James B. McCreary Collection, 1882-1915 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Collection Overview

Title: James B. McCreary Collection, 1882-1915

Primary Creator: McCreary, James B. (1838-1918)

Extent: 0.44 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 05/25/1931

Subjects: Civil War, 1861-1865., Democratic Party (Ky.), Kentucky--Politics and government--1865-1950., McCreary, James B. (James Bennett), 1838-1918, United States--Politics and government.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Correspondence and speeches by Governor McCreary. Also book of United States Senators, 1903-1909, with 58 autographs.

Biographical Note

James Bennett McCreary (July 8, 1838 - October 8, 1918) was a lawyer and politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in both houses of the U.S. Congress and served as its 27th and 37th governor.

Shortly after graduating from law school, he was commissioned as the only major in the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, serving under Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan during the American Civil War. He returned to his legal practice after the war.

In 1869, he was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives where he served until 1875; he was twice chosen Speaker of the House. At their 1875 nominating convention, state Democrats chose McCreary as their nominee for governor, and he won an easy victory over Republican John Marshall Harlan. With the state still feeling the effects of the Panic of 1873, most of McCreary's actions as governor were aimed at easing the plight of the state's poor farmers.

In 1884, McCreary was elected to the first of six consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a legislator, he was an advocate of free silver and a champion of the state's agricultural interests. After two failed bids for election to the Senate, McCreary secured the support of Governor J. C. W. Beckham, and in 1902, the General Assembly elected him to the Senate. He served one largely undistinguished term, and Beckham successfully challenged him for his Senate seat in 1908.

The divide between McCreary and Beckham was short-lived, however, and Beckham supported McCreary's election to a second term as governor in 1911. Campaigning on a platform of progressive reforms, McCreary defeated Republican Edward C. O'Rear in the general election. During this second term, he became the first inhabitant of the state's second (and current) governor's mansion; he is also the only governor to have inhabited both the old and new mansions. Interestingly enough, McCreary had been one of five commissioners charged with overseeing construction of the new governor's mansion and exerted considerable influence on the construction plans.

During his second term, he succeeded in convincing the legislature to make women eligible to vote in school board elections, to mandate direct primary elections, to create a state public utilities commission, and to allow the state's counties to hold local option elections to decide whether or not to adopt prohibition. He also realized substantial increases in education spending and won passage of reforms such as a mandatory school attendance law, but was unable to secure passage of laws restricting lobbying in the legislative chambers and providing for a workers' compensation program.

His term expired in 1915, and he died three years later. McCreary County was formed during McCreary's second term in office and was named in his honor.

Subject/Index Terms

Civil War, 1861-1865.
Democratic Party (Ky.)
Kentucky--Politics and government--1865-1950.
McCreary, James B. (James Bennett), 1838-1918
United States--Politics and government.

Box and Folder Listing

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Box 1

Barcode: 31234013796501

Folder 1: Civil War Memoir

Typescript about the events leading up to John Hunt Morgan's Ohio Raid and the subsequent imprisonment of McCreary who was captured at Buffington Island. A second chapter talks about the possible parole of McCreary in 1864.

Folder 2: Journal

A copy of the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society's transcript of McCreary's Civil War journal.

Folder 3: Correspondence, 1882-1915

Item 1: ALS James B. McCreary to The President of the United States, 1882: McCreary is recommending H.C. Lilly as U.S. Judge of the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Item 2: TS Rodman M. Price to James B. McCreary, 1889: Discussing the importance of the America Conference and requesting McCreary's assistance if a bill is presented to him. Original letter plus a typescript. (Dorris Museum accession # N.114.14)
Item 3: ALS Henry Ford to James B. McCreary, 1915: Discussing the war in Europe, Ford requests that McCreary participate in a Peace Pilgrimage to The Hague.
Item 4: James B. McCreary to Carlo Brittain, 17 Aug 1918: Telegram congratulating Brittain on his appointment as Rear Admiral. (Dorris Museum accession # N.114.16)

Folder 4: References to State Papers

A list of State papers of Governor McCreary which show his character and vision.

Folder 5: Speeches (Manuscript)

Speeches, news clippings and notes

Folder 6: Speeches (Published), 1859-1912

Item 1: Oration and Valedictory, Jun 1859: Delivered at University of Tennessee Law Department. (From the Dorris Museum Collection, N.114.2)
Item 2: Inaugural Address: James B. McCreary, 31 Aug 1875: Delivered at Frankfort. (From the Dorris Museum Collection, N.114.3)
Item 3: Message of Gov. James B. M'Creary, 31 Dec 1875: To the General Assembly of Kentucky (From the Dorris Museum Collection, N.114.4)
Item 4: Valedictory of Gov. James B. McCreary, 2 Sep 1879: At the close of his administration as Governor of Kentucky. (From the Dorris Museum Collection, N.114.5)
Item 5: Speech of Hon. James B. McCreary, 8 Feb 1887: On commerce and arbitration in North, Central and South America. (From the Dorris Museum Collection, N.114.6)
Item 6: Speech of Hon. James B. McCreary, 4 Sep 1888, 18 Aug 1888: In favor of the bill to empower the president of the United States to protect and defend the rights of American Citizens. Also speech in favor of the bill to prohibit the coming of Chinese laborers to the United States.
Item 7: Reciprocity in Trade. Reduction of Taxes., 3 May 1890: Speech of James B. McCreary in the House of Representatives.
Item 8: Federal Control of Elections, 28 Jun 1890: Speech of James B. McCreary in the House of Representatives. (From the Dorris Museum Collection, N.114.7)
Item 9: Our Foreign Relations, 31 Jan 1891: Speech of James B. McCreary on Diplomatic and Consular Bill, delivered in the United States House of Representatives. (From the Dorris Museum Collection, N.114.8)
Item 10: Speech of Hon. James B. McCreary, 28 Feb 1891: Against government subsidies, delivered in the United States House of Representatives. (From the Dorris Museum Collection, N.114.9)
Item 11: Diplomatic and Consular Service, 26 Apr 1892: Speech of Hon. James B. McCreary, in the United States House of Representatives.
Item 12: International Monetary Conference, 6 Dec 1892: Speech of the Hon. James B. McCreary, delegate of the United States of America.
Item 13: Just Taxation and Commercial Freedom, 22 Jan 1894: Speech or Hon. James B. McCreary, in the House of Representatives of the United States.
Item 14: The Currency, 3 Jan 1895: Speech of Hon. James B. McCreary, in the United States House of Representatives.
Item 15: Coinage Redemption Fund. Free Coinage of Silver., 8 Feb 1896: Speech of Hon. James B. McCreary, in the House of Representatives.
Item 16: International Monetary Conference, 26 Feb 1897: Speech of Hon. James B. McCreary, in the House of Representatives.
Item 17: The Union of American Republics and International Arbitration, 12 Oct 1908: Address of Hon. James B. McCreary, at the Greensboro North Carolina Centennial and Peace Congress.
Item 18: Governor McCreary's Opening Speech, 4 Sep 1911: Delivered at Bowling Green. (Cover from the Dorris Museum Collection, N.114.10)

Folder 7: Scrapbook

News clippings and hand-written notes about McCreary's political career. (Dorris Museum accession # 1615)

Folder 8: Paternal Grandparents of McCreary

(From the Dorris Museum Collection, no accession #)

Box 2

Barcode: 31234013796519

Folder 1: United States Senators: 1903-1909

Folder 2: Certificates

Item 1: National Star Spangled Banner Centennial Certificate, 1914: From the Dorris Museum Collection, accession # N.114.1.
Item 2: M.V. Evans Notary Appointment, 1912: Signed by James B. McCreary during his second term as governor.

Folder 3: Photographs

Item 1: James B. McCreary

From Dorris Museum Collection, accession # N.131.

Item 2: Officers and Members of the Kentucky House, ca 1873

This piece is very damaged due to the acidic mat board used to mount the individual portraits. From Dorris Museum Collection, accession # N.135.

Item 3: Old Kentucky State Capital and Legislators, ca 1873

From Dorris Museum Collection, accession # N.136.

Item 4: State and Territorial Governors, 1912

From Dorris Museum Collection, accession # N.137.

Item 5: International Monetary Conference, 1892

Group photo of conference participants in Brussels, Belgium. From Dorris Museum Collection, accession # N.133.

Item 6: Kentucky Representatives and Senators

In the 50th Congress. Includes Polk Laffoon, William J. Stone, W. Godfrey Hunter, Asher Graham Caruth, A.B. Montgomery, John Griffin Carlisle, James B. Beck, Joseph C.S. Blackburn, Wm. C.P. Breckinridge, James B. McCreary, George W. Thomas, William Preston Taulbee and H.F. Finley. (From Dorris Museum Collection, Acc. 592)

Item 7: James B. McCreary and Unidentified Man, ca 1917

Very likely taken at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. From Dorris Museum Collection, accession # 594.

Creators:: Royal Photo Co.

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