Guide to the Robert Hale Papers, 1876 - 1976, undated
No restrictions.
Cite as: Robert Hale Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine.
The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.
Robert Hale (Bowdoin 1910) was born in Portland, Maine, on November 29, 1889. A Rhodes Scholar, he received his law degree from Oxford University in 1912. Hale was an attorney in Boston (1914-1916), Portland (1917-1942), and Washington, D.C. (1959-1975). He served in the Maine state legislature (1923-1930) and was a U.S. Representative from Maine (1943-1958). Hale was among the first to perceive socialistic and totalitarian implications in the New Deal. He expounded his views in a series of articles in Harper's Magazine during the winter of 1934: "Myself When Old," "Leftward Ho," and "A City of Habitation." He considered himself a reactionary and was a strong defender of civil rights. Hale married Agnes Burke of Morristown, N.J.; they had a daughter, Patricia (b. 1926). Hale was related to five other congressmen: his cousin, Frederick Hale, was U. S. Senator (1917-1941); his uncle, Eugene, was a U.S. Representative (1869-1879) and U.S. Senator (1881-1911); Eugene's father-in-law, Zachariah Chandler, and Zachariah's two uncles, John and Thomas Chandler, also served in the U.S. Congress. Robert Hale served as Bowdoin Overseer from 1969-1976. He died on November 30, 1976, in Washington, D.C.
The collection contains letters, including many to and from Bowdoin College during Hale's tenure as an Overseer; speeches, beginning with Hale's high school salutatory address, but mostly dated from the 1940s, and including campaign speeches; legal case records and briefs; voting records for the sessions when Hale was a member of Congress; and photographs, mostly from visits with constituents. Prominent correspondents include John L. Baxter, Philp Beam, James Stacy Coles, Archibald Cox, Roger Howell, Jr., Walter Lippman, Kenneth Roberts, Marvin Sadik, Booth Tarkington, and Harry S. Truman.
Organized in eight series.Correspondence (1938-1976, n.d.); Speeches (1917-1951); Case Records and Briefs (1903-1938); Voting and Attendance Records (1943-1958); Diaries; Biographical and Miscellaneous Materials; Clippings and Scrapbooks; and Images (1945-1961, n.d.)
Unpublished chronological and alphabetical list of correspondents available in library.
Arranged chronologically.
This series contains professional and personal correspondence from throughout Hale's life. Many of the letters are between Hale and administration officials at Bowdoin College, principally during Hale's time as Overseer. Of interest also are typescripts of letters written during Hale's trips to Africa, South America, and the Polar regions. Frequent correspondents include John L. Baxter, Philip C. Beam, James Stacy Coles, and Roger Howell, Jr.
No restrictions.
1938 Sep 2 - 1957 Mar 23
1959 Jan 15 - 1960 May 30
1960 Jun 6 - 1961 Dec 20
1962 Jan 5 - 1963 Feb 26
1963 Mar 8 - Dec 25
1964 Jan 2 - Dec 22
1965 Jan 7 - Oct 19
1965 Nov 1 - 1966 Oct 24
1966 Nov 2 - 1967 Apr 28
1967 May 2 - Dec 27
1968 Jan 2 - 1969 Oct 7
Bowdoin Overseer:
1969 Oct 10 - 1970 May 14
1970 May 15 - Dec 28
1971 Jan 20 - 1972 Nov 20
1972 Nov 21 - 1973 Apr 23
1973 May 2 - 1976 Nov 29
n.d.
Letters from trips to Africa, the Poles, and South America
Walter Lippman
Kenneth Roberts
Booth Tarkington
Arranged chronologically.
This series contains speeches given by Hale. Most date from his time as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives; some of these are clipped from the Congressional Record. Others date from his time as a member of the Maine state legislature. Also included is his high school salutatory address.
No restrictions.
1906 high school salutatory address
1917 - 1939
1940 Jan - Jun
1940 Sep - Dec
1940 (radio)
1940 May 1, Bartlett Radio Co. LP album
1941
1942
1942 (campaign)
1943 - 1944 (clipped from Congressional Record)
1944
1947 - 1950 (copied or clipped from Congressional Record)
1951 (clipped from Congressional Record)
n.d. (arranged by title)
n.d. untitled
Arranged alphabetically.
This series contains case records and legal briefs from several court cases including Gasoline Products Co. vs. Champlin Refining Co. and Tally vs. Fox Film Corporation.
No restrictions.
Briefs, 1916-1933
Briefs, 1924-1938
Briefs, 1930-1933
Briefs in federal courts, 1936-1938
Briefs in state courts, 1915-1933
Briefs, Tally v. Fox Film Corp.
College v. Paper Co., hearing before Judge Aldrich, May 1903
Gasoline Products Co. v. Chaplin Refining Co., No. 1134, Briefs on Second Appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals and on Certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court
Gasoline Products Co. v. Chaplin Refining Co., No. 1134, Briefs on Second Appeal to Circuit Court of Appeals, First Circuit
Gasoline Products Co. v. Chaplin Refining Co., Nos. 1180-1186, Record and Briefs in District Court
Gasoline Products Co. v. Chaplin Refining Co., Record and Briefs on First Appeal
Sinclair v. Jenkins, Record, 1938
State of Maine Supreme Jud. Court, James W. Johnston v. Columbia Life Insurance Co., Record and Briefs
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Frank W. Garvin v. Equitable Trust Co. of NY, Record and Briefs
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Gasoline Products Co. v. Chaplin Refining Co., transcript of record
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Paispearl Products v. Joseph H. Meyer Bros., et al., Record and Briefs
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Penley Bros. Co. v. Louise A. Hall, Executrix, Record and Briefs
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Royal Indemnity Co. v. American Bond and Mortgage Co., Record and Briefs
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, James L. Brynne v. Daniel J. Green, transcript of Record and Briefs
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, L.C. Page and Co., et al., v. Fox Film Co., et al., Record and Briefs
U.S. District Court, Pennsylvania Co. v. United Railways, Briefs, 1938
U.S. Supreme Court, Royal Indemnity Co. v. American Bond and Mortgage Co., Petition for Writ of Certiorari and Briefs
Arranged chronologically.
This series contains individual voting records by Roll Call for the years that Hale was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
No restrictions.
Individual Voting Records by roll call in the United States House of Representatives, 1943 - 1944 through 1957 - 1958
Arranged chronologically.
This series contains diaries, many of which were kept by Louisa Amanda Whitcomb, a close family friend who lived with the Hales from 1886-1920. Also included are three diaries kept by Robert Hale, one of which documents a 1964 European trip.
No restrictions.
L.A. Whitcomb:
1874 - 1877
1878 - 1881
1882 - 1885
1886 - 1889
1890 - 1893
1894 - 1897
1898 - 1901
1902 - 1905
1906 - 1909
1910 - 1913
1914 - 1917
1918 - 1920
Robert Hale:
1922, 1923
1964 Mar 25 - Apr 14
Arranged alphabetically.
This series contains biographical materials and personal and professional records and ephemera primarily from Hale's time as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Also included are travel materials featuring pamphlets and country data sheets.
No restrictions.
Biographical material
Campaign material, 1958
Joint Liberian-United States Commission for Economic Development trip, 1954
Labor Management Regulations Act of 1947: changes, analysis of criticism, recommendations
Legislative Reference Service "An International Outer Space Agency for Peaceful Purposes" 1958 Mar 20
Maine miscellaneous
Patricia Hale: wedding expenses for, short stories by
Printed ephemera 1951-1960
Programs from the Opera Society of Washington, 1961-1962, 1966-1967
"Round Table" articles by Hale, 1927-1934
Selassie, Haile, Emperor of Ethiopia visit to U.S.
Short story by Mrs. Agnes Hale
Travel:
Argentina pamphlets, 1951
Egypt pamphlets, 1951 - 1952, n.d.
Misc. pamphlets, maps, 1951, 1955
South Africa trip memos, 1954
Gabon, Belgian Congo pamphlets, 1953 - 1954
South Africa pamphlets, 1954, n.d.
Panama pamphlets, 1956
Australia pamphlets, 1957, n.d.
Japan pamphlets, 1957
Philippines pamphlets, 1957
Antarctica, International Geophysical Year 1957-1958
Antarctica, 1957-1958, re: article on Antarctica
Swans Hellenic Cruise pamphlets, 1961-1962, n.d.
Egypt, Swans Hellenic Travel Club pamphlets, 1962
Egypt pamphlets, 1962
Egypt pamphlets, 1962
Yucatan pamphlets, 1964-1965
Portugal pamphlets, 1964, 1966, n.d.
Around the world: memos and invoices, 1967
Around the world pamphlets, 1967
U.S. House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce:
Country data
Trip to Gabon, Belgian Congo, 1954
Arranged chronologically.
The clippings document details from Hale's personal and professional life, including articles covering the 1958 election and articles concerning the Bowdoin College Senior Center. One of the scrapbooks details Hale's early life; the others document his time as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
No restrictions.
Newsclippings:
1920 death of L.A. Whitcomb; 1922 RH/Agnes Burke marriage
1949 re James Forrestal
1950 Sep 15 San Salvador Defense Ministry newspaper
1955-58
re 1958 election
re Bowdoin Senior Center, 1960
undated and misc.
Ephemera from scrapbook 1940 - 1950
Scrapbooks:
1940 - 1950
Margaret Hale: newsclippings, photographs, and ephemera re RH, 1910
1943-1944
1945-1947
1948-1950
1951-1953
1953-1955
1956-1958
Arranged alphabetically.
This series includes photographs of the Japanese surrender in World War II, Hale's government trips to Havana and San Salvador, personal travels, and Hale with constituents at BIW, Fort Devins, Fort Preble, and at various Maine businesses. Also included are photographs of Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Margaret Chase Smith, and Harry Truman.
No restrictions.
Small
Bath Iron Works launching, 1944 Sep 17
Campaign, n.d.
RH
RH, neg.
RH on elephant
RH on elephant, neg.
Japanese Surrender Signatories, 1945
Sailboat
Ship Reine Marie Stewart
Trinidad - Hale with unidentified group
Trinidad - unidentified group
Unidentified group
Medium
RH
RH w/ Dorothy Young, 1957 Jul 21
Portrait postcards
Portrait stamps
Unidentified group w/ Eleanor Roosevelt, Mr. and Mrs. Hale
Visit to Saco - Lowell shops
Large
4H delegation w/ Maine Congressional Delegation, c. 1-4
Aboard ship, 1954 Jun 26
Agnes Burke Hale
Antarctica
Bath Iron Works launchings
Biddeford - Saco group, 1958
Campaign photo
Congressional Committee Session in Las Vegas
Delegation inviting President Hoover to summer in Maine
Eisenhower
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia
Fort Devens, 1955 Sep 15
Fort Preble Transfer, 1952 Aug
Havana trip w/ Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, 1951
Lobster bake w/ V.P. Nixon, 1955
McIntyre, Clifford
Maj. Gen. Prentiss, Sen. Payne
Maine Delegation
Margaret Chase Smith w/ unidentified women, c.1-4
RH
RH taking oath of office, c.1-2
RH w/ Barnes, Wendell
RH w/ boy scouts
RH w/ Admiral Burke
RH w/ Adm. and Mrs. Burke
RH w/ Capt. William Dickey and Maine flag for Antarctica, 1958 Mar 8
RH w/ M/M John Doughty, 1957 Feb 22
RH w/ Leon French, John Ward, John Hale
RH w/ Sec. Thomas Gates, 1957 Apr
RH w/ group
RH w/ Mrs. Hale
RH w/ Edw. Hough, et. al., c.1-3
RH w/ Miss Harlean Jones, et. al., 1957 Feb 20
RH w/ Capt. Ernest Joy
RH w/ Dick MacLennan et. al., 1957
RH w/ Clifford McIntire, et. al.
RH w/ Republican women, 1958 Mar 17
RH w/ officers
RH w/ Sen. Fredrick Payne at 1033rd Army Reserve School, 1955 Mar 19
RH w/ Janice Rand, Mary Louise Dicker, 1957 Feb 21
RH w/ Margaret Chase Smith, et. al.
RH w/ "Tiger" Conroy
RH w/ WACs in Bangor
RH w/ James Wentworth, 1957 Mar 14
RH w/ Lt. Col. Philip Wilder, et. al.
RH w/ women (ident. on photo), 1957 Feb
RH w/ unidentified group
RH w/ unidentified man
RH w/ unidentified men (two)
RH w/ unidentified woman
RH w/ unidentified women (two), c.1-2
RH w/ Capt. Yavorsky
RH w/ York High School students, c.1-2
RH w/ Dorothy Young, 1957 Jul 29
Panama trip, 1956
San Salvador trip - U.S. delegation to the inauguration of President Osorio, 1950 Oct
Swans Hellenic Cruise, 1961
Truman accepting salmon from RH, et. al.
Truman addressing Congress, 1950 Jan 6
Unidentified woman
Unidentified women
Jumbo
RH
J. Blaine Morrison, autographed
Scrapbook of photographs