ARTHUR A. BALLANTINE PAPERS
Scope and Content Note
Arthur A. Ballantine served as Undersecretary of the Treasury (1931-33)
in the Hoover administration. His papers contain approximately thirteen feet
of correspondence, memoranda, reports and copies of articles and speeches.
Ballantine's personal and professional lives are relatively well-documented.
In addition to files concerning his family and legal practice, the collection
contains several files reflecting his involvement in a variety of philanthropic,
legal, and educational organizations and institutions. These include member-
ship on the Board of Trustees of the Practicing Law Institute, Columbia
Teachers College, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Har-
vard University Board of Overseers.
Early in his career Ballantine became an expert on corporate income
taxes. In 1917 he was appointed to a three-man committee to advise the Com-
missioner of Tnternal Revenue on legal questions arising from the new war
revenue laws, particularly the excess profits tax enacted in October 1917.
He became Solicitor of the Internal Revenue Service in 1918 and, in 1927, was
named as an advisor to the Treasury Department and the Joint Committee of Congress
on Internal Revenue Taxation. His continuing interest in the impact of federal
tax policy was frequently voiced in speeches and articles for magazines and
legal journals and is reflected in an extensive file of articles and speeches
(2 1\2 ft., 1903-59) and in several subject files on the New Deal, Social Security
and taxes.
Other insights into his personal life may be gained from over 420 letters
that Ballantine exchanged between 1902 and 1936 with his father, William G.
Ballantine, a former president (1891-1906) of Oberlin College. This corres-
pondence also provides some insights into Ballantine's duties and problems as
Undersecretary and life in the nation's capital. This personal correspondence serves
as an important and candid supplement to Ballantine's letter press copy books of
official*correspondence ( 2 ft., 1931-33) which he retained when he resigned on
May 15, 1933. Combined with a subject file on the"Banking Crisis of 1933", these
correspondence files document and illuminate policies of both Hoover and Roosevelt
in regard to the depression and the banking crisis of 1933. They also reveal the curious
set of circumstances which resulted in Roosevelt's insisting that Ballantine stay on the
to help draft the emergency banking act under which banks were reopened.
Description of Series
Containers Contents
1-12, 30-33
SUBJECT FILE 1900-66 and undated 17 containers.
Correspondence, telegrams, reports and memoranda, clippings,
and scrapbooks pertaining to Ballantine's personal and
professional activities and his service-as Assistant and
Undersecretary of the Treasury, 1931-33. Arranged by sub-
jects alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.
13-23
CORRESPONDENCE FILE 1901-61 11 containers.
Official and personal correspondence arranged in two
chronological subseries.
23-29
ARTICLES AND SPEECHES 1903-59 7 containers.
Drafts and printed copies of Ballantine's articles,
letters to the editor and speeches. Also a small quan-
tity of correspondence concerning some articles, letters
or speeches. Arranged chronologically.
Subject File
Container Contents
1
Allen, Mary & Horace, 1951-54
American Friends of Czecho-Slovakia, 1939
Awards
Legion of Honor, 1952-53
Navy's Distinguished Public Service, 1948-57
White Lion, 1935
Ballantine Family
Ballantine Family, Genealogy
Ballantine, Arthur A.
General, 1901-1966
Admission to Bar, 1906-1960 & undated
Appointments & Accounts, 1903-1907
Birthday, 1954
Clubs, Miscellaneous, 1912-1918
Illness, 1950
IRS Solicitor, 1917-1919
Law Firms, Correspondence, 1912-1959
2
Law Firm, Annual Dinners
1925-1947
1949-1959 & undated
Law Firm, "The Bull", 1931-1960
Lecture Notes-YMCA Law School, 1911-1913
Obituaries, 1960
Wedding, 1907
Ballantine, Edward, 1914-1955
Ballantine, Barbara, (Mrs. John Cross) 1909-1929
Ballantine, Mrs. Helen, 1903-1966
Ballantine, Henry Winthrop, 1951-1952
3
Ballantine, Household and Personal
Ballantine, William Gay
Banking
1932-1935
1944 & undated
Banking Crisis of 1933
1933-1934
1943-1964 & undated
Boston Elevated Railway Case, 1913
Campaign of 1936
(1)
(2)
Campaign of 1952
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
See Also: Hiss, Alger
1946-1953
4
1936-1945
Choate, Rufus, 1848-49 & undated
Citizens Committee for the Hoover Report, 1949-1952 & undated
Columbia Teachers College Trustee
1934-1950
1940
1941
1946-1949
Committee for Re-education of Refugee Lawyers
Compensations for Auto Accidents, 1932
Constitution, Fifth Ammendment
Council on Foreign Relations
5
Greater New York Fund
1943
1949-1950
Harvard University
General
1908-1943
1905-1916
1921-1960
6
Ballantine Scholarships and Other Gifts, 1952-1959
Board of Overseers
1928 -1943
1944-1948
1950-1956
1957-1958 & undated
Printed Matter
Class of 1904
1921-1930
1933-1959 & undated
Class of 1904 Reunions
1907-1910
1914
1919, 1926
1949
7
50th Anniversary, 1952-1953
50th Anniversary, 1954
1959
Class Notes, Test Papers, etc.
Harvard Cooperative Society
Harvard Crimson
General, 1901-1960 & undated
Copies, 1901-1948
Law School Class of 1907, 50th Anniversary, 1956-1957
Printed Matter
Prospect Union
Miscellaneous
8
Hiss, Alger
General
1946
1948 Jan-Aug
1948 Sept-Dec
1949
Hearings, 1948 August 25
Hearings, 1948 August 30
Hoover, Herbert
Hoover, Herbert, Articles & Speeches
Invitations
LaGaurdia Campaign, 1941
9
Mailing List
Masaryk Institute, 1937-1942
Mortgage Conference, 1931-1946
National Debt, 1939
Naval Justice
Ballantine Reports, 1943-1948
Dedication Naval Justice School Building, 1946
New Deal
Clippings
1934-1935
1936
1937
General
1935
1936
1937-1939 & undated
10
Printed Material
New York Finances, 1936
Nisi Prius Club (Boston), 1914-1952 & Undated
Nisi Prius Club (New York)
Correspondence, 1925-1931
Attendance, 1926-1931
New Members, 1925-1928
Notices, 1926-1933
Northeastern University,
11
Phi Beta Kappa Associates, 1952-1959
Poetry and Humor
Practicing Law Institute
1947-1952
1955-1958 & undated
Republican Party, 1960
River Club, 1960-1961
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
Securities Exchange Act Lectures, 1934
Trips and Passports
1923-1927
1928-1961 & undated
Skating Club, 1944-1959
Social Security
1935
1936-1938 & undated
12
Springfield College, 1955-1958
Stock Exchange, 1933-1934
Taxes, 1920-1957 & undated
Townsend Old Age Pension, 1935-1936
Memorabilia
Miscellaneous
(1)
(2)
(3)
30 Photographs and Duplicate Material
31 Duplicates
Correspondence File
Container Contents
13
Official File Letterbooks
Volume I
Index, 1931 March 17--JulY 1
1931 March 17--April 16, Pages 1-170
1931 April 17--May 24, Pages 171-323
1931 May 25--JulY 1, Pages 324-496
Volume 2
Index, 1931 July 1--October 6
1931 July ]--August 9, Pages 1-117
1931 August 10--31, pages 118-259
1931 September 1-15, pages 260-351
1931 September l5-October 6, page 352-500
14
Volume 3
Index, 1931 October 5--December 11
1931 October 5-22, pages 1-130
1931 October 22-November 11, pages 131-240
1931 November 11--19, pages 241-360
1931 November 20--December 11, pages 361-501
Volume 4
Index, 1931 December 11--1932 February 10
1931 December 11-31, pages 1-125
1932 January 1-18, pages 126-250
1932 January 19--27, pages 251-375
15
1932 January 27--February 10, pages 376-500
Volume 5
Index, 1932 February 10--March 19
1932 February 10-20, pages 1-125
1932 February 20--March 1, page 126-250
1932 March 1-12, pages 251-375
1932 March 12-19, pages 376-500
Volume 6
Index, 1932 March 19--May 11
1932 March 19-29, pages 1-124
1932 March 29--April 13, pages 125-250
1932 April 13-27, pages 251-373
1932 April 27--May 11, pages 375-502
16
Volume 7
Index, 1932 May 11--July 18
1932 May 11--May 24, pages 1-125
1932 May 24--June 8, pages 125-250
1932 June 8--27, pages 251-375
1932 June 27--JulY 18, pages 376-500
Volume 8
Index, 1932-July 15--October 22
1932 July 15--August 15, pages 1-125
1932 August 15--September 7, pages 126-250
17
1932 September 7--27, pages 251-375
1932 September 28--October 22, pages 376-498
Volume 9
Index, 1932 October 22-1933 February 20
1932 October 22--November 30, pages 1-143
1932 December 1-30, pages 144-275
1933 January 1-30, pages 276-455
1933 February 2-20, pages 456-498
Volume 10
Index, 1933 February 20--April 22
1933 February 20-28, pages 1-40
1933 February 27--March 11, pages 41-183
18
1933 March 11--March 23, pages 184--340
1933 March 27--April 12, pages 341-503
Volume 11 1933 April 22--May 15, pages 1-156 and Index
General Correspondence
1901-1905
1907-1908
19
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926-1931
1932
20
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1939
1941-1943
1944
1946-1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
21
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
Undated
Congratulations on Appointment as Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury, 1931
22
Congratulations on Appointment as Undersecretary
of the Treasury,. 1932
Letters of Appreciation, 1946-1950
Letters of Condolence, 1960
A--F
G--L
M--R
23
S--W
Articles and Speeches File
Container Contents
23
Indeces to Articles and Speeches
1903, Boylston Prize Contest
1904-1907, Miscellaneous Harvard Speeches
1908, Independence Day Speech
1909, Lincoln Birthday Speech
1910, Phi Beta Kappa Dinner
1914, Miscellaneous Speeches
1915
"Prices According to Law"
"A Compensation Plan for Railway Accidents"
Correspondence, 1915-1916
Notes and Drafts
Printed Copies
1916, Harvard Crimson Speech
24
1917, "Railway Strikes and the Constitution"
1920
"Constitutional Aspects of the Excess Profits Tax"
December 10, "The Lawyer and the Income Tax"
1921
Miscellaneous Speeches
April, "Corporate Personality in Income Taxation"
June 4, "Practical Aspects of the Income Tax"
1922
May 16, Address to Boston Bar Association
December 16, "Federal Income Tax Problems and Procedure"
24
1923, "Why Choose the Law?"
1924, "The New Revenue Act"
1925
"Taxable Income"
November 16, "The Ideal Income Tax"
1926, "The New Income Tax Regulations"
1928
"Tax Reduction and the New Revenue Bill"
Letter to the New York Times 12/29/28
1929
"Valuations for Income Tax Purposes"
"A Study of Compensations for Automobile Accidents"
1930, "Davis, Polk, Wardwell, Gardiner & Reed--Some
of the Antecedents"
1931, August 14, Press Release
1931-1933 (Bound Volume)
"The Treasury Today" 4/29/31
"War Policies in Taxation" 5/20/31
"You and Your Country" 6/15/31
"The Treasury's Financial Program" 1/8/32
"Commencement Address" 6/18/32
"Statement" 7/11/32
"Federal Income Tax Procedures" 8/l/32
"Treasury Birthday Speech" 9/2/32
"The Public Credit" 9/29/32
"Remarks at Neighborhood Meeting" 9/30/32
"Federal Taxation Today" 10/20/32
"The Service of the Reconstruction Finance Corp" 10/21/32
"Aspects of Federal Finance" 10/26/32
"Industry and the Federal Tax Problem" 12/16/32
"Some Fundamentals of Recovery" 12/19/32
"Some Treasury Impressions" 1/27/33
"The Republican Party of Tomorrow" 1/27/33
"Aspects of Fiscal Policy" 1/30/33
1932
Miscellaneous Speeches
April, "Compensation for Automobile Accidents"
November, "Federal Taxation Today"
1933
January 30, "Aspects of Fiscal Policy"
June 22, "The National Industrial Recovery Act"
September 27, "Aspects of Federal Finance"
December 8, "Ammending the Federal Securities Act"
December 14, "Comments upon Federal Tax Recommendations
of the Subcommittee of the Ways & Means Committee"
1934
January 12, "Aspects of Government Financial Policies"
25
January 25, Harvard Club Address
February 22 "Some Sentiments of the day"
March 24, "The Times and the Lawyer"
September 5, "Government Finance: Facing the Facts"
September 12, "Public Finance and the Future of Industry"
October 16, "Promoting Recovery"
November 5, "Cluett for Senator"
1935
March 5, "Some Thoughts on Recovery"
May 6, "The Republican Party Must Go Forward"
June 26, "Experimentation by Taxation"
November, Century Club Address
November 12, "The Significance of Federal Financial
Policies"
November 14, "Why the Constitution?"
December, Radio Speech for the United Hospital
Campaign Committee
1936
January 14, "Forward with Private Enterprise"
January 17, "The Part of Patriotism Today"
February, "After Sudden Death"
February 11, "Lincoln and the National Good Will"
February 15, "Federal Financial Policies"
March 30, 'Why Not Steer for Employment"
March, "The New Corporation Tax Plan"
April 25, "Promoting Social Security"
May 5, Statement on behalf of the Merchants' Association
of New York in Opposition to the New Tax Plan
May 9, "An Approach to the Constitution"
June 4, "Speculation in Federal Spending"
July 29, "The Leadership of Governor Landon"
August, "Erosion by Government Finance"
September, "A.B.A. Federal Tax Committee Report"
September 23, "The Issure in Governement Finance"
October, "I'm For Landon"
December 4, "Federal Revenue & Expenditure: Practical
Aspects"
26
December 28, "Practical Aspects of Judicial Review"
1937
January, "Famous Awards: The Alleghany Case"
January, "Modernizing the Autobile Accident Law"
January 29, "Current Aspects of Federal Finance
and Taxation"
February, "Law Requires Controller to Guess at Best
Financial Policies"
April 16, "A Lawyers Outlook at the National Scene"
May 10, New York World-Telegram
October 19, "Industry and the Undistributed Profits Tax"
November 18, "Federal Finance and Recovery"
1938
January 17, "Current American Trends"
February, "Administrative Agencies & the Law"
February 12, "Lincoln and the Problems of Today"
March 24, "A Prospectus for Government Bonds"
March 31, "The Management of Government Finance"
April 8, "Social Security Reserves & Treasury Manipulations"
April 8, "The Delusion of the Federal Old Age Benefits
Reserves"
April 24, Letter to New York Times
May 21, "The Lawyer's Outlook Today"
May 30, Memorial Day Address
1939
January 16, "Farewell to Balance"
January 26, "Federal Power over Interstate Commerce Today"
February 2, "A New Theory of Federal Finance"
April, "Can We Go On Mortgaging the Future?"
April 18, Radio Address, "What Helps Business Helps You"
May 14, "John Smith and His Taxes"
May 19, "The Lawyer of Tomorrow"
May 22, "Public Welfare and the Public Dollar"
May 30, "Positive Americanism"
September 27, "Government Finance in the Present Setting"
November 15, "Employment and Federal Finance"
December 7, "The Human Side of the Budget"
1940
January 8, "Banking and the Government"
March 18, "Dismissing the Deficit"
March 21, "Preferences for Government Spending"
May 16, "Government Expenditure in A New Light"
May 18, Associated Harvard Clubs 43rd Annual Meeting"
June 6, "Financing Preparedness"
July, "Business Without Precedents"
27
September 10, "Grants in Aid--Possibilities and Problems"
October 2, Remarks at Women's Division of the
United Republican Finance Committee
October 28, "Wilkie--The road to Opportunity"
November 19, "Looking Ahead After the Election"
1941
March 4, "How to Finance National Defense"
March 25, "The Crisis in Taxation"
April, "Douglas on Democracy & Finance--A Review"
September 30, Letter to New York Herald Tribune
November 25, Radio Interview with Fannie Hurst
1942
October 10, "Investment in Health"
May 19, A Discussion of War Finance & Industry
1943
"The Conservative is Sometimes Right"
January 29, Address to Commerce and Industry
Association of New York
March 30, "The Future of the Voluntary Hospitals"
1944
January 21, "Encroachment of Federal Power on
State Government"
February 15, "The Corporation and the Income Tax"
May 21, Letter to New York Herald Tribune
August 23, "The Ghost and the Banks"
October 10, Remarks to New York Junior League
1945
February 25, Letter to the New York Times
March, "The Supreme Court: Principles and Personalities"
March 20, "Mr. Wallace and Planned Economy"
June 20, "The Supreme Court and the Lawyer Today"
July 29, Letter to New York Herald Tribune
1946
"The Supreme Court and&nb