Scope and Content Note
The papers of Albert Sidney Burleson (1863-1937) span the years 1845-1943, with the bulk from 1902 to 1943. The collections reflect his activities as a member of Congress from Texas and as postmaster general in the cabinet of President Woodrow Wilson, with the main part relating to his duty as an aide to the president and as postmaster general. There are over three hundred Wilson letters, many of them referring to postmasterships, and many presidential memoranda. The papers are organized into the following series: General Correspondence and Miscellany .
Prominent subjects include controversies stemming from Burleson’s role in the takeover by the federal government of telegraph, telephone, and cable facilities during World War I and of reaction to the censorship of the mail during the war period. Other topics concern attempts to increase the rates of second-class mail, the expansion of parcel post facilities, and the institution of air mail service. Material from Burleson’s congressional period reflects his region’s agricultural interests in disputes over oleomargarine, cotton, and mistletoe.
In addition to Woodrow Wilson, notable correspondents include Newton Diehl Baker, Ray Stannard Baker, Henry Breckinridge, William Jennings Bryan, Newcomb Carlton, George Creel, Josephus Daniels, Thomas Watt Gregory, Herbert Hoover, Edward Mandell House, Cordell Hull, William V. Judson, Robert Lansing, William Gibbs McAdoo, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Daniel C. Roper, and Theodore Newton Vail.
The Miscellany series contains newspaper clippings, campaign publications of the Democratic Party from 1912 to 1920, a few notes and drafts of writings, and other material.