James R. Doolittle papers, 1832-1962

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: SC-44

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains personal letters between James R. Doolittle and friends he met during his time at Geneva College (1830-1834), as well as letters to and from family members. In addition, there are a few papers and speeches written while at college and during his career, though not while he served as a U.S. Senator. These materials total 42 items, ranging in date from 1833-1893.

Also included in the collection are two medals, one from the Columbia University Bicentennial in 1954, and the other from the First National City Bank of New York, dated 1962. The connection between these medals and James R. Doolittle is unclear, and these were likely added to the collection at a later date. The donor or source of the medals is unknown.

Finally, the collection contains a letter from Duane Mowry of Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Miss Margaret S. Turk at the Hobart College Library in which Mowry states that he is donating to the Library "several letters and other documents from the private papers and correspondence of the late Hon. James Rood Doolittle." The letter is dated January 7, 1927. No other records exist to document the donation of this collection to Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The medals were not part of this original gift. Duane Mowry's letter is in folder 46.

Dates

1832-1962
Majority of material found within 1832-1893

Creator

Doolittle, James R. (James Rood) (Person)

Biographical Note

James Rood Doolittle was born in Hampton, Washington County, NY, on January 3, 1815. He was the son of Reuben and Sarah (Rood) Doolittle. He was educated at Middlebury Academy, VT, and graduated as the valedictorian of his class from Geneva (Hobart) College in 1834. He was later awarded an honorary degree by Hobart College in 1854.

Doolittle studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1837. He commenced practice in Rochester, NY and was district attorney of Wyoming County, NY from 1847-1850. He also served as a colonel in the state militia. In 1851 he moved to Racine, Wisconsin. He was elected judge of the First Judicial Circuit in 1853, and resigned in 1856. Doolittle was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in January 1857 and re-elected in 1863, serving until March 4, 1869. Doolittle was a strong supporter of President Abraham Lincoln's administration during the Civil War.

At the close of his second term in the Senate he resumed his residence at Racine and practiced law in Chicago. He was a trustee of the University of Chicago, serving one year as its president, and was for many years a professor in its law school. He died at the home of his daughter at Edgewood in Cranston, RI on July 23, 1897.

Extent

1 Linear Feet ([46 folders])

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Location

Box 1: Archives Office, Section 7

Provenance

The collection contains a letter from Duane Mowry of Milwaukee, Wisconsin dated January 7, 1927 stating that he was submitting "several letters and other documents from the private papers and correspondence of the late Hon. James Rood Doolittle" to the Hobart College Library. There are no other records to document the donation of this collection to Hobart and William Smith Colleges. It is presumed that the two medals were not part of Mowry's original donation and their provenance is unclear. Mowry's letter to Margaret S. Turk, Librarian, is in folder 46.