Descriptive Summary
Burleson, Albert Sidney,
1863-1937
Burleson (Albert Sidney)
Papers
1841-1946
63-137; 65-135; 66-185; 72-085; 81-175; 82-053; 84-251;
87-299; 88-019; 89-076; 89-147; 98-142
20659759
4 ft., 7 in. and 9 reels of
microfilm
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of
Texas at Austin
Correspondence, legislative files,
certificates, appointments, speeches, printed materials, newspaper clippings,
political cartoons, photographs, and microfilm comprise the Albert Sidney Burleson
Papers, 1841-1946, primarily documenting Burleson's years in the political arena as
a United States congressman from Texas (1899-1913) and as postmaster general in
Woodrow Wilson's cabinet (1913-1921).
English.
Biographical Note
Attorney, politician, and Postmaster General Albert Sidney Burleson (1863-1937) was
born in San Marcos, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas Law Department
in its first class in 1884. After practicing law and serving in the U. S. House of
Representatives from 1899 to 1913, President Wilson appointed Burleson as Postmaster
General. During his tenure from 1913 to 1921, he expanded parcel post and was
responsible for the government takeover of telephone, telegraph, and cable during
World War I as well as the initiation of airmail in 1918. Burleson was the first
Texan to serve on a president's cabinet while launching the first official air mail
in history.
Source:
“Burleson, Albert Sidney.” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Accessed September 14, 2011. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B001110.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, legislative files, certificates, appointments, speeches, printed
materials, newspaper clippings, political cartoons, photographs, and microfilm
comprise the Albert Sidney Burleson Papers, 1841-1946, primarily documenting
Burleson's years in the political arena as a United States congressman from Texas
(1899-1913) and as postmaster general in Woodrow Wilson's cabinet (1913-1921).
Included is material relating to Burleson's education; to the family history of his
wife, Adele Steiner Burleson; to concerns of the Agriculture, Appropriations, and
Banking and Currency committees of the House of Representatives; and to political
campaigns and elections of the era. The collection contains the first diploma issued
by the Law Department of the University of Texas at Austin, a note on White House
stationery, personally typed by Woodrow Wilson, and a letter from President Wilson
congratulating Burleson on his fifty-first birthday expressing his “admiration and
affection.”
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research use.
Index Terms
Subjects (Persons)
Bell, Charles Keith
Buchanan, James Paul
Burleson, Adele Steiner, 1863-1948.
Burleson, Albert Sidney, 1863-1937 --
Archives.
Burleson, Albert Sidney, 1863-1937 --
Photographs.
Cannon, William Jarvis
Daniel, Josephus
Foster, Lafayette Lumpkin
Gibson, Robert
Giddings, DeWitt Clinton
Harrington, E. S.
House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938.
Houston, David Franklin, 1866-1940.
King, William V.
Kone, Edward Reeves
Lamar, William H.
Lauderdale, C. W.
McAdoo, William Gibbs, 1863-1941
McCarthy, George L.
Olmstead, Victor H.
Patton, James A.
Potts, Paum M.
Price, Theodore H.
Redfield, William C.
Riche, C. S.
Steiner, Josephus Murray, 1823-1873.
Violett, Atwood
Willoughby, C. A.
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Photographs.
Subjects (Organizations)
Democratic Party (Tex.) -- History -- 20th century --
Sources.
Democratic Party (U.S.) -- History -- 20th century --
Sources.
United States. Congress. House -- History -- 20th
century -- Sources.
United States. Congress. House -- Election districts
-- Texas.
Subjects
Legislators -- United States -- History -- 20th
century.
Legislators -- Texas -- History -- 20th
century.
Politics, Practical -- Texas -- History -- 20th
century.
Speeches, addresses, etc., American -- 20th
century.
Agriculture -- United States -- Law and
legislation.
Air mail service -- United States -- History --
Sources.
Cotton -- United States.
Margarine -- Law and legislation -- United
States.
Postal service -- United States.
Telegraph -- United States.
Telephone -- United States.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Photographs.
Places
Austin (Tex.) -- History -- Sources.
United States -- Politics and government --
Caricatures and cartoons
United States -- Politics and government --
1865-1933.
Washington (D.C.) -- History -- Sources.
Preferred Citation
Albert Sidney Burleson Papers, 1841-1946, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
University of Texas at Austin.
Related Material
See also:
- Adele Steiner Burleson Papers, 1858-1944, Dolph Briscoe Center for
American History, University of Texas at Austin.
-
Albert Sidney Burleson Papers, 1845-1943, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.
-
Laura Burleson Negley Papers, 1880-1973
(bulk 1912-1947), MS-84, Archives and Special Collections,
Library, University of Texas at San Antonio.
Separated Material
Nitrate negatives from this collection are now being stored in the nitrate storage
vault at the Austin History Center.
Some materials have been separated to the library unit. Leather embossed book cover
for The Most Important Invention of the Times for The
Most Important Invention of the Times by Elbert Hubbard, has been removed to the
Artifact Collection, Box 2.325/x23C.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Chester V. Kielman, 1963; William H. Richter, 1965,
1967; Frances Rodgers, 1975; Angela Olivera, 1983, 1984; and Laurel Rozema,
2008.
Correspondence:
2B182
1
July 1898-December 1906
2B182
2
1907
2B182
3
January 1908
2B182
4
February 1908
2B182
5
March 1908
2B182
6
April 1908
2B183
1
May 1908
2B183
2
June-December 1908
2B183
3
January-March 1909
2B183
4
April-December 1909
2B183
5
January-March 1910
2B183
6
April-December 1910
2B183
7
January-March 1911
2B184
1
April-May 1911
2B184
2
June-December 1911
2B184
3
1912
2B184
4
January 1913-December 1919
2B184
5
1920-1938, undated
2L135
1
Assorted copies, April
24, 1912-December 8, 1914
2L135
2
President Wilson to Postmaster General Burleson (copies),
1913-1918
2L135
3
Assorted copies, January
14, 1915-December 19, 1918
2L135
4
Assorted copies, 1919
2L135
5
Assorted copies, 1920,
1921, 1932, 1933, 1938, undated
2L136
1
Assorted, January 22,
1909-December 21, 1916
2L136
2
Assorted, March 26,
1917-December 27, 1920
2L136
3
Assorted, January 5,
1921-May 21, 1946
2L136
6
Telegrams, 1915-1916,
1918-1920 and 1933
Legislative files:
2B185
1
Agriculture Committee:
2B185
1
Cotton grading, 1906,
1907, undated
2B185
2
Cotton information, 1903-1912, undated
2B185
3
Cotton legislation, 1901-1913
2B185
4
Cotton notebooks, undated
2B185
5
Cotton statistics, December 1905-January 1918, undated
2B185
6
Oleomargarine articles, 1908-1912, undated
2B185
7
Oleomargarine information, 1900-1912, undated
2B186
1
Oleomargarine legislation, 1902-1912
2B186
2
Sugar from Cuba, 1901-1912, undated
2B186
3
Appropriations Committee, Panama Canal finances, 1907-1912,
undated
2B186
4
Banking and Currency Committee, Currency conditions, 1903-1908, 1912,
undated
2B186
5
Postal Department, 1904-1921, undated
2B186
6
Railway legislation, 1904-1918, undated
2B186
7
Tariff legislation, 1903-1911, undated
2B186
8
Government publications, 1897-1928
2B186
9
Assorted legislation, 1900-1921, undated
Printed material:
2B187
1
International relationship with belligerent nations, 1903-1916, undated
2B187
2
Mounted newspaper clippings, 1903-1928
2B187
3
Mounted newspaper clippings, 1903-1928
2B187
4
Notebook of clippings and speeches, 1892-1898
2B187
5
Pamphlets, 1884-1919
2B187
6
Personal sketches
2B187
7
Assorted material, 1905-1917, undated
2B188
1
Greeting card
2B188
2
Political party information, 1901-1928, undated
2B188
3
Religious information, 1914-1927, undated
2B188
4
Speeches and essays, 1902, 1917, 1920, undated
2B188
5
Travel guides and passenger list, 1886, 1888, 1893, undated
2B188
6
Underwood presidential campaign, 1914-1924, undated
2B188
7
Waters-Pierce Oil Co., J. W. Bailey Case, 1901-1911, undated
2B188
8
Women's Pan American Conference, 1915-1924, undated
2L134
1
Articles about Burleson
2L134
2
Articles on and about the United States Post Office
Department
2L134
3
Assorted articles
2L134
4
News articles and clippings about Burleson
2L134
5
News articles and clippings on postal system, League of Nations,
etc.
3S167
Newspaper clippings:
On Oscar W. Underwood, 1924
On Al Smith, anti-Catholicism, 1928
"The Great War Message of President Wilson," 1917
2L136
4
Speeches by Burleson, 1915, 1919 and 1924
2L136
5
Speeches by others, 1909,
1915-1917, 1919, and 1926
2L136
7
Campaign Cartoons issued by the Democratic
National Committee, 1912
OD 1306
Campaign posters for congressional and presidential elections,
1916, 1918, and
1920
Wilson's war message, April 2, 1917
Post Office thrift campaign, 1918
TXC-C
Map of Texas population, Texas Commercial Secretaries
Association, 1910
Brochure on concrete building materials,
undated
Reprint: A Word with Old
Kentucky, Savoyard, The Evening
Post, 1912
Broadside: President Wilson's Reply to
the Pope's Proposal, 1917
Proclamation by Woodrow Wilson, 1918
TXC-94
Congressional Record: Speech of Hon. Joseph W. Bailey, of Texas,
1897
By-Laws of Austin Lodge, No. 12,
1884
National Society of Colonial Deames of America in the State of
Texas, 1927
Supplement to 1925 Directory, D. A. R.? (Texas)
Fort Worth Chapter, D. A. R.,
1927
Then and Now: The Opportunity of
Texas, 1883, 1906
Folder of material related to national women's
organizations
Folder of material related to concrete
Folder of material related to U. S. government
Five publications on religious subjects
Travel guides for Athens, Strasburg, and Mexico City
Three campaign publications of Oscar W. Underwood of
Alabama
One publication of Texas Democrats concerning Oscar W. Underwood
campaign for U. S. presidency: Underwood
Principles Outlined
Ten publications related to Joseph Weldon Bailey, Senator from
Texas
The Waters Pierce Case in
Texas, Frederick Upham Adams, St. Louis: Skinner and Kennedy,
1908
A Speech Delivered in the Trial of
Jake Wolters Before the [Texas] Legislature, Rep. Junius
Smith, undated
Eight speeches on assorted subjects, non-Texan,
1902-1919
Phillips Exeter Academy calendar,
1929
Corps of Cadets calendar,
1934
Washington Old and New, Barry
Bulkley, 1913; inscribed: For A. S. Burleson
with the affectionate regard of the author, September 15th,
1913, 1913
Maps and blueprints:
G 4361 .F9 1916 .R3 (ASB6)
California Vote for President, 1916
G 5701 .F2 1919 .R3 (ASB5)
Treaty of Peace and New Map of Europe
G 3701 .P62 1919 .B8 (ASB4)
Air Mail Routes, 1919-1920
G 5701 .E6 1918 .M4 (ASB3)
The New Map of Europe
G 4411 .E625 1919 .N3 no. 1-2 (ASB1-2)
Map and Chart showing Mexican Lawlessness
2.116/OD 1220
Blueprint map of U.S. divided into districts
3S167
Annotated Maps:
Route New York City to Bremen, Germany, undated
Switzerland, undated
Silesia, results of plebiscite, [1921?]
Three blueprints of concrete block cottage
Education and career scrapbook:
2.325/D37b
1
Letter (in Spanish), Porfirio Diaz (President of Mexico) to
Albert Sidney Burleson, Mexico, May 1, 1902
Material written in Spanish.
2.325/D37b
2
Receipt from the Aztec Club of 1847, N. Y., November 11, 1914
[Fifteen dollars Entrance Fee, paid by Albert Sidney Burleson.]
2.325/D37b
3
Folder from The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, with
photograph of Albert Sidney Burleson
2.325/D37b
4
Invitation to the inauguration of F. D. Roosevelt and J. N.
Garner, addressed to Honorable and Mrs. Albert Sidney Burleson,
January 20, 1937
2.325/D37b
5
Memorandum relating to One Genealogical Line of the Burleson
Family
2.325/D37b
6
6Invitation to the inauguration of F. D. Roosevelt and Henry
Agard Wallace, addressed to Mrs. Albert Sidney Burleson, January 20, 1941
2.325/D37b
7
Certificate granting full pardon and amnesty to J. M. Steiner, of
Travis County, Texas, with oath and conditions set, signed by President
Andrew Johnson and others, and December 9, 1865
2.325/D37b
8
Certificate to Albert Sidney Burleson, from the Order of the
Indian Wars of the United States, August 26, 1920
2.325/D37b
9
Drawing (in color) by J. R. or J. B. Miller, of (Fort) Phantom
Hill, with legend. Handwritten note attached
2.325/D37b
10
Genealogical chart of the Steiner Family
2.325/D37b
11
Land Grant to Henry Feltenn & heirs, signed by President
Mirabeau B. Lamar, June 16,
1841
2.325/D37b
12
Certificate: Appointment of I. M. Steiner to the office of
Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum, signed by Governor F. R. Lubbock,
November 8, 1861
2.325/D37b
13
Certificate issued by William H. Seward, United States of
America, Department of State, on behalf of J. M. Steiner, in reference
to original Oath..., May 18,
1866
2.325/D37b
14
Certificate and Acknowledgement of Warrant of Pardon signed by
Wm. H. Seward and J. M. Steiner, April 11 and May 18, 1866
2.325/D37b
15
Receipt for sale of two negroes to Dr. J. M. Steiner, September 22,
1863
2.325/D37b
16
Receipt for sale of negro boy..., June 29, 1864
2.325/D37b
17
Agreement and certificate between J. M. Steiner and G. Peltzer in
reference to the hiring of a house and servant, January 1, 1864, February 16,
1865
2.325/D37b
18
Certificate: Albert Sidney Burleson Admitted as an Attorney and
Counsellor, Circuit Court of the United States at Austin, March 16, 1885
2.325/D37b
19
Certificate: Albert Sidney Burleson admitted as an Attorney and
Counsellor of the United States of America, April 26, 1900
2.325/D37b
20
Certificate: Albert Sidney Burleson admitted and constituted a
Noble of the Mystic Shrine, Ben Hur Temple, March 19, 1897
2.325/D37b
21
Appointment of Albert Sidney Burleson as Major and Aid-de-Camp on
Staff of the Commander in Chief in the Texas Volunteer guard, signed by
Governor S. W. T. Lanham, February 21, 1903
2.325/D37b
22
(Special Passport). No. 69979.... Albert Sidney Burleson... about
to proceed abroad accompanied by his wife..., April 29, 1903
2.325/D37b
23
Diploma from Waco University, 1881
Diploma in Latin.
2.325/D37b
24
Certificate of election returns, December 23, 1898
2.325/D37b
25
Certificate of Election, December 22, 1900
2.325/D37b
26
Certificate of Election December 28, 1904
2.325/D37b
27
Diploma: Bachelor of Laws, The University of Texas, on behalf of
Albert Sidney Burleson, June
14, 1884
2.325/D37b
28
Application for a license to practice as an Attorney at Law,
issued on behalf of Albert Sidney Burleson, and License to practice...
(Authorization), June 17,
1884
2.325/D37b
29
Diploma: Doctor of Laws issued by Baylor University at Waco on
behalf of Albert Sidney Burleson, June 16, 1920
2.325/D37b
30
Diploma: Bachelor of Arts, issued by Baylor University at Waco,
on behalf of Albert Sidney Burleson, June 16, 1920
2.325/D37b
31
Nomination of Albert Sidney Burleson as Postmaster General by
President Woodrow Wilson, March
5, 1913
2.325/D37b
32
Nomination of Albert Sidney Burleson as Postmaster General by
President Woodrow Wilson, January 24, 1918
2.325/D37b
33
Certificate: Thomas Jefferson Society of Texas.... "valuable and
distinguished services rendered to the Democratic Party...," April 13, 1934
2.325/D37b
34
Handwritten note: Cong. Rec., p. 4383. Resolved that the office
of Speaker of the House of Representatives is hereby declared to by
vacant..., April 4, 1908
2.325/D37b
35
Announcement of the election of Hon. Albert Sidney Burleson...
Order of Runnemede... Philadelphia, PA, June 2, 1930
2.325/D37b
36
Testimonial of conduct on behalf of Albert Sidney Burleson, Ben
Hur Temple, April 13,
1917
2.325/D37b
37
Humorous hand-made award, undated
2.325/D37b
38
President Woodrow Wilson's nomination and appointment of
Postmaster General Albert Sidney Burleson as representative of the
United States of America in international conference to be held in
Washington, May 18, 1920
2.325/D37b
39
Land Grant: Governor E. M. Pease, on behalf of B. I. Chambers,
assignee of Berry Langford, October 4,
1854
2.325/D37b
40
Appointment of Albert Sidney Burleson as District Attorney upon
resignation of James H. Robertson, April 27,
1891
2.325/D37b
41
Certificate of Election: Burleson elected District Attorney
December 21, 1892
2.325/D37b
42
Appointment of Burleson as District Attorney, April 28,
1891
2.325/D37b
43
Empty envelope with stamp: Centennial Year, 1839-1939,
[1939]
2.325/D37b
44
Empty envelope with stamp: Centennial Year, 1839-1939,
[1939]
2.325/D37b
45
Empty envelope: The Postmaster General, Washington
2.325/D37b
46
Empty envelope: House of Representative, U. S., Public Document,
Free, A. S. Burleson M. C., Texas
Photographs:
3S7
Air mail inauguration
3S7
Burleson (group)
3S7
Burleson (individual)
3S7
Woodrow Wilson (individual)
3S111
Unidentified persons with palm trees
3S111
Unidentified person in a camp
3S111
Portrait of C. F. Simmons, Principal of Washington Graded Public
School (for Negroes?), Washington, Texas, undated
3S111
Halftone reproductions (including postcards) of Sather Tower
(Campanile), University of California, Berkeley,
undated
3S111
Halftone reproductions of Cité de Carcassonne, France,
undated
3S111
Lithograph of Cité de Carcassonne, France,
undated
3L108
Scrapbook, 1909
3S11
World War I
3S7
Assorted
Personal papers:
2B188
9
1856-1941, undated
Uncataloged microfilm [positive copy]:
Microfilm is from the Albert Burleson collection at the Library of
Congress.
838.09
Material relating to agriculture,
1905-1915
[labeled Folders
1-2]
838.10
Material relating to his term in Congress and his activities as
Postmaster General
[labeled Folders 3-5]
838.11
Political correspondence, clippings, and democratic campaign
material
[labeled Folders 6-8]
838.12
Foreign affairs (USSR intervention, federal reserve, Mexico,
etc.), personal papers, and outside Texas political correspondence
[labeled Folders
9-11]
838.13
[labeled Folders 12-16]
Documents relating to U.S. Post Office, Riggs National Bank,
National Republican Party, and 1916 Presidential Campaign
Personal correspondence
838.14
[labeled Folders
17-21]
Political and official correspondence,
1900-1936
Post Office affairs
Wartime censorship
838.15
Correspondence with Woodrow Wilson relating to politics and
patronage, 1912-1915
[labeled Folders
22-26]
838.16
[labeled Folders
27-32]
Correspondence with Woodrow Wilson,
1912-1918
Business correspondence,
1887-1893
Clippings, 1898-1908
Scrapbook
838.17
Scrapbook and clippings,
1909-1938
[labeled Folders
33-45]