Extensive archive consisting of 16 letters from between 1882 and 1894, including nine ALSs, from McKinley to his personal friend, William R. Day, who would go on to become his secretary of state and a Supreme Court justice. In overall very good to fine condition. A fascinating look into matters public and private during McKinley’s rise to political power.
First seven letters concern McKinley’s controversial congressional reelection in 1882, after which Democrats contested his victory and succeeded in unseating him:
(1) ALS, one page, 7.5 x 6, December 7, 1882, in part: “I am greatly pleased with the way you presented the case...Enclosed please find my check for fifty dollars.”
(2) ALS, one page, 5 x 8, January 20, 1883, in part: “I send you today the Digest and Manual of the House of Representatives. It contains the points on election cases of interest to us now.”
(3) LS, two pages, 5.25 x 9, February 25, 1883, in part: “The testimony sent here is not opened, I believe, until the assembling of Congress which would be in December next.”
(4) ALS, one page, 5.75 x 8.75, March 14, 1883, in part: “You should talk fully with Dr. Welker before he goes on the stand. He was the Central Committeeman of this Township. Things look well through the District. Keep the ball in motion.”
(5) ALS, two pages, 5 x 7.75, January 17, 1884, in part: “‘The claimant’ is still here and I doubt not will stay. We have not yet sent the testimony to the printer...Seriously it is difficult to tell when the case will be reached. We must be ready when the time comes, and will be.”
(6) LS, one page both sides, 5.25 x 9, February 24, 1884, in part: “The time fixes for filing my brief is next Friday. Shellabarger and Wilson [former Republican Ohio congressmen] think that I will weaken my case by pressing the ‘use of money’ at Liverpool and claiming that the vote ought to be set aside on that account. They do not think the testimony is sufficient to justify the throwing out of the vote.”
(7) LS, one page both sides, 5.25 x 8.5, March 26, 1884, in part: “I have no news of a definite character concerning my case. I think the gentlemen who would naturally be opposed to me find some difficulties in the way.”
The balance involve various financial and political affairs:
(8) LS, one page, 7.5 x 9.5, March 20, 1886, in part: “Please accept my hearty congratulations upon your nomination for common pleas judge.”
(9) LS, one page, 5.25 x 7.75, January 22, 1891, in part: “I speak in Toledo at the Lincoln Day Banquet on Feby 12th and will arrange to be in Canton on the 14th...We may be in a deadlock at that time but I hope not.”
(10) TLS, one page, 6 x 8.5, January 21, 1892, in part: “I supposed that Mrs. M’Kinley had subscribed to the Hospital Association, but if she has not I will be glad to make a subscription for both of us.”
(11) ALS, one page, 8 x 10.25, February 25, 1893, in part: “I want first of all to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sympathy and services in this crisis of my life. Your presence and counsel at Cleveland gave me great comfort, Mrs. McKinley shares with me fully in this sentiment, and both of us are full of gratitude.” The amount of money McKinley owed after signing notes which were now due after the failure of a friend’s business had caused him financial ruin; Mrs. McKinley had to surrender her private inheritance to help her husband pay his debt.
(12) ALS, one page both sides, 7.75 x 10.5, March 12, 1893, in part: “Mr. Herrick [Myron T. Herrick, later Ohio Governor] who has seen the note can tell you whether Miss Robins note bears such endorsement, I am sure I do not remember.”
(13) LS, two pages, 8 x 10.25, August 7, 1893, in part: “As you know there are $2,000 of my paper at Isaac Harder Sons, which I gave to Campbell and Sons in full on my contract with them for the erection of the frame store room on South Market Street.”
(14) ALS, one page, 8 x 10.75, December 2, 1893, in part: “We have talked matters over & Herrick will write you. You can sell the stock in Banks at any time. I want to get out of debt.”
(15) ALS, two pages, 5.5 x 8.5, January 10, 1894, in part: “I can let you have 1000$ & two thousand on a pinch. I found that my mortgages were for small amts and therefore not available for use, excepting one for 900$ which I gave to Col Herrick.”
(16) ALS, one page, 8 x 10.75, February 12, 1894, in part: “I can not find language to convey to you my grateful appreciation of the work you have done...The unfortunate affair was a great trial to me, and that I was able to bear it so philosophically, was because of the warm friendship of yourself and others. I may never have an opportunity to repay you for your kindness, but you can always know and feel that it can never be forgotten.” Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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