SC15275
66 boxes (ca. 30 cu. ft.)
Open to research
Information available upon request
Fred Bassett, Senior Librarian, Manuscripts and Special Collections, November 1996. Revised February 2000
Biographical Note
David Bennett Hill was born at Havana, Schuyler County, New York, on August 29, 1843. He was educated in common schools and at Havana Academy, and worked for a time as a clerk in a village store. In 1862 he went to Elmira, Chemung County, New York, and studied law in the office of Erastus P. Hart. He was admitted to the bar in 1864 and rapidly became prominent in the legal profession in Elmira. Becoming interested in local politics, he took an active part in Democratic Party campaigns.
In 1871 and 1872 Hill served in the New York State Assembly and was an ally of Governor Samuel B. Tilden. He was elected mayor of Elmira in 1881 and in 1882 was nominated for lieutenant governor of New York State as the running mate of Grover Cleveland. When Cleveland resigned in 1885 to assume the Presidency of the United States, Hill became governor. He was elected governor in 1886 and re-elected in 1888.
Governor Hill's administration was notable for its fiscal conservatism and limiting the expansion of bureaus and commissions. He was an advocate of home rule for cities and other municipalities, especially in regards to opposing special laws that concerned one particular place. He also supported reform of the codes of civil and criminal procedure, the substitution of electrocution for hanging in cases of capital punishment, the abolition of contract labor in relation to state prisons, the institution of Labor Day and the Saturday half holiday, and the establishment of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. He also is remembered for his opposition to legislation restricting the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages and for his veto of the state census bill.
Hill's reputation was that of a strong party man and a machine politician. Winning elections and partisan advantage were top priorities even if unscrupulous methods were used to win elections. Perhaps his greatest skill was playing upstate New York against New York City and Tammany.
Hill was elected to the United States Senate in 1891 despite the covert had increasingly disliked Hill's policies and methods. The principal feature of his Senate career was his battle with Cleveland over control of New York patronage, a struggle which Hill won. They also sparred when both Hill and Cleveland sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1892. Hill gained control of the New York State delegation as the result of the "snap convention" of February 22, 1892, but it was not enough to deny Cleveland the nomination. Hill's service in the Senate was also noted for his interest in fiscal and revenue legislation, including opposing an income tax and supporting the repeal of the McKinley Tariff Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.
Hill ran for governor again in 1894 but lost to Levi P. Morton. The Republican sweep of the New York State Legislature in 1896 effectively ended his career in the Senate in 1897. Hill returned to Albany to resume the practice of law that was quite lucrative up to the time of his death. He remained active in politics until 1905, although he did not again hold an elected office. Hill died October 20, 1910, at his residence, "Wolfert's Roost," near Albany, New York.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of David Bennett Hill consist of two series. The first series (Boxes 1-38 and Box 66) consists of papers created by Hill mostly in relation to his political and official activities as governor of New York State, 1885-1891, and as a member of the United States Senate, 1892-1897. The second series (Boxes 39-65) is the papers of George Stephenson Bixby related primarily to his work on an unpublished biography of David B. Hill.
The David Hill papers consist chiefly of correspondence which is arranged chronologically through 1886, then alphabetically for each year thereafter. Generally, the correspondence concerns election campaign activities and matters of political patronage as well as official duties. Prominent correspondents include Grover Cleveland, Daniel S. Lamont, Roswell P. Flower, and Samuel J. Tilden. Other papers include reports and proceedings of various legal cases, petitions regarding several bills pending in the New York State Legislature, and copies of printed speeches. There also are correspondence and related legal documents compiled by Peter Manwiller, who served as the principal executor of Hill's estate.
The papers of George S. Bixby include two typed drafts of the unpublished biography: "The Life and Times of David Bennett Hill." In addition, preparatory material for the biography is included such as research notes, annotated speeches, and news clippings. Also included is correspondence of Bixby, William C. Osborn, George Parker, Alton B. Parker, and others regarding subscription sales of the biography. Together the papers of David B. Hill and George Bixby provide a rich source of information on New York State and national politics and government in the post-reconstruction period of the nineteenth century.
Related Resources
The George S. Bixby Papers was originally a separate collection, SC12136. There are additional George S. Bixby papers not related to Hill in the Bixby Family Collection, SC16585.
Box and Folder List
Series I: David Bennett Hill Papers
Box | Folder(s) | Contents |
|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Biographical |
Correspondence, 1872-1909 | ||
1 | 2 | 1872-1879 |
1 | 3 | 1880-1881 |
1 | 4 | 1882-1883 |
1 | 5 | 1884 |
1 | 6-12 | 1885 (January-September) |
2 | 1-3 | 1885 (October - December) |
2 | 4-6 | 1886 |
2 | 7-9 | 1887 |
2 | 10-12 | 1888 |
3 | 1 | 1889 |
3 | 2-5 | 1890 |
3 | 6-12 | 1891 (A-L) |
4 | 1-7 | 1891 (M-Z) |
4 | 8-12 | 1892 (Alabama-Colorado) |
5 | 1-14 | 1892 (Connecticut-New Mexico) |
6 | 1-13 | 1892 (New York-Texas) |
7 | 1-6 | 1892 (Utah-Wyoming) |
7 | 7-15 | 1893 |
8 | 8-14 | 1894 (A-M) |
9 | 1-8 | 1894 (N-Z) |
9 | 9-14 | 1895 (A-H) |
10 | 1-8 | 1895 (I-Z) |
10 | 9-14 | 1896 (A-C) |
11 | 1-13 | 1896 (D-M) |
12 | 1-10 | 1896 (N-Z) |
12 | 11-14 | 1897 (A-C) |
13 | 1-11 | 1897 (D-Z) |
13 | 12-14 | 1898 (A-D) |
14 | 1-15 | 1898 (E-Z) |
15 | 1-12 | 1899 |
16 | 1-11 | 1900 (A-F) |
17 | 1-12 | 1900 (G-O) |
18 | 1-11 | 1900 (P-Z) |
19 | 1-12 | 1901 (A-K) |
20 | 1-12 | 1901 (L-Z) |
21 | 1-12 | 1902 (A-E) |
22 | 1-12 | 1902 (F-M) |
23 | 1-13 | 1902 (M-S) |
24 | 1-7 | 1902 (T-Z) |
24 | 8-14 | 1903 (A-R) |
25 | 1-3 | 1903 (S-W) |
25 | 4-11 | 1904 (A-H) |
26 | 1-11 | 1904 (I-Z) |
26 | 12-14 | 1905 |
27 | 1-5 | 1906 |
27 | 6-9 | 1907 |
27 | 10-12 | 1908 |
27 | 13 | 1909-1910 |
Correspondence, Special Files | ||
28 | 1 | Letters written by David B. Hill, 1874-1907 |
28 | 2 | Photocopies of letters of Grover Cleveland to David B. Hill, 1882-1895 (originals in Box 66 in VAULT) |
28 | 2A | Transcriptions of letters of Grover Cleveland to David B. Hill, 1882-1895 |
28 | 3-6 | Letters: David Hill to Carl Loeffler, 1895-1910 |
28 | 7-8 | Letters: Morton Marble to David Hill, 1891 |
28 | 9 | Invitations, 1902 |
28 | 10 | Telegrams, 1885 |
Legislation, 1886-1888 | ||
29 | 1-2 | Penal Code 283 (Rape), 1886 |
29 | 3 | Hawk Street Viaduct, (Albany), 1888 |
29 | 4-5 | McEvoy Grain Elevator Bill, 1888 |
29 | 6-10 | Arcade Railway Bill, 1888 |
29 | 11 | Miscellaneous |
30 | 1-11 | High License (Liquor) Bill, 1888 |
31 | 1-7 | High License Bill (continued) |
Legal Case Files, 1894-1910 | ||
32 | 1-3 | Equitable Life Assurance Society, 1894-1906 |
32 | 4 | [Roland Burnham] Molineux Case, 1901 |
32 | 5-6 | Annie Oakley, Libel Suit, 1903-1904 |
32 | 7-11 | Albert T. Patrick, Murder Conviction Appeal, 1901-1909. Available on microfiche (NYS Library call number: MB/FF,345.02523,P314,201-9194) |
33 | 1-8 | Albert T. Patrick Murder Conviction Appeal (continued). Available on microfiche (NYS Library call number: MB/FF,345.02523,P314,201-9194) |
33 | 9-11 | William McEwen, Probate, 1909-1910 |
Personal and Family Estate Papers, 1877-1920 | ||
34 | 1 | Eunice Hill Estate, 1877-1884 |
34 | 2 | Last Will and Testament of David B. Hill, 1906 |
34 | 3 | Inventory of Goods, Chattels and Credits, 1911 |
34 | 4 | Probate Proceedings, 1911 |
34 | 5 | Cashbook of Goods and Chattels Sold |
34 | 6 | David B. Hill-Peter Manweller Correspondence, 1906-1911 |
34 | 7-9 | Peter Manweller Correspondence, 1910-1920 |
35 | Checkbooks, 1904-1910 (5 vols.) | |
36 | Canceled Checks, 1887-1900 | |
Printed Speeches of David B. Hill, 1886-1908 | ||
37 | 1 | Albany Bicentennial Oration, July 22, 1886 |
37 | 2 | Young Men's Democratic Club of Brooklyn, February 22, 1889 |
37 | 3 | Inaugural Address, Albany, N.Y., January 1, 1889 |
37 | 4 | Young Men's Democratic Club, New York, N.Y., May 27, 1889 |
37 | 5 | "The Great Political Issue," Indianapolis, Indiana, July 1, 1890 |
37 | 6 | Democratic Ratification Meeting, New York, N.Y., October 8, 1891 |
37 | 7 | "The Issues for 1892," Elmira, N.Y., December 4, 1891 |
37 | 8 | Democratic Ratification Meeting, Brooklyn, N.Y., September 19, 1892 |
37 | 9 | "The Silver Question," U.S. Senate, February 6, 1893 |
37 | 10 | "Personal Liberty," Hop Growers Association, Sylvan Beach, N.Y., July 29, 1893 |
37 | 11 | Sherman Silver Purchase Act Repeal, U.S. Senate, August 25, 1893 |
37 | 12 | Democratic Mass Meeting, Brooklyn, N.Y., October 23, 1893 |
37 | 13 | "Tariff Bill and Income Tax," U.S. Senate, April 9, 1894 |
37 | 14 | "Democracy vs. Socialism," U.S. Senate, July 3, 1894 |
37 | 15 | "Parliamentary Reform," U.S. Senate, December 18, 1894 |
37 | 16 | Democracy of Kings County, Brooklyn, N.Y., October 20, 1898 |
37 | 17 | Business Men's Democratic Association, New York, November 2, 1898 |
37 | 18 | Campaign Speeches, 1900 |
37 | 19 | Opening the Democratic Campaign, Elmira, N.Y., September 25, 1900 |
37 | 20 | Democracy of Kings County, Brooklyn, N.Y., October1, 1900 |
37 | 21 | Jefferson Club of Erie County, Buffalo, N.Y., April 13, 1901 |
37 | 22 | Democratic Club, New York, N.Y., April 14, 1902 |
37 | 23 | Tilden Club, New York, N.Y., June 19, 1902 |
37 | 24 | Roswell P. Flower Memorial, Watertown, N.Y., September 1, 1902 |
37 | 25 | Academy of Music, Brooklyn, N.Y., October 11, 1902 |
37 | 26 | Jefferson Day Banquet, Albany, N.Y., April 13, 1903 |
37 | 27 | Niagara County Pioneer Association, Olcott Beach, N.Y., August 19, 1903 |
37 | 28 | George B. McClellan Honorary Banquet, New York, N.Y., January 4, 1904 |
37 | 29 | "The Lawlessness of President Roosevelt Displayed in the Panama Affair," Albany, N.Y., October 4, 1904 |
37 | 30 | Bar Association Banquet, Albany, N.Y., May 21, 1908 |
37 | 31 | George Clinton Re-internment, Kingston, N.Y., May 30, 1908 |
Delegate Rosters, New York Democratic Party Conventions | ||
38 | 1 | Syracuse, 1898 |
38 | 2 | Saratoga Springs, 1900 |
38 | 3 | Albany, 1904 |
Printed Material | ||
38 | 4 | Campaign Brochures and Flyers, 1886-1888 |
38 | 5 | Gubernatorial Campaign, 1894 |
38 | 6 | Farewell Banquet Program, December 21, 1891 |
38 | 7 | Extracts from the Congressional Record, ca. 1900 |
38 | 8 | David Bennett Hill Memorial, June 19, 1911 |
Series II: George S. Bixby Papers
Box | Folder(s) | Contents |
|---|---|---|
"Life and Times of David Bennett Hill" - First Draft | ||
39 | 1 | Chapter I: "Foundation of a Career" |
39 | 2 | Chapter II: "A Rising Politician" |
39 | 3 | Chapter III: "The Governorship" |
39 | 4 | Chapter IV: "Party Leadership to 1891" |
39 | 5 | Chapter V: "Philosophy of Environment" |
39 | 6 | Chapter VI: "The New Against the Old" |
39 | 7 | Chapter VII: "Senatorial Service" |
40 | 1 | Chapter VIII: "Wreck and Rebuilding of a Party" |
40 | 2 | Chapter IX: "Personal Equation" |
40 | 3 | Chapter X: "Late Activities" |
"Life and Times of David Bennett Hill" - Second Draft (same chapter titles) | ||
40 | 4 | Chapter I |
40 | 5 | Chapter II |
40 | 6 | Chapter III |
40 | 7 | Chapter IV |
40 | 8 | Chapter V |
41 | 1 | Chapter VI |
41 | 2 | Chapter VII |
41 | 3 | Chapter VIII |
41 | 4 | Chapter IX |
41 | 5 | Chapter X |
41 | 6-7 | Notes and appendices |
Annotated Speeches of David B. Hill, 1885-1890 | ||
42 | 1-2 | 1885 |
42 | 3-4 | 1886 |
42 | 5-6 | 1887 |
42 | 7-9 | 1888 |
42 | 10-11 | 1889 |
43 | 1 | 1890 |
43 | 2-6 | 1891 |
43 | 7-8 | 1892 |
43 | 9 | 1893 |
43 | 10-11 | 1894 |
43 | 12-13 | 1895 |
44 | 1 | 1896 |
44 | 2 | 1897 |
44 | 3 | 1898-1899 |
44 | 4-5 | 1900 |
44 | 6 | 1901 |
44 | 7-8 | 1902 |
44 | 9 | 1903 |
44 | 10 | 1904 |
44 | 11 | 1905-1910 |
Commentaries on Hill's Political Activities, and Opinions | ||
45 | 1 | Hill's Character and New York State politics, 1880s |
45 | 2 | Labor issues in New York State politics, 1892-1893 |
45 | 3 | Grand Army of the Republic, 1888 |
45 | 4 | McKinley Tariff Bill, 1891 |
45 | 5 | Sherman Silver Purchase Act, 1893 |
45 | 6 | Confederate Army Officer Pensions, 1895-1896 |
45 | 7 | Judicial Appointments and Conduct, 1896 |
45 | 8 | Repeal of Federal Election Law and other Senate Bills |
45 | 9 | Extradition Cases, 1885-1889 |
45 | 10 | Judge Maynard Case, 1891-1895 |
45 | 11-13 | Public Bond Sale Investigation, 1896 |
45 | 14 | Monroe Doctrine and Foreign Policy, 1895-1896 |
45 | 15 | Rivers and Harbor Act, 1897 |
Correspondence, Alphabetical Files, 1920-1922 | ||
46 | 1 | A-C |
46 | 2 | D-E |
46 | 3 | F |
46 | 4 | G |
46 | 5-6 | H |
46 | 7 | I-K |
46 | 8 | L |
46 | 9 | M |
46 | 10 | N-O |
46 | 11 | P-R |
46 | 12 | S |
46 | 13 | T-V |
46 | 14 | W-Z |
Correspondence, Name Files, 1919-1924 | ||
47 | 1 | Alexander, D.S. |
47 | 2-3 | Osborn, William Church |
47 | 4-6 | Parker, Alton B. |
47 | 7 | Parker, George F. |
47 | 8 | Wiley, Louis |
Correspondence, Subject Files, 1919-1926 | ||
47 | 9 | Genealogy of Hill Family |
47 | 10 | Hill Biography Subscriptions |
47 | 11 | Northern New York Bibliography, 1925-1926 |
47 | 12-13 | Miscellaneous, 1926 |
Research Notes for David Hill Biography | ||
48 | 1 | Personal Character |
48 | 2-3 | Political Career |
48 | 4-5 | Democratic Party Politics |
48 | 6 | Senatorial Career |
48 | 7 | Speeches |
48 | 8 | Newspaper Articles |
48 | 9 | Miscellaneous |
Notes on Hill's Personal and Political Associates | ||
49 | 1 | Daniel Manning |
49 | 2 | J.P. Miller |
49 | 3 | Alton B. Parker |
49 | 4 | H.S. Pearse |
49 | 5 | Thomas C. Platt |
49 | 6 | Michael Rickard |
49 | 7 | Edward G. Riggs |
49 | 8 | Sam uel J. Tilden |
49 | 9 | T.W. Williams |
49 | 10-14 | Alphabetical Files |
News Clippings | ||
50 | 1 | Obituaries of David B. Hill, 1910 |
50 | 2 | Perspectives on Hill's retirement from politics, 1905 |
50 | 3 | Contemporary Biographies of David Hill, 1885-1889 |
50 | 4-13 | Politics and Government, 1885-1906 |
50 | 14-15 | Equitable Retainer Case |
50 | 16 | Miscellaneous |
51 | 1-2 | Grover Cleveland |
51 | 3 | Alton B. Parker |
51 | 4 | Wheeler H. Peckham |
51 | 5 | William C. Whitney |
51 | 6 | Democratic Party Presidential Nomination, 1892 |
51 | 7 | Democratic Party Platform, 1892 |
51 | 8-10 | Anti-Snappers Campaign, 1894 |
51 | 11 | Presidential Campaign, 1896 |
51 | 12 | Politics, 1920-1924 |
51 | 13 | Obituaries, 1925-1927 |
51 | 14 | Miscellaneous |
Notebooks, 1893-1901 (written in shorthand) | ||
52 | 1 | May 26, 1893-May 29, 1895 |
52 | 2 | June 8, 1895-September 21, 1895 |
52 | 3 | October 21, 1895-December 20, 1896 |
52 | 4 | January 4, 1897-September 7, 1897 |
52 | 5 | September 7, 1897-December 13, 1897 |
52 | 6 | June 7, 1899-December 20, 1899 |
52 | 7 | January 2, 1900-May 12, 1900 |
52 | 8 | May 13, 1900-August 11, 1900 |
52 | 9 | August 14, 1900-November 27, 1900 |
52 | 10 | November 27, 1900-March 7, 1901 |
52 | 11 | March 7, 1901-September2, 1901 |
Notebooks, 1920-1921 (written in shorthand) | ||
53 | 1-3 | 1920 |
53 | 4-11 | 1921 |
53 | 12-13 | n.d. |
Assorted Papers | ||
54 | 1 | Transcripts of Hill Correspondence |
54 | 2 | Speeches and remarks (author unidentified) |
54 | 3-6 | Essays and manuscripts of Carl Loeffler |
54 | 7-12 | Speeches of Roswell P. Flower, 1892-1893 |
54 | 13 | Speech of James Milburn to the Cleveland Democracy of Buffalo, N.Y., November 17, 1890 |
54 | 14 | Roscoe Conkling Memorial, 1888 |
Bound Volumes and Special Materials | ||
Letterpress Copybooks of David Hill (Personal) | ||
55 | 1 | August 22-October 30, 1888 |
55 | 2 | October 30, 1888-November 13, 1889 |
55 | 3 | November 13, 1889-February 2, 1891 |
56 | 4 | February 2-December 27, 1891 |
56 | 5 | January 2, 1907-September 23, 1910 |
Legal Materials | ||
57 | 1 | Proceeding of the Grievance Committee of the New York State Bar Association, May 11, 1906 |
57 | 2 | Burr's Index of Legal Subjects, ca. 1900s |
Scrapbooks | ||
58 | 1 | Politics, 1884 |
58 | 2 | Politics, 1885 (January-June) |
58 | 3 | Politics, 1885 (July-August) |
59 | 4 | Politics, 1886 |
59 | 5 | Politics, 1887 |
59 | 6 | Politics, 1887-1889 |
60 | 7 | Flower-Fassett Gubernatorial Campaign, 1891 |
60 | 8 | Freedom of Worship Legislation, 1885 |
61 | 9 | Obituaries, 1900-1904 |
62 | 10-11 | Speeches, letters, etc. of David B. Hill (compiled by William Gorham Rice) |
Photographs | ||
63 | 1 | Wolfert's Roost, Residence of David B. Hill, Albany, N.Y.
|
63 | 2 | Wolfert's Roost: view of windmill |
63 | 3 | Wolfert's Roost: view of windmill and grounds |
63 | 4 | Wolfert's Roost: pond scene |
63 | 5 | Wolfert's Roost: interior scene |
63 | 6 | Hill family portrait (?) |
63 | 7 | David B. Hill seated on a porch |
63 | 8 | David B. Hill, Executive Chamber, Capitol Building, Albany, N.Y. |
63 | 9 |
|
63 | 10 | Pioneer Day, Oak Orchard, August 1902 (2 items) |
63 | 11 | David Hill, at unidentified location
|
63 | 12 | Albany County Bar Association Meeting (4 items) |
63 | 13 | Convention scene, Watertown, N.Y., September 1902 |
63 | 14 | Convention scene (?) |
63 | 15 | Unidentified Dwelling House
|
63 | 16 | Portrait of Samuel J. Tilden (2 items) |
63 | 17 | Portrait of S.N. Peck |
63 | 18 | Portrait of C.E. Duncan |
63 | 19 | Unidentified (2 items) |
63 | 20 | Group Portrait, Niagara Falls? |
63 | 21 | Cemetery scenes (4 items) |
63 | 22 | Guest house and cottages (location is not identified)
|
63 | 23 | Executive Chamber, Capitol Building, Albany, N.Y. |
63 | 24 | Unidentified group portraits (2 items) |
Folio Albums | ||
64 | 1 | Responses to invitations of reception held by David B. Hill, 1883 |
64 | 2 | Reception of Governor David B. Hill by the legislature of Georgia, October 17, 1889 |
65 | Newspapers | |
VAULT | Grover Cleveland letters to David B. Hill, 1882-1895 (Photocopies and transcriptions in Box 28, Folders 2 and 2a) | |
66 | 1 | A.L.S., Buffalo, N.Y., September 27, 1882. 1 p. |
66 | 2 | A.L.S., Executive Mansion, Albany, N.Y., December 17, 1884. 4p. |
66 | 3 | A.L.S., Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., May 20, 1886. 4p. |
66 | 4 | A.L.S., Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., December 19, 1886. 4 p. |
66 | 5 | A.L.S., Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., May 24, 1887. 4 p. |
66 | 6 | A.L.S., Oak View, Washington, D.C., July 4, 1887. 4 p. |
66 | 7 | A.L.S., Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., June 8, 1888. 3 p. |
66 | 8 | A.L.S., New York, N.Y., June 19, 1889. 3 p. |
66 | 9 | A.L.S., Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., December 24, 1894. 1 p. |
66 | 10 | A.L.S., Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., November 18, 1895. 5 p. |
66 | 11 | Telegram, June 30, 1887 |
66 | 12 | Daniel Lament Correspondence, 1885-1895. 8 items |