Collection #

M 0740
BV 3296–3301
OMB 0079

Walter Quintin Gresham
Collection, 1858–1946 (bulk 1858–1935)

Collection Information

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Series Contents

Cataloging Information

Processed by

Paul Brockman
28 September 1999
Revised 23 January 2002
Updated 9 March 2004

Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269

www.indianahistory.org

COLLECTION INFORMATION

VOLUME OF COLLECTION:	14 manuscript boxes, 6 bound volumes, 1 oversize box
COLLECTION DATES:	Inclusive, 1858–1946; bulk, 1858–1935
PROVENANCE:	William A. Urban, 4012 Young Hill Lane S.E., Port Orchard, Washington 98366, 21 April 1999
RESTRICTIONS:	None
COPYRIGHT:
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS:	Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS:	None
RELATED HOLDINGS:	Noble Butler Papers (M 0009); Charles Calhoun, Gilded Age Cato: The Life of Walter Q. Gresham (E 664 .G82 C34 1987); Matilda Gresham, Life of Walter Q. Gresham (E664 .G82 G8 1919)
ACCESSION NUMBER:	1999.0329
NOTES:

BIOGRAPHiCAL SKETCH

Walter Quintin Gresham (1832–95), a judge, politician, and soldier, was born in Lanesville, Harrison County, Indiana. After attending Indiana University for one year, he began practicing law in Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana, in 1854. In 1856 he married Matilda McGrain and they produced two children. After the collapse of the Whig and Know Nothing Parties, Gresham joined the newly formed Republican Party. In 1860 he was elected to the Indiana Legislature and served one term. While serving as a state representative he frequently clashed with Governor Morton over the system of patronage. In 1862 Gresham enlisted in the 38^th Indiana Regiment and was elected captain by the men. The following year he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and later to colonel of the 53^rd Indiana. Gresham served in Mississippi and Georgia and was involved in the Vicksburg and Atlanta campaigns. He was soon promoted again, this time to brigadier general of the 53^rd but was injured in the leg near Atlanta in 1864. Gresham never completely recovered from his wound and returned to Indiana where he was named brevet major general in 1865. After the war, Gresham returned to legal practice in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana. Gresham made two unsuccessful bids for the U. S. Congress in 1866 and 1868. In 1869 President Grant appointed him district judge for Indiana. Gresham briefly served as Postmaster General and Secretary of the Treasury in 1883–84 before being name circuit judge for Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, with headquarters in Chicago.

Throughout his political career, Gresham was at odds with the leaders of the Indiana Republican Party, Oliver Morton and his successor, Benjamin Harrison. In 1884 he was mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, and in 1888 he mounted a serious campaign, finishing second on the first ballot of the convention. Gresham severed his ties with the Republican Party over his opposition to the McKinley Tariff of 1890. He was urged to run on the Populist Party ticket in the 1892 presidential campaign, but after much deliberation, he declined and supported Grover Cleveland in his successful 1892 campaign. Cleveland rewarded Gresham's support by naming him secretary of state in 1893. Gresham opposed American imperialism and the annexation of Hawaii. He died in office in 1895.

Sources: Dictionary of American Biography, vol. 4, pp.607–609.
Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, pp. 645–646.
Centennial History of the Indiana General Assembly, vol. 1, p. 154.

Otto Gresham (ca. 1858–1946), the son of Walter Q. Gresham, was born in Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana. He was a Wabash College graduate and practiced law for fifty years in Illinois and Indiana, specializing in patent law.

Source: Indiana Biography Series (Indiana State Library), vol. 30, p. 31.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists of the papers and records of Walter Q. Gresham and his son, Otto Gresham. Walter Gresham material includes Civil War military correspondence, 1863–65, transcriptions of his personal letters, 1861–63, and responses to attacks made by his political opponents on his war record, 1893–94. There is also information regarding his promotion to brevet major general, 1866, and speeches to and about veterans, including his address at the unveiling of the Ulysses S. Grant statue in Chicago, 1891.

Walter Gresham's papers also contain his political correspondence including his runs for the presidential nomination on the Republican ticket in 1884 and 1888, letters encouraging him to run on the People's Party ticket in 1892, and his support for the candidacy of Grover Cleveland, also in 1892. There are two political scrapbooks kept by Michael C. Kerr, an U. S. Representative from Indiana from 1858 and 1873. The majority of Walter Gresham's legal materials consist of correspondence during his period as district judge, 1884–93, and contain information about cases to be reviewed and additional circumstances that attorneys and corporations wished to discuss. Many of these cases involved railroads and trusts.

Gresham's diplomatic papers contain correspondence and papers related to foreign affairs during his tenure as secretary of state, 1885–95, and reflect his opposition to American imperialism. Included in the correspondence are letters supporting his position against the annexation of Hawaii, 1893–94, and his opposition to the Nicaraguan Canal, 1893–94. There is also correspondence regarding the political situation among several Central and South American countries and the situation in China.

Among Walter Gresham's personal papers are letters of a general nature with friends and professional associates including Noble C. Butler, 1884–94, and Thomas Slaughter, 1867–78. Also included is a small amount of Gresham's personal financial records including tax receipts, 1859–93, and personal and professional expense records such as bills, cancelled checks, and receipts, 1859–93. Other items in the collection include letters and telegrams of sympathy to Gresham's family upon his death, 1895, as well as three scrapbooks of obituaries. There is also a formal tribute from the people of Hawaii (in Hawaiian with English translation) expressing condolences to his family and an expression of thanks for his stand on preventing the annexation of their people. Also included are records dealing with Gresham's estate, 1895–97.

Otto Gresham's papers include his political, legal, and personal correspondence, 1891–1946. His political correspondence comprises letters to presidents and political leaders presenting his views on a variety of issues including Cuban autonomy, 1906; his support of William Howard Taft for president, 1908; war bonds, 1918–23; and the League of Nations, 1918–25. Legal correspondence for cases in which he was involved include his position as an attorney for the Chicago & Erie Railroad charging the state of Indiana with unfair tax practices, 1892; the Brown and Moore murder trial in Orange County, Indiana 1911; the Angle case in Wisconsin, 1912, involving a dispute between a contractor's heirs and a railroad company from 1882 that included political overtones, and the Bertha Lowman case, 1934–35, involving an Indiana farm woman's claim of fraud against an insurance company.

The Otto Gresham papers also contain general and personal correspondence, 1891–1931, involving political, legal, and personal subjects. There are also several letters to Gresham from some Japanese diplomatic friends at their country's embassies in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Paris, France, 1900–09, and letters to friends and political acquaintances John B. Moore, 1895–1910, and James Hogan, 1900s–1910s. There is also correspondence between Gresham and individuals at the Library of Congress regarding the donation of some of his father's papers to their institution, 1930–31. Other Otto Gresham materials include correspondence about his father's biography, 1892–1919; rough drafts and notes of the biography, ca. 1910s; and other professional papers and speeches, 1900s–1946.

series CONTENTS

Series 1: Walter Q. Gresham, Civil War Correspondence and Papers, 1861–66, 1891–94

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Civil War Correspondence, 1863	Box 1, Folder 1
Civil War Correspondence, 1864	Box 1, Folder 2
Civil War Correspondence, 1865	Box 1, Folder 3
Promotion to Brevet Major General, 1866	Box 1, Folder 4
Attacks on War Record, 1893–94	Box 1, Folder 5
Transcripts of Civil War Letters, 1861–63 (personal)	Box 1, Folder 6
Speech to Civil War veterans, n.d.	Box 1, Folder 7
Grant Statue Speech, Oct. 1891	Box 1, Folder 8
Grant Statue Speech Correspondence, 1891	Box 1, Folder 9

Series 2: Walter Q. Gresham, Political Correspondence, 1850s–1893

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Views on German Immigrants, Know Nothings, ca. 1850s	Box 2, Folder 1
Correspondence, July 1884	Box 2, Folder 2
Correspondence, Aug. 1884	Box 2, Folder 3
Correspondence, 1–15 Sept. 1884	Box 2, Folder 4
Correspondence, 16–27 Sept. 1884	Box 2, Folder 5
Visitors Register, Gresham Headquarters Chicago, 1888	BV 3298
Campaign scrapbook, 1888	BV 3299
Correspondence, 1892–93, Support of Cleveland (1 of 2)	Box 2, Folder 6
Correspondence, 1892–93, Support of Cleveland (2 of 2)	Box 2, Folder 7
Correspondence, People's Party, Dec. 1890; Jan.–24 June 1892	Box 2, Folder 8
Correspondence, People's Party, 25–27 June 1892	Box 2, Folder 9
Correspondence, People's Party, 28–30 June 1892	Box 2, Folder 10
Correspondence, People's Party, July 1892	Box 2, Folder 11
Correspondence, People's Party, Oct. 1892–Feb. 1893	Box 2, Folder 12
Political Correspondence, 1863–78	Box 2, Folder 13
Political Correspondence, 1867–69	Box 2, Folder 14
M. C. Kerr, Political Scrapbooks, 1856	Box 2, Folder 15
M. C. Kerr, Political Scrapbooks, 1858	BV 3296
M. C. Kerr, Political Scrapbooks, 1873	BV 3297
Political, Printed Material, 1865–68	Box 2, Folder 16
Legislative Reports, 1861	Box 2, Folder 17

Series 3: Walter Q. Gresham, Legal Papers, 1858–93

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Legal Correspondence, 1884–93 (1 of 7)	Box 3, Folder 1
Legal Correspondence, 1884–93 (2 of 7)	Box 3, Folder 2
Legal Correspondence, 1884–93 (3 of 7)	Box 3, Folder 3
Legal Correspondence, 1884–93 (4 of 7)	Box 3, Folder 4
Legal Correspondence, 1884–93 (5 of 7)	Box 3, Folder 5
Legal Correspondence, 1884–93 (6 of 7)	Box 3, Folder 6
Legal Correspondence, 1884–93 (7 of 7)	Box 3, Folder 7
General and Legal Correspondence, 1891–92 (1 of 2)	Box 3, Folder 8
General and Legal Correspondence, 1891–92 (2 of 2)	Box 3, Folder 9
Legal Correspondence, 1883–85	Box 3, Folder 10
Legal Correspondence, 1886	Box 3, Folder 11
Legal Correspondence, 1887–90	Box 3, Folder 12
Legal Correspondence, Nov. 1885–Sept. 1889	Box 3, Folder 13
Legal Correspondence, 1885–93	Box 3, Folder 14
Professional Correspondence, 1872–93	Box 3, Folder 15
Indiana Supreme Court Case, Sage v. Matheny, 1858	Box 3, Folder 16
Deeds, 1865–70	Box 3, Folder 17
Articles of Agreement, 1882, n.d.	Box 3, Folder 18
Legal Publications, 1893–94	Box 3, Folder 19
Legal Paper, n.d.	Box 3, Folder 20

Series 4: Walter Q. Gresham, Diplomatic Correspondence, 1892–95

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Diplomatic Correspondence, Jan.–July 1893	Box 4, Folder 1
Diplomatic Correspondence, Aug.–Dec. 1893	Box 4, Folder 2
Diplomatic Correspondence, Jan.–May 1894	Box 4, Folder 3
Diplomatic Correspondence, June–Nov. 1894	Box 4, Folder 4
Diplomatic Correspondence, 1895, n.d.	Box 4, Folder 5
Diplomatic Correspondence, 1892–95	Box 4, Folder 6
Diplomatic Publications, 1892	Box 4, Folder 7
Secretary of State Appointment, Feb. 1893 (1 of 4)	Box 5, Folder 1
Secretary of State Appointment, Feb. 1893 (2 of 4)	Box 5, Folder 2
Secretary of State Appointment, Feb. 1893 (3 of 4)	Box 5, Folder 3
Secretary of State Appointment, Feb. 1893 (4 of 4)	Box 5, Folder 4
Secretary of State, Congratulations, 1893–94 (1 of 2)	Box 5, Folder 5
Secretary of State, Congratulations, 1893–94 (2 of 2)	Box 5, Folder 6
Secretary of State, Correspondence, 1892–93	Box 5, Folder 7
Secretary of State, Correspondence, 1893–94 (1 of 2)	Box 5, Folder 8
Secretary of State, Correspondence, 1893–94 (2 of 2)	Box 5, Folder 9
Secretary of State, Correspondence, 1894	Box 5, Folder 10
Secretary of State, Correspondence, 1895	Box 5, Folder 11
Secretary of State, Nicaraguan Canal, 1893–94	Box 5, Folder 12
Secretary of State, Financial Matters, 1893–94 (1 of 2)	Box 5, Folder 13
Secretary of State, Financial Matters, 1893–94 (2 of 2)	Box 5, Folder 14
Secretary of State, Hawaii, 1893–94 (1 of 2)	Box 5, Folder 15
Secretary of State, Hawaii, 1893–94 (2 of 2)	Box 5, Folder 16
Secretary of State, Hawaiian Matter, 1894	Box 5, Folder 17
Clippings on Hawaii, 1894	Box 5, Folder 18

Series 5: Walter Q. Gresham, Personal Correspondence, 1866–95

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Personal Correspondence, 1866–94	Box 6, Folder 1
Personal Correspondence, Apr. 1883; Jan.–June 1884	Box 6, Folder 2
Personal Correspondence, 1889–92 (1 of 2)	Box 6, Folder 3
Personal Correspondence, 1889–92 (2 of 2)	Box 6, Folder 4
Personal Correspondence, 1892–94	Box 6, Folder 5
Personal Correspondence, 1892–95	Box 6, Folder 6
Letters to Thomas Slaughter, 1863–77	Box 6, Folder 7
Letters to Thomas Slaughter, 1867–78	Box 6, Folder 8
Noble Butler Correspondence, 1884–89	Box 6, Folder 9
Noble Butler Correspondence, 1884–92	Box 6, Folder 10
Noble Butler Correspondence, 1892–94	Box 6, Folder 11
Telegrams, 1870s	Box 6, Folder 12
General Items, n.d.	Box 6, Folder 13

Series 6: Walter Q. Gresham, Financial Records, 1859–93

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Business Records and Receipts, 1859–74	Box 7, Folder 1
Receipts and Financial Records, 1875–86	Box 7, Folder 2
Tax Receipts, 1859–75	Box 7, Folder 3
Tax Receipts, 1876–84	Box 7, Folder 4
Tax Receipts, 1884–93	Box 7, Folder 5
Financial Records, 1891	Box 7, Folder 6
Financial Records, 1892–93	Box 7, Folder 7
Financial Receipts, 1887	Box 7, Folder 8
Financial Records, 1888	Box 7, Folder 9
Financial Records, 1889	Box 7, Folder 10
Financial Records, 1890	Box 7, Folder 11
Bills, Palmer House, Chicago, 1887–91	Box 7, Folder 12
Financial Records, Checks and Receipts, 1875–89	Box 7, Folder 13
Cancelled Checks and Bank Statements, 1891	Box 7, Folder 14
Cancelled Checks and Bank Statements, 1892	Box 7, Folder 15

Series 7: Walter Q. Gresham, Condolences Regarding Gresham’s Death, 1895 and Gresham Estate, 1895–97

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Condolences on Gresham's Death, May–June 1895 (1 of 5)	Box 8, Folder 1
Condolences on Gresham's Death, May–June 1895 (2 of 5)	Box 8, Folder 2
Condolences on Gresham's Death, May–June 1895 (3 of 5)	Box 8, Folder 3
Condolences on Gresham's Death, May–June 1895 (4 of 5)	Box 8, Folder 4
Condolences on Gresham's Death, May–June 1895 (5 of 5)	Box 8, Folder5
Telegrams and Cables to Family on Gresham's Death, 1895 (1 of 4)	Box 8, Folder6
Telegrams and Cables to Family on Gresham's Death, 1895 (2 of 4)	Box 8, Folder7
Telegrams and Cables to Family on Gresham's Death, 1895 (3 of 4)	Box 8, Folder8
Telegrams and Cables to Family on Gresham's Death, 1895 (4 of 4)	Box 8, Folder9
Gresham Obituaries, 1895 (1 of 2)	BV 3300
Gresham Obituaries, 1895 (2 of 2)	BV 3301
Gresham Estate, 1895–97 (1 of 3)	Box 8, Folder10
Gresham Estate, 1895–97 (2 of 3)	Box 8, Folder 11
Gresham Estate, 1895–97 (3 of 3)	Box 8, Folder 12
Condolence and Tribute Books, 1895	OMB 0079, Folder 1 and 2

Series 8: Otto Gresham, Correspondence, 1891–1925

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Chicago Politics, 1898–1907	Box 9, Folder 1
Political Correspondence, 1902–08	Box 9, Folder 2
Political Correspondence, 1903	Box 9, Folder 3
Political Correspondence, 1903–04	Box 9, Folder 4
Political Correspondence, 1904	Box 9, Folder 5
Political Correspondence, Cuban Autonomy, 1906	Box 9, Folder 6
Political Correspondence, 1907–09	Box 9, Folder 7
Political Correspondence, 1908 (1 of 2)	Box 9, Folder 8
Political Correspondence, 1908 (2 of 2)	Box 9, Folder 9
Political Correspondence, Sept.–Dec. 1908	Box 9, Folder 10
Political Correspondence, 1912 (1 of 2)	Box 9, Folder 11
Political Correspondence, 1912 (2 of 2)	Box 9, Folder 12
Political Correspondence, Aug. 1912	Box 9, Folder 13
Political Correspondence, Sept. 1912	Box 9, Folder 14
Political Correspondence, Oct. 1912	Box 9, Folder 15
Political Correspondence, 1912–22	Box 9, Folder 16
Political Correspondence, War Bonds, 1918–23	Box 9, Folder 17
Political Correspondence, League of Nations, Apr. 1918–Oct. 1919	Box 9, Folder 18
Political Correspondence, League of Nations, Nov.–Dec. 1919; 1925	Box 9, Folder 19
Political Correspondence, 1921–25	Box 9, Folder 20
Political Correspondence, 1922–23	Box 9, Folder 21
General Correspondence, 1891–1903	Box 10, Folder 1
General Correspondence, 1891–1905	Box 10, Folder 2
Letterbook Pages, 1902–04, n.d.	OMB 0079, Folder 3
General Correspondence, 1892–1912	Box 10, Folder 3
General Correspondence, 1892–1904	Box 10, Folder 4
General Correspondence, 1896–97	Box 10, Folder 5
General Correspondence, 1904–05	Box 10, Folder 6
General Correspondence, 1905	Box 10, Folder 7
General Correspondence, 1906	Box 10, Folder 8
General Correspondence, 1906–11	Box 10, Folder 9
General Correspondence, 1907–08	Box 10, Folder 10
General Correspondence, 1907	Box 10, Folder 11
General Correspondence, 1907–08	Box 10, Folder 12
General Correspondence, 1908–09	Box 10, Folder 13
General Correspondence, 1909	Box 10, Folder 14
General Correspondence, 1910	Box 10, Folder 15
General Correspondence, 1911	Box 10, Folder 16
General Correspondence, 1912, n.d.	Box 10, Folder 17

Series 9: Otto Gresham, Legal Papers, 1892–1912

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Chicago & Erie Railroad, 1892 (1 of 3)	Box 11, Folder 1
Chicago & Erie Railroad, 1892 (2 of 3)	Box 11, Folder 2
Chicago & Erie Railroad, 1892 (3 of 3)	Box 11, Folder 3
Legal Correspondence, 1897–1913	Box 11, Folder 4
Legal Correspondence, 1911–28	Box 11, Folder 5
Legal Correspondence, Brown and Moore Murder Trials, 1911	Box 11, Folder 6
Correspondence and Publications, American Bar Association, 1912, 1923–24	Box 11, Folder 7
Angle Case, 1882, 1912	Box 11, Folder 8

Series 10: Otto Gresham, Financial Papers, 1879–1918

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Financial Papers, 1879–92	Box 11, Folder 9
Financial Records, 1888–1918	Box 11, Folder 10

Series 11: Otto Gresham, Personal Correspondence, 1892–1931

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Personal Correspondence, 1892–94	Box 12, Folder 1
Personal Correspondence, 1892–1910	Box 12, Folder 2
Records and Correspondence, 1906–13	Box 12, Folder 3
Personal Correspondence, 1907–10	Box 12, Folder 4
Personal Correspondence, 1913, 1922	Box 12, Folder 5
Japanese Diplomatic Correspondence, 1900–09	Box 12, Folder 6
John B. Moore Letters, 1895–1901	Box 12, Folder 7
John B. Moore Letters, 1909–10	Box 12, Folder 8
Correspondence and Papers, 1893–1930	Box 12, Folder 9
Correspondence Regarding Father, 1892–1913	Box 12. Folder 10
Correspondence, Biography of Walter Q. Gresham, 1901–19	Box 12, Folder 11
Correspondence, 1930, Library of Congress	Box 12, Folder 12
Correspondence, 1931, Library of Congress	Box 12, Folder 13

Series 12: Walter Gresham Biography, n.d.

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Writings, Walter Q. Gresham Biography, n.d. (1 of 3)	Box 12, Folder 14
Writings, Walter Q. Gresham Biography, n.d. (2 of 3)	Box 12, Folder 15
Writings, Walter Q. Gresham Biography, n.d. (3 of 3)	Box 12, Folder 16

Series 13: Otto Gresham, Bertha Lowman Case, 1934–35 and Legal Papers, 1933–35

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Bertha Lowman Case, Transcripts and Proceedings, Aug. 1934	Box 13, Folder 1
Bertha Lowman Case, 1934–35, Briefs (1 of 2)	Box 13, Folder 2
Bertha Lowman Case, 1934–35, Briefs (2 of 2)	Box 13, Folder 3
Bertha Lowman Case, 1934–35, Petitions (1 of 2)	Box 13, Folder 4
Bertha Lowman Case, 1934–35, Petitions (2 of 2)	Box 13, Folder 5
Bertha Lowman Case, 1934–35, Documents	Box 13, Folder 6
Bertha Lowman Case, Correspondence, 1934	Box 13, Folder 7
Bertha Lowman Case, Correspondence, 1935	Box 13, Folder 8
Lemke Farm Bill, 1934	Box 13, Folder 9
Bertha Lowman Case, Related Photocopies, 1934	Box 13, Folder 10
Bertha Lowman Case, 1934–35, Case Notes	Box 13, Folder 11
Legal Papers, 1933–35	Box 13, Folder 12

Series 14: Otto Gresham, Writings, Speeches, and Publications, 1896–1946, n.d.

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Memorial Day Speeches, 1905, 1907	Box 14 Folder 1
Papers and Speeches, n.d. (1 of 2)	Box 14, Folder 2
Papers and Speeches, n.d. (2 of 2)	Box 14, Folder 3
Speeches and Writings, n.d.	Box 14, Folder 4
Writings, n.d.	Box 14, Folder 5
Article for Newspaper, 1946	Box 14, Folder 6
News clippings, 1907, 1915	Box 14, Folder 7
Publications, 1896–1913	Box 14, Folder 8

CATALOGING INFORMATION

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