James Eli Watson Papers
L 237, OBC 32
1879-1913
2 mss. boxes, 1 ov. folder
Manuscript Section, Indiana Division
Indiana State Library
Processed by: Christina Baich, October 2005
Biographical Note:
James Eli Watson was born in Winchester, Randolph County, Indiana, on November 2, 1864. He graduated from DePauw University and was admitted to the bar in 1886. Watson practiced law in Winchester until 1893 when he moved to Rushville. He established a practice there with Gates Sexton. On December 12, 1893, Watson married Flora Miller with whom he had four children, Edwin, James, Catherine, and Joseph. He served as a U.S. Congressman (1895-1897, 1899-1909) and a U.S. Senator (1916-1933). He was the majority leader in the Senate from 1929 to 1933. Watson also served on a number of committees including the Committee on Woman Suffrage, Committee on Revision of the Laws, Committee on Enrolled Bills, Committee on Interstate Commerce, and the Republican Conference. After leaving the Senate, he continued to practice law in Washington, D.C. until his death on July 29, 1948. He is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland.
Sources:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. Nov. 2005.
Monks, Leander. Courts and Lawyers of Indiana. Indianapolis: Federal Publishing Co., 1916.
Reed, George Irving. Encyclopedia of Biography of Indiana, Volume I. Chicago: Century Publishing and Engraving Co., 1895.
Thompson, Donald Eugene. Indiana Authors and their Books, 1917-1966. Crawfordsville, IN: Wabash College, 1974.
Scope and Content Note:
The collection consists of school papers, speeches, correspondence, and other papers of James Eli Watson. Also included are a collection of U.S. and foreign stamps and a stamp album.
Box and Folder Listing:
Box 1.
Folder
1. Examination papers, 1879-1881
2. Spelling book, 1880-1881
3. Content for last 1880-1881 issue of Winchester High School newspaper
4. Notes, 1882, n.d.
5. Dramatization of The Hoosier Schoolmaster, n.d.
6. Speeches, 1882-1886
7. Speeches, 1887-1889
8. Speeches, 1891-1898, n.d.
9. Notes and essay on religion, 188?, n.d.
10. Papers, 1885-1903
11. Clippings, 1902, n.d.
12. Correspondence and papers on immigration, 1901-1902, n.d.
13. Correspondence, 1920-1932
14. Essay on immortality of the conscious mind, n.d.
15. Photograph, n.d.
Box 2.
Folder
United States Stamp Album
1. U.S. postage stamps
2. Foreign postage stamps
Item Listing for OBC 32:
1890 Oct. 11 State and National Issues, Speech by John M. Butler
1897 Mar. 3 The Washington Post
1897 Mar. 4 The Washington Post
1897 Mar. 5 The Washington Post
1901 Mar. 5 The Washington Post
1913 Dec. 13 The Chicago Daily Hoosier
Collection Information:
Size of Collection:
2 manuscript boxes, 1 oversized folder
Collection Dates:
1879-1913
Provenance:
Unknown
Access: This collection is open for research.
Restrictions:
None
Reproduction Rights:
Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library. Possession of a reproduction from an Indiana State Library collection does not constitute permission for use.
Language Materials are predominantly in English, with a few in Latin.
Alternate Formats:
None
Related Holdings:
Notes:
Search the Indiana State Library's Online Catalog.