Description:

Taft William

William H. Taft Prepares for the 1898-99 Academic Year at the University of Cincinnati Law School

 

2pp autograph letter inscribed overall by future 27th U.S. President William H. Taft (1857-1930), then an Ohio-based Circuit Court Judge and professor at the University of Cincinnati Law School, and signed by him as "WmHTaft" at the bottom of the second page. Postmarked in Pointe-au-Pic, Quebec, Canada and dated August 22, 1898. On cream stationery with "United States / Circuit Court of Appeals / For the Sixth Circuit, / Judge's Chambers, / Cincinnati." letterhead. Expected paper folds and light overall toning. A few scattered stains and smudges, else near fine. 7.75" x 9.875". Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope with a preprinted Court of Appeals return of address, also hand-addressed by Taft. Bearing several hand-stamped philatelic markings. Letter-opened at top, and with isolated loss to the upper right hand corner.

 

Judge Taft was on a working vacation in southern Quebec when he wrote the following message to assistant George Leonard. Paragraph breaks have been added for improved legibility, but spelling and punctuation remain unchanged. In part:

 

"Please send to me at once all of the Harvard and our examination papers which you can find. I have returned the proof of the new announcement to Anderson and have directed him to print 2000 instead of one. When he delivers them, tell Robert + Grooms that I wish them to enclose one by mail to each of the two classes who will return next year and to each member of the faculty. Also send our regular circular and this new announcement in answer to every letter of inquiry. When the regular circular has already been send to all address[es], let it be followed by this new announcement…

 

I do not think I shall have the examination papers printed for the fall examinations - They can be typewritten and manifolded. I wish you would buy a suitable book and paste therein all the examination papers of every kind used in the school - beginning with those used a year ago last June.

 

I hope you have already obtained and prepared the book for the recording of the results of the examinations of each pupil on each subject - I shall not buy the Martinsdale Book until I return…"

 

Taft served as Professor of Property Law at the University of Cincinnati Law School, his alma mater, between 1896-1900. As professor, Taft would present 2-hour-long weekly lectures, write exams, and oversee grading. In addition, Taft served as a Dean of the College of Law there.

 

Taft had graduated from the University of Cincinnati Law School in 1880. Afterwards, he served as Cincinnati Superior Court judge and U.S. Solicitor General before assuming responsibilities as a federal court judge. President Benjamin Harrison appointed Taft a judge of the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in 1892, a position that Taft would hold until 1900. In this role, Taft and other circuit judges presided over hearing and appeals trails in Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.

 

Little is known about Taft's correspondent George W. Leonard, except that he too was a lawyer associated with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. During his travels, Taft addressed numerous pieces of correspondence to Leonard--most including copious instructions relating to both work and Taft's personal life--that indicate Leonard performed a variety of secretarial and paralegal duties for Taft.

 

The Tafts (William had married Helen in 1886) vacationed for over forty years at a summer residence at Pointe-au-Pic near Charlevoix facing Murray Bay in southern Quebec. Their summer home Fassifern Cottage was a hodgepodge of add-ons and ells, ever expanding to accommodate the growing Taft family and their house guests. The Midwestern Tafts were famous for their warm hospitality and enthusiastic entertaining. The Taft’s summer season usually culminated with William’s birthday bash on September 15th, where it was not uncommon for Helen to feed up to eighty guests.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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