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Political Papers of Frank Wayland Higgins


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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
This series documents Frank Wayland Higgins' political career as New York State Senator, Governor, and Lieutenant Governor. The bulk of the series consists of newspaper clippings of articles and political cartoons, invitations to social occasions, correspondence, and telegrams housed in scrapbooks. A significant portion of the records document Higgins' campaigns for office, as well as the struggle for power in the Republican Party.
Creator:
Title:
Political papers of Frank Wayland Higgins
Quantity:

4.1 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:
1859-1907
Bulk Dates:
(bulk 1900-1907)
Series Number:
B1945

Arrangement

Chronological, except for Boxes 14 and 15, which are alphabetical.

Biographical Sketch

Frank Wayland Higgins, Republican and 38th Governor of New York, was born on August 18, 1856. A successful owner of a grocery business, Higgins also had interests in timber and mineral properties in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Higgins was elected as New York State Senator to the 50th district in 1893. From 1896-1902, Senator Higgins served as Chairman of the State Finance Committee. In 1902, he was elected to the position of Lieutenant Governor, serving under Governor Odell. In 1904 Higgins was chosen as the Republican Party's nominee for Governor. During the campaign, Higgins struggled to distance himself from now unpopular Governor Odell and prove that he was not a political puppet.

After he was elected governor, Higgins worked to investigate life insurance business in New York and abolish direct state tax. He also established an "electric lighting plant" for the State Capitol and the Executive Mansion, actually saving New York money. Governor Higgins was friends with President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt frequently sought Higgins' opinions and ideas while serving as Governor of New York and President of the United States.

Frank Wayland Higgins died on February 12, 1907, having just left the Office of Governor. Higgins had decided not to seek another term in office, due to his declining health. It is thought that Higgins died from a heart condition and kidney disease.

Scope and Content Note

The papers relate to Frank Wayland Higgins' political career as New York State Senator, Governor, and Lieutenant Governor. The majority consist of newspaper clippings of articles and political cartoons, invitations to social occasions, correspondence, and telegrams housed in scrapbooks. Other materials include correspondence, photographs, and event programs. Some of the scrapbooks contain invitations, cards, newspaper clippings, and information on Higgins' retirement and death.

A significant portion of the records document Higgins' campaigns for office, as well as the struggle for power in the Republican Party. Correspondents of note include Theodore Roosevelt, Gov. Frank Black, Gov. Levi Morton, Thomas Platt, M. Linn Bruce, Timothy Woodruff, Melvil Dewey, Elihu Root, W. J. Houghton, Nicholas Murray Butler, Judge Gary of U.S. Steel, and Jacob G. Schurman.

Alternate Formats Available

Items Online

High resolution images of selected original documents in this series are available in State Archives Digital Collections.

New York State Archives Digital Collections

Political papers of Frank Wayland Higgins, 1859-1907

Custodial History

These records were a gift to the Syracuse University Manuscripts and Special Collections by the family of Frank Wayland Higgins in 1963. They were transferred to the New York State Archives in June 2006 and accessioned in the summer of 2007.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Access Terms

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Detailed Description

Dates Contents Box

Accretion: B1945-07
1907 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings about Gov. Higgins illness and death in February 1907 1
1902-1904 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings on Higgins Campaign for Lieutenant Governor in 1902 and Governor in 1904 2
1904 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings on Higgins in the 1904 Gubernatorial Election 3
1904 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings on the Outcome of the 1904 Elections 4
1904-1906 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings of Political Cartoons about Higgins as Governor 5
1859-1879 Loose Correspondence 6
1880-1889 Loose Correspondence, Important Persons: W.J. Houghton, of Houghton Seminary School 6
1890-1898 Loose Correspondence: Frank Black, Senator Thomas Platt 6
1899 Loose Correspondence: Theodore Roosevelt, Melvil Dewey, Elihu Root, Timothy Woodruff, Lieutenant Governor 6
1900 Loose Correspondence: Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Root 6
1901 Loose Correspondence: Theodore Roosevelt, Timothy Woodruff 6
1902 Loose Correspondence: Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Platt, President Jacob Schurman of Cornell 6
1903 Loose Correspondence 6
1904 Loose Correspondence: Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Root, Thomas Platt, Governor Morton 6
1905 Loose Correspondence: Theodore Roosevelt, E. H. Gary of United States Steel Corporation 6
1906 Loose Correspondence: Theodore Roosevelt, Jacob Schurman, M. Linn Bruce, Lieutenant Gov. under Higgins 6
1910 Loose Correspondence 6
undated Fragments: Theodore Roosevelt, Gov. Morton 6
1905-1906 Loose Invitations 6
1894-1903 Scrapbook of Invitations to Various Social and Political Events 7
1905-1906 Scrapbook of Invitations and Guest Lists for Events Hosted by Governor Higgins 8
1905-1906 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings of Political Cartoons 9
1880-1906 Loose Miscellaneous Items 10
1880-1906 Loose Miscellaneous Items 10
1882-1904 Scrapbook of Correspondence and Invitations, Important Persons: Theodore Roosevelt, Timothy Woodruff, Thomas Platt, Nicholas Murray Butler 11
1905-1907 Scrapbook of Correspondence Regarding Higgins' Retirement, Illness, and Death, Important Persons: Theodore Roosevelt, M. Linn Bruce, Gov. Hughes, Timothy Woodruff 12
1893-1902 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings about Higgins as New York State Senator, Nomination for Lieutenant Governor 13
1904 Scrapbook of Letters Congratulating Higgins on Winning the Gubernatorial Election of 1904 14
1904 Scrapbook of Telegrams Congratulating Higgins on Winning the Gubernatorial Election of 1904, Important Persons: Edith Roosevelt, Thomas Platt 15