Congressman James A. Haley Collection, 1948-1977
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Haley, James A., Congressman
- Extent:
- 150 Linear Feet
- Language:
- English
Background
- Scope and content:
The James A. Haley Papers consist of his personal and political papers. Correspondence, clippings, newsletters, photographs, congressional reports, and awards from various civic and political organizations give insight into Haley's public interests. Photographs of his wife, the Circus and political affiliates uncover the many facets of Haley's life. A limited amount of biographical information, including news articles about his death, reflect on how this public figure kept his private life private. Of note is the series about the Hartford Circus fire.
The Papers are arranged in five collections: Personal, Hartford Circus Fire, Political, Florida House of Representatives, and U.S. Congressional.
The Personal papers, arranged alphabetically by format, consists of calendars, correspondence, newsletters, photographs, awards and other ephemera giving a broad look into Haley's life in and out of office. A limited amount of biographical information, including news articles about his death, is included.
Haley Papers Correspondence, newsletters, and awards from various civic and political organizations show the range of Haley's public interests while the invitations he accepted give a sense of the social life of a congressman in the 1950s-1970s. Congratulatory messages may give insight into who he counted among his political allies. The correspondence in this series, 1940-1981, the bulk of which are letters from Haley's time in the U.S. House of Representative (1953-1976) is of a general nature and may not be of a specific topic, but often must still be viewed as official. Since Haley was a public figure, the materials in this series should be viewed in the context that public figures kept their private life private.
The ephemera is mostly three-dimensional objects from Haley's office. The photographs within this series are also generally of an official nature. They are arranged by subject. Of particular note are the photographs of Haley with several U.S. Presidents. Please see a digital exhibit at http://www.flsouthern.edu/library/mckay-archives/digital-exhibits/haley-presidents.aspx.
The Hartford Circus Fire collection encompasses documentation of the burning of a tent at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus in Hartford, Connecticut on July 6, 1944, the loss of 150 lives, and the resulting trial. As first vice president of the Company, James A. Haley took responsibility, was found guilty of manslaughter, and served time in a federal prison. The documentation is comprised of, but not limited to, correspondence, news clippings, financial documents and court records. Correspondence takes the form of letters and telegrams with topics between Haley and staff and Haley and lawyers about what happened in the fire and with the trial. There are also letters to Haley while he is in jail, mostly regarding his personal health and welfare. There are extensive newspaper clippings about the fire and the trial. Corporate information includes circus routes, minutes and by-laws. The financial documents are extensive and record the financial standing of the circus, while Court Records consist of trial scripts, pleas, and scripts from the parole hearing. Anyone searching for general understanding of the events of the fire should look at the newspapers, and then the letters and telegrams.
The Political Papers collection concerns Haley's campaigns and party work. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Haley was up for reelection every two years. The Campaign Files sub-series contains correspondence, government records, news articles, and other documents related to the subject's political campaigns between 1952 and 1974. Of special interest are the endorsements which how where and from whom he received his political support from.
The Democratic Party sub-collection reflects the subject's involvement with his political party. He served as a delegate to several Democratic National Conventions over the course of his career. He also took an interest in other political races throughout Florida and the nation. This series contains correspondence and newspaper articles concerning elections not specific to the subject, as well as general party information for candidates and booklets produced for the conventions.
The Florida House of Representatives collection encompass Haley's career as the State Representative for Sarasota County in the Florida House of Representatives. Haley held this office from 1948-1952. The materials are arranged in as logical order as possible. There was no discernable order prior to processing as the materials had been housed and rehoused several times since they were donated to the college. Of special note are the materials related to the Haley Committee Investigating Crime, which investigated political corruption and organized crime in the state. The collection also includes materials concerning state issues of the day, as well as issues specific to Sarasota County. Additionally, there are reference materials used by the subject in the performance of his duties. The Haley Committee on Investigating Crime sub-series contains transcripts of hearings, proceedings, correspondence, and news articles related to this committee, while the Issues sub-series is arranged Haley Papers alphabetically and contains correspondence, legislation, news articles, and reference material related to the respective issue. The Reference sub-series contain Florida House and Senate Bill Summaries, Legislative calendars, House and Senate Journals, and roll call votes. And, the Sarasota District subseries contain correspondence, reference materials, and news articles related specifically to that district.
The U.S. Congressional Papers, the largest collection, comprise the political aspects of Haley's US congressional career. The materials are arranged in alphabetical order created by his office. Haley held a seat representing the southwest coast and heartland of Florida from 1953-1977. The materials in this series contain correspondence, articles, government documents, and photographs; they cover nearly every major issue to confront the United States during the 1950s through the 1970s. Of special note is the constituent correspondence, which are letters from citizens to Haley asking for information or help on a variety of topics. Letters and telegrams sent to Haley by citizens in his district give a sense of the views of the general public concerning the issues of the era. Haley's views are expressed in his replies. The materials are arranged alphabetically by issue and date. This arrangement closely corresponds to how they were filed in the subject's office. Please note that even though the files are arranged by issue, some correspondence might also be located in "catch-all" categories such as "Haley Bills: Master File: 83rd Congress: 1953-1954," "Correspondence: 19XX," to use but two examples.
- Biographical / historical:
James Andrew Haley (January 4, 1899 – August 6, 1981) was a U.S. Representative from Florida. Born in Jacksonville, Alabama, Haley attended the public schools and the University of Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I, and saw combat in France. He was an accountant in Sarasota, Florida, from 1920 to 1933 and served as general manager of the John Ringling estate from 1933 to 1943. On December 4, 1942, Haley married Aubrey Ringling (née Aubrey Barlow Black), the widow of Richard T. Ringling who had died in 1931. Richard Ringling was the son of one of the original Ringling brothers. From 1943 to 1945, he was the first vice president of Ringling Circus and president and director of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey. In 1944, a fire broke out at a Ringling Circus show in Hartford, Connecticut that killed 169 persons. As a result of the fire he and five other circus officials pleaded no contest to charges of involuntary manslaughter and were sentenced to prison. He served eight months and in 1945 was returned to Florida, where he received a pardon from Governor Millard F. Caldwell. Upon his release from prison, Haley again served as president and director for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus of Sarasota from 1946 to 1948. He engaged in newspaper publishing and later in general printing business. He served as chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of Sarasota County 1935–1952. He was elected and served as member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1949 to 1952. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1952, 1956, and 1960. Haley was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-third and to the eleven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977). He was a member of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, the Hospital Subcommittee of the Veterans Affair Committee, and the Indian Affairs Subcommittee. He served as chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs (Ninety-third and Ninety-fourth Congresses). Haley was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fifth Congress in 1976.
Haley died in Sarasota on August 6, 1981 and was interred in Boca Raton Cemetery in Boca Raton,FL. The James A. Haley Veterans Hospital located in Tampa is named for him.
Sources: U.S. House of Representatives Official Biography and Haley Papers biographical data, 2018
- Arrangement:
The materials in this collection were maintained by the subject's staff by issue and date. With some modifications allowing for clarity, they have been arranged in a similar fashion. However, you will find that individual issues may appear under multiple subject headings. For example, "Watergate" may appear under its own heading as well as under "Richard Nixon" or "Nixon Administration." Please note that even though the files are arranged by issue, some correspondence might also be located in "catch-all" categories such as "Haley Bills: Master File: 83rd Congress: 1953-1954," "Correspondence: 19XX," to use but two examples.
James A. Haley, as chairman of the House Interior Committee during the 1970s, was instrumental in the creation of Big Cypress National Preserve. Franklin Adams lobbied for the establishment of the Big Cypress National Preserve along with many other environmental issues. The Franklin Adams Papers are housed at Florida International University. The Franklin Adams Collection, SPC9000, at Florida International University, Miami.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Researchers must contact McKay Archives in advance for access to unprocessed born digital materials in this collection. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the SPCUA's ability to provide access to unprocessed born digital materials.
- Terms of access:
The Congressman James A. Haley Papers are owned by Florida Southern College. This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Please inquire if you have questions - archives@flsouthern.edu.
Constituent Correspondence files are restricted from publication until 2052
- Location of this collection:
-
Florida Southern College111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.LakelandFL33801USA
