James Eli Watson Papers
L 237, OBC 32
1879-1913
2 mss. boxes, 1 ov. folder

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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.     <http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000203>.
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 OBC32, 1 Folder:

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:

Photocopying Policy:

Manuscript materials CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in their entirety. Photocopies and/or digital images cannot exceed 25% of a collection or a folder within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Check with a Manuscript Librarian for other options.