MS 55 - Frazier Reams, Sr. Papers
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| Title | MS 55 - Frazier Reams, Sr. Papers |
|---|---|
| Introduction | The Frazier Reams, Sr. Papers were donated to the Center for Archival Collections by Mrs. Frazier Reams, Sr., in June 1978. The collection consists of various scrapbooks, speeches, biographical sketches, and correspondence dating from 1933 to 1954. Personal and public information about Reams may also be found within the records. The collection, processed by Marcia Sommerfield, Graduate Assistant, Department of History, occupies five and one-half linear feet and contains seventy-eight items. Scholarly, literary, and property rights have been granted to the public for the purposes of scholarly research. |
| Biographical Sketch | Frazier Reams was born in Franklin, Tennessee, on January 15, 1897, the son of Herschel and Tabitha Reams. Herschel B. Reams, pastor of the Franklin Methodist Church, instilled in Frazier and his siblings a great love for religion which Frazier carried with him throughout his life. After attending the University of Tennessee (1915-1919), Reams entered the College of Law at Vanderbilt University in 1919. In 1921, he was admitted to the Tennessee Bar Association. Later, in 1922, he was admitted to the Ohio Bar Association. Upon moving to Toledo, Ohio, Reams met Crystal Petree at the Epworth Methodist Church and, on June 27, 1924, they were married. Reams' public career began in 1933. His overwhelming concern for public welfare dictated his determination to free Toledo from criminal injustices and to improve conditions within Ohio's penitentiaries. Reams also was involved in nation-wide politics throughout his career. He became a member of the Ohio Delegation to the Democratic National Convention in 1928 and served at each succeeding convention until 1956. The appointments and offices Reams held were: Prosecuting Attorney of Lucas County (1933-1937); Special Investigator of the Ohio Penitentiary (1935-1936); Director of Public Welfare in the State of Ohio (1945-1946); United States Collector of Internal Revenue (1941-1942, appointed by President Roosevelt); Manager of Roosevelt's campaign in Ohio (1936); Trustee for Bowling Green State University (1948-1957); and Representative to the United States Congress from Ohio's 9th District (1951-1954). Reams remained a prominent, well-known public figure in Ohio and the nation until his death at the age of 74 in 1971. |
| Scope and Content | The Frazier Reams, Sr. Papers, 1933-c1954, mainly document his terms as Prosecuting Attorney for Lucas County, Public Welfare Director, and Congressman from Ohio's 9th District. Reams' scrapbooks, the major portion of the collection, contain numerous articles pertaining to life in Ohio and the city of Toledo. Articles may be found documenting criminal injustices, hospital and penitentiary conditions, and campaign activities. Limited primary materials include speeches and correspondence. The speeches, given before audiences of political, religious, and educational orientation, contain information on Ohio's penitentiary system, religion, patriotism, and various other topics. A portion of the correspondence deals with Bowling Green State University and Reams' congressional campaign. All other letters are of a miscellaneous character. The scrapbooks are arranged according to their number and date. The speeches, correspondence, and other miscellaneous items are indexed according to their original provenance within the collection. Correspondence about Reams' personal life is virtually non-existent. All the photographs of the collection have been removed to the Center for Archival Collections' permanent photograph files. |
| Series Description | LITERARY PRODUCTIONS BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL NOTES REPORTS SPEECHES CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE PRINTED MATERIAL SCRAPBOOKS, CLIPPINGS, ETC. PHOTOGRAPHS POSITIVE PRINTS |
| Inventory | Box 1 Folder
Box 2 Folders
Box 3 Folders
Box 4 Volumes
Box 5 Volumes
Box 6 Volumes
Box 7 Volumes
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