Albert Sidney Burleson Papers
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.
Dates
- Creation: 1845-1943
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1902-1943
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Albert Sidney Burleson 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Copyright in the unpublished writings of Albert Sidney Burleson in these papers and in other collections of papers in the custody of the Library of Congress has been dedicated to the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
- 1863, June 7
- Born, San Marcos, Tex.
- 1881
- Graduated, Baylor University, Waco, Tex.
- 1884
- Graduated, law department, University of Texas, Austin, Tex.
- Admitted to the Texas bar
- 1885 - 1890
- Assistant city attorney, Austin, Tex.
- 1891 - 1898
- District attorney, twenty-sixth judicial circuit, Texas
- 1899 - 1913
- United States Congressman, Ninth and Tenth Districts of Texas
- 1913 - 1921
- Postmaster general
- 1918
- Instituted air mail service, New York, N.Y., to Washington, D.C., using Army pilots
- 1918
- Chairman, United States Telephone & Telegraph Administration
- 1920
- Chairman, United States Commission to International Wire Communication Conference
- 1921
- Retired from public life to pursue banking interests
- 1937, Nov. 24
- Died, Austin, Tex.
Extent
13,000 items
37 containers
9 linear feet
Abstract
United States representative from Texas, postmaster general in Woodrow Wilson's cabinet, and Democratic Party leader. Correspondence, memoranda, printed matter, scrapbooks, and articles relating chiefly to Burleson’s career in politics and government, including letters to and from Woodrow Wilson.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in two series:
Catalog Record
Acquisition Information
The papers of Albert Sidney Burleson, United States representative from Texas, postmaster general, and Democratic Party leader, were given to the Library of Congress by his widow, Adele Steiner Burleson, in 1944.
Processing History
The papers of Albert Sidney Burleson were processed by K. J. Keaney in 1966. The finding aid was revised in 2009. The finding aid was updated in 2023 by Maria Farmer as part of a division-wide remediation project by the Inclusive Description Working Group.
Source
- Burleson, Albert Sidney, 1863-1937 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Baker, Newton Diehl, 1871-1937--Correspondence. (Person)
- Baker, Ray Stannard, 1870-1946--Correspondence. (Person)
- Breckinridge, Henry, 1886-1960--Correspondence. (Person)
- Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925--Correspondence. (Person)
- Burleson, Albert Sidney, 1863-1937. (Person)
- Carlton, Newcomb, 1869-1953--Correspondence. (Person)
- Creel, George, 1876-1953--Correspondence. (Person)
- Daniels, Josephus, 1862-1948--Correspondence. (Person)
- Gregory, Thomas Watt, 1861-1933--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964--Correspondence. (Person)
- House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hull, Cordell, 1871-1955--Correspondence. (Person)
- Judson, William V. (William Voorhees), 1865-1923--Correspondence. (Person)
- Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928--Correspondence. (Person)
- McAdoo, W. G. (William Gibbs), 1863-1941--Correspondence. (Person)
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945--Correspondence. (Person)
- Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919--Correspondence. (Person)
- Roper, Daniel C. (Daniel Calhoun), 1867-1943--Correspondence. (Person)
- Vail, Theodore Newton, 1845-1920--Correspondence. (Person)
- Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence. (Person)
- Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924. (Person)
- Democratic Party (U.S.) (Organization)
- United States. Post Office Department. (Organization)
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Agriculture--Texas.
- Air mail service--United States.
- Parcel post--United States.
- Postal rates--United States.
- Postal service--United States.
- Presidents--United States--Election.
- Telegraph--Law and legislation--United States.
- Telephone--Law and legislation--United States.
- World War, 1914-1918--Censorship--United States.
- World War, 1914-1918--Communications.
- World War, 1914-1918--Peace.
Uniform Title
- Title
- Albert Sidney Burleson Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Manuscript Division staff
- Date
- 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
Manuscript Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 101
Washington, DC 20540-4683
(202) 707-5387