Tuttle, Charles H., Papers

Collection Type
Papers
Year Start
1926
Year End
1970
ID

SC21262

Quantity

27 boxes (7.0 cubic ft.)

Access

Open to research

Acquisition

Deed of Gift; Charlotte Tuttle Walkup, and others, 27 August 1996.

Processed By

Nicholas Webb, Student Assistant, State University of New York at Albany, November 2007

Biographical Note:

Charles Henry Tuttle (1879-1971) was a prominent New York City lawyer, civic leader and public servant. After the early death of his father he grew up under the care of his mother and grandfather; he studied at Trinity School, Columbia College, and Columbia Law, earning his J.D. in 1902. From 1902 to 1927, he worked in New York City as a lawyer in private practice at the firm of Davies, Stone and Auerbach.

In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge appointed Tuttle as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. During the following three years he prosecuted a number of high-profile cases and earned a reputation as an anticorruption crusader. He won the convictions of numerous corrupt officials, including Federal Judge Francis A. Winslow, Kings County Judge W. Bernard Vause, and Albany political boss Daniel P. O'Connell, whom he sent to jail in New York City on a contempt-of-court charge. He led an investigation into price gouging by Broadway ticket agencies, prosecuted crooked bail bondsmen and the Moscahlades and Dachis Brothers arson rings, and worked to reform the Southern District's grand jury system; when the British cruise ship Vestris went down with American tourists still on board, his investigation of the case led to major reforms in international maritime safety law.

Tuttle's success as U.S. Attorney made him a viable candidate for political office. In September 1930, amid increasing speculation that the state Republican convention would nominate him to run against incumbent Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1930 gubernatorial election, he resigned his post and released a formal statement of his position on the most pressing issue of the campaign: although personally "dry," he favored the repeal of Prohibition and believed that individual states should be free to regulate alcohol as they saw fit. Following his nomination, he spent the next several weeks campaigning throughout the state. Although Tuttle had hoped to campaign on an anticorruption platform, his opposition to federal prohibition drew fierce criticism from rural temperance voters who felt that the Republican Party had sold them out; on Election Day, he lost to Roosevelt by what was then the largest plurality in New York State history. Following his defeat, Tuttle returned to private practice and joined the firm of Breed, Abbott and Morgan; he remained with the firm, for many years as senior partner and eventually as counsel emeritus, until his death in 1971.

In addition to practicing law, Tuttle devoted much time and energy to the civic and religious life of New York City. He served for over fifty years (1913-1966) on the board of trustees of City College, chaired the local Selective Service Board during World War I, and helped draft New York State's law against discriminatory hiring. A devout Episcopalian, he worked to further the causes of religious education and ecumenical unity, holding various offices in the Greater New York Federation of Churches and working with Catholic and Jewish leaders on interfaith issues.

Scope and Content Note:

These papers consist chiefly of correspondence dated 1927-1930, covering Tuttle's service as U.S. Attorney and his unsuccessful run for Governor of New York State. They contain an extensive amount of material from the years 1927, 1928 and 1930, but only a few items from 1929.

General correspondence is organized chronologically by year, then alphabetically by correspondent. (The original order of the papers has been followed regarding whether a given letter is alphabetized by the name of the institution or the name of the individual correspondent.) This correspondence includes letters sent and received by Tuttle in his official capacity as a U.S. Attorney as well as correspondence related to his various charitable activities. Official correspondence includes routine inquiries and information requests, correspondence regarding ongoing cases, letters of approbation and disapproval from members of the public, and correspondence with job seekers interested in civil service positions at the U.S. Attorney's Office. (Correspondence relating to applicants for attorney positions was maintained as a separate subject file; see below.)

In addition to the alphabetized general correspondence, numerous individual subject files regarding Tuttle's work, charitable work and social engagements have been preserved. These include an extensive correspondence documenting Tuttle's active career as a public speaker; correspondence to and from applicants seeking to join the legal staff of the U.S. Attorney's office in New York City; and correspondence relating to Tuttle's investigation of price gouging related to Broadway theater tickets, the case which first made his reputation as U.S. Attorney. (This latter series contains correspondence from several Broadway notables, including a letter from Edward Albee and several telegrams from Florenz Ziegfeld of the Ziegfeld Follies.) Also included are two folders of letters to and from Emory Buckner, Tuttle's predecessor as U.S. Attorney in the New York City office. (These may come from the "high file of papers," left for him to deal with by his departing predecessor, to which Tuttle alludes in his autobiography.)

A separate series documents Tuttle's gubernatorial campaign, including internal correspondence, drafts of speeches, and numerous letters from members of the public. It includes correspondence with members of the State Republican Committee and with Republican Party officials at the county and municipal level. Letters from the public deal mainly with Tuttle's advocacy of Prohibition repeal; many correspondents, particularly in rural upstate counties, accused him of betrayal, while others congratulated him for his stand against a controversial law.
            
The papers also include Tuttle's appointment diaries from 1931 to 1970, which document his day-to-day schedule of professional, charitable and social engagements, and a selection of photographs and memorabilia (including an extensive collection of honorary awards and diplomas) from throughout his life.

Box and Folder/Volume List:

Box

Folder/ Volume

Description

  

Correspondence 1927-1930

1

1

Correspondence – 1927 – A

1

2

Correspondence – 1927 – Ba-Bf

1

3

Correspondence – 1927 – Bg-Bz

1

4

Correspondence – 1927 – Ca-Cl

1

5

Correspondence – 1927 – Cm-Cz

1

6

Correspondence – 1927 – D

1

7

Correspondence – 1927 – E

1

8

Correspondence – 1927 – F

1

9

Correspondence – 1927 – G

1

10

Correspondence – 1927 – Ha-Hl

1

11

Correspondence – 1927 – Hm-Hz

2

1

Correspondence – 1927 – I-J

2

2

Correspondence – 1927 – K

2

3

Correspondence – 1927 – L

2

4

Correspondence – 1927 – Ma-Mf

2

5

Correspondence – 1927 – Mg-Mz

2

6

Correspondence – 1927 – N

2

7

Correspondence – 1927 – O

2

8

Correspondence – 1927 – P

2

9

Correspondence – 1927 – Q

2

10

Correspondence – 1927 – R

2

11

Correspondence – 1927 – Sa-Sr

2

12

Correspondence – 1927 – Ss-Sz

3

1

Correspondence – 1927 – T

3

2

Correspondence – 1927 – U

3

3

Correspondence – 1927 – V

3

4

Correspondence – 1927 – Wa-Wf

3

5

Correspondence – 1927 – Wg-Z

3

6

Correspondence – 1928 – A

3

7

Correspondence – 1928 – Ba-Bl

3

8

Correspondence – 1928 – Bm-Bz

3

9

Correspondence – 1928 – Ca-Cl

3

10

Correspondence – 1928 – Cm-Cz

4

1

Correspondence – 1928 – D

4

2

Correspondence – 1928 – E

4

3

Correspondence – 1928 – F-G

4

4

Correspondence – 1928 – Ha-Hl

4

5

Correspondence – 1928 – Hm-Hz

4

6

Correspondence – 1928 – I-L

4

7

Correspondence – 1928 – M

4

8

Correspondence – 1928 – N-Q

4

9

Correspondence – 1928 – R

4

10

Correspondence – 1928 – Sa-Sl

5

1

Correspondence – 1928 – Sm-Sr

5

2

Correspondence – 1928 – Ss-Sz

5

3

Correspondence – 1928 – Ta-Tf

5

4

Correspondence – 1928 – Tg-Tz

5

5

Correspondence – 1928 – U-V

5

6

Correspondence – 1928 – Wa-Wf

5

7

Correspondence – 1928 – Wg-Wz

5

8

Correspondence – 1928 – X-Z

5

9

Correspondence – 1929

5

10

Correspondence – 1930 – Aa-Al

5

11

Correspondence – 1930 – Am-Az

5

12

Correspondence – 1930 – Ba-Bc

6

1

Correspondence – 1930 – Bd-Bf

6

2

Correspondence – 1930 – Bg-Bl

6

3

Correspondence – 1930 – Bm-Bo

6

4

Correspondence – 1930 – Bp-Br

6

5

Correspondence – 1930 – Bs-Bz

6

6

Correspondence – 1930 – Ca-Cf

6

7

Correspondence – 1930 – Cg-Cl

6

8

Correspondence – 1930 – Cm-Cr

6

9

Correspondence – 1930 – Cs-Cz

6

10

Correspondence – 1930 – Da-Df

6

11

Correspondence – 1930 – Dg-Dz

7

1

Correspondence – 1930 – Ea-Ef

7

2

Correspondence – 1930 – El-Ez

7

3

Correspondence – 1930 – Fa-Ff

7

4

Correspondence – 1930 – Fg-Fl

7

5

Correspondence – 1930 – Fm-Fz

7

6

Correspondence – 1930 – Ga-Gl

7

7

Correspondence – 1930 – Gm-Gz

7

8

Correspondence – 1930 – Ha-Hf

7

9

Correspondence – 1930 – Hg-Hz

7

10

Correspondence – 1930 – I

7

11

Correspondence – 1930 – J

8

1

Correspondence – 1930 – Ka-Kl

8

2

Correspondence – 1930 – Km-Kz

8

3

Correspondence – 1930 – L

8

4

Correspondence – 1930 – Ma-Mf

8

5

Correspondence – 1930 – Mg-Mz

8

6

Correspondence – 1930 – N

8

7

Correspondence – 1930 – O

8

8

Correspondence – 1930 – Pa-Pf

8

9

Correspondence – 1930 – Pg-Pz

8

10

Correspondence – 1930 – Q

8

11

Correspondence – 1930 – Ra-Rf

9

1

Correspondence – 1930 – Rg-Rl

9

2

Correspondence – 1930 – Rm-Rz

9

3

Correspondence – 1930 – Sa-Sf

9

4

Correspondence – 1930 – Sg-Sr

9

5

Correspondence – 1930 – Ss-Sz

9

6

Correspondence – 1930 – T

9

7

Correspondence – 1930 – U

9

8

Correspondence – 1930 – V

9

9

Correspondence – 1930 – Wa-Wc

10

1

Correspondence – 1930 – Wd-Wf

10

2

Correspondence – 1930 – Wg-Wl

10

3

Correspondence – 1930 – Wm-Wz

10

4

Correspondence – 1930 – X-Z

10

5

Correspondence – 1930 – Unidentified

  

Correspondence 1927-1930 – Subject Files

10

6

Correspondence – Attorney General John G. Sargent – 1928

10

7

Correspondence – City College of New York – 1927

10

8

Correspondence – City College of New York – 1928

10

9

Correspondence – Dr. S. Parkes Cadman's Radio Committee – 1928-1929

10

10

Correspondence – First Anniversary Celebration of Appointment as U.S. Attorney (25 April 1928)

10

11

Correspondence – Greater New York Federation of Churches – January 1927-June 1927

10

12

Correspondence – Greater New York Federation of Churches – July 1927-December 1927

10

13

Correspondence – Greater New York Federation of Churches – 1928

10

14

Correspondence – Insurance Policies – 1929

10

15

Correspondence – International Association of Daily Vacation Bible Schools – 1928

10

16

Correspondence – International Association of Daily Vacation Bible Schools – 1929

11

1

Correspondence – Job Applicants (1927-1930) – A

11

2

Correspondence – Job Applicants (1927-1930) – B

11

3

Correspondence – Job Applicants (1927-1930) – C-F

11

4

Correspondence – Job Applicants (1927-1930) – G-J

11

5

Correspondence – Job Applicants (1927-1930) – K-O

11

6

Correspondence – Job Applicants (1927-1930) – P-R

11

7

Correspondence – Job Applicants (1927-1930) – S

11

8

Correspondence – Job Applicants (1927-1930) – T-Z

11

9

Correspondence – Kane Lodge Ritual Committee – 1929

11

10

Correspondence – Lake George Cottage – 1927-1928

11

11

Correspondence – Letters of Congratulation on Appointment as U.S. Attorney (March-May 1927) – A-F

11

12

Correspondence – Letters of Congratulation on Appointment as U.S. Attorney (March-May 1927) – G-L

12

1

Correspondence – Letters of Congratulation on Appointment as U.S. Attorney (March-May 1927) – M-R

12

2

Correspondence – Letters of Congratulation on Appointment as U.S. Attorney (March-May 1927) – S-Z

12

3

Correspondence – Mortgage Investments – 1926-1928

12

4

Correspondence – Mortgage Investments – 1929

12

5

Correspondence – New Year's Greetings – 1930

12

6

Correspondence – Receipted Bills – 1927-1928

12

7

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – March-April 1927

12

8

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – May 1927

12

9

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – June 1927

12

10

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – July 1927

12

11

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – August 1927

12

12

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – September 1927

12

13

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – October 1927

13

1

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – November 1927

13

2

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – December 1927

13

3

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – January 1928

13

4

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – February-August 1928

13

5

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – September 1928

13

6

Correspondence – Social and Speaking Engagements – October 1928

13

7

Correspondence – St. Luke's Church – 1927-1928

13

8

Correspondence – Broadway Ticket Agency Price Gouging Investigations – 1927 – A-F

13

9

Correspondence – Broadway Ticket Agency Price Gouging Investigations – 1927 – G-L

13

10

Correspondence – Broadway Ticket Agency Price Gouging Investigations – 1927 – M-Z

14

1

Correspondence – Broadway Ticket Agency Price Gouging Investigations – 1927 – Anonymous and Unsigned

14

2

Correspondence – Broadway Ticket Agency Price Gouging Investigations – 1927 – Mailing Lists and Miscellaneous

14

3

Correspondence – Broadway Ticket Agency Price Gouging Investigations – 1928 – A-L

14

4

Correspondence – Broadway Ticket Agency Price Gouging Investigations – 1928 – M-Z

14

5

Emory R. Buckner – Correspondence – 1925

14

6

Emory R. Buckner – Correspondence – 1926-1927

  

1930 Gubernatorial Campaign

15

1

Campaign Correspondence Aa-Al

15

2

Campaign Correspondence Am-Az

15

3

Campaign Correspondence Ba-Bl

15

4

Campaign Correspondence Bm-Bz

15

5

Campaign Correspondence Ca-Cl

15

6

Campaign Correspondence Cm-Cz

15

7

Campaign Correspondence Da-Dl

15

8

Campaign Correspondence Dm-Dz

15

9

Campaign Correspondence E

16

1

Campaign Correspondence F

16

2

Campaign Correspondence Ga-Gl

16

3

Campaign Correspondence Gm-Gz

16

4

Campaign Correspondence Ha-Hl

16

5

Campaign Correspondence Hm-Hz

16

6

Campaign Correspondence I

16

7

Campaign Correspondence J

16

8

Campaign Correspondence K

16

9

Campaign Correspondence La-Le

16

10

Campaign Correspondence Lf-Lz

17

1

Campaign Correspondence Ma-Mc

17

2

Campaign Correspondence Md-Ml

17

3

Campaign Correspondence Mm-Mz

17

4

Campaign Correspondence N

17

5

Campaign Correspondence O

17

6

Campaign Correspondence Pa-Pl

17

7

Campaign Correspondence Pm-Pz

17

8

Campaign Correspondence Ra-Rl

17

9

Campaign Correspondence Rm-Rz

17

10

Campaign Correspondence Sa-Sc

17

11

Campaign Correspondence Sd-Si

17

12

Campaign Correspondence Sj-Sz

17

13

Campaign Correspondence T

17

14

Campaign Correspondence U

17

15

Campaign Correspondence V

18

1

Campaign Correspondence Wa-We

18

2

Campaign Correspondence Wf-Wl

18

3

Campaign Correspondence Wm-Wz

18

4

Campaign Correspondence XYZ

18

5

Campaign Correspondence Anonymous and Unsigned

18

6

Campaign Correspondence – "Information" [on various scandals] subject file

18

7

Speeches – October 7, 1930 – October 13, 1930

18

8

Speeches – October 13, 1930 – October 17, 1930

18

9

Charles. H. Tuttle Greater New York Committee – Correspondence, Notes and Minutes

18

10

Real Estate Tuttle-for-Governor Committee – Correspondence

18

11

Tuttle for Governor Business Men's Committee – Correspondence and Miscellaneous Documents

18

12

Clarke Brothers Depositor's Committee – Letter of Endorsement and Drafts

18

13

Commonweal Oct. 29, 1930 [includes Tuttle campaign article]

18

14

Statement of Charles H. Tuttle to the Mass Meeting in Madison Square Garden Assembled for the Defense of the Palestine Mandate, 2 November 1930

18

15

29 October 1930 – Address to Wall Street Tuttle Club luncheon

18

16

Itineraries

18

17

Notes, Typescripts and Miscellaneous

18

18

Pamphlets, Memorabilia and Stationery

  

Appointment Diaries, 1931-1970

19

1

Appointment Diary, 1931

19

2

Appointment Diary, 1932

19

3

Appointment Diary, 1933

19

4

Appointment Diary, 1934

19

5

Appointment Diary, 1935

19

6

Appointment Diary, 1936

19

7

Appointment Diary, 1937

19

8

Appointment Diary, 1938

20

1

Appointment Diary, 1939

20

2

Appointment Diary, 1940

20

3

Appointment Diary, 1941

20

4

Appointment Diary, 1942

20

5

Appointment Diary, 1943

20

6

Appointment Diary, 1944

20

7

Appointment Diary, 1945

20

8

Appointment Diary, 1946

21

1

Appointment Diary, 1947

21

2

Appointment Diary, 1948

21

3

Appointment Diary, 1949

21

4

Appointment Diary, 1950

21

5

Appointment Diary, 1951

21

6

Appointment Diary, 1952

21

7

Appointment Diary, 1953

22

1

Appointment Diary, 1954

22

2

Appointment Diary, 1955

22

3

Appointment Diary, 1956

22

4

Appointment Diary, 1957

22

5

Appointment Diary, 1958

22

6

Appointment Diary, 1959

23

1

Appointment Diary, 1960

23

2

Appointment Diary, 1961

23

3

Appointment Diary, 1962

23

4

Appointment Diary, 1963

23

5

Appointment Diary, 1964

23

6

Appointment Diary, 1965

23

7

Appointment Diary, 1966

24

1

Appointment Diary, 1967

24

2

Appointment Diary, 1968

24

3

Appointment Diary, 1969

24

4

Appointment Diary, 1970

  

Memorabilia, Photographs and Miscellaneous

25

1

Addresses to Brotherhood-In-Action – 1962, 1966

25

2

Address to the Republican County Advisory Committee, 16 March 1925 [Pamphlet Reprint]

25

3

Columbia University Commencement Programs – 1899, 1902

25

4

Family Letters – 1965, 1968

25

5

Golden Rule Foundation – 1930 Annual Board Meeting Reports and Docket

25

6

Golden Rule Foundation – 1930 Annual Report

25

7

Helene Tuttle – Family Correspondence 1930-1943

25

8

Helene Tuttle – On Our Way Rejoicing – Reviews

25

9

The Incinerator (Civilian Conservation Corps Camp 204  Newsletter) – August 193[?]

25

10

In Re: Untermeyer – Notes

25

11

Lake George Festival Programs – 1929, 1935

25

12

"Law, Liberty and License" [Pamphlet Reprint of 13 March 1928 Speech]

25

13

Miscellaneous Event Programs; Seating List for Unspecified Event

25

14

"Mr. Tuttle's Year" [Editorial], The Sun 13 July 1928 – Reprinted Clippings

25

15

Newspaper Clippings re: Gubernatorial Campaign, Whitney Case

25

16

The Orthodox Observer 15 November 1945

25

17

Roosevelt House League – 1947-1949 – Correspondence and Drafts

25

18

Roosevelt House League – 1947-1949 – Invitations and Programs, Miscellaneous Notes and Documents

25

19

Testimonial Dinner to the Right Rev. William T. Manning, D.D. – Program

25

20

U.S. v. Clarke Bros. – Indictments

25

21

U.S. v. Clarke Bros. – Information and Complaints

25

22

U.S. v. Clarke Bros. – Grand Jury Statement

25

23

"With Apologies to Lewis Carroll – Composed by 'Old Father Tuttle' and Read by Him at the Tuttle Boys' 86th Birthday Annual Banquet" [poem]

26

1

Photograph – Arthur Knight retirement dinner – 29 September 1969

26

2

Photograph – Arthur Knight retirement dinner – 29 September 1969

26

3

Photograph – Arthur Knight retirement dinner – 29 September 1969

26

4

Photograph – Arthur Knight retirement dinner – 29 September 1969

26

5

Photograph – Arthur Knight retirement dinner – 29 September 1969

26

6

Photograph – Candid snapshot and accompanying letter – 14 June 1965

26

7

Photograph – CCNY Trustees swearing in with Mayor Wagner – 16 May 1957

26

8

Photograph – CCNY Trustees swearing in with Mayor Wagner – 16 May 1957

26

9

Photograph – CCNY Trustees swearing in with Mayor Wagner – 16 May 1957

26

10

Photograph – CCNY Trustees swearing in with Mayor Wagner – 16 May 1957

26

11

Photograph – CCNY Trustees swearing in with Mayor Wagner – 16 May 1957

26

12

Photograph – CCNY Trustees swearing in with Mayor Wagner – 16 May 1957

26

13

Photograph – CCNY Trustees swearing in with Mayor Wagner – 16 May 1957 – Mayor Wagner with children

26

14

Photograph – Farewell Party at Davies, Auerbach and Cornell – 1927

26

15

Photograph – Governor Harriman signing Lake George anti-pollution bill – 23 April 1957

26

16

Photograph – Mounted formal portrait, undated

26

17

Photograph – "Mr. Anthony DiCapua and Friends"

26

18

Photograph – Police Academy Commencement, 12 June 1957

26

19

Photograph – Tuttle receiving citation from American Legion, undated

26

20

Photograph – Tuttle delivering address at CCNY [late 1950s?]

26

21

Photograph – Tuttle receiving plaque at CCNY [late 1950s?]

26

22

Photograph – Unidentified Address

26

23

Photograph – Unidentified Group Photograph

26

24

Photograph – Unidentified Group Portrait

26

25

Photograph – Unidentified Group Portrait

26

26

Photograph – Unidentified Group Portrait

26

27

Correspondence regarding unidentified photographs

26

28

Handwritten autograph book from CCNY staff – 14 February 1922

26

29

Handwritten autograph book from CCNY faculty – 19 June 1923

26

30

Columbia College Yearbook – 1899

27

1

Mounted newspaper clippings

27

2

Certificate of Enrollment – Federal Communications Commission – 13 February 1946

27

3

Mounted formal portrait, undated

27

4

Flyer – "Our Thanksgiving" – 17 September 1926

27

5

Amoco News 1935

27

6

Congressional Certificate of Merit – Selective Service Medal

27

7

Photograph – Dinner for William C. Breed – 4 January 1936

27

8

American Arbitration Association – Certificate of Membership - 10 October 1941

27

9

Photograph – Testimonial Dinner to John P. O'Brien – 8 April 1937

27

10

Photograph – Tuttle Boys Anniversary Dinner – 27 April 1950

27

11

Photograph – Columbia Law Class of 1902 – 40th Reunion

27

12

Photograph – Columbia Law Class of 1902 – 35th Reunion

27

13

American Arbitration Association – Certificate of Membership – 5 May 1955

27

14

Selective Service Board – Certificate of Appointment – 1940

27

15

NYC Board of Higher Education – Certificate of Membership – 16 May 1957

27

16

New York State Constitution Commission – Certificate of Membership – 4 February 1959

27

17

Awards and Membership Certificates

27

18

NYC Board of Higher Education – Certificate of Membership – 21 July 1948

27

19

Pen and ink caricature, undated

EL

1

Blueprint and related correspondence, 1930