 '*. 262 X. THE COMPLETION OF THE ARCHIVES AND THE SELECTION OF AN ARCHIVIST 294 XI. CONCLUSION 3K> SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 316 VITA 325 iv ABSTRACT John Franklin Jameson was one of the most important of American historians. As a writer, teacher, editor of the American Historical Review, Director of the Department of Historical Research of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and Chief of the Division of Manuscripts of the Library of Congress, he had an impact on historical research and writing in the United States that is not yet fully appreciated. This dissertation focuses on one facet of Jameson's activities, his attempt to enhance federal support of historical undertakings. Jameson's work as a lobbyist for historical enterprises falls into two categories. First, he tried to get the federal government to improve the quality and increase the quantity of "its" documentary historical publications. Second, he worked for the creation of a national archives building in Washington. Jameson's efforts on behalf of documentary historical publications had a mixed fate. Early in the twentieth century, he waged a lengthy campaign for the creation of a national historical publications commission. Despite a promising start, this campaign was unsuccessful. Somewhat later, Jameson tried to get the government to publish historical records relating to the Treaty of Ghent and the v American Revolution. The proposal to commemorate the Treaty of Ghent never got off the ground. Although Congress appropriated a small amount of money to begin publishing Revolutionary records, it failed to provide funds to com­ plete the project. During the 1920"s, Jameson turned his attention to the historical publications of the State Department; he tried to get that department to publish a new Historical Register, to speed up publication of the Foreign Relations series, and to publish a series of instructions from American secretaries of state to American ministers abroad. Although officials of the State Department generally were unresponsive to Jameson's specific sugges­ tions, in the late 1920's and early 1930's the Department somewhat expanded its publication program. Jameson's greatest success with documentary historical publications came in the 1920's. After a long campaign by Jameson, Congress in 1929 approved publication of a series known as The Territorial Papers of the United States. The Territorial Papers, a publication of great value to his­ torians of the West, still is being issued. Also in the 1920's, Jameson helped to secure funds to complete editorial work on the Library of Congress' edition of The Journals of the Continental Congress. Finally, in 1925 Jameson proposed to one of his friends in Congress that the government publish a new edition of the Writings of George Washington vi to help commemorate the bicentennial of Washington's birth. Congress approved Jameson's plan, and the series was com­ pleted in 1944. Jameson's campaign on behalf of an archives building was longer and more intense than his other lobbying efforts. Jameson began to work for an archives building in 1907. In acts of 1913 and 1916, Congress authorized construction of the building. From 1916 through 1926, Jameson tried to get Congress to appropriate funds to purchase a site and begin construction. Congress finally approved the necessary money in 1926. After the archives building was assured, Jameson advised governmental officials on matters of construction and on the creation of a suitable administrative establish­ ment for the archives„ vii CHAPTER I "A GATHERER AND DISPOSER OF OTHER MEN'S STUFF,,J- ".