Charles Parsons papers

The Charles Parsons Papers consist of 52 boxes of correspondence, writings, printed matter, and newspaper clippings. The correspondence and memorabilia of Charles Parsons' wife, Mary Elizabeth Curry Parsons, forms a small portion of the collection and covers the period from 1908 to 1919. The bulk of the collection, however, covers the period extending from 1934 to 1965.

The collection is arranged into six series: CORRESPONDENCE; WRITINGS; PRINTED MATTER AND SCRAPBOOKS; SUBJECT FILES; PERSONAL PAPERS, MEMORABILIA AND PHOTOGRAPHS; and PARSONS, CHARLES. The first series, CORRESPONDENCE, is divided into three subsections: "General Correspondence," "Congressional Correspondence," and "Correspondence of Others." Among the notable names which appear in the "General Correspondence" are: Lawrence Dennis, Gerald L. K. Smith, Dan Smoot, General George E. Stratemeyer, Henry Elmer Barnes, Curtis Nettels, William F. Buckley, Jr., Bernard Knollenberg, Booth Tarkington, Robert Welch, Hamilton Fish, William Loch, and Upton Close. There is also extensive and important correspondence with: Clifford F. Ahlers, Gregory Bern, Edwin Borchard, Owen Brewster, Charles Chase, Wallace S. Chase, Lawrence Cornwall, Herbert N. Davison, Frank P. Doherty, Robert Donner, Myron Fagan, Bonner Fellers, Percy Greaves, Hubert Heath, Sybil Howe, Ellis O. Jones, Henry H. Klein, A. S. Merrimon, Edward R. Place, Robert H. Williams, and the Republican National Committee.

"Congressional Correspondence" includes important letters from: Rep. Frank T. Blow (Ohio), Sen. Owen Brewster (Maine), Sen. John T. Bricker (Ohio), Rep. Howard Buffett (Nebr.), Sen. Homer Capehart (Ind.), Rep. Martin Dies (Texas), Sen. Homer Ferguson (Mich.), Rep. Bertrand W. Gearhart (Calif.), Sen. William E. Jenner (Ind.), Rep. Robert W. Kean (N.J.), Sen. William F. Knowland (Calif.), Rep. William Lemke (N. Dak.), Sen. Joseph McCarthy (Wis.), Sen. George W. Malone (Nev.), Sen. Richard M. Nixon (Calif.), Sen. Gerald P. Nye (N. Dak.), Sen. W. Lee O'Daniel (Texas), Rep. James C. Oliver (Maine), Rep. Frederick C. Smith (Ohio), Rep. Lawrence H. Smith (Wis.), Sen. Robert A. Taft (Ohio), Sen. Millard E. Tydings (Md.), Rep. Harold H. Velde (Ill.), Rep. Charles W. Vursell (Ill.), and Rep. John T. Wood (Idaho).

"Correspondence of Others" consists mostly of letters written by Parsons' friends to political and military leaders and government officials about various conservative causes and issues. These letters were apparently circulated among Parsons' friends. Many of the same names which appear in the Congressional and General correspondence sections appear here also. In addition, the correspondence of Mary Curry, who married Parsons in 1918, is included in this section.

PRINTED MATTER AND SCRAPBOOKS consists primarily of newspaper clippings. In addition, there are a variety of political newsletters and pamphlets, congressional news releases, reprints of speeches from the Congressional Record, and an assortment of literature from conservative political organizations.

SUBJECT FILES contains correspondence and printed matter arranged into a number of subject categories. Among these "Subject Files" are materials pertaining to the election of 1944, especially the candidacy of Governor John Bricker of Ohio for president of the United States; the Pearl Harbor investigation, which contains bound volumes of the statements of Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and Major General Walter C. Short concerning the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; and Joseph McCarthy, which reveals something of the emotional response created by the death of Senator McCarthy.

PERSONAL PAPERS, MEMORABILIA AND PHOTOGRAPHS contains material such as programs, playbills, membership cards, postcards, and a large number of photographs relating to Parsons, his family and friends.

PARSONS, CHARLES contains 36 scrapbooks, most of which have clippings on politics, World War II, and Parsons' columns and letters to newspapers. Available on microfilm.