Scope and Content Note
The papers of James Patrick McGranery (1895-1962) and Regina Clark McGranery (1907-1975) span the years 1909-1975 with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period between James McGranery's appointment as assistant to the United States attorney general in 1943 and the death of Regina McGranery in 1975. The collection is arranged in eight series and consists of appointment books, desk diaries and calendars, personal, family, and official correspondence, speeches and writings, press releases, clippings, printed matter, financial papers, and miscellaneous items covering the career of James McGranery and to a lesser extent that of his wife, Regina McGranery. Items removed from their series location are housed in the Formerly Classified, Classified, and Oversize series at the end of the collection.
Correspondence with members of the immediate family and close relatives, in addition to seasonal greetings and condolence messages from friends and associates, constitutes much of the Family Papers series. There are also biographical sketches, papers documenting the family's medical history, and records of the scholastic achievements and summer camp activities of the McGranery children, James P., Jr., Clark, and Regina.
The few items related to McGranery's tenure in Congress, 1937-1943, are primarily in the Personal Correspondence series. Many of the letters in this series document the long relationships the McGranerys enjoyed with prominent religious and political leaders as well as with business associates and close family friends. Correspondents include Francis and Katherine Biddle, Katherine Garrison Chapin, Tom C. Clark, Denis J. Dougherty, India Edwards, James Aloysius Farley, J. Edgar Hoover, John W. McCormack, Patrick O'Boyle, E. M. O'Byrne, Samuel F. Pryor and family, Joseph Verner Reed and Permelia Reed, Fulton J. Sheen, Francis Spellman, and James J. Vallely.
The Office Files constitute the largest portion of the papers and are arranged in the order in which they were retained by McGranery. They document his activities as assistant to United States attorneys general Francis Biddle and Tom C. Clark, as United States judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as United States attorney general, as a member of the Commission on Government Security, and as a law partner with Regina Clark McGranery. Many of the files contain personal as well as official documents and reflect McGranery's role as a New Deal Democrat from Philadelphia, Justice Department official, and Catholic layman.
Questions concerning loyalty and espionage were among the continuing problems that occupied McGranery's attention during World War II and the postwar era, and his papers document his response in a variety of public roles. As a federal judge, he presided over the trial of Harry Gold, an associate of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and material regarding the case is in the papers. Also, during both his terms in the Justice Department, McGranery dealt with matters of security and subversion, and there is further material on these subjects in the files of the Commission on Government Security.
Other areas covered by the papers include McGranery's involvement in anti-racketeering, the investigation of organized labor's political activities, civil rights, immigration and naturalization issues, and in the attempt to reform the Justice Department. His law office files also reflect the business activities of selected clients such as Edward Ball and the construction firm of Webb and Knapp. The files also document McGranery's services as legal counsel for Schenley Industries, Standard Gas and Electric Company, and the Portsmouth Baseball Corporation.
Additional papers relate to the career of Regina Clark McGranery. Legal case files document her status as a young lawyer prior to her marriage to McGranery. Other papers chronicle her activities as a leader in the Girl Scouts and the Associated Alumnae of the Sacred Heart. Speeches and writings and files relating to her activities in the Woman's National Democratic Club indicate her influence on the career of her husband and the political activities of women during the New Deal.
The Miscellany series includes clippings concerning James P. McGranery's activities and subjects of interest to him, honorary degrees, invitations, thank-you notes, legal notebooks, and memorabilia.
An Addition consists of biographical information, letters of condolence, family and personal correspondence, legal case material, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous material.
Oversize material includes a birthday card, maps, honorary degrees, and awards.