Thomas Day Thacher papers

The Thomas Day Thacher Papers reflect Mr. Thacher's career as a lawyer and judge, as well as his participation in New York City politics and his activities as a director and trustee of a number of private and civic organizations. Unfortunately, the papers contain only a few items of substance relating to Thacher's service as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (1907-1908) and as a special assistant to Henry L. Stimson (1909-1910). Similarly, there are only a few items from the period in which Thacher served with the Red Cross in Russia and relatively little from the years 1925-1930, during which he was U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

In the main the papers are composed of materials relating to Thacher's service as U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York (1925-1930), as Solicitor General (1930-1933); his efforts on behalf of Fiorello La Guardia and the New York City charter revision campaign (1933-1943); and the period in which he served on the New York State Court of Appeals (1943-1949).

The papers are arranged in four series: CORRESPONDENCE, 1914-1950; SUBJECT FILES, 1919-1950; SPEECHES, 1925-1949; BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS AND MEMORABILIA, 1916-1950.

CORRESPONDENCE, contains approximately 10,000 letters, many of which are routine. The papers contain little correspondence before the late 1920's. There is no correspondence between Thacher and Henry L. Stimson between the years 1907 and 1910 when Thacher served as his assistant. The papers also contain little correspondence for the period in which Thacher served with the Red Cross in Russia. (For the few letters from this period see the W.A. Williams letter in Series I and the "Red Cross and WWI" file folder in Series IV.)

The papers contain no correspondence from Raymond Robins, the head of the American Red Cross mission in Russia, for the war years. They do, however, contain correspondence from Robins, his wife Margaret, and his sister Elizabeth written during the 1930's. Subjects discussed by the Robins include agricultural experiments in Florida, Raymond's role in Republican politics, Thacher's advocacy in the Supreme Court, and Raymond's mysterious eleven week disappearance.

Thacher's correspondence increased dramatically during the 1930's. Perhaps the most serious and thoughtful correspondence is that between Thacher and Felix Frankfurter during the years 1930-1934. In his letters, Frankfurter often ruminated on the state of the legal profession and discussed proposed changes in Supreme Court Procedures.

Frankfurter and Thacher had serious ideological disagreements over changes in the bankruptcy laws and the proposed reorganization of the railroads--disagreements which Frankfurter outlined in long letters. Other correspondents commented briefly on the proposed changes in bankruptcy laws, including Judge John Knox (1932), Morton Bogue (1932), Frank S. Bright (1932), and Lloyd Garrison (1932).

For comments on New York City politics, see especially the correspondence of Charles C. Burlingham, President of the Bar Association of New York City (1929-1931), and an inveterate political gossip. Burlingham wrote numerous letters to Thacher keeping him abreast of local Republican politics (1932, 1938-1941). Others who kept Thacher informed on various aspects of politics in the City during the 1930's and early 1940's include Fiorello La Guardia, William Chadbourne, James Sheffield, Keyes Winter, and Jerry Voorhees.

Thacher's papers contain relatively little correspondence of substance relating to his involvement in the 1936 New York City charter revision campaign. (For correspondence and other documents relating to specific details of the charter revision and New York City politics, see Series II, Section B.)

The papers contain little correspondence discussing State politics; what little exists relates to the Republican Party's search for judicial nominees. There is a substantial amount of correspondence between Thomas Dewey and Thacher; however, most of it is routine.

Several letters from Thacher's friends throughout the country contain comments on regional politics. Clarence Barnes, Attorney General of Massachusetts, described the condition of the G.O.P. in his state (1930-1934). J.D. Rogers, Dean of the University of Colorado Law School, described the political climate of that state (1934). Walter Newton of Minneapolis reported on the G.O.P. in Minnesota (1936), and R.L. Wilbur, President of Stanford University, gave his views on the New Deal from California (1933).

Thacher's correspondence after his appointment to the New York State Court of Appeals (1934) revolves around the administrative problems of a state judge. Few correspondents, though, discuss substantive legal issues.

Correspondents of note include:

NOTE: For further correspondence on specific topics see also Series II Subject Files. In cases where correspondents in Series I also appear in Series II, cross references have been made.

SUBJECT FILES, is divided into seven sections, (A-G):

Section A is composed of materials relating to Thacher's service as Solicitor General. Consisting mainly of notes, memoranda, and some correspondence involving Thacher's bankruptcy investigation, Section A also contains three clipping scrapbooks of articles discussing his activities as Solicitor General.

Section B contains materials relating to Thacher's involvement in New York City politics, including the Fusion Party and the charter revision of 1935-1936. Consisting primarily of memoranda, correspondence, and research data gathered in support of the new charter, Section B also contains three scrapbooks of clippings on the charter revision campaign and several folders of material relating to the Fusion leaders' split with La Guardia.

Section C is composed of materials from the period in which Thacher served on the New York State Court of Appeals--primarily requests for leave to appeal cases and memoranda and drafts of Thacher's decisions.

Section D contains committee memoranda, minutes of meetings, and routine correspondence from the various legal associations to which Thacher belonged. These include the New York City Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

Section E contains minutes of meetings, memoranda, and routine correspondence relating to the institutions that Thacher was involved with as a trustee and director. These include Taft School, Yale University, the New York Public Library, the American Law Institute, and the Commonwealth Fund.

Section F is composed of memoranda and correspondence involving a variety of topics and personalities in which Thacher was interested or with which he had dealings. These include railroad reorganization (late 1940's), Felix Frankfurter (clippings and memorabilia), the Ellis Island Committee (1933-1934), Alex Gumberg (clippings and memorabilia), and the Bridges Bill (1940-1941).

SPEECHES, contains over ninety speeches that Thacher delivered between 1925 and 1949. Subjects include bankruptcy law revision, the Fusion Party, the New York City charter revision, and the Wilkes campaign.

BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS AND MEMORABILIA, is composed of materials which primarily relate to Thacher's private affairs: photographs, scrapbooks of biographical clippings, records of honorary degrees, and a few financial records. The series also contains Thacher's appointment books (1925-1943) and a few documents relating to his service with the Red Cross during World War I.

NOTE: Further materials on Thomas Day Thacher are located in the New York Public Library and at Columbia University.