Scope and Content Note
The papers of Perry Sanford Heath (1857-1927) span the years 1890-1983, with the bulk of the material dated 1896-1927. The collection includes correspondence, journal notes, a draft statement, printed matter, memorabilia, biographical material, and a photograph relating primarily to Heath's political work. The documents concern his term as secretary of the Republican National Committee and his work on the 1896 presidential campaign of William S. McKinley. The McKinley file includes a letter from Mark Hanna. Heath's service as U.S. assistant postmaster general (1897-1900) is documented in a report and a letterbook, dated March-December 1897, of outgoing letters concerning political appointments and other matters. His later involvement in Republican Party politics concern the political fortunes of Charles W. Fairbanks and Leonard Wood. Heath worked behind the scenes, as indicated in his correspondence and journal notes, to have Fairbanks nominated by the Republican Party as the presidential candidate in 1916. Heath's statement opposing Leonard Wood's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 1920 and negative documentation on Wood's military career are also included.