James Eli Watson papers
Collection
Identifier: L237
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of school papers, speeches, correspondence, invitations, clippings, publications, and other papers of James Eli Watson in Indiana and Washington, D.C., ranging from 1879 to 1913, regarding his education, personal life, and career. Also included are a collection of U.S. and foreign stamps and a stamp album.
There are also oversize newspaper clippings and a speech dated 1890-1913 (OBC032).
There are also oversize newspaper clippings and a speech dated 1890-1913 (OBC032).
Dates
- 1879-1913
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
James Eli Watson was born in Winchester, Randolph County, Indiana, on November 2, 1864. He graduated from DePauw University and was admitted to the bar in 1886. Watson practiced law in Winchester until 1893 when he moved to Rushville. He established a practice there with Gates Sexton. On December 12, 1893, Watson married Flora Miller with whom he had four children: Edwin, James, Catherine, and Joseph. He served as a U.S. congressman (1895-1897, 1899-1909) and a U.S. senator (1916-1933). Watson was the majority leader in the Senate from 1929 to 1933. He also served on a number of committees including the Committee on Woman Suffrage, Committee on Revision of the Laws, Committee on Enrolled Bills, Committee on Interstate Commerce, and the Republican Conference. After leaving the Senate, Watson continued to practice law in Washington, D.C. until his death on July 29, 1948 and was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland.
Sources:
United States Congress. "Watson, James Eli." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed November 2005. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000203.
Monks, Leander. Courts and Lawyers of Indiana. Indianapolis: Federal Publishing Co., 1916.
Reed, George Irving. Encyclopedia of Biography of Indiana, vol. I. Chicago: Century Publishing and Engraving Co., 1895.
Thompson, Donald Eugene. Indiana Authors and Their Books, 1917-1966. Crawfordsville, IN: Wabash College, 1974.
Sources:
United States Congress. "Watson, James Eli." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed November 2005. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000203.
Monks, Leander. Courts and Lawyers of Indiana. Indianapolis: Federal Publishing Co., 1916.
Reed, George Irving. Encyclopedia of Biography of Indiana, vol. I. Chicago: Century Publishing and Engraving Co., 1895.
Thompson, Donald Eugene. Indiana Authors and Their Books, 1917-1966. Crawfordsville, IN: Wabash College, 1974.
Extent
0.16 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box, 1 large oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2005 October by Christina Baich. EAD finding aid created 2005 October by Christina Baich. EAD finding aid revised 2015/11/24; 2021/10/18 by Lauren Patton; 2024/11/12 by Brittany Kropf.
- Clippings
- Education
- Emigration and immigration
- Essays
- Examinations
- Indiana -- Politics and government -- 19th century
- Lawyers
- Lawyers -- Indiana
- Newspapers
- Photographs
- Politicians
- Politicians -- Indiana
- Politicians -- United States -- 20th century
- Politics and government
- Postage stamps
- Religion
- Seals and labels (Philately)
- Speeches, addresses, etc.
- Teachers
- United States -- Politics and government
- United States -- Politics and government - 20th century
Creator
- Title
- James Eli Watson papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
