Alexander S. Clay Papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Alexander S. Clay Papers
Creator: Clay, Alexander Stephens, 1853-1910.
Inclusive Dates: 1900-1951
Bulk Dates: 1901-1910
Extent: 3 box(es) (2.25 linear feet)
Collection Number: RBRL435
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies

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Collection Description

Biographical Note

Alexander Stephens Clay (1853-1910) was born near Powder Springs in Cobb County, Georgia on September 25, 1853. Clay graduated from Hiawassee College (Madisonville, Tennessee) in 1875, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. He practiced law in Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia and served on the city council from 1880 to 1881. Clay was a member of the George House of Representatives from 1884 to 1887 and 1889-1890, serving as speaker pro tempore from 1886-1887 and 1889-1890; and a member of the Georgia State Senate from 1892 to 1894, serving as its president from 1892 to 1893. Clay also served as chairman of the Georgia State Democratic Executive Committee from 1894 to 1896. In 1896, Clay was elected to the United States Senate and served until his death in 1910. During his time in the U.S. Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Fifty-ninth Congress) and the Committee on Woman Suffrage (Sixty-first Congress).

Alexander Stephens Clay was married to Sara Frances White Clay (1861-1940) of Lithia Springs, Douglas County, Georgia. Together they had five children: Eugene Herbert Clay (1881-1923), Alexander Stephens Clay (1886-1934), Frank Butner Clay (1888-1920), Ryburn Glover Clay (1891-1955), and Lucius DuBignon Clay (1897-1978) [Commander in Chief, U.S. Forces in Europe and military governor of the U.S. Zone, Germany, 1947-1949]. Alexander Clay died in Atlanta, Georgia on November 13, 1910 and is buried in Marietta City Cemetery.

Scope and Content

The Alexander S. Clay Papers is one of the earliest collections of Congressional papers held by the Russell Library and documents the beginnings of modern, federal policy-making in the twentieth century. The collection consists of correspondence between Senator Clay and his constituents, government officials and public servants, members of his family, and others between 1900 and 1914. Most of the letters are incoming correspondence. Topics discussed in the correspondence include the appointment of postmasters and other civil servants, nominations for students seeking admission to the United States Military Academy (West Point) and Naval Academy (Annapolis), tariffs and international trade legislation, the opening of the Panama Canal, U.S. Supreme Court cases and justice appointments, women's suffrage, Prohibition, Georgia gubernatorial elections, the 1908 presidential election, expansion of rural postal delivery service, relations between the United States and the Philippines, and the 1910 federal census. Also included in the collection are letters received after Clay's death, a photograph, postage stamps, and U.S. Army records from the 31st Regiment of the Georgia Volunteer Infantry (which Clay's son, Frank Butner Clay, served in as a captain) that were collected by the Clay family.

Organization and Arrangement

The papers are arranged in two series: I. Correspondence and II. Military Records, Stamps, and Photograph.

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Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Preferred citation

Alexander S. Clay Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Copyright Information

Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding Aid prepared by Brandon Pieczko and Agozie Onyirimba, May 2018.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in Other Repositories

Letters to Alexander Stephens Clay (1907-1908), Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia.

Alexander Stephens Clay letter to Lawrence F. Bower(1896 December 22), Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia.

Clark Howell family papers (1873-1946), Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia.

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

Series I. Correspondence, 1900-1914
		Correspondence , 1900
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1	1		Correspondence, A-Z, 1900
		Correspondence , 1901 Feb-April
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1	2		Correspondence, A, 1901 Feb-April
1	3		Correspondence, C, 1901 Feb-April
1	4		Correspondence, D, 1901 Feb-April
1	5		Correspondence, E-F, 1901 Feb-April
1	6		Correspondence, G, 1901 Feb-April
1	7		Correspondence, H-J, 1901 Feb-April
1	8		Correspondence, K-L, 1901 Feb-April
1	9		Correspondence, M, 1901 Feb-April
1	10		Correspondence, N-O, 1901 Feb-April
1	11		Correspondence, P-Q, 1901 Feb-April
1	12		Correspondence, R, 1901 Feb-April
1	13		Correspondence, S, 1901 Feb-April
1	14		Correspondence, T-V, 1901 Feb-April
1	15		Correspondence, W, 1901 Feb-April
1	16		Correspondence, Y-Z, 1901 Feb-April
		Correspondence , 1901 April-Dec
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1	17		Correspondence, A, 1901 April-Dec
1	18		Correspondence, B, 1901 April-Dec
1	19		Correspondence, C, 1901 April-Dec
1	20		Correspondence, D, 1901 April-Dec
1	21		Correspondence, E, 1901 April-Dec
1	22		Correspondence, F, 1901 April-Dec
1	23		Correspondence, G, 1901 April-Dec
1	24		Correspondence, H, 1901 April-Dec
1	25		Correspondence, J-L, 1901 April-Dec
1	26		Correspondence, M, 1901 April-Dec
1	27		Correspondence, N-O, 1901 April-Dec
1	28		Correspondence, P-Q, 1901 April-Dec
1	29		Correspondence, R, 1901 April-Dec
1	30		Correspondence, S, 1901 April-Dec
1	31		Correspondence, T-V, 1901 April-Dec
1	32		Correspondence, W-Z, 1901 April-Dec
		Correspondence , 1901 June-Sept
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1	33		Correspondence, A, 1901 June-Sept
1	34		Correspondence, B, 1901 June-Sept
1	35		Correspondence, C, 1901 June-Sept
1	36		Correspondence, D, 1901 June-Sept
1	37		Correspondence, E-F, 1901 June-Sept
1	38		Correspondence, G, 1901 June-Sept
1	39		Correspondence, H-J, 1901 June-Sept
1	40		Correspondence, K-L, 1901 June-Sept
1	41		Correspondence, M, 1901 June-Sept
1	42		Correspondence, N-O, 1901 June-Sept
1	43		Correspondence, P-Q, 1901 June-Sept
1	44		Correspondence, R, 1901 June-Sept
1	45		Correspondence, S, 1901 June-Sept
1	46		Correspondence, T-V, 1901 June-Sept
1	47		Correspondence, W-Z, 1901 June-Sept
		Correspondence , 1902
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1	48		Correspondence, A, 1902
1	49		Correspondence, B, 1902
1	50		Correspondence, C, 1902
1	51		Correspondence, D, 1902
1	53		Correspondence, G, 1902
1	54		Correspondence, H-J, 1902
1	55		Correspondence, K-L, 1902
1	56		Correspondence, M, 1902
1	57		Correspondence, N-O, 1902
1	58		Correspondence, P-Q, 1902
1	59		Correspondence, R, 1902
1	60		Correspondence, S, 1902
1	61		Correspondence, T-V, 1902
1	62		Correspondence, W-Z, 1902
		Correspondence , 1907
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2	1		Correspondence, A, 1907
2	2		Correspondence, B, 1907
2	3		Correspondence, C, 1907
2	4		Correspondence, D, 1907
2	5		Correspondence, E-F, 1907
2	6		Correspondence, G, 1907
2	7		Correspondence, H-J, 1907
2	8		Correspondence, K-L, 1907
2	9		Correspondence, M, 1907
2	10		Correspondence, N-O, 1907
2	11		Correspondence, P-Q, 1907
2	12		Correspondence, R, 1907
2	13		Correspondence, S, 1907
2	14		Correspondence, T-V, 1907
2	15		Correspondence, W-Z, 1907
		Correspondence , 1908
			Topics discussed in correspondence from this year include the 1908 presidential election between William Howard Taft and William Jennings Bryan, the defeat of Hoke Smith in the Georgia gubernatorial election, the 1910 U.S. Census, taiffs, immigration, and the Supreme Court case Weems v. United States (217 U.S. 349 1910).
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2	16		Correspondence, A, 1908
2	17		Correspondence, B, 1908
2	18		Correspondence, C, 1908
2	19		Correspondence, D, 1908
2	20		Correspondence, E-F, 1908
			Contains correspondence concerning the impact of the Digley Act tariffs on baryte mining operations in Murray County, Georgia.
2	21		Correspondence, G, 1908
2	22		Correspondence, H-J, 1908
2	23		Correspondence, K-L, 1908
2	24		Correspondence, M, 1908
			Includes letters of opposition from labor unions and others constituents to a proposed increase in immigration and calls for increased inforcement of existing immigration laws and a letter from the Secretary of the Comte de Libre-Cambio in Manila concerning free trade between the U.S. and the Philippines.
2	25		Correspondence, N-O, 1908
			Contains correspondence concerning the planning of the 1910 U.S. Census (includes a letter from the director of the Bureau of the Census).
2	26		Correspondence, P-Q, 1908
			Topics include the 1908 presidential election between William Howard Taft and William Jennings Bryan and proposed changes to the government structure for the District of Columbia (establishing one district leader instead of three commissioners).
2	27		Correspondence, R, 1908
2	28		Correspondence, S, 1908
			Includes correspondence with Furniford McLendel Simmons, U.S Senator from North Carolina (1901 to 1931).
2	29		Correspondence, T-V, 1908
			Contains correspondence concerning the use of jute fabric for bagging cotton.
2	30		Correspondence, W-Z, 1908
			Contains correspondence with Paul A. Weems, associate editor at The Colonial and Philippines Monthly Review in Manila and plantif in the U.S. Supreme Court case, Weems v. United States (217 U.S. 349 1910). In the letters, Weems is requesting a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case concerned the "cruel and unusal punishment" Weems was sentenced to by a Philippines court after being convicted of falsifying documents while working as a distributing officer at the Bureau of Coast Guard and Transportation.
		Correspondence , 1909
			Topics discussed in correspondence from this year include a visit by President Taft to Georgia (as reported by W.N. Ainsworth, president of Wesleyan Female College in Macon); international tariffs on agricultural products from the U.S. (including potash salts exported to Germany); Clay's support for the appointment of Horace H. Lurton to the U.S. Supreme Court; and a proposed bill (44th Congress, Session 1, H.R. 10762) that would reduce rates, improve service, and increase revenue for the postal service.
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2	31		Correspondence, A, 1909
2	32		Correspondence, B, 1909
2	33		Correspondence, C, 1909
			Contains a letter from the Library of Congress that includes a list of books checked out by Senator Clay, a letter from the White House secretary of the president acknowledging Clay's support for the appointment of Horace H. Lurton to the U.S. Supreme Court, and correspondence concerning the employment of African Americans as census enumerators and postal service mail carriers.
2	34		Correspondence, D, 1909
2	35		Correspondence, E-F, 1909
2	36		Correspondence, G, 1909
2	37		Correspondence, H-J, 1909
			Topics include legislation proposing the prohibition of alcohol in the Territory of Hawaii (S.B. 1862).
2	38		Correspondence, K-L, 1909
			Contains letters letters of support, written in English and the Hawaiian language, for a Senate bill that would prohibit alcohol in the Territory of Hawaii (S.B. 1862).
2	39		Correspondence, M, 1909
2	40		Correspondence, N-O, 1909
2	41		Correspondence, P-Q, 1909
2	42		Correspondence, R, 1909
2	43		Correspondence, S, 1909
			Topics include a proposed ammendment to the Constitution of Alabama to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of alcohol in the state.
2	44		Correspondence, T-V, 1909
2	45		Correspondence, W-Z, 1909
			Topics include an outbreak of Typhoid fever at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia and a proposal to hold a National Exposition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
		Correspondence , 1910
			Topics discussed in correspondence from this year include civil service appointments (especially postmasters) and military academy references, the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act of 1909, Georgia gubernatorial and state legislature campaigns, women's suffrage, and the opening of the Panama Canal.
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2	46		Correspondence, A, 1910
2	47		Correspondence, B, 1910
			Contains a letter from Georgia state representative and mayor of Sparta, William H. Burwell, about his desire to become speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives and the support he received from Hoke Smith.
2	48		Correspondence, C, 1910
2	49		Correspondence, D, 1910
2	50		Correspondence, E-F, 1910
			Contains correspondence concerning a bid by the city of New Orleans to host the Panama Exhibition commemorating the opening of the Panama Canal.
2	51		Correspondence, G, 1910
2	52		Correspondence, H-J, 1910
			Topics and correspondents include the National Women's Suffrage Convention and Henry S. Jackson (president of the State League of Taft Clubs of Georgia).
2	53		Correspondence, K-L, 1910
			Topics include the election of Hoke Smith as governor and New Orleans's bid to host the Panama Exhibition.
2	54		Correspondence, M, 1910
			Topics include the National Guard of Georgia and a hearing held by the Congressional Committee on Women's Suffrage.
2	55		Correspondence, N-O, 1910
2	56		Correspondence, P-Q, 1910
			Topics include San Francisco's bid to host the Panama Exhibition and a Congressional Committee on Women's Suffrage meeting held on April 19.
2	57		Correspondence, R, 1910
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3	1		Correspondence, S, 1910
			Topics include New Orleans's bid to host the Panama Exhibition, a bill proposing the establishment of a federal department of public health and a secretary of public health as a cabinet position, the Panama Canal and its impact on trade with Latin America, the gubernatorial race between Joseph M. Brown and Hoke Smith, and a hearing held by the Congressional Committee on Women's Suffrage (includes letters written by women from around the country requesting a copy of the report from Senator Clay).
3	2		Correspondence, T-V, 1910
3	3		Correspondence, W-Z, 1910
		Correspondence , 1911
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3	4		Correspondence, A-Z, 1911
		Correspondence , 1913
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3	5		Correspondence, A-Z, 1913
		Correspondence , 1914
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3	6		Correspondence, A-Z, 1914
		Correspondence , undated
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3	7		Correspondence, A-Z, undated

 

Series II. Military Records, Stamps, and Photograph, 1905-1951
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3	8	[U.S Army Georgia 31st Volunteer Infantry Records], 1914
3	9	[Postage Stamps], circa 1910-1951
3	10	[Unidentified Photograph], 1905 September