Guide to the Robert Emmet Quinn papers, 1936-1975

Phillips Memorial Library
Archives and Special Collections
1 Cunningham Square
Providence, RI 02918
Tel: 401-865-2578
Fax: 401-865-1578
Email: pcarchives@providence.edu
Website: https://pml.providence.edu/

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title:	Robert Emmet Quinn papers and Oral Histories
Date range:	1936-1975
Creator:	Quinn, Robert Emmet, 1884-1975
Extent:	1.0 linear feet
Abstract:	The collection contains a small amount of miscellaneous business and personal documents, newsclippings and transcripts of speeches. The heart of this collection is a series of oral history interviews conducted in 1972 and 1973. All but two of these interviews, which covers every phase of his public life, have been roughly transcribed. Of particular value are Quinn's comments on the 1935 "Bloodless Revolution" and on the local political arena of Rhode Island up to World War II.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Phillips Memorial Library
Collection number:	rppc_quinn

Scope & content

The collection contains a small amount of miscellaneous business and personal documents, newsclippings, transcripts of speeches, and photographs. The bulk of the collection is a series of oral history interviews conducted from 20 June 1972 to 20 November 1973 by Providence College Archivist Matthew J. Smith.

These tapes, which have been roughly transcribed, cover all phases of Quinn's public service. Of particular interest are his comments on the 1935 "Bloodless Revolution" and on the local political arena up to World War II.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Robert E. Quinn, 1894-1975

Subject Organizations

• United States. Court of Military Appeals
• United States. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Subject Topics

• Courts-martial and courts of inquiry United States
• Governors -- Rhode Island

Geographical Names

• Rhode Island -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950

Subject Topics

• Government, Politics and Law

Document Types

• clippings
• letters (correspondence)
• photographs
• press releases
• speeches

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series.

• Subject Files
• Oral Histories

Biographical note

Robert Emmet Quinn was born on April 2, 1894 in Phenix, R.I., in what is now West Warwick, R. I., to Charles Quinn and Mary Ann (McCabe) Quinn. He graduated from Brown University in 1915 and completed his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1918.

During World War I, Quinn served in France with the American Diplomatic Service and upon returning to the United States joined the law firm of his uncle, Col. Patrick Henry Quinn. It was through his uncle, who was the state's Democratic national committeeman, that the younger Quinn became interested in Rhode Island politics.

After serving two terms in the R. I. legislature in the 1920s, Quinn was elected as Lieutenant Governor from 1932 to 1937. Because returns from three Republican districts appeared to be fraudulent in the senatorial election of 1934, on January 1, 1935, Lt. Gov. Quinn opened the State Senate by appointing a committee to recount ballots from the previous November election. The recount led to a majority of Democrats being elected instead of Republicans. Once gaining control of the Senate, the Democrats reorganized the state government and took over many of the former Republican power bases. This action became known as the "Bloodless Revolution of 1935."

When incumbent Governor Francis Green chose to run for a seat in the United States Senate, Quinn was nominated for the governorship of Rhode Island in which he defeated republican Charles P. Sisson by a popular vote of 160,776 to 137,369. He held this office from January 5, 1937 to January 3, 1939 and proved to be one of the most active governor's in the state's history. During his administration, Quinn advocated a merit system for state workers, a personal income tax, and exemption for the poor from real estate taxes.

In addition, during his administration, legal horseracing was just opening up in the state, and Quinn was determined that it be kept honest. Rumors of racketeers controlling the racetrack at the newly opened Narragansett Park prompted Quinn to initiate legal measures against the track and its owner, Walter O'Hara. Known as the "Racetrack War", after lengthy legal and politcial fighting, Governor Quinn won the fight to keep the industry clean amidst national headlines, which garnered him the nickname "Fighting Bob."

Quinn was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election against republican William H. Vanderbilt and returned to his private law practice. In 1941 he was appointed to a Superior Court judgeship by Gov. Howard J. McGrath.

During the Second World War, he reentered the military as a Lt. Commander in the Navy’s legal branch and served for four years, rising to the rank of Captain. During his military career Quinn specialized in developing a way to process court martial trials. He returned to the bench after the end of the war and in 1951, Quinn was named Chief Judge of a new three-member United States Court of Military Appeals by President Truman, a position from which he retired in 1975.

He was a past president of the American Bar Association; trustee of Kent County Hospital, Warwick, Rhode Island; and a member of the Turks Head, Brown, Harvard and Wannamoisett clubs. "Fighting Bob" Quinn, after serving in all 3 branches of Rhode Island government, capped his career with a 25 year tenure as Chief Judge of the United States Court of Military Appeals. Judge Quinn died on May 19, 1975 and was buried in the Quinn Family Cemetery, West Warwick, Rhode Island.

Chronology

Date		Event
April 2, 1894		Born in Phenix, Rhode Island
1915		Graduates Brown University
1918		Graduates Harvard Law School
1917-1919		Serves as a member of the U.S. Diplomatic Intelligence Service in England and France
1920		Joins the law firm of his uncle, Col. Patrick Henry Quinn
1923		Marries to Mary Carter - 5 children
1923-1925		Elected to the Rhode Island Senate
1929-1933		Elected to the Rhode Island Senate
1932-1936		Elected as Lt. Governor of Rhode Island
1937-1939		Elected as Governor of Rhode Island
1939-1941		Practices private law
1941		Appointed judge for the Rhode Island Superior Court
1942-1945		Serves as a legal officer at the rank of Lt. Commander for the First Naval District
1942		Promoted to Captain, U. S. Navy
1951-1975		Appointed by President Truman as First Chief Judge of the U. S. Court of Military Appeals
1964		Awarded the first honorary life membership by Federal Bar Association
1966		Elected to Rhode Island Hall of Fame for contribution to the State's heritage
1975 May 19		Dies and is buried in the Quinn Family Cemetery, West Warwick, Rhode Island

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Collection is open for research by appointment. Materials do not circulate. Some materials may be restricted, for further information contact the Archives and Special Collections, Phillips Memorial Library, Providence College.
Use of the materials:	Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Phillips Memorial Library. Although Providence College has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Robert Emmet Quinn papers and Oral Histories, Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information:	Phillips Memorial Library Archives and Special Collections 1 Cunningham Square Providence, RI 02918 Tel: 401-865-2578 Fax: 401-865-1578 Email: pcarchives@providence.edu Website: https://pml.providence.edu/

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The taped interviews were conducted from 1972 to 1973 by Providence College Archivist Matthew J. Smith, with the subsquent paper files donated by Quinn's family after the Judge's death in 1975.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Russell M. Franks.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Russell M. Franks 2008 November 03
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material:	There are no known related materials.
Separated material:	No materials have been removed from this collection.

Inventory

---