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:
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
Personal Name(s):
Black, Frank S. (Frank Swett), 1853-1913.
Root, Elihu, 1845-1937.
Schurman, Jacob Gould, 1854-1942.
Woodruff, Timothy L. (Timothy Lester), 1858-1913.
Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947.
Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920.
Platt, Thomas Collier, 1833-1910.
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Dewey, Melvil, 1851-1931
Corporate Name(s):
Geographic Name(s):
Subject(s):
Genre(s):
Function(s):
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 |