O'Brian Hall
University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Buffalo, New York 14260-1110
USA
Phone: 716 645-2047
Fax: 716 645-3860
Email: asklaw@buffalo.edu
URL: http://law.lib.buffalo.edu
© 2007. State University of New York at Buffalo. All rights reserved.
O'Brian was born in Buffalo, New York in 1874. He received the A.B. degree from Harvard College in 1896 and the L.L.B. degree from Buffalo Law School in 1898. In February 1909, O'Brian was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. He continued to serve in this position through the administrations of President Taft and President Wilson. During World War I, O'Brian served as Head of the War Emergency Division in the U.S. Dept. of Justice where he was responsible for prosecuting cases of espionage and sabotage. At the end of World War I, O'Brian returned to Buffalo to practice law. In 1929, President Hoover appointed O'Brian to serve as Assistant Attorney General of the Anti-Trust Division at the U.S. Department of Justice where he was responsible for arguing more than 15 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was retained by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1935, eventually winning the case that challenged the creation of the Authority. In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt appointed O'Brian to serve as General Counsel of the War Production Board. From 1945 until his death, at age 98, O'Brian practiced law in Washington, D.C.
O'Brian's service to the University at Buffalo Law School began soon after his graduation in 1898. From 1907 through 1921, O'Brian was a volunteer instructor in Insurance Law. From 1931 and continuing for the next seventeen years, O'Brian served as member of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. O'Brian served the Law School in many capacities and was the principal speaker at the October 21, 1949 dedication of 77 West Eagle Street, a former home of the UB Law School. On May 6, 1963, O'Brian received the Law School's first Distinguished Alumnus Award for Public Service. At the formal dedication of O'Brian Hall in April 1974, a portrait of O'Brian, painted by Virginia Cuthbert, was presented to the Law School by Manly Fleischmann, a SUNY trustee and Mrs. Kellogg Mann, the eldest daughter of O'Brian. This portrait currently hangs on the second floor of the Law School Library.
As recognition of his public service and service to the Law School, the home of the U.B. Law School, "O'Brian Hall", was named in his honor in 1973 when it first opened on the Amherst campus.
Information excerpted from: Schaus, Robert and James Arnone, "University at Buffalo Law School, 100 Years 1887-1987, A History" John Lord
John Lord O'Brian was a University at Buffalo Law School graduate, a distinguished lawyer, and a prominent public servant for whom the Law School building is named. Chronicling O'Brian's long and productive life from 1874 to 1973, the papers span the years of his legal career and public service activities. The papers include legal memoranda, opinion letters, personal notes, personal correspondence, published articles, photographs, honorary medals and other memorabilia. They are organized according to some of the major activities in which O'Brian was involved.
Also included are correspondence between O'Brian and other notable historical figures from the first seventy-five years of the twentieth century. The collection includes the two volumes, Reminiscences of John Lord O'Brian, an oral history conducted in 1952 as part of the Columbia University Oral History Project. In addition, there are three reels of microfilm that reproduce the collection of O'Brian papers in the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
The collection is arranged in thirteen series:
Series I. Correspondence
Series II. World War I
Series III. U.S. Department of Justice
Series IV. World War II
Series V. Harvard Divinity School
Series VI. Harvard University
Series VII. University at Buffalo
Series VIII. Other Activities
Series IX. Personal & Autobiographical
Series X. Autograph Letters & Documents
Series XI. Miscellaneous Materials
Series XII. Speeches, Articles & Tributes by O'Brian
Series XIII. Memorabilia
Series XIV. Oversize Materials
Series XV. Collection File
Series I is arranged aphabetically. Remaining series are mostly organized chronologically.
Includes typewritten and handwritten letters and telegrams. Includes persons not individually mentioned. Papers arranged chronologically.
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 1.0 | Biographical folder: photocopies of Who's Who & obituaries from the New York Times, Washington Post, Buffalo Evening News ; letter from Douglas Hunt; article on Covington & Burling from Juris Doctor, April 1975 |
| 1.1 | "A" Misc. (, 1944-1971): Acheson, Dean; Ala, Hussein -- Iranian Ambassador & Prime Minister; Alden, Carlos; Ali, Mohammed -- Prime Minister Pakistan; Allen, Florence-- U.S. Court of Appeals judge (Ohio); Allen, Joseph Dana; Aram, Abbas-- Iranian Ambassador |
| 1.2 | American Academy of Arts & Sciences, elected Fellow, May 14, 1947 (1947-1972); correspondence relating to activities of Academy & nominations made by O'Brian |
| 1.3-1.6 | American Bar Association, Erie County Bar Association, Washington, D.C. Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1946-1973; correspondence relating to activities of these bar associations, interfiled & arranged chronologically; nominations by O'Brian of new members |
| 1.7 | American Bar Foundation Fellows Award, February 20, 1960 (1956-1964); notification & congratulatory letters |
| 2.1-2.4 | American Law Institute (1947-1973); correspondence relating to activities of ALI; nominations of by O'Brian of new members; pamplets, ALI history, 48th Annual Dinner |
| 2.5-2.6 | "B" Misc. (, 1943-1972): Babcock, Louis L.; Ballantine, Arthur A.; Barlow, Joel; Batt, William; Biddle, Francis; Blaine, Graham B.; Boeschenstein, Harold (President, Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp.); Boulware, Lemuel; Bowles, Chester; Branche, Claude R.; Brennan, Justice William; Bruggman, Charles; Bunge, Julius; Bunge, Julius H. O.(of Surrey, England regarding Indonesia) ; Burger, Chief Justice Warren Earl; Burlingham, Charles C.; Burton, Harold H. --judge; |
| 2.7 | Brandon, Henry - correspospondence & transcript of tape recorded interview by Henry Brandon of the Sunday Times of London (1968); Four copies of interview made in 1968, later rejected by The Times for publication; also clippings & letter on Arthur Krock's book, Memoirs: Sixty Years on the Firing Line & O'Brian's contribution. |
| 3.1 | Bricker Amendment (1953-1956); Marked "keep" & "destroy at my death"; correspondence relating to Committee for Defense of the Constitution by Preserving the Treaty Power, O'Brian a sponsor. |
| 3.2 | Brown University, LL.D. conferred, February 25, 1945 (1945-1952); correspondence with Henry Wriston(President), Claude R. Branch; Herbert N. Couch; A. Bruce Bielaski, Eleanor Spicer, associated alumni of Brown University. Note: Some items in poor condition. Citations from Brown & Brooklyn Polytechnic removed from file & placed with Oversize Materials. |
| 3.3 | Buffalo Club (1945-1972); correspondence relating to activities of the Buffalo Club; original manuscript of speech "Dedication of Memorial Tablet -- William Howard Taft" made by O'Brian on, October 11, 1953; includes booklets on Dediction of Tablets for Millard Fillmore & Grover Cleveland, 1925; Program of, 1958 past presidents; 1973 list of members. |
| 3.4 | Buffalo- Harvard Club--Man of the year Award, March 13, 1965 (1964-1965) |
| 3.5-3.6 | Burling, Edward B., Sr. of Covington & Burling (, 1920-1955, 1966-[1970]); personal recollection of E.B. Burling, May 12, 1969 by O'Brian; tributes & remarks on Burling by O'Brian; pack of undated letters from Burling in front. |
| 3.7-4.1 | "C" Misc. (, 1941-1973): Chase, George H.--Dean of Harvard University; Clark, Alfred Hull ; Clark, Henry; Clark, Tom C. ; Claytor, W.Graham, Jr.; Coleman, William C.--judge; Corning Glass Museum-- O'Brian a trustee; Cox, Gardner; Cox, Hugh B.; Crowther, Bosley |
| 4.2-4.3 | Century Association (1945-1973); Primarily endorsements of new members |
| 4.4 | Cisler, Walker Lee (1958-1972); Chairman of the Board, Detroit Edison Co. |
| 4.5 | Clark, Glenville (1951-1973); Personal correspondence & solicitations for Glenville Clark Fund |
| 4.6 | Columbia Historical Society, Elected Member April 20, 1960 (1960-1968) |
| 4.7-4.8 | Columbia University (Memoirs); Columbia Universitiy Broadcast Lecture (Law & Freedom) (1952-1971); Correspondence relating to Reminiscences of O'Brian recorded by Columbia University Oral History Research Office & updating made October 1, 1956; Correspondence & copy of broadcast lecture "Law & Freedom" plus working papers; Reminiscences (2 volumes) located at end of the collection with books. |
| 5.1 | Conant, James B., President of Harvard (1940-1963); Correspondence primarily on Harvard Divinity School & Board of Overseers |
| 5.2-5.3 | National Conference of Christians & Jews, Brotherhood Award, Address at Buffalo, November 18, 1963; Correspondence relating to organization & awards; copies of address; newspaper clippings on address; Address entitled "Brotherhood & Freedom" |
| 5.4 | Corcoran, Thomas G. (1964-1973); Correspondence relating to Corcoran's 70th birthday dinner held January 22, 1971 |
| 5.5 | Cruise on S.S. Talamanca of United Fruit Line, February 18-March 7, 1949 (1949-1950) |
| 5.6 | "D" Misc. (1942-1972); Dembitz, Nanette -- judge; Dewey, Thomas E.; Dodge, Marcellus Hartley; Dulski, Thaddeus -- Congressman |
| 5.7 | Donovan, William J. (1959-1970); Original letters of Donovan from W.W.I. & correspondence about Donovan |
| 5.8 | "E" Misc. (1943-1972); Ecker, Frederic W.; Edgerton, Henry W. -- judge; Ellison, Newell W. |
| 5.9 | Eaton, Frederick M. (1943-1972) |
| 5.10 | Emory University, Graduation Address (1946-1947); correspondence relating to graduation address made by O'Brian & copy of speech |
| 6.1 | Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (1950-1969); O'Brian served as member of Board of Directors; Resignation letter dated December 18, 1958, effective January 1, 1959 |
| 6.2 | "F" Misc. (1944-1972); Fay, Sidney B.; Fly, Lawrence; Fortas, Abe; Freund, Paul A. |
| 6.3-6.5 | Fleischmann, Manly (1943-1973) |
| 6.6 | Fleischmann Report on Education in N.Y. (1971-1973); Primarily newspaper clipplings, some correspondence; copy of article by Fleischmann entitled the "Re-education of Manly Fleischmann" |
| 6.7 | Fowler, Henry H. "Joe" (1946-1970) |
| 7.1 | Freeman, Douglas Southall (1949-1953); Correspondence & testimonial prepared by O'Brian at Freeman's death in 1953 |
| 7.2-7.3 | "G" Misc. (1945-1973); Garrison, Lloyd K.; Gesell, Gerhard A. -- judge; Gignoux, Edward T. -- judge; Griswold, Erwin N.; Greene, Jerome D.; Grew, Joseph C.; Gruenther, Alfred M. |
| 7.4 | General Electric Company -- Crotonville Speech, September 29, 1961; Speech given for G.E.'s legal organization; notes for speech & correspondence |
| 7.5 | Godkin Lectures -- Harvard University, April 27-28, 1955 (1955-1956); Press releases & congratulatory letters, including Earl Warren & James Reston; title of speech "National Security & Individual Freedom", appeared later in book form. Marked "keep." |
| 7.6 | "H" Misc. (1945-1973); Hagedorn, Hermann; Hand, Augustus N.; Harlan, John--Supreme Court justice; Harrison, William H.; Hoover, Herbert ; Hoover, J. Edgar(also clippings on Hoover's 's death, May 3, 1972); Houghton, Amory; Hope, Walter E.; Howe, Mark A. DeWolfe; |
| 7.7-7.8 | Hand, Learned - Remarks in Honor of Judge Hand, April 10, 1959 (1942-1972); Material & letters about Hand including "Remarks..."; Working papers: articles & clippings for speech & extra copies of speech |
| 7.9 | Harvard Clubs (Buffalo & Washington) (1957-1972); Includes address to Associated Harvard Clubs, May 4, 1957 |
| 7.10 | Henderson, Loy W. (1948-1972); Birthday correspondence; June 28, 1967, 75th birthday & June 28, 1972, 80th birthday plus copy of remarks made by Henderson at Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs, June 28, 1967 |
| 7.11 | Holmes Project -- New York University Hall of Fame (1969-1970) |
| 8.1-8.5 | Hughes, Charles Evans (1907-1962); Newspaper clippings on Hughes, campaign literature, Republican National Convention of 1916 & 1920, Hughes Report on Reorganized State Government, 1926, Legislative Directory of New York 1907; Memorial exercises at Supreme Court, November 4, 1949: information about Hughes & correspondence, copy of O'Brian's speech congratulatory letters, marked "keep"; Articles on Hughes, O'Brian's article in the ABA Journal, Manuscript by F. Davenport, "How & Why Charles E. Hughes Lost California & the Presidency in 1916", ABA Journal article appeared July 1941 entitled "Charles Evans Hughes as Governor"; Colgate University, Charles Evans Hughes Chair 1955-1962 Campaign buttons removed to box 64 |
| 8.6 | "J" Misc. (1947-1971); Jones, Boisfeuillet; Jones, Harold A.; Jones, Howard P. -- ambassador; Jones, William B. -- U.S. District Judge |
| 8.7-9.2 | Jackson, Robert H., Memorial Exercises, April 4, 1955 (1942-1972); Some corresondence with Jackson but primarily material on Memorial Exercises (died October 9, 1954); O'Brian prepared remarks, working papers, information about Jackson for Memorial. (3 folders) |
| 9.3-9.4 | "K" Misc. (1939-1973); Kane, Amanda; Kauffmann, Samuel Hay; Kayan, Betty; Kirchhofer, Alfred; Knox, John Clark -- judge; Krock, Arthur |
| 9.5-9.6 | Katz, Mr. & Mrs. Milton (1944-1972) |
| 9.7 | Kerr, Dr. Harry H.-- Exercises in His Memory at Washington Hospital Center, September 19, 1963 |
| 10.1 | Knight, John (Judge)-- Memorial Exercises at Buffalo, May 11, 1956; Includes address of Simon E. Sobeloff, Solicitor General of U.S. honoring O'Brian |
| 10.2 | Krug, Mr. & Mrs. Julius (1943-1962); Chairman, War Production Board & Secretary of the Interior |
| 10.3-10.4 | "L" Misc. (1943-1973); Lasseter, Dillard B.; Lemann, Monte M.; Levis, William E.; Leland, Waldo; Lumbard, J. Edward -- Chief Judge U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit |
| 10.5 | Law Day Address, May 1, 1958 & New York State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, May 3, 1958 (1958-1960); Address, notes & congratulatory letters |
| 10.6-10.7 | Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (1963-1965); Committee formed at request of J.F. Kennedy; telegram from J.F.K. & note from Robert F. Kennedy; O'Brian served on Board of Directors |
| 11.1-11.4 | Legal Division, War Production Board (1944-1973); Correspondence with members & about the annual WPB dinner; Dec. 1944-1966 marked "Please keep" |
| 11.5-11.6 | Lilienthal, David E., Chairman Atomic Energy Commission (1946-1953); General correspondene; Defense of Lilienthal & Herbert S. Marks before Joint Congressional Committee in 1947; marked "keep"; miscellaneous material includes statements on O'Brian & record of fees paid for Tennessee Valley Authority services |
| 12.1-12.5 | The Literary Society (1952-1967)"A Forgotten President" -- essay on Millard Fillmore delivered November 22, 1952, correspondence with Encyclopaedia Britannica for article on Fillmore in 1959, working papers at end of file; "Lost Values & Plutarch" delivered March 8, 1958 (2 copies); "The Hoosier Kid" delivered February 8, 1960; "Some Footnotes to History" delivered March 10, 1962 (2 copies); "Challenge of Adversity" delivered February 18, 1967 (2 copies) |
| 12.6-12.8 | Loyalty File -- "Loyalty Tests: Guilt by Association" (1947-1957); Speech delivered at New York State Bar Association in NYC on January 23, 1948 entitled "Loyalty Tests & National Unity" later appeared in Harvard Law Review as "Loyalty Tests & Guilt by Association"; includes correspondence, congratulatory letters, newspaper clippings; one item dated 1920 One file of miscellaneous material now interfiled with main folder on Loyalty. |
| 13.1 | "M" Misc. (1942-1972); Macleish, Archibald; Maguire, John M.; Meigs, Merrill C.; Mitchell, William D.; Moot, Welles V. |
| 13.2 | John Marshall Bicentennial, September 22-24, 1955 (1954-1958); Address by O'Brian on the "Value of Constitutionalism Today"; Proceedings of conference embodied in Government Under Law (copy located in working papers in back of folder) |
| 13.3 | Metropolitan Club (Washington, D.C.) -- "The Table", October 10, 1963 (1955-1966); Drafts of manuscript, original papers belonging to Charles Warren, congratulatory letters |
| 13.4 | Meyer, Mr. & Mrs. Eugene, Publisher Washington Post (1945-1970); Personal correspondence, remarks by O'Brian at birthday dinner for Mrs. (Agnes) Meyer, newspaper clippings of death of Eugene Meyer |
| 13.5 | "Mc" Misc. (1957-1971); McArdle, Paul F.-- judge; McCarthy, Richard D.; McCord, David; McKenna, Marian; McKelway, Benjamin M.; McReynolds, James (Justice) |
| 13.6 | "N" Misc. (1962-1973); National Conference of Judicial Councils; Nef, John U.; Neill, Elizabeth |
| 13.7 | National Institute of Social Sciences, Elected to membership February 3, 1949 (1948-1954) |
| 13.8 | Nelson, Donald M. & Noyles, David M. (1943-1949) |
| 13.9 | New York State Bar Association -- Award of Medal for Distinguished Services (1956-1958); Primarily congratulatory letters |
| 13.10 | New York Times Youth Forum, 1957; Broadcast December 15, 1957; extracts on Constitution at end of file |
| 14.1 | "O" Misc. (1944-1972); O'Brien, Louise (Mrs. Matthew); O'Brien, Robert Lincoln; Olmsted, Harold L.; Oppenheimer, Robert; Orr, William; Osborn, Alex F. |
| 14.2 | O'Brian, J. L. -- Personal, May 12, 1966, Address at Metropolitan Club to members of Covington & Burling |
| 14.3 | "P" Misc. (1934-1972); Park, Julian; Patterson, Richard C. -- ambassador; Patterson, Robert P. -- judge; Pepper, George Wharton; Phillips, Orie L. -- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit; Plimpton, Francis T.P.; Pratt, Frederick H.; Pratt, John H.; Pusey, Nathan M.; Pyne, Frederick S.; marked "Selected for preservation in Oct. 1968" |
| 14.4-14.6 | O'Brian, J.L. -- Political (1920-1926); State Reorganization Committee, 1926 - served on Committee; Republican National Convention 1920 (delegates & alternates), speeches of Alfred E. Smith & Charles E. Hughes, Stimson letters from the New York Times ; Expulsion of Socialists - articles & newspaper clippings especially of nomination of Harding for President in 1920 |
| 14.8 | "R" Misc. (1943-1969); Rahim, Kamil Abdul-- Ambassador of Egypt; Reed, Phillip; Reed, Stanley -- U.S. Supreme Court judge; Rhyne, Charles S.; Rice, Ethel (Mrs. John P.); Roberts, Owen -- judge; Roe, Frederick; Rublee, George; marked "Selected b J.L.O'B for preservation Oct. 1968" |
| 14.9 | Red Jacket Award, Buffalo Historical Society, October 13, 1959 |
| 14.10 | Regents -- University of the State of New York, State Education Department (1956-1973); Corrrespondence relating to SUNY annual convocations, members of the Board of Regents & gift by O'Brian to the State Library of papers of Judge Nathan Sanford |
| 15.1 | "S" Misc. (1942-1973); St. John, Fordyce B.; Staltonstall, Leverett; Schoellkopf, Norton; Sears, Charles Brown; Seymour, Whitney North; Spencer, Samuel; Stevenson, Adlai E.; Storey, Charles M.; Sullivan, Mark |
| 15.2-15.3 | Supreme Court -- Defense by Members of the Bar (1956-1970); Originally file reflected members' concern for attacks on Supreme Court precipitated by the school desegregation decisions, later years deal with protection of Supreme Court jurisdiction, attacks by Goldwater of Supreme Court, appointment proposal of Judge Carswell plus report on presidential disability by Association of the Bar of the City of New York & internal security v. constitutional rights. |
| 15.4 | Supreme Court -- O'Brian's 50th Anniversary of Admission, April 2, 1962; "Congratulatory letters received in April 1962 on the occasion of J.L. O'Brian's fiftieth anniversary of admission to the U.S. Supreme Court" |
| 15.5 | Sweet Briar College -- Lucy Shepard Crawford Chair (1958-1973); assisted in fundraising for Chair of Philosophy & donated books to the Sweet Brian Library |
| 15.6 | "T" Misc. (1944-1972); Taft, Charles P.; Thacher, Thomas D. (Jr.); Thaxter, Sidney St. F. ; Thom, Corcoran (Jr.); Train, Russell; Trumbull, Walter H.; Tweed, Harrison |
| 15.7 | Tennesee Valley Authority (1969-1970); Interview by Memphis State University, Oral History Research Office Project on January 10, 1970 with O'Brian (old TVA file destroyed & this file opened in Feb. 1969 - marked) |
| 15.8 | Thursday Club (Buffalo, N.Y.) (1946-1966); Correspondence re Buffalo meeting February 11, 1960; copies of programs from 1903-1967 (not complete) & program for 50th anniversary dinner 1933 |
| 15.9-16.3 | Tucker Foundation Lectures, Washington & Lee University, May 6-7, 1952 (1951-1967); Copies of series of three lectures; adapted by Harvard Law Review as "New Encroachments on Individual Freedom"; final lecture reprinted in Washington & Lee Law Review, "Changing Attitudes Toward Freedom" (1952, 1 copy); other two lectures appear as reprints by Washing & Lee University (4 folders) |
| 16.4 | "U" Misc. (1945-1962); Ulsh, James Ralph; Underwood, E. Marvin |
| 16.5 | "V" Misc. (1946-1973); Van Kleffen, Eelco N. -- ambassador; Van Sickle, John; Voorhees, Tracy S. |
| 16.6 | University of Virginia, Address at Final Exercises, June 13, 1955 (1955-1956); copy of speech & correspondence |
| 16.7 | "W" Misc. (1944-1973); Wadsworth, Eliot; Warren, Charles; Warren, Chief Justice Earl; Webb, James E.; Weinberg, Sidney J.; Wiener, Frederick Bernays; Wyzanski, Charles E. -- judge |
| 16.8 | "X-Y-Z" Misc. (1944-1962); Yates, Eugene A.; Young, Owen D. ; Youngquist, G. Aaron; Zabriskie, Alexander C.; Zirm, Konrad |
| 16.9 | Yale University, Awarded LL.D. June 22, 1948 (1948-1962); General correspondence with University, congratulatory letters, copy of citation & newspaper clippings |
Materials collected during or regarding O'Brian's tenure as Head of the War Emergency Division, Department of Justice, from 1917-1919.
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 17.1-17.6 | Memoranda |
| 18.1-18.4 | Personal & Confidential Files of O'Brian (2 vol.); Vol. 1, #35-278, Vol. 2; includes duplicates of Vol. 1; marked "Notebook of World War One Personal & Confidential Files of John Lord O'Brian, Head of War Emergency Division 1917-1919" |
| 18.5-18.7 | Miscellaneous Correspondence (, 1917-1966) - marked "Misc. correspondence relating to Mr. O'Brian's work as head of Emergency Division of the Dept. of Justice, selected by him for preservation & marked 'of unusual importance'" ; -- Zimmerman Telegram (, 1952-1967) - correspondence of J.L. O'Brian to Charles M. Storey & Bruce Bielaski; -- Debs Case (, 1918-1956) |
| 18.8 | Memoranda of Law; Amendment of Espionage Act; Military Tribunals (1918); interfiled & arranced chronologically |
| 19.1 | Secret Service 1917-1918; Handwritten notes by O'Brian |
| 19.2 | Registration of German Alien Enemies, Registration Forms; packet contains rules, regulations & forms |
| 19.3 | Newspaper clippings on the War (U.S. & foreign papers) |
| 19.4 | Sulgrave Club Address: "Some Episodes of War Intrigue - 1917", delivered, November 4, 1958 |
| 19.5 | Evening Post, 27th's Fighting Record, March 25, 1919 |
| 19.6 | Miscellaneous Material: Maps, Handwritten Notes, Correspondence, Press Releases; contains memo of "Review of Activities of G-2(b)", Adv. GHQ G-2(b) section organized in 1918 for contra-espionage work in Treves area (Germany) |
| 19.7-19.9 | Briefs, Hearings & Transcripts: includes typewritten manuscript of U.S. v. Buchanan & others; Charges against H. Snowden Marshall; Fowler v. Splain, Appellee's brief (4 copies); Martin, Fowler, Schulteis v. Splain, Appellants brief; Lamar v. Palmer, Appellees brief; Schulteis v. Splain, Transcript; U.S. v. Robinson, Indictment; Labor's National Peace Council pamphlet. |
Materials collected while O'Brian served as an Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice from 1929-1933.
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 20.1-20.3 | Opinions & Misc. data; Speeches primarily by William D. Mitchell, Attorney General: originally in three green ringed notebooks; no specific arrangement, numbered in pencil. |
| 20.4 | Misc. Correspondence, Head of Antritrust Division (contents range, 1921-1966); Appalachian Coal Case, 1932; resignation letter as Assistant Attorney General marked "Preserve this" |
| 20.5 | Correspondence in U.S. v. Radio Corp. of America, et al., 1928-1957); marked "Selected by O'Brian for preservation when he withdrew from his Buffalo office in 1946"; one folder marked "Important Papers. Please Keep in Separate File" |
Materials collected while O'Brian served as General Counsel to the War Production Board, 1941-1944
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 21.1-22.5 | Legal Opinions (1940-1944): originally in six notebooks, index included in last two folders (11 folders) |
| 22.6 | Compilation of Legal Memoranda: indexed and arranged numerically, missing pp. 298-305 |
| 23.1 | Compilation of Legal Memoranda: indexed and arranged numerically, missing pp. 298-305 |
| 23.1 | Legal Opinions: duplicates in back of file, several marked "confidential" |
| 23.2 | Miscellaneous addresses, official statements, conferences: originally in black 3 ringed notebook; marked "very important" |
| 23.3-23.4 | Personal Notebooks (2 vols.): originally in green notebooks |
| 23.5 | Executive Orders: tabbed by subject |
| 24.1 | Dollar-A-Year Employees of W.P.B. and O.P.M.; W.P.B. Policy; includes confidential correspondence; originally in one folder with folders 24.2 and 24.3 |
| 24.2 | Anti-trust arrangements with the Dept. of Justice; confidential correspondence; originally in one folder with folders 24.1 and 24.3 |
| 24.3 | Electric Power File (1941-1946): confidential correspondence; originally in one folder with folders 24.1 and 24.2 |
| 24.4 | Miscellaneous material: reports, W.P.B. publications, articles |
| 24.5 | Editorials on O'Brian from legal staff of W.P.B. (1945): booklet of editorials, photocopy of letter from Pres. Roosevelt & letter from Donald Nelson expressing appreciation for job by Legal Division of W.P.B.prepared and presented by staff of Legal Division |
| 24.6 | Booklet: Chronology of War Production Board & Predecessor Agencies, August 1939-November 1945 |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 25.1-32.4 | Correspondence (1946-1973) (40 folders); includes letter from J. Foster Dulles, March 31, 1952 in 28.4 regarding setting up of New York office at 40 Wall St. under Graham B. Blaine |
| 32.5 | Notes of conversations prior to appointment of Commission; removed from brown notebook. |
| 32.6 | Notes, letters, articles primarily from, 1946-1947;(background material on Harvard Divinity School?) left in black notebook |
| 33.1 | Early correspondence, memoranda (1947) ; removed from light green notebook |
| 33.2 | Committee on Plans & Development, 1st meeting, February 10, 1949, Harvard Club, N.Y.C.; removed from blue folder |
| 33.3 | Mailing List and Classification of Responses to President Conant's letter of, November 29, 1949, re the Proposed New Center of Religious Learning at Harvard (carbons) |
| 33.4 | Abstract of Replies Made to Letter of President Conant under Date of, November 29, 1949 |
| 33.5 | Analysis of Letters of Acceptance from Sponsors of Inquiry re Proposed Harvard School of Religious Learning, 1949 (re use of name on brochure as sponsor August-October 1949) |
| 33.6-33.8 | Replies to Letter of December 6, 1940; arranged alphabetically together with acknowledgement of each response |
| 33.9 | Budget memoranda, misc. Information |
| 34.1 | Original votes taken by Harvard trustees, certified by Secretary, 1948-1957 |
| 34.2 | Confidential memoranda (1947-1951); removed from brown folder |
| 34.3 | Isaac Witkin- Harvard Pres. James B. Conant Correspondence, 1952; Nathan Pusey-O'Brian Correspondence, 1955 |
| 34.4 | Outline of development of plan & major memoranda (1950-1951) |
| 34.5 | Responses to Interim Report, October 28, 1954; includes signed letter from Felix Frankfurter and Christian A. Herter (Gov. of Massachusetts) |
| 34.6 | List of prospects & mailing lists |
| 34.7-34.9 | Press releases, reports (1947-1971) |
| 35.1-35.3 | O'Brian Chair at Harvard Divinity School & announcement dinner, April 23, 1956 (1955-1960); includes replies to Dinner |
| 35.4 | A Program for Harvard 1956-1957: includes correspondence and two copies of "A College in a Yard" containing article by O'Brian; project to raise money for Harvard |
| 35.5-36.3 | Books, pamphlets: A New Center of Religious Learning at Harvard (4 copies), Harvard Alumni Bulletins (5 folders) |
| 36.4-36.6 | Report of the Commission to Study and Make Recommendations with Respect to Harvard Divinity School |
| 36.7 | Miscellaneous pamphlets on Harvard Divinity School |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 37.1-37.2 | Harvard Alumni Association (1945-1969); O'Brian President 1945-1946 |
| 37.3-37.5 | Reunions of Class of 1896: 75th Anniversary, June 17, 1971; Commencement 1971 (assorted pictures from newspapers and magazines); 50th Anniversary and others (1921-1967) |
| 37.6 | Commencement Material--programs, invitations; especially, 1943-1945 |
| 37.7 | Harvard University Press Faculty Prize Committee; O'Brian served as member of Committee to select best manuscript to Harvard University Press from faculty members |
| 38.1 | General Files (1943-1971)--correspondence |
| 38.2 | Harvard Campaign (1956-1960) |
| 38.3 | Award of LL.D., June 6, 1946 |
| 38.4 | Board of Overseers--reports, committee assignments & schedule of meetings (1939-1944) Citation from William & Mary to Harvard removed. |
| 38.5 | Miscellaneous material--student unrest at Harvard, 1969; articles on Nathan Pusey; honorary degree received by Winston Churchill in, 1943; Commencement programs, 1943, 1944; newspaper clippings |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 39.1-39.3 | Correspondence (1905-1973) |
| 39.4 | John Lord O'Brian Hall, December 1972 |
| 39.5 | J.L. O'Brian Fund established in 1964 by members of the Legal Division, War Production Board who worked under O'Brian for the benefit of the Law School (1964-1969) |
| 39.6 | Chancellor's Medal 1940 Medal removed to Box 64 |
| 39.7 | Extension Movement, 1906 -- group organized to "increase public opinion in support of the foundation of the Collegiate Department"; O'Brian served as treasurer & general manager |
| 39.8 | Miscellaneous material -- clippings, programs, alumni bulletins |
| 39.9 | Miscellaneous pamphlets & periodicals on U.B. -- Ordinances and Charter of U.B., Niagara Frontier Journal with articles on U.B., Buffalo Studies issue on Samuel Capen |
| 39.10-40.3 | Minutes of Council Meetings (, 1923-29, 1957) and Committee on General Administration (1921-1929)(4 folders) |
Materials on O'Brian's early professional career as U.S. Attorney and N.Y. legislator.
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 40.4 | Award of Clinton Scholarship on graduation from Law School; note from Adelbert Moot on opening of office in 1900 |
| 40.5 | Letters from period when O'Brian served as U.S. District Attorney, Western District, 1909-1914 |
| 40.6 | Correspondence relating to settlement of U.S. v. Eastman Kodak Co. ; action brought by O'Brian in, 1913 for violation of Sherman Act |
| 40.7-41.1 | Legal Documents prepared as U.S. Attorney, Western District, 1909-1914 including materials on: U.S. v. Mutual Transit, U.S. v. Buffalo Pitts Co., Lehigh Valey Railroad Co. v. U.S., N.Y. Central & Hudson River Railroad v. U.S., U.S. v. Sterling Salt Co., John O'Hare v. U.S., U.S. v. New Departure Manufacturing Co., Erie Railroad v. U.S., Grand Trunk Railroad Co. of Canada v. U.S. (3 folders) |
| 41.2 | Miscellaneous correspondence as Legislator, 1907-1909, includes letter from 1911 |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 41.3-41.6 | 1950-1959 |
| 42.1 | Articles, Committee statements, newspaper clippings |
| 42.2 | Acknowledgements of contributions to C.P.D. as treasurer of Committee (arranged alphabetically, 1951) |
| 42.3 | Acknowledgements of speeches of Messrs. Conant, Bush, Baxter, and Hoffman sent by O'Brian |
| 42.4 | Letters received by O'Brian in response to circular letter of, January 25, 1951 enclosing C.P.D. Statements |
Materials collected by O'Brian while he served as member of the Board of Inquiry.
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 42.5 | Correspondence May-Sept. 1948 (removed Truman letter, located in 55.10) |
| 42.6 | Report to President March 15, 1948 and Second Report to President May 18, 1948 |
| 42.7-43.1 | Documents #1-8, 10, 11, 13-15, 17-19, 24, 25 (3 folders) |
| 43.2-43.3 | Exhibits |
| 43.4 | Minutes and Transcript of March 11 and May 17, 1948 |
| 43.5 | Position papers of Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corp. |
| 44.1 | Position papers of Atomic Trades & Labor Council, A.F.L. |
| 44.2 | Government documents relating to dispute |
| 44.3 | Misc. papers including Contract Proposal by Carbide & Carbon Chemicals |
O'Brian served as Chairman of the Board which was established by President Truman to investigate the necessity of officers receiving extra pay for hazardous duty
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 44.4-44.5 | Correspondence, proceedings, & notes (January 1947-January 1949) |
| 44.6 | Proceedings of Board to Consider Flight Pay, May 1-2, 1947 (in notebook) |
| 45.1 | Memoranda; Report of Board, December 10, 1947 (marked "File No.2" amd "Destroy at my death" |
| 45.2 | Booklets on Extra Hazard Pay |
| Container | Contents |
| 45.3-45.4 | Correspondence, Board of Director meeting minutes, and pamphlets on organization |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 45.5-46.3 | Correspondence, meeting minutes; 1944-1963 marked "Destroy at my Death" (4 folders) |
| 46.4 | Articles and pamphlets marked "keep" |
| 46.5 | Printed material on Monument and Society |
| 46.6 | Photos |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 47.1 | Proceedings of the University of the State of New York. Board of Regents., 1930-33, 1935-36, 1938-39, 1941, 1944; History of the State Education Department; meeting schedule 1944-47 |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 47.2 | Outline of Professional Career & Other Activities 1892-1951 (3 copies); ; |
| 47.3 | Outline of Activities 1951-1956 |
| 47.4 | Autobiographical material sent to family (carbon copies and handwritten notes) |
| 47.5 | Miscellaneous autobiographical material including final update 1957-1969 |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 47.6 | Harvard, Buffalo Law School - grades, commencement material, English theme papersConstitution |
| 47.7 | Youth - commencement oration from high school 1892, "Boys Own Club" |
| 47.8 | Honorary Degrees - Articles on honorary degrees from Yale and Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (Yale Alumni Bulletin 1948 (2 copies), p.5; Misc. items on O'Brian; Harvard Alumni material removed to Harvard University files and Overseer files) |
| 47.9 | Misc. memorabilia pertaining to O'Brian - programs, clippings (Literary Society schedule, program from dinner in honor of O'Brian in 1913) |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 48.1 | Received on appointment as Head of Antitrust Division of Dept. of Justice (marked "answered") |
| 48.2 | Received on appointment as as Head of Antitrust Division of Dept. of Justice |
| 48.3 | Retirement as Assistant to Attorney General, 1932 |
| 48.4 | Letters & telegram received in 1936 on victory in Supreme Court in Ashwander v. T.V.A. |
| 48.5 | "Spirit of Remonstrance", 1940 (address before the N.Y.S. Bar Association, January 1940, later published in full in N.Y. Herald Tribune and reported in Harvard Bulletin, marked "keep") |
| 48.6 | Received on being elected Regent of the New York State Education Department |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 48.7 | Misc. non-professional (1908-1919) |
| 48.8 | Regarding election of O'Brian to Century Club (1926-1927) |
| 48.9 | Judge William Hitz in, 1920's and 1930's |
| 48.10 | Regrets to dinner for O'Brian by Erie County Bar Association, 1930 |
| 48.12-49.1 | Miscellaneous correspondence for, 1920's (2 folders) |
| 49.2-49.3 | Miscellaneous correspondence for, 1930's |
| 49.4 | Miscellaneous correspondence for, January 1940 to December 1944 (date of resignation from War Production Board selected by O'Brian for preservation) |
Original 22 volumes & index in 25 folders. Contain primarily extracts, quotes, essays. Some notebooks have pages numbered, those unnumbered were supplied with numbers. Unnumbered and some duplicates placed in front of files. Indexes with early notebooks.
| Container | Contents |
| 49.5 | Notebook 1 (missing 201-202) |
| 49.6 | Notebook 2 (missing 21-23, 70-71) |
| 50.1 | Notebook 3 (missing 53) |
| 50.2 | Notebook 4 (missing 39-40, 170-185) |
| 50.3 | Notebook 5 |
| 50.4 | Notebook 6 (missing 56-58, 63-111) -- early history of Buffalo Club |
| 50.5 | Notebook 7 (missing 113-23, 48-42) -- primarily addresses by O'Brian; List of cases argue in Supreme Court 1929-32, 1935, 1938-39, 1944-46; sedition cases; cases argued as U.S. Attorney General; address by O'Brian to Pan American Union, August 26, 1930; Attorney General's Dinner in honor of English, French, Irish & Canadian guests of A.B.A.; description of Office of Production Management |
| 50.6 | Notebook 8 (missing 5-6, 56, 112-115) |
| 51.1 | Notebook 9 (missing 1, 28, 79 |
| 51.2 | Notebook 10 -- Index for notebooks 1 to 9, name index and more. |
| 51.3 | Notebook 10 (missing 45-75) -- addresses by O'Brian |
| 51.4 | Notebook 11 -- marked "Memorabilia chiefly historical", recollections of people & events; p. 100 marked "secret" |
| 51.5 | Notebook 12 (missing 2-3, 20-37, 63, 65-66, 116-122) |
| 51.6 | Notebook 13 |
| 52.1 | Notebook 14 -- speeches by O'Brian, numbers supplied, no index |
| 52.2 | Notebook 15 -- marked "Addresses & Essays", numbers supplied, no index |
| 52.3 | Notebook 16 -- numbers supplied, no index |
| 52.4 | Notebook 17 -- marked "Memorabilia: chiefly historical" |
| 52.5 | Notebook 18 -- Tucker Lectures I-III |
| 52.6 | Notebook 19 -- marked "addresses" & "contains Thursday Club Addresses?", numbers supplied, no index |
| 53.1 | Notebook 20 -- "Old Supreme Court Building", signed letter Eleanor Roosevelt |
| 53.2 | Notebook 21 -- "Record of Important Conversations re: U.S. Supreme Court, Hughes, Brandeis, Cardozo, Stimson, etc. Confidential", inside marked "Memorabilia--Important, Personal--Please Keep" |
| 53.3 | Notebook 22 -- numbers supplied, no index |
| 53.4-53.5 | Carbon copies of material placed in original black notebooks |
Most folders contain only a few signed letters.
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 53.6 | Misc. 1897-1932: Attorneys General Mitchell Palmer, J.C. McReynolds, T.W. Gregory; Benjamin Cardozo; Elihu Root |
| 53.7 | Charles Evans Hughes |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 54.1 | 1916-1965 |
| 54.2 | 1945-1966 |
| 54.3 | Clippings, pamphlets & articles about Frankfurter, 5 items signed |
Material contained in large brown folder marked "Correspondence of Unusual Importance" selected by O'Brian when he withdrew from his Buffalo office (with some recent additions) then lists names.
Letters in large envelope interfiled & marked "Letters selected by Mr. O'Brian for preservation, placed in this envelope and marked 'especially important'" from: C.E. Hughes, Elihu Root, William Knudsen, President Truman, Learned Hand, Walter Hampden, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Alfred E. Smith, President Herbert Hoover, Homer Cummings; Lyndon B. Johnson
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 54.4 | Burlingham, C.C. (1926-1948) |
| 54.5 | Cummings, Homer (1935-1936) |
| 54.6 | Dewey, Thomas E. (1939-1959) |
| 54.7 | Gregory, T.W. (1917-1927) |
| 54.8 | Hampden, Walter (1925-1957) |
| 54.9 | Hand, Learned (Judge) (1942-1957) |
| 54.10 | Hitz, William (1920-1921); Walsh, Thomas J. (1932) |
| 54.11 | Hoover, Herbert (1929-1930) |
| 54.12 | Hoover, J. Edgar (1919-1969) |
| 54.13 | Hughes, Charles Evans (1918-1931) |
| 54.14 | Hull, Cordell (1941) |
| 54.15 | Jackson, Robert H. (1931-1941) |
| 54.16 | Johnson, Lyndon B. (1964); photocopy of telegram |
| 54.17 | Knudsen, William S. (1944-1946) |
| 54.18 | Miller, Nathan L. & Mills, Ogden L. (1920-1934) |
| 54.19 | Mitchell, William D. (1929-1932) |
| 54.20 | Parsons, Herbert (1916-1925) |
| 54.21 | Pound, Roscoe (1950) |
| 54.22 | Reed, Stanley (1935-1938) |
| 55.1 | Roberts, Owen J. (1932-1950) |
| 55.2 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. (1932-1940); 3 letters |
| 55.3 | Roosevelt, Theodore (1895-1924); 5 letters |
| 55.4 | Root, Elihu (1908-1935) |
| 55.5 | Smith, Alfred E. (1930) |
| 55.6 | Stettinius, Edward R. Jr. (1944-1946) |
| 55.7 | Stevenson, Adlai E. (1945-1949) |
| 55.8 | Stimson, Henry (1916-1950) |
| 55.9 | Stone, Harlan (1924-1930) |
| 55.10 | Truman, Harry (1948-1957); 3 letters, 2 from White House |
| 55.11 | Wickersham, George W. (1920-1935) |
| 55.12 | Misc.: Donovan, William; Baker, Newton; Cotton, Joseph; Jowitt, Sir William; Sullivan, Mark; Masefield, John; Briggs, L.R.; Jones, Jesse H. ; Norton, C.E.; Patterson, Robert P.; Jusserand, J. J.; Lindsay, Sir Ronald C.--ambassador; Tuttle, Charles H.; Ballantine, Arthur; Warren, Charles; Davis, John W. ; Bowes-Lyon, Rachel |
| 55.13 | Misc.: Burger, Warren E.; Lehman, Herbert; Bundy, McGeorge; Dulles, John Foster; Vinson, Fred M.; Cardozo, Benjamin; Frankfurter, Felix; Brandeis, Louis D.; Acheson, Dean G.; Brennan, W.L.(?) |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 55.14-55.16 | Articles on miscellaneous subjects; arranged alphabetically by author Label marked "Articles on Miscellaneous Subjects written by: Dean Acheson, Frederick A. Ballard, Harold Boeschenstein, Prescott Bush, Glenville Clark, W. Graham Claytor, Jr., Nanette Dembitz, Roger Fisher, Paul A. Freund, Katharine Graham, Erwin Griswold, Francis C. Huntington, Robert H. Jackson, Milton Katz (unable to locate Katz article), Ernest A. Gould (on Harry Hyland Kerr), Arthur Krock, Marx Leva, Eugene Meyer, III, Hans J. Morgenthau, F.A. Morse, Winfred Overholser, William D. Phelan, Jr." |
| 56.1 | Articles on miscellaneous subjects - no authors |
| 56.2 | Williamsburg--Reminiscences on Dr. W.A.R.Goodwin, June 1972: Handwritten notes, transcript and pamphlets on restoration of Williamsburg by Goodwin & Rockefeller, Jr. |
| 56.3-56.4 | Clippings, programs, letters, and pamphlets having unclear relationship to O'Brian. |
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 56.5 | 1961-1970 (& undated) |
| 56.6 | 1956-1960 |
| 56.7 | 1947-1955 |
| 56.8 | 1929-1942 |
| 56.9 | 1923-1928 |
| 57.1 | 1922 |
| 57.2 | 1914-1921 |
| 57.3 | Handwritten notes, quotes on 3"x 5" cards |
| 57.8 | Addresses, Law and Politics (1916-1952) |
Many manuscripts lacked official title thus titles were provided to indicate general subject matter.
| Box/Folder | Contents |
| 57.5 | Nomination of Cuthbert W. Pound as Judge of Court of Appeals; Thursday Club Papers--Misc. addresses: "The Lawyer and the Public", "The Menace of Administrative Law" (1920), "On the Department of Justice", "Our Changing Government" |
| 57.6 | " Edward Burnham Burling - A Personal Recollection", May 12, 1969 |
| 57.7 | " William S. Knudsen - A Personal Recollection", June 26, 1967 |
| 57.8 | "The Challenge of Adversity," The Literary Society, February 18, 1967 |
| 57.9 |
