Hallett S. Ward Papers

1921-1925
Manuscript Collection #53
Portions of this collection are digitized (1 item)
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Creator(s)
Ward, Hallett S. (Hallett Sydney), 1870-1956
Physical description
6.51 Cubic Feet, 9,000 items , consisting of correspondence, speeches, government pamphlets, Congressional records, official reports, bills, lists, clippings, and personal commentaries.
Preferred Citation
Hallett S. Ward Papers (#53), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
Access to audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Papers (1921-1925) including correspondence, speeches, government pamphlets, congressional records, official reports, etc. concerning service as a member of the US Congress (D-NC). C.

Biographical/historical information

Hallett Sydney Ward (b. August 31, 1870 - d. March 31, 1956), Democratic U.S. Congressman, was born near Gatesville, North Carolina, and attended schools in Gates County, N.C. He later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he studied law. In 1893, he graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and was admitted to the bar. He began his law practice in Winton, N.C and moved to Plymouth, N.C. in 1895. Ward married Aileen Latham in 1891, and the two had two daughters who died in infancy. In 1899, he was elected to the North Carolina Senate, and served a second term in 1901. From 1902 until 1903, he served as the mayor of Plymouth, N.C., in Washington County. In 1904, after moving to Washington, N.C., he was named solicitor for the first judicial district of North Carolina, which he held until 1910.

Ward was elected to the United States Congress in 1920 and served two terms. In 1924, he declined renomination and returned to practicing law. Ward's wife, Aileen, died in 1927. He remarried in 1929 to Dora Bonner, and they had one son together. In 1931, he returned to serve an additional term in the North Carolina Senate. A few years before his death, Ward was given a gold medal from the lawyers of Beaufort County due to his community service. Ward died in Washington, N.C. in 1956.

Written February 2024

Scope and arrangement

All of the material relates to the four years (1921-1925) during which Ward was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. The greater part of the papers concerns the handling of routine requests from Ward's constituents in the 1st Congressional District of North Carolina and minor correspondence relative to the conduct of his law practice in Washington, North Carolina.

The collection includes extensive correspondence concerning the status of numerous postmasterships in eastern North Carolina, with comments on the merits of the system and of individuals holding office during that period. Additional voluminous information pertains to the screening of applicants for the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Military Academy, a list of applicants (1923-1924), and an example of the general entrance examination for applicants. Other significant quantities of correspondence pertain to pensions for veterans and their families and routine legislation considered by the U.S. House of Representatives (1921-1925).

Specific items of some interest include discussions on cooperative marketing (1923-1924) and a bulletin published by the State of North Carolina presenting the agricultural state of affairs in this area (1920). Business correspondence concerns animal husbandry, botanic gardens, and the effects of the boll weevil on rural economies.

Several aspects of education are considered within the collection. Among these are the status of the education of Black people in North Carolina (1924), the educational system within the District of Columbia (1922-1923), and two bills proposing the establishment of a cabinet-level Department of Education: the Towner-Sterling Bill (1921) and the Smith-Towner Bill (1922).

During Mr. Ward's tenure of office, the question of judicial reapportionment in North Carolina was particularly important. This collection includes detailed lists and extensive correspondence relative to the creation of a third Federal Judicial District in this state, and includes an examination of the Overman Bill (1924-1925) which was designed to achieve that reapportionment.

Interesting personal narratives by Ward present his views on the state of affairs and overall conditions in Haiti and the Panama Canal Zone.

Surveys of coastal waterways and the condition of rivers, bridges, and roads within North Carolina are often discussed. In addition to the major groups of papers on this subject, passing references are frequently made to the topics in Ward's personal correspondence.

Additional legislation of some significance includes proposals for, and correspondence on, the subject of child labor (1921, 1924), the creation of a national police bureau (1923), the status of the civil governments in Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands, the tariff proposals of 1921 and 1922, the Soldier's Adjusted Compensation Bill (1922), the need for a reorganization of the national defense structure, and the establishment of an air mail service (1921).

Perhaps the two most interesting items are a list of those members of Congress who made up the so-called "Farm Bloc"(1924) and a purported "Oath of the Knights of Columbus" submitted in testimony of a Congressional committee (1924). This "Oath," while later proven to be a forgery, presents the image of an armed, militant, Catholicism preparing to do battle for the Church.

Numerous lists of schoolteachers, registrars, ministers, newspapers, schools, and voters appear in the collection.

For additional information see Junius D. Grimes Papers (#571).

Administrative information
Custodial History

March 20, 1968, 4 cubic feet; official files (1921-1925) of Congressman Hallett S. Ward. Material includes correspondence, reports, bills and resolutions, and printed material. Gift of Mrs. Ida W. Grimes, Washington, N. C.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mrs. Ida W. Grimes

Processing information

Processed by A. Sabrosky

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Descriptions updated by Jennifer Overstreet, April 2021

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Key terms
Personal Names
Ward, Hallett S. (Hallett Sydney), 1870-1956
Corporate Names
Knights of Columbus
United States Military Academy--Admission
United States Naval Academy--Admission
United States. Congress. House
Topical
African Americans--Education--North Carolina
Agriculture--North Carolina--History--20th century
Agriculture--United States--Societies, etc.
Bridges--North Carolina--History--20th century
Education and state--United States
Education--Washington (D.C.)
Judicial districts--North Carolina
Lawyers--North Carolina--History--20th century
Legislators--United States--History--20th century
Military pensions--United States--History
Politicians--North Carolina--History--20th century
Postmasters--North Carolina
Rivers--North Carolina--History--20th century
Roads--North Carolina--History--20th century
Places
North Carolina--Politics and government--20th century
Container list
Box 2 Personal Correspondence, E-H
Box 3 Personal Correspondence, I-M
Box 4a Personal Correspondence, N-S. Contains folders a–b
Box 4b Personal Correspondence, N-S. Contains folder c
Box 5 Personal Correspondence, T-Z
Box 6 Folder a Purported "Oath of the Knights of Columbus" and correspondence concerning U.S. Coast Guard matters, the Wheat Growers Association and postal service routes and employees
Box 6 Folder b Speeches concerning the 1920 general election, Farmer Loan Bank legislation, an Army bill, the Child Labor Constitutional Amendment, and Hallett Ward's observations on life in Haiti, Panama Canal Zone and Cuba
Box 6 Folder c Claims cases correspondence concerning many topics and the explosion, fire, and sinking of the steamship MARNE in Cristobal Harbor, Panama Canal Zone (January 22, 1920)
Box 7a Requests for Debate Materials, Maps, Digests, Manuals. Contains folder a
Box 7b Requests for Debate Materials, Maps, Digests, Manuals. Contains folders b–d
Box 8a Department of Agriculture: Correspondence and Information. Contains folders a–c
Box 8b Department of Agriculture: Correspondence and Information. Contains folders d–h
Box 9a Department of Agriculture: Correspondence and Information. Contains folders a–e
Box 9b Department of Agriculture: Correspondence and Information. Contains folder f
Box 10 Department of Agriculture: Correspondence and Information
Box 11 Department of Commerce: Correspondence and Information
Box 12 Department of the Interior: Correspondence and Information
Box 13 Bureau of Fisheries and Lighthouses: Correspondence and Information
Box 14 Civil Service: Correspondence and Information
Box 15 Department of the Navy: Correspondence and Information
Box 16 Post Office: General Notes
Box 17 Post Office: Postmasterships Correspondence (Towns A-F)
Box 18 Post Office: Postmasterships Correspondence (Towns G-O)
Box 19 Post Office: Postmasterships Correspondence (Towns P-Z)
Box 20 Post Office: Postmasterships Correspondence
Box 21 Folder a Passport Requests
Box 21 Folder b Passport Requests and other Correspondence
Box 21 Folder c Consular Service
Box 22 Folder a U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Box 22 Folder b U.S. Coast Guard Service Correspondence
Box 22 Folder c Sparrow P. Midgette Discharge from U.S. Coast Guard
Box 23 Folder a Jethro H. Midgett file (U.S. Coast Guard Service)
Box 23 Folder b U.S. Coast Guard Supply Boat #1949 (later known as #A.B.21)
Box 23 Folder c U.S. Public Health Service
Box 23 Folder d Prohibition Commissioners
Box 23 Folder e Federal Land Bank and Farm Loan Bank
Box 23 Folder f Miscellaneous Correspondence
Box 24 War Department--Chief of Engineers: Correspondence and Information Related to River and Bridge Projects in Eastern North Carolina
Box 25 War Department: Correspondence and Information Related to Requests for Discharges and Miscellaneous Topics
Box 26 War Department: Correspondence and Information Related to the Survey of Waterways in Eastern North Carolina, and the Bonus Bill
Box 27 Folder a Legislation concerning free distribution of bulbs, shrubs and seeds
Box 27 Folder b Congressional Record distribution
Box 27 Folder c Overman Bill (1924-1925) to create a third Federal Judicial District
Box 27 Folder d Miscellaneous bills, and a list of Farm Bloc Congressional members (1924)
Box 27 Folder e Distribution of Farmer's Year Book
Box 28 Folder a Air Mail Service
Box 28 Folder b Armenia
Box 28 Folder c Migratory Bird Refuge Act; the Federal Public Shooting Ground and Bird Refuge Act
Box 28 Folder d Agriculture Bill; Army Mine Planter Service; Anti-Lynching Bill; Base Pay for Surfmen in the Coast Guard Bill
Box 29 Folder a (Soldiers') Adjusted Compensation Bill through Bursum Pension Bill (emphasis on the WWI Soldiers Bonus Bill and the Soldier's Adjusted Compensation Bill)
Box 29 Folder b Bill for Relief of E. A. Beals for compensation in the loss of his schooner CARRIE BELL
Box 29 Folder c Calcium Arsenate Industry through District of Columbia (includes Calder Bill to create a National Police Bureau, Child Labor Amendment, Cooperative Marketing, and Coast Guard topics, etc.)
Box 29 Folder d Education Bills (create a Cabinet level Dept. of Education; regulate District of Columbia education system) and the Edmonds Bill
Box 30 Folder a Fisheries (includes also a blueprint for Reopening New Inlet near Rodanthe, Dare Co., N.C.)
Box 30 Folder b Peanut Growers' Exchange and peanut cleaners dispute
Box 30 Folder c Philippines; Puerto Rico
Box 30 Folder d Farm Loan Bill and the Federal Reserve System
Box 30 Folder e Miscellaneous Bills Concerning Post Offices, Muscle Shoals, etc
Box 30 Folder f Miscellaneous Bills Concerning the Linthicum Fish Bill, Bureau of Lighthouses, Migratory Fish Bill, Logan Mental Anquish Bill, etc
Box 31 Folder a Post Office related bills
Box 31 Folder b Small Claims Brought By Businesses Against Railroads
Box 31 Folder c Small Claims Brought By Businesses Against Railroads
Box 31 Folder d Miscellaneous Bills Related to Revenue, Post Office Workers, Railway Mail Clerks, etc
Box 32 Folder a Tariffs and Taxes
Box 32 Folder b Tariffs and Taxes
Box 32 Folder c Tariffs on Imported Peanuts, Walsh Federal Judge Bill, Winslow Townsend Bill, War Department Legislation
Box 33a Folder a Pensions: Ambrose through Burris
Box 33a Folder b Pensions: Cameron through Cotten
Box 33a Folder c Pensions: Elliott through Hornby
Box 33b Folder d Pensions: Jarvis through Keys
Box 33b Folder e Pensions: McMurren through Miller
Box 34 Folder a Pensions: Nobles through Price
Box 34 Folder b Pensions: Sanderson through Woolard
Box 34 Folder c Pensions: Miscellaneous Correspondence (George Gaskins through Henry Pardon)
Box 34 Folder d Pensions: Blank Forms
Box 35 U.S. Military Academy: General Data; Applicants Files
Box 36 U.S. Military Academy: Applicants Files
Box 37 U.S. Military Academy: Miscellaneous Items; U.S. Naval Academy: Applications, Nominations (1923-1924)
Box 38 U.S. Naval Academy: Applicants Files
Box 39 Lists: Registrars of 1st Congressional District, Teachers, Schools
Box 40 Lists: Miscellaneous, Photographs