Scope and Content Note
The papers of John Adams Kingsbury (1876-1956) span the years 1841-1966 with the bulk of the material concentrated between 1906 and 1939. The papers relate primarily to his professional and avocational activities as a social reformer and public health advocate beginning with his efforts to improve the conditions of public institutions in New York and progressing to Eastern European relief work. The papers also include a significant amount of family material.
Part I
Part I of the papers of John Adams Kingsbury spans the years 1883 to 1935, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1910-1917. The papers are arranged in four series: General Correspondence, Personal Correspondence, Writings File, and Miscellany.
The General Correspondence documents Kingsbury's career as commissioner of public charities of New York City during the administration of Mayor John Purroy Mitchel, 1914-1918, and the seven years preceding it, 1907-1913, when Kingsbury was assistant secretary of state charities in New York and director of the New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor.
The Personal Correspondence contains letters relating to Kingsbury's private life as well as speeches, invitations, and congratulations while he held office as commissioner and attended Columbia University Teachers' College. Correspondents include Alexander Graham Bell, Louis Dembitz Brandeis, Bailey B. Burritt, Homer Folks, Harry Lloyd Hopkins, Elbert Hubbard, Charles Evans Hughes, Harold L. Ickes, Walter Lippmann, Henry Morgenthau (1856-1946), Gifford Pinchot, and Jacob A. Riis.
The Writings File contains texts, correspondence, and background material for Kingsbury's speeches on topics of public health and charitable organizations. Also included are the text and notes for a thesis.
The Miscellany series includes biographical information about Kingsbury, a diary, photographs, school papers, notes, and printed material.
Part II
Part II of the Kingsbury Papers spans the years 1841-1963 with the bulk of the material concentrated between 1918 and 1939. The papers are arranged in eight series supplementing and relating to the same general topics as Part I: Journals and Travel Notes; Family Correspondence; General Correspondence; Professional File; Subject File; Speech, Article, and Book File; Financial Papers; and Miscellany.
The Journals and Travel Notes record Kingsbury's observations on trips taken chiefly for professional reasons. Of note are his journeys to the Soviet Union in 1932 and 1951 and to the People's Republic of China in 1952 to study public health and welfare in socialist countries. Other journeys, including pleasure trips, are also documented.
The Family Correspondence contains letters exchanged between Kingsbury's parents and grandparents in the nineteenth century as well as letters to his immediate family. Subjects include politics, social concerns, and observations of foreign cultures.
The General Correspondence contains Kingsbury's letters with friends and colleagues. In some instances letters concerning an individual but not written to or by Kingsbury are found interfiled with the person's correspondence. Kingsbury's political interests are documented in correspondence with Charles C. Burlingham, Harry Lloyd Hopkins, Harold L. Ickes, Frances D. Perkins, Gifford Pinchot, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Aubrey Williams. His associations with public health and medical experts include Paul de Kruif, Homer Folks, Sir Arthur Newsholme, René Sand, and William Henry Welch.
The Professional File reflects Kingsbury's association with several humanitarian organizations. The American Red Cross and Young Men's Christian Association files relate to his work in France from 1918 to 1919. Working through the American Red Cross, Kingsbury supervised the dispersal of funds provided by Elizabeth Milbank Anderson and other Americans who aided French civilians during the final German offensive of World War I. Kingsbury directed the YMCA Army Educational Commission whose mandate was to provide courses in citizenship for American troops in France. The file chiefly concerns setting up the operation and contains almost no mention of the educational work itself.
In 1920 Kingsbury took charge of the Serbian Child Welfare Association of America, which was also supported by money from the Milbank family. Material in the Professional File describes attempts to alleviate the plight of the Serbs during and after World War I. Herbert Hoover was a frequent correspondent. Kingsbury also supervised the America-Yugoslav Society, which had programs similar to those of the Serbian Child Welfare Association of America. The file describes activities of the organization, such as fund-raising, dinners, and lecture tours, but contains very little about programs carried out in Yugoslavia.
As secretary and managing director of the Milbank Memorial Fund, Kingsbury promoted a national health program. The ensuing controversy with the American Medical Association led to his dismissal in 1935. Many programs carried out by the fund, especially those in Cattaragus County, New York, are described in detail. With the completion of his work for the Milbank Fund, Kingsbury became a special consultant to Harry Lloyd Hopkins. Of special interest is a settlement project whereby farmers from northern parts of the Midwest colonized Mantanuska, Alaska.
The Subject File documents Kingsbury's interests and avocations and includes considerable family material supplementing the Family Correspondence series. Subjects include astronomy, farming, mushroom culture, public health and disease control, socialist organizations, and travel.
The Speech, Article, and Book File contains Kingsbury's writings on Eastern European relief efforts, the control and cure of tuberculosis, socialized medicine, and group health insurance. A large section relates to his unpublished autobiography. Material includes texts, drafts, notes, research material, and related correspondence.
Financial papers include records of Kingsbury's real estate, income and expenses, investments, taxes, and insurance. A significant portion of this file deals with the maintenance of his farm "Lavorika" in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
Among the Miscellany are address books, certificates and diplomas, invitations, letters and notebooks of Kingsbury's mother, Annie, condolence letters, notes, poetry, printed material regarding eastern European and the Soviet Union, public health, socialism, programs, sketches and drawings, testimonials, trip souvenirs, and a card file of speech notes.
Part III
Part III of the Kingsbury Papers spans the years 1849-1966, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period between 1906 and 1934. The papers are arranged in five series: Family Correspondence; General Correspondence; Professional File; Speech, Article, and Book File; and Miscellany.
A large section of Family Correspondence contains letters of condolence written upon the death of John Adams Kingsbury, Jr., at the age of eighteen. The family's endeavors to establish scholarships and other memorials in his name are well documented. Another section contains letters written by Kingsbury to his future wife while he was attending Columbia University in New York City. The file also includes nineteenth-century letters written by Kingsbury's relatives.
General correspondence consists of letters sent to and received from Kingsbury's friends and colleagues. Correspondents include Jane Addams, Bailey B. Burritt, Mary E. Dreier, Albert Einstein, Homer Folks, Jack London, Henry Morgenthau (1856-1946), Sir Arthur Newsholme, Gifford Pinchot, Jacob A. Riis, Raymond Robins, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt.
The Professional File documents Kingsbury's involvement in public welfare and in the Progressive party from World War I into the 1920s. Papers relating to his work as commissioner of public charities in New York City supplements the material in Part I. A significant portion pertains to the investigation conducted by Charles H. Strong into allegations of fraud, corruption, and mismanagement of public welfare institutions in New York state. Progressive party material includes correspondence, proposed legislation, platforms, and material related to fund-raising activities.
The Speech, Article, and Book File contains drafts of articles, and Kingsbury's book, Health in Handcuffs, pamphlets, and speeches written by Kingsbury and others. There is also material relating to his unpublished autobiography.
Miscellany includes address books, certificates, diaries, invitations, newspaper clippings, notes, and printed material.