Scope and Content Note
The papers of Cordell Hull (1871-1955) span the years 1908-1956, with the bulk from 1933 to 1944. The collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, desk diaries, speeches and statements, transcripts of press conferences, press releases, printed matter, and miscellaneous material. There is no correspondence covering Hull's career prior to 1910 and only a small amount prior to 1924, but printed copies of Hull's congressional speeches detail his political views as a member of Congress beginning in 1907, especially on such issues as the income tax, reciprocal trade, and tariff legislation. The collection includes eight series: Correspondence ; Memoranda of Conversations ; Subject File ; Routine Correspondence ; Speech, Statement, and Article File ; Printed Material ; Miscellany ; and Index .
The focus of the papers is on Hull's nearly twelve years as secretary of state under Franklin D. Roosevelt. His diplomatic efforts are outlined in memoranda he prepared of conversations with representatives of foreign countries before and during World War II. Relations between the United States and Latin America and Hull's role in the early stages of planning for the establishment of the United Nations are documented in the Correspondence and Subject File series and in newspapers clippings. Also treated are reciprocal trade, neutrality, and the major foreign policy issues of the period.
Correspondents during his Hull's tenure as secretary of state include Franklin D. Roosevelt, other members of Roosevelt's cabinet, foreign ambassadors and heads of state, and officials of the Department of State. Correspondents from his congressional career include Woodrow Wilson, James M. Cox, Alfred Emanuel Smith, Robert Lansing, Newton Diehl Baker, Joseph P. Tumulty, Norman H. Davis, Key Pittman, Joseph F. Guffey, Bainbridge Colby, George Fort Milton, Frank B. Kellogg, Frederick H. Allen, Josephus Daniels, Gifford Pinchot, Emily Newell Blair, and Charles Hamlin. There is no family correspondence.
The Miscellany series contains biographical information and material relating to the years after Hull's retirement, including a file pertaining to the establishment of the Hull Foundation.
Dates
- Creation: 1908-1956
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1933-1944
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Cordell Hull are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
Copyright in the unpublished writings of Cordell Hull in these papers and in other collections of papers in the custody of the Library of Congress has been dedicated to the public.
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1871, Oct. 2
- Born, Overton County (now Pickett), Tenn.
- 1889 - 1890
- Student, National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio
- 1891
- B.L., Cumberland University Law School, Birmingham, Ala.
- Admitted to the Tennessee bar
- 1893 - 1897
- Member, Tennessee house of representatives
- 1903 - 1907
- Judge, fifth judicial circuit, Tennessee
- 1907 - 1921
- Member, U.S. Congress from the fourth strict of Tennessee
- 1917
- Married Rose Frances Whitney (died 1954)
- 1921 - 1924
- Chairman, Democratic National Committee
- 1923 - 1931
- Member, U.S. Congress
- 1930
- Elected U.S. senator (resigned 1933)
- 1933
- Appointed secretary of state
- 1933 - 1943
- Chairman, American delegation at various international conferences
- 1943
- Attended Quebec Conference, Quebec, Canada
- 1944
- Resigned as secretary of state
- 1945
- Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
- Appointed delegate to United Nations Conference, San Francisco, Calif.
- 1948
- Published The Memoirs of Cordell Hull. New York: Macmillan. 2 vols.
- 1955, July 23
- Died, Bethesda, Md.
Extent
70,000 items
264 containers
1 oversize
99.6 linear feet
118 microfilm reels
11 second copies
Abstract
United States senator and representative of Tennessee and secretary of state. Correspondence, memoranda, diaries, manuscript of The Memoirs of Cordell Hull (1948), speeches and statements, scrapbooks, and printed matter relating chiefly to Hull's career as secretary of state.
Organization of the Papers
The collection is arranged in eight series:
Catalog Record
Acquisition Information
The papers of Cordell Hull, U.S. senator and representative of Tennessee and secretary of state, were deeded to the Library of Congress by Hull in 1951. The major portion of the papers was received by the Library in 1952-1955, and further gifts were received in 1957-1972.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of part of these papers is available on 118 reels. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to consult the microfilm edition as available.
Processing History
The Hull Papers were organized in 1956 by George Treasure, and revised and expanded in 1973 by Anita Nolen and Patrick Doyle. The finding aid was revised in 2009.
Additional Guides
In 1975 the Library published Cordell Hull, [A Register of His Papers in the Library of Congress] .
Source
- Hull, Cordell, 1871-1955 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Allen, Frederick H. (Frederick Hobbes), approximately 1858-1937--Correspondence. (Person)
- Baker, Newton Diehl, 1871-1937--Correspondence. (Person)
- Blair, Emily Newell, 1877- --Correspondence. (Person)
- Colby, Bainbridge, 1869-1950--Correspondence. (Person)
- Cox, James M. (James Middleton), 1870-1957--Correspondence. (Person)
- Daniels, Josephus, 1862-1948--Correspondence. (Person)
- Davis, Norman H. (Norman Hezekiah), 1878-1944--Correspondence. (Person)
- Guffey, Joseph F., 1870-1959--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hamlin, Charles, 1861-1938--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hull, Cordell, 1871-1955. (Person)
- Hull, Cordell, 1871-1955. Memoirs of Cordell Hull. 1948. (Person)
- Kellogg, Frank B. (Frank Billings), 1856-1937--Correspondence. (Person)
- Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928--Correspondence. (Person)
- Milton, George Fort, 1894-1955--Correspondence. (Person)
- Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946--Correspondence. (Person)
- Pittman, Key, 1872-1940--Correspondence. (Person)
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945--Correspondence. (Person)
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. (Person)
- Smith, Alfred Emanuel, 1873-1944--Correspondence. (Person)
- Tumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick), 1879-1954--Correspondence. (Person)
- Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence. (Person)
- Monetary and Economic Conference (1933 : London, England) (Organization)
- United Nations. (Organization)
- United States. Congress. (Organization)
- United States. Department of State. (Organization)
Geographic
- Europe--Foreign relations--1918-1945.
- Japan--Foreign relations--1912-1945.
- Latin America--Foreign relations--United States.
- Tennessee--Politics and government.
- United States--Commerce.
- United States--Foreign relations--1933-1945.
- United States--Foreign relations--Japan.
- United States--Foreign relations--Latin America.
- United States--Politics and government--19th century.
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Cordell Hull Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Manuscript Division staff
- Date
- 2009
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
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