Orville H. Platt papers

The papers in this collection represent only a fragment of Senator Platt's records, principally for the period 1900-1905; others - presumably much greater in bulk - were destroyed by a misguided clerk in the committee office immediately after the Senator's death. This collection also includes materials from Miss Lawler's own correspondence concerning Senator Platt and his records, as well as papers from Mrs. Jeannie P. Platt and from the State Library files.

The papers were arranged into eleven series which reflect Orville H. Platt's personal, political, legislative, and legal career in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. The series include Correspondence, Memorial Volumes, Scrapbooks, Speeches, Katleen Lawler Papers, State Library File, Senator Albert Beveridge Correspondence, Alice M. Robertson Files, State Reception, Photographs, and Miscellaneous.

Series 1. Correspondence, 1880-1905, include eight folders and ten bound volumes of correspondence between Platt and President Roosevelt, Congressional colleagues, federal departments, political advisors, the Republican National Committee, Connecticut state officials, corporations, groups, and friends. The bulk of the correspondence is between Platt and John H. Flagg, a political advisor and lawyer from New York. The series also consists of clippings, memos, legislative bills, and statements.

Series 2. Memorial Volumes, 1905-1913, consist of two bound volumes and a scrapbook of correspondence, telegrams, notes, resolutions and clippings received or collected following Senator Platt's death. The two volumes are indexed by name. The scrapbook contains clippings of obituaries and stories on the dedication of memorial tablets in the Capitol and on the death of his son, Judge James P. Platt.

Series 3. Scrapbooks, 1902-1934, include two folders and four volumes of clippings, correspondence, invitations, programs, and other materials pertaining to politics and the elections of 1902 and 1904, and to Senator Platt and his interests.

Series 4. Speeches, circa 1890-1904, include addresses at Woodstock Academy, the library building in Meriden, convention at Hartford; drafts; notes; statements on patent extension for dredging and death of Vice President Garret A. Hobart; and texts of speeches on the US Senate, Cuban intervention, education, extinction of meeting houses, and Panama.

Series 5. Kathleen Lawler Papers, 1903-1929, include correspondence between Lawler and the following people: Connecticut State Librarian George S. Godard, Jeannie P. Platt, Annie R. Chaffee, Louis Coolidge, Hiram Bingham, Jannette P. Nichols, John C. Brinsmade, Senator Albert J. Bevridge, Mary D. Smith, Ruth B. Smith, Norris E. Pierson, and Burr A. Hollister. The bulk of the correspondence is between Lawler, Godard, and Jeannie P. Platt. The correspondence also contains Jeannie P. Platt's "last will and testament." The series also consists of materials on the memorials in the Connecticut State Capitol to Senator Platt and Senator Hawley, material on Senator Platt's views concerning executive sessions of the US Senate, material on "Platt National Park," notes, and articles.

Series 6. State Library File, 1927-1950, contains correspondence between State Librarian George S. Godard and Kathleen Lawler about the acquisition, processing and servicing of the Platt papers.

Series 7. Senator Albert Beveridge Correspondence, 1916-1924, contains correspondence between Senator Albert Beveridge and Jeannie P. Platt.

Series 8. Alice M. Robertson File, 1900-1931, consists of correspondence between Alice M. Robertson, Jeannie P. Platt and Kathleen Lawler. The series also includes clippings, memorandum, and publications. Alice M. Robertson (1854-1931) was an Oklahoma educator and worker for the Indians and a member of the United States House of Representatives. She worked with Senator Platt on Indian affairs.

Series 9. State Reception, 1903, includes state library correspondence, scrapbook pages, invitations, clippings, and ribbons.

Series 10. Photographs, undated, include small photographs of a woman with a young child in Washington, D.C., portrait photographs of Jeannie and Orville Platt, and Platt in a rocking chair and study.

Series 11. Miscellaneous, undated, consists of draft biographical information, research notes, clippings, draft legislation, correspondence, autographs, and an empty leather writing portfolio.