Herbert H. Lehman Papers, 1878-2002 bulk 1930-1963

Author
Lehman, Herbert H, 1878-1963 (Herbert Henry) [Browse]
Format
Manuscript
Language
English
Description
607 linear feet (1357 document boxes 20 record storage cartons 23 flat boxes, 1 mapcase drawer)

Copies in the Library

Location Call Number Status
ReCAP - Remote StorageF d 8365 Browse related items Request
  • Location has
  • Second copies of reels 1, 4, 7, 10, 12, 16, 17, 29, 35, 39, 53, 54, and 61 from the Governship Papers

    Details

    Subject(s)
    Getty AAT genre
    Compiled/​Created
    1878-2002 bulk 1930-1963
    Arrangement
    This collection has been organized into 16 series.
    Restrictions note
    • The following boxes are located on-site: Subseries I.1: Special Correspondence (Boxes 137-186, 1298-1303).
    • This collection is located off-site except as noted above. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
    • This collection has no restrictions.
    • Some unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are available onsite via links in the container list. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized. Email rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
    Biographical/​Historical note
    • Herbert Henry Lehman was born in New York City on March 28, 1878. He was the son of Mayer Lehman of Rimpar, Germany, and Babetta Newgass. Along with his brothers Henry and Emanuel, Mayer Lehman founded the Lehman Brothers investment banking firm.
    • Herbert Lehman grew up in New York and attended Sachs Collegiate Institute. After graduating from Williams College with a BA in 1899, he worked for the J. Spencer Turner Co., a textile manufacturing company, as a salesman and quickly worked his way up to vice president and treasurer. In 1908, he became a partner in Lehman Brothers. Lehman married Edith Altschul in 1910 and they would adopt three children, Peter, John, and Hilda Lane.
    • When World War I began, Lehman was eager to join the armed services. At 39 he was considered too old to fight, but persisted until he found a position at the Navy Department in the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, where he became responsible for procuring textiles for clothing, uniforms, and blankets. He was eventually made assistant director of the Purchase, Storage, and Traffic Division, which was charged with securing supplies for the Army on a massive scale. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his work.
    • During the 1920s, Lehman became actively involved in politics and assisted with the presidential campaign of Al Smith. He left business entirely in 1928 and became Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Democratic Party. Lehman was elected lieutenant governor of New York in 1928 and 1930 and worked closely with then-governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, who valued his understanding of business. Lehman was elected governor of New York in 1932 and served four terms from 1933 to 1942. He was the first Jewish governor of the state.
    • During the Depression, Lehman supported President Franklin D. Roosevelt and based New York relief efforts on the New Deal. His "Little New Deal" programs set a minimum wage, provided aid to the unemployed, created options for public housing, created an unemployment insurance program, reduced utility rates, and aided farmers. Lehman also ensured that New York received maximum funding from New Deal programs such as the Civil Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration. LaGuardia Airport, The Central Park Zoo, the Triborough Bridge, and the Lincoln Tunnel were among the projects created by New Deal programs.
    • On December 3, 1942, Lehman resigned as governor and become Director of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations for the United States Department of State, an appointment offered by Roosevelt. The remainder of his term--only one month--was served by Charles Poletti. The following year, Lehman was chosen for the position of Director-General of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). From 1943 to 1946 he helped organize the distribution of food, supplies, and equipment to European countries.
    • All three of Lehman's children served in the US military during World War II. His son Peter, a pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his missions in Germany, was killed during a practice flight in 1944.
    • Lehman was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from New York in 1946, but was defeated by Republican candidate Irving Ives. In 1949, when Senator Robert F. Wagner retired early due to health issues, Lehman ran in the special election for the remainder of the term and won, defeating John Foster Dulles. In 1950, he was re-elected to a full term and served until 1956. As a senator Lehman faced many challenges. He opposed changes to immigration policies that would base quotas on national origin, arguing that such policies were racist and that family unification, occupational skill, and pleas for asylum were more important considerations. He argued for better enforcement of civil rights legislation and an end to discrimination in housing and employment. Lehman strongly opposed the actions of Senator Joseph McCarthy throughout the 1950s and spoke openly and persistently against him.
    • Lehman retired from the senate in 1956 and did not seek another office, but he was still involved in politics and joined a group of reform Democrats with the aim of removing Tammany Hall influences from the party. Their efforts eventually ended the Tammany political machine.
    • Both Herbert and Edith Lehman were active in philanthropy throughout their lives and were given many awards in recognition of their aid. They funded "Pete's House" at the Henry Street Settlement honor of their son Peter, who had been a youth leader there. They also created the Lehman Children's Zoo (now the Tisch Zoo) at the Central Park Zoo in 1961.
    • Herbert Lehman died on December 5, 1963, at the age of 85.
    Summary note
    • This collection documents the personal and political life of Herbert H. Lehman, who served as lieutenant governor, governor, and senator of New York, and as director-general of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.
    • The collection documents Herbert H. Lehman's entire political career, though it focuses most heavily on his years as governor and senator. There is also material relating to his personal life, particularly his family and hobbies. It contains correspondence, speeches, research files, photographs, audio and visual recordings, oral histories, scrapbooks, articles, clippings, book drafts, appointment books, artwork, political cartoons, and memorabilia.
    Notes
    Materials Separated from the Resource: Several artworks were moved to Art Properties and cataloged separately. Contact Art Properties for access. Art Properties took custody of the three portraits: C00.1824.01 = Portrait of Herbert H. Lehman (1878-1963) by Everett Raymond Kinstler: https://clio.columbia.edu/catalog/14291009 C00.1824.02 = Portrait of Edith Altschul Lehman (1899-1976): https://clio.columbia.edu/catalog/14291010 C00.1824.03 = Portrait of Irving Lehman (1876-1945): https://clio.columbia.edu/catalog/14291011 Also part of the Lehman collection was a wooden sculpture that we took custody of and accessioned. The figure is standing on a ball with the labels UNRRA on it. The accession number is C00.1824.04. However, a CLIO record does not yet exist for it. The sculpture is in Art Properties storage. Note that another related item C00.1677 (Portrait of Herbert H. Lehman (1878-1963) by Daniel E. Greene: https://clio.columbia.edu/catalog/14983101) has been in the Art Properties collection for decades, so likely was never a part of Herbert Lehman Papers
    Location of originals
    The Special Correspondence Files have been scanned and cataloged and are available online at https://dlc.library.columbia.edu/lehman .
    Location of other archival materials
    • Marshall MacDuffie Papers Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Orin Lehman Papers Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Overbrook Press Records, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • William B. Welsh Papers, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Frank Altschul Papers, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Paul Baerwald Papers, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Hugh R. Jackson Papers, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Sir Robert G.A. Jackson Papers, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Edith Lehman Papers, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • James G. McDonald Papers, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Charles Poletti Papers, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Richard Scandrett Papers, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    • UNRRA Microfilm, Columbia University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
    Action note
    • Correspondence, manuscripts, documents, sound recordings, motion pictures, political cartoons, clippings, printed material, memorabilia.
    • Surveyed Julie Miller. Processed by Brian Mackus, Columbia College '12; Tracy Thai, Barnard College '11; Stefanie Patterson, Columbia College '12; Hilary Hanson, Columbia College '12; Reuben Berman, Columbia College '14, and Carolyn Smith, archivist. Finding aid written by Carolyn Smith in 05/--/87 April 2014.
    Accumulation and frequency of use
    Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
    Rights and reproductions note
    Reproductions may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Curator of Manuscripts/University Archivist, Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML). The RBML approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
    Provenance
    Gift of Edith Lehman, William Shannon, Alan Nevins, and indefinite loan from New York Public Library.
    Source acquisition
    Source of acquisition--NYPL. Method of acquisition--Loan; Date of acquisition--1971. Accession number--88-A67.
    Cite as
    Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Herbert H. Lehman Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
    OCLC
    298686804
    RCP
    C - S
    Statement on language in description
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