William H. Vanderbilt Gubernatorial Papers (Mss. Gr. 60)

The gubernatorial papers described herein presumably represent only a fraction of the records generated by Vanderbilt during his term of office. The papers consist primarily of correspondence concerning applications for patronage positions and/or charitable donations. Also included are campaign speeches, reports, Vanderbilt's two annual messages to the General Assembly, and materials relating to a controversy over the dismissal of Rhode Island State College president, Raymond G. Bressler. Most of the incoming letters and other original materials are in good condition with only slight staining and/or tearing. The copies of Vanderbilt's outgoing letters, however, were made on inexpensive and highly acidic paper and are in generally poor condition. The Vanderbilt Papers have been divided into three series as follows: Series 1, Correspondence; Series 2, Subject File; and Series 3, Newspaper Clippings.

The Correspondence Series consists of correspondence primarily between Vanderbilt and the public concerning job applications. In addition, it includes correspondence between Vanderbilt and other leaders of the Republican Party, the state's congressional delegation, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Series 2, the Subject File, contains correspondence, memos, reports, copies of speeches and a variety materials relating to some of the many issues, events, and organizations with which Vanderbilt had to deal as governor, including civil service reform, election reform, and Rhode Island State College. Material in this series complements and overlaps some of that found in Series 1. Series 3, Newspaper Clippings, contains miscellaneous newspaper clippings relating to the contemporary local and national political scene, Vanderbilt's administration, and his three campaigns for governor.