Description:

Garfield James



James Garfield's Copy of 1880 Union League Club of New York Reunion Proceedings, Attended by His Assassin's Cousin John M. Guiteau!

 

Softcover 116pp booklet entitled Union League Club Proceedings at the Dinner of the Early Members of the Union League Club of the City of New York, Thursday, May 20th, 1880 (New York: Koues & Toby, 1880), dedicated to future U.S. President James Garfield on the flyleaf as "Hon James A. Garfield / With compliments of / Thos. C. Acton." Minor discoloring of front cover and a few tiny closed tears, else near fine. Measures 5.5" x 8" x .25".

 

The booklet contains transcripts of the 16 toasts and other remarks made at the May 20, 1880 reunion of Union League Club members at its Madison Square Club-House. Toasts explored topics like "3. The Honored Dead - The Memory of Abraham Lincoln," "5. The Memories of the War, from Union Square to Fortress Monroe," and "12. The Black Man and his Emancipation."

 

Ironically, the May 20, 1880 reunion was attended by the cousin of James A. Garfield's future assassin Charles J. Guiteau (1841-1882). John M. Guiteau, mentioned several times in Charles Guiteau's autobiography, was a successful New York lawyer that had formerly practiced in Cincinnati. Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881, only 200 days into his first and only term.

 

The Union League Club had been established in 1863 to help preserve the Union. After the Civil War, the New York branch had transferred its fundraising efforts to supporting the arts and improving society by financing the Statue of Liberty, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sanitary Commission, and other worthy city projects. Club members included many politicians, literary and artistic figures, and businessmen. Ohio Congressman James A. Garfield (1831-1881) was appointed an honorary member of the Union League Club of Chicago in 1880 along with U.S. Grant, Philip A. Sheridan, and other Civil War heroes.

 

In May 1880, James A. Garfield was still just a hardworking Ohio congressman. Just one month later, Republican National Convention delegates in Chicago nominated Garfield as their presidential candidate.

 

Thomas C. Acton, who gave this volume to James A. Garfield, had been an honorary member of the Union League Club since 1864. He served as New York City Police Commissioner between 1860-1869. Acton was very involved in social causes, like the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Union League Club provided him with yet another philanthropic outlet.

 



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