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Finding Aid for the Ben W. Hooper Papers, 1910-1959


MS-0199

University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN


Encoded by: Elizabeth Dunham, June 14, 2006.

Summary Information
Title: Ben W. Hooper Papers

Date/Date Range :   1910-1959

Extent: 116 linear feet

Abstract:
This collection contains correspondence, political papers, legal papers, and financial papers documenting Ben W. Hooper and his time as governor of Tennessee (1910-1914). Interested researchers may also wish to consult UTK-MS-2481: Ben Hooper's Last Will and Testament, undated.

Call number: MS-0199

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Access and Use
Aquisition Information:
Ben W. Hooper donated this collection to the Special Collections Library in 1955.
Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Copyright:
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of Item], Ben W. Hooper Papers, MS-0199. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Arrangement

Collection consists of 115 boxes divided into five series: Correspondence, Recommendations, applications, and replies concerning appointments in the Hooper Administration, Subject File, Political Papers, and Other Papers.


Biography / History

Ben Walter Hooper was born on October 13, 1870 in Newport, Tennessee. After graduating from Carson-Newman College in 1890, Hooper studied law under Judge Horace Nelson Cate and was admitted to the bar in 1894. He served in the Tennessee State House of Representatives from 1893-1897 and was captain of Company C, Sixth U.S. Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War. In 1906, he was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney for the East Tennessee District, a post he kept until 1910. He was a two-term governor of Tennessee (1910 and 1912), losing in 1914. Hooper was the only Republican governor elected in Tennessee between 1880 and 1920. He lost two non-consecutive races for a U.S. Senate seat in 1916 and 1934 before returning to his law practice in Newport. In 1943, he published Elections in Tennessee. He died of pneumonia on April 15, 1957. His autobiography, The Unwanted Boy, was published posthumously in 1963.


Collection Scope and Content Note

This collection contains correspondence, political papers, legal papers, and financial papers documenting Ben W. Hooper and his time as governor of Tennessee (1910-1914). Interested researchers may also wish to consult UTK-MS-2481: Ben Hooper's Last Will and Testament, undated.

Subject Terms

  • Tennessee. Governor (1911-1915: Hooper).
  • Tennessee -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950.
Contents List
   

Series I: Correspondence, 1910-1936
Box   1      
General Correspondence, 1910
Box   2      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   3      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   4      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   5      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   6      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   7      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   8      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   9      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   10      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   11      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   12      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   13      
General Correspondence, 1911

Box   14      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   15      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   16      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   17      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   18      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   19      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   20      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   21      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   22      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   23      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   24      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   25      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   26      
General Correspondence, 1912

Box   27      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   28      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   29      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   30      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   31      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   32      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   33      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   34      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   35      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   36      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   37      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   38      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   39      
General Correspondence, 1913

Box   40      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   41      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   42      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   43      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   44      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   45      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   46      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   47      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   48      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   49      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   50      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   51      
General Correspondence, 1914

Box   52      
General Correspondence, 1915-1916
Box   53      
General Correspondence, 1917-1920
Box   54      
Correspondence A-H, 1921-1922
Box   55      
Correspondence J-R, 1921-1922
Box   56      
Correspondence S-V, 1921-1922
Box   57      
Correspondence A-M, 1923-1925
Box   58      
Correspondence N-Z, 1923-1925
Box   59      
Correspondence concerning Texas Land Speculation (Mainly with A.D. Foreman), 1917-1926
Box   60     Folder   A    
Strike Congratulations, 1921
Box   60     Folder   B    
Correspondence concerning management of farm in Newport, (mainly with Henry Clevenger), 1921-1923
Box   60     Folder   C    
Greer Correspondence, 1923-1925
Box   60     Folder   D    
Date File, 1924
Box   60     Folder   E    
Date File, 1925
Box   60     Folder   F    
Date File, 1926
Box   60     Folder   G    
Congressional File, 1926
Box   60     Folder   H    
Hooper Correspondence, 1936
Box   61      
Miscellaneous and undated correspondence (Includes letters, notes, postcards, telegrams, etc.), undated
   

Series II: Recommendations, applications, and replies concerning appointments in the Hooper Administration, undated
Box   62      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Accountancy.
  2. Adjutant General.
  3. Assistant Adjutant General.
  4. Adjutant General's Staff.
Box   63      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Agriculture Department: Commissioner.
  2. Agriculture Department: Assistant Commissioner.
  3. Agriculture Department: Feed and Seed Inspector.
Box   64      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Agriculture Department: Fertilizer Inspector.
  2. Agriculture Department: Livestock Inspector.
  3. Agriculture Department: Assistant Livestock Inspector.
  4. Agriculture Department: Chief Clerk.
  5. Agriculture Department: Etomologist.
Box   65      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Archivists.
  2. Auditors.
  3. High School Inspectors.
  4. Bank: Superintendent.
  5. Bank: Examiners.
Box   66      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Capitol, State. Engineer.
  2. Capitol, State. Nightwatchman.
  3. Capitol, State. Porter.
Box   67      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Capitol, State. Superintendent.
Box   68      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Coal Oil Inspector, Anderson County.
  2. Coal Oil Inspector, Bedford County.
  3. Coal Oil Inspector, Bradley County.
  4. Coal Oil Inspector, Campbell County.
  5. Coal Oil Inspector, Carrol County.
  6. Coal Oil Inspector, Claiborne County.
  7. Coal Oil Inspector, Coffee County.
  8. Coal Oil Inspector, Cook County.
Box   69      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Coal Oil Inspector, Davidson County.
  2. Coal Oil Inspector, Decatur County.
  3. Coal Oil Inspector, Dickson County.
  4. Coal Oil Inspector, Dyer County.
  5. Coal Oil Inspector, Franklin County.
  6. Coal Oil Inspector, Gibson County.
  7. Coal Oil Inspector, Giles County.
  8. Coal Oil Inspector, Greene County.
  9. Coal Oil Inspector, Grundy County.
Box   70      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Coal Oil Inspector, Hamblen County.
  2. Coal Oil Inspector, Hamilton County.
  3. Coal Oil Inspector, Hardeman County.
  4. Coal Oil Inspector, Hawkins County.
  5. Coal Oil Inspector, Haywood County.
  6. Coal Oil Inspector, Henderson County.
  7. Coal Oil Inspector, Henry County.
  8. Coal Oil Inspector, Houston County.
  9. Coal Oil Inspector, Humphreys County.
  10. Coal Oil Inspector, Johnson County.
Box   71      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Coal Oil Inspector, King County.
  2. Coal Oil Inspector, Lake County.
  3. Coal Oil Inspector, Lauderdale County.
  4. Coal Oil Inspector, Lawrence County.
  5. Coal Oil Inspector, Lincoln County.
Box   72      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Coal Oil Inspector, McMinn County.
  2. Coal Oil Inspector, McNairy County.
  3. Coal Oil Inspector, Madison County.
  4. Coal Oil Inspector, Marion County.
  5. Coal Oil Inspector, Marshall County.
  6. Coal Oil Inspector, Maury County.
  7. Coal Oil Inspector, Monroe County.
  8. Coal Oil Inspector, Montgomery County.
Box   73      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Coal Oil Inspector, Obion County.
  2. Coal Oil Inspector, Overton County.
  3. Coal Oil Inspector, Polk County.
  4. Coal Oil Inspector, Putnam County.
  5. Coal Oil Inspector, Rhea County.
  6. Coal Oil Inspector, Roane County.
  7. Coal Oil Inspector, Robertson County.
Box   74      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Coal Oil Inspector, Rutherford County.
  2. Coal Oil Inspector, Shelby County.
  3. Coal Oil Inspector, Smith County.
  4. Coal Oil Inspector, Stewart County.
  5. Coal Oil Inspector, Sullivan County.
  6. Coal Oil Inspector, Tipton County.
  7. Coal Oil Inspector, Trousdale County.
Box   75      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Coal Oil Inspector, Unicoi County.
  2. Coal Oil Inspector, Warren County.
  3. Coal Oil Inspector, Washington County.
  4. Coal Oil Inspector, Wayne County.
  5. Coal Oil Inspector, Weakley County.
  6. Coal Oil Inspector, White County.
  7. Coal Oil Inspector, Williamson County.
  8. Coal Oil Inspector, Wilson County.
  9. Miscellaneous.
Box   76      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Dental Examiner's Board.
  2. Education Board.
Box   77      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Game, Fish and Forestry.
  2. Governor.
  3. Private Secretary.
  4. Staff.
  5. Board of Health.
  6. Highway Commission.
  7. Engineer.
  8. Immigration Bureau.
  9. Institutions.
  10. Deaf and Dumb.
  11. Mental.
  12. Insurance Department.
  13. Commissioners.
  14. Fire Marshalls.
  15. Internal Revenue Commissioner.
Box   78      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Judiciary.
  2. Circuit 6.
  3. Circuit 3.
  4. Circuit 19.
  5. County Attorney.
  6. County Judge.
  7. Juvenile Judge.
  8. Supreme Court.
Box   79      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. State Library.
  2. Mine Department.
  3. National Guard.
  4. Armorer.
Box   80      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. State Medical Board.
  2. Nurses Board.
  3. Osteopathic Examination and Registration.
  4. Pharmacy board.
  5. Political appointments in general.
Box   81      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Prison at Nashville. Physician.
  2. Prison at Nashville. Chaplain.
  3. Prison at Nashville. Matron.
Box   82      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Prison at Nashville. Warden.
  2. Prison at Nashville. Deputy Warden.
Box   83      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Prison at Petros. Physician.
  2. Prison at Petros. Assistant Physician.
  3. Prison at Petros. Chaplain.
Box   84      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Prison at Petros. Warden.
Box   85      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Prison System. Transportation Agent.
  2. Prison System. Commissioners.
  3. Prison System. Parole Officers.
  4. Prison System. Bookkeepers.
  5. Prison System. Miscellaneous applications for positions in system.
Box   86      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Public Instruction. Superintendent.
  2. Public Instruction. Assistant Superintendent.
  3. Public Instruction. Chief Clerk.
Box   87      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Pure Food and Drugs.
Box   88      
Material Concerning Appointments, undated

Scope Note:
  1. Shop and Factory Inspector.
   

Series III: Subject File, 1922-1923
Box   89     Folder   1    
Volunteer State Life Insurance Co., undated
Box   89     Folder   2    
Randolph's expenses at Morgan Park Military Academy, 1922-1923
Box   89     Folder   3    
Randolph's job, undated
Box   89     Folder   4    
Legislation, undated
Box   89     Folder   5    
Darwin J. Meserole, undated
Box   89     Folder   6    
Midway Apartment Hotel (receipts), undated
Box   89     Folder   7    
The President, undated
Box   89     Folder   8    
Light and gas bills, undated
Box   89     Folder   9    
Ben Jones Hooper, undated
Box   89     Folder   10    
Gilbert, undated
Box   89     Folder   11    
Randolph's appointment to Annapolis. (correspondence with B. Carrol Reese.), undated
Box   89     Folder   12    
Newell Sanders, undated
Box   89     Folder   13    
Cocke County tax receipts, undated
Box   89     Folder   14    
City National Bank (Knoxville, Tenn.), undated
Box   89     Folder   15    
Chicago personal tax, undated
Box   89     Folder   16    
Barnes case, undated
Box   89     Folder   17    
Birmingham tax matters, undated
Box   89     Folder   18    
Baptist Men's Class membership, undated
Box   89     Folder   19    
Harpeth National Bank, undated
Box   89     Folder   20    
First National Bank at Newport, undated
Box   89     Folder   21    
Bascom Slemp, undated
Box   89     Folder   22    
Mrs. James R. Stokely (Morgan Park Military Institute), undated
Box   89     Folder   23    
Equitable Life Assurance Co., undated
Box   89     Folder   24    
Mrs. Bob Jones Matter undated
Box   89     Folder   25    
John Jones, undated
Box   89     Folder   26    
Conference Committee of Managers of Western Railways, W.M. Jeffers, Chairman, undated
Box   89     Folder   27    
Victrola, undated
Box   89     Folder   28    
Lyceum, undated
Box   89     Folder   29    
Lillard Brickley (recommendations, etc.), undated
Box   89     Folder   30    
John Stokely, undated
   

Series IV: Political Papers, undated
Box   90      
Pamphlets and Broadsides, undated
Box   91     Folder   1    
Miscellaneous legislative material, undated
Box   91     Folder   2    
Resolutions, undated
Box   91     Folder   3    
Petitions, undated
Box   91     Folder   4    
Speeches and Vetoes, concerning State Legislature, undated
Box   92      
Legislature Bills, undated
Box   93      
Real Estate Material, undated
Box   94      
Text Book Commission material, undated
Box   95      
Extradition and requisition papers, undated
Box   96     Folder   1    
Republican State Party and Hooper Administration, undated
Box   96     Folder   2    
State property and Governor's mansion, undated
Box   96     Folder   3    
Addresses and Reports, undated
Box   96     Folder   4    
Hooper speeches, undated
Box   96     Folder   5    
Miscellaneous Speeches, undated
Box   97     Folder   1    
Pardons, undated
Box   97     Folder   2    
Legal Documents, undated
Box   97     Folder   3    
Concerning Legal Points, undated
Box   97     Folder   4    
Confederate Veterans, undated
Box   97     Folder   5    
Committees, undated
Box   97     Folder   6    
Committee Listings, undated
Box   98     Folder   1    
Clippings, undated
Box   98     Folder   2    
Prison and Reformatory Data, undated
Box   98     Folder   3    
Mental Hospital Data, undated
Box   99     Folder   1    
Southern Sociological Congress, undated
Box   99     Folder   2    
Southern Commercial Congress, undated
Box   99     Folder   3    
Local Legislation, undated
Box   99     Folder   4    
Liquor Material, undated
Box   99     Folder   5    
Normal and Industrual Schools, undated
Box   99     Folder   6    
International Congress on Hygiene and Demography, undated
Box   99     Folder   7    
Holiday Proclamation, undated
Box   99     Folder   8    
Miscellaneous, undated
Box   100     Folder   1    
Peabody College, undated
Box   100     Folder   2    
Bulletins to and other material concerning papers, undated
Box   100     Folder   3    
Roads, undated
Box   100     Folder   4    
Income Tax, undated
Box   100     Folder   5    
Back Tax Law, undated
Box   100     Folder   6    
Financial Papers, undated
Box   100     Folder   7    
Financial Papers, undated
   

Series V: Other Papers, undated
Box   101      
Material pertaining to the Hooper Account at Merchants and Planters Bank, Newport, Tenn. (canceled checks, deposit slips, bank book, etc.), undated
Box   102     Folder   1    
Promissory notes, undated
Box   102     Folder   2    
Deeds, mortgages and other material pertaining to Beverly Place, Birmingham, Alabama, undated
Box   102     Folder   3    
Statements of receipts and expenditures from Baily-Jones Company, undated
Box   102     Folder   4    
Material pertaining to accounts in various banks including: First National of Newport, Union National in Houston, Cumberland Valley of Nashville, and others, undated
Box   103      
Miscellaneous Bills and Receipts, undated
Box   104     Folder   1    
R.L.B. Decisions, undated
Box   104     Folder   2    
R.L.B. Daily Bulletin, volumes 1 and 2, undated
Box   104     Folder   3    
Speeches relevant to R.L.B., undated
Box   104     Folder   4    
Speeches relevant to R.L.B., undated

Box   104     Folder   5    
How the members of the R.L.B. voted, undated
Box   104     Folder   6    
R.L.B. Minutes, undated
Box   104     Folder   7    
R.L.B. Report on Earl V. Gray (badly damaged), undated
Box   104     Folder   8    
Miscellaneous R.L.B. docket, undated
Box   104     Folder   9    
Miscellaneous R.L.B. material, undated
Box   105     Folder   1    
"Testimony of Ben W. Hooper," undated
Box   105     Folder   2    
Printed Legislative Material.concerning R.L.B., undated
Box   105     Folder   3    
Material concerning the dissolution of R.L.B., undated
Box   106      
R.L.B. Statistical Reports, undated
Box   107      
H.L.B. Miscellaneous Publications, undated
Box   108      
Periodicals containing speeches by Ben W. Hooper, 1921-1923
Box   109      
Miscellaneous Publications, undated
Box   110     Folder   1    
Boyce Research Material, undated
Box   110     Folder   2    
Newspaper Clippings, undated
Box   110     Folder   3    
"Reminiscences and Traditions" by Ben W. Hooper, undated
Box   110     Folder   4    
Hooper Memoirs, undated
Box   111      
"The Unwanted Boy" Manuscripts, proof, publicity, etc., undated
Box   112     Folder   1    
Cosby Ruritan Club Material, undated
Box   112     Folder   2    
Editorials by Hooper, undated
Box   112     Folder   3    
Election Material, undated
Box   112     Folder   4    
Hillbilly, undated
Box   112     Folder   5    
Letters from Hooper, 1931-1955
Box   112     Folder   6    
Letters from Hooper, 1930-1939
Box   112     Folder   7    
Letters from Hooper, 1940-1949
Box   112     Folder   8    
Letters from Hooper, 1950-1959
Box   112     Folder   9    
Newspaper Clippings, Magazine Articles, and Photographs, undated
Box   112     Folder   10    
Poems by Eron B. Hope, undated
Box   112     Folder   11    
Political Papers, undated
Box   112     Folder   12    
Smoky Mountain Development Company, undated
Box   112     Folder   13    
Smoky Mountain Park Highway Issue, undated
Box   112     Folder   14    
Undated and Miscellaneous Material, undated
Box   113      
Two Bound Scrapbooks, undated
Box   114      
Two Bound Scrapbooks, undated
Box   115      
Two Bound Scrapbooks, undated