Five Typed Letters (4 Signed) to or About Arthur A. McLean

White, Charles; Curtiss, Harlow C.; Grace, Joseph Peter; Carr, Wilbur J.

About this Item

Collection of five letters (1 autograph letter) signed, which deal with Arthur A. McLean (d. 1918), a successful businessman from Newburgh, New York. He owned a liquor and grocery business and was a leader in the New York state Democratic Party, serving as a delegate to the National Conventions in 1896, 1912 and 1916. And also filled the post of party treasurer temporarly. In 1913 McLean was indicted for accepting questionable campaign contributions. During 1914 he pleaded guilty to part of the charges and was given a suspended sentence. His clemency was supported by the District Attorney and soon-to-be governor Charles Seymour Whitman. With the scandal behind him he went on to serve as the U.S.Consul to the Dominican Republic and Belgium, dying before he could assume the latter post. The letters are from the period 1914 to 1918. The letters are: Typed letter from Charles White, party sergeant at arms for New York, 1914 (signed) asking McLean to forward party information to state headquarters; Autograph letter signed, 1914, from Harlow C. Curtiss (1858-1933), noted lawyer from Buffalo. He expresses "regret" to McLean "that you were subjected to the recent annoyance as to campaign contribution matters in the Whitman investigation affair . "; Typed letter, signed by Joseph Peter Grace, president of W.R. Grace & Co., New York, dated 1916, saying that he wished McLean had stayed longer with the firm and wishes him well; Typed letter from 'Special Inspector for Dominican Customs' writing as to the good job McLean has done in the Dominican Republic, not signed or dated (c.1918); Typed letter from Wilbur J. Carr (1870-1942) 'Director of the Consular Service', U.S.Department of State, dated 1919 expressing sympathy to McLean's brother at the time of McLean's death. Carr served in the State Department for 47 years rising to Assistant Secretary of State. Also included is the envelope of the State Department letter and two copies of notification that Arthur A. McLean has died in transit to Belgium from the Dominican Republic. An interesting group of letters relating to a party official from New York during both good and bad times for him.

Seller Inventory # 9847

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Five Typed Letters (4 Signed) to or About Arthur A. McLean
• Binding: No Binding
• Condition: Collectible-Fine
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • U.S. History