Title: Cyrus Hall McCormick, Jr., Correspondence
Inclusive Dates: 1870-1936

Creator:

• McCormick, Cyrus Hall, 1859-1936

Call Number: McCormick Mss 1C

Quantity: 120.6 c.f. (299 archives boxes, 4 index boxes, and 1 volume)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Private and business correspondence of Chicago, Illinois industrialist Cyrus Hall McCormick, Jr., consisting of incoming and outgoing correspondence, copies of monthly financial records, annual reports, newspaper clippings, bulletins, photographs, copies of wills, and other legal documents. A wide variety of subjects is covered, including the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, investments, trusteeships and settlements of estates, charities and donations, membership in many societies, particularly in Chicago, and family affairs.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mcc0001c

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Private and business correspondence of Chicago industrialist Cyrus Hall McCormick, Jr. Many segments of the papers concern McCormick's business life from the time he finished at Princeton University in 1879 until he retired from the board of the International Harvester Company in 1935. Internal operation, plant expansion, acquisition of factories producing materials needed by International Harvester, introduction of new lines of agricultural equipment, and both domestic and foreign marketing are revealed in communications passing through McCormick's offices. Frequent trips in the United States and Europe by McCormick and his brothers, Harold, and for a few years, Stanley, produced numerous messages on behalf of their company, an organization that came to own plants in cities far beyond the Chicago area and had production agreements with many foreign manufacturers. Voluminous correspondence was carried on with other company officials, bankers, lawyers, and competitors.

In addition to the business of his companies, McCormick's papers contain correspondence, reports, stock purchase records, and negotiations concerning a great number and variety of investments. Present are files for McCormick Estates through which the family maintained a large interest in Chicago real estate; the Merchants Loan & Trust Company and the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company, of which McCormick was a director; the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mining and Concentrating Company of San Francisco, through which McCormick invested in mines in the West and Canada; and the Deepwater Coal and Iron Corporation operating in Alabama, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

Correspondence and reports on contributions to charities constitute a large portion of the papers, representing hundreds of appeals and giving evidence of a selective response by Mr. and Mrs. McCormick. Motivated by their daughter's interest in the missionary work of the Waldensian Society, for many years after her death they corresponded with and supported Luigi Angelini at a school operated by the society in Italy. The chief beneficiary of their large Elizabeth McCormick Memorial Fund was child welfare in Chicago, especially open-air schools.

The Presbyterian Church, locally and in the mission fields, consistently received communications and funds. From the time of his father's death until his own, McCormick showed great concern for the McCormick Theological Seminary, of which he was a trustee and treasurer and for which his papers contain much correspondence concerning faculty, buildings, minutes of meetings, and treasurer's reports.

In 1889 he became a trustee for Princeton University, and for the remainder of his life corresponded with faculty members and other trustees. To a lesser extent his papers contain letters and reports relating to Lake Forest University, of which he was a trustee, and to other schools such as Dubuque Theological Seminary (Iowa), Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (Virginia), Macalester College (Minnesota), and Washington and Lee University (Virginia). Institutions in and near Chicago, such as the Allendale Farm for Boys, Olivet Institute, and Presbyterian Hospital, also received his attention.

The work of the Young Men's Christian Association was of particular interest to McCormick, and there is ample evidence that he served as a working member of the Chicago YMCA and the board of the International Committee. The papers also demonstrate the McCormicks' interest in the Young Women's Christian Association and the Visiting Nurse Association of Chicago.

In 1917, McCormick's service as a member of the government's Special Diplomatic Mission to Russia (the Root Commission) produced letters, reports, and clippings concerning post-revolutionary economic and social conditions there, including progress of International Harvester Company agents in Russia.

McCormick was often asked to help welcome dignitaries to Chicago, and committee plans for receiving men such as Admiral George Dewey, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Georges Clemenceau, and David Lloyd George are filed with his papers. The McCormicks corresponded with the composer Serge Prokofiev, the pianist Gunnar Johansen, and the painter Vladimir Perfilieff; filed clippings concerning the Chicago Grand Opera; and gave active support to the Chicago Opera Association, the Art Institute, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Chicago Historical Society. He was particularly interested in the City Club of Chicago, the Commercial Club, and the National Civic Federation.

Numerous letters to, from, and about his mother, other family members, and relatives in the Adams, Esselstyn, Fowler, Hammond, McCormick, Merick, Shields, Spicer, and Stickney families are included. McCormick was involved in the administration of family estates and trusts for which many records appear in both his correspondence and business files. He administered the estates of his parents, of his first wife, Harriet, and of her aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Stickney; was a trustee for the estates of his mentally incompetent sister, Mary Virginia, and brother, Stanley; advised his sister, Anita, on investments; and handled funds established in memory of his daughter and his wife. Very limited material appears related to his second wife, Alice Marie Hoit, whom he married in 1927. Her correspondence concerning the YWCA is included, a few letters and clippings make reference to her, and she signed many letters for him while she was McCormick's secretary prior to their marriage.

This series is arranged in nine parts (Part I – IX) which are further divided into periods of years. Each part contains folders arranged alphabetically by subjects within a stated period of years, and each subject has a file number. Some large subjects are also subdivided alphabetically and given a “letter” designation (e.g.: YMCA Chicago is C262; “C” indicates Chicago and 262 is the subject file number for the YMCA). The subject divisions are arranged chronologically by year and month within the period of years indicated on the folder.

There are four index boxes (boxes 300-303) of catalog cards arranged alphabetically by subject. The cards indicate the part number, file number, and dates in which the item may be found. The contents list below show each part and its inclusive dates, the file number and the number of the box in which the file is contained. The box labels show the part number, file number, and box number.

	Series: Indexes, 1870-1936
Box   300	A-D
Box   301	E-J
Box   302	K-Peabody
Box   303	Pearls-Z
	Series: Part I, 1870-circa 1903	⇧
Box   1	File nos. 1-24
Box   2	File nos. 25-35
Box   3	File nos. 36-44
Box   4	File nos. 45-55
Box   4-5	File no. 56
Box   6	File nos. 57-73
Box   7	File nos. 74-77
Box   8	File nos. 78-80
Box   9	File nos. 80-93
Box   10	File nos. 94-97
Box   10-11	File no. 98
Box   12-13	File no. 99
Box   13	File nos. 100-142
Box   14	File nos. 143-162
Box   15	File nos. 163-194
Box   15-16	File no. 195
Box   16	File nos. 196-199
Box   16-17	File no. 200
Box   17	File nos. 201-219
Box   18	File nos. 220-261
Box   19-20	File no. 262
Box   21	File nos. 263-339
Box   22	File nos. 340-414
Box   23	File nos. 415-481
Box   24	File nos. 482-530
Box   25	File nos. 530-566
	Miscellaneous
Box   25	A-W, 1870-1885
Box   26	1886-1891
Box   27	1892-1895
Box   28	1896-1903, undated
	Series: Part II, 1904-circa 1907	⇧
Box   29	File nos. 4-23
Box   30	File nos. 24-34
Box   30-31	File no. 35
Box   31	File nos. 36-45
Box   32	File nos. 46-55
Box   32-34	File no. 56
Box   34	File nos. 57-71
Box   35	File no. 72
Box   36-37	File no. 74
Box   37	File nos. 75-76
Box   37-38	File no. 77
Box   39	File no. 79
Box   39-40	File no. 80
Box   40	File nos. 81-94
Box   41-42	File no. 98
Box   42-43	File no. 99
Box   43	File nos. 100-113
Box   44	File nos. 114-142
Box   44-45	File no. 143
Box   45	File nos. 144-189
Box   45-46	File no. 190
Box   46	File nos. 191-194
Box   46-47	File no. 195
Box   47	File nos. 196-224
Box   48	File nos. 225-237
Box   49	File nos. 242-261
Box   49-50	File no. 262
Box   50	File nos. 263-301
Box   50-51	File no. 302
Box   51	File nos. 303-343
Box   52	File nos. 362-467
Box   53	File nos. 469-485
Box   54	File nos. 490-507
Box   54-56	File no. 508
Box   56	File nos. 509-529
Box   56-57	File no. 530
Box   58	File nos. 533-553
Box   58-59	File no. 544
Box   59	File nos. 555-557
Box   60	File nos. 558-566
	Miscellaneous
Box   61	A-M
Box   62	N-Z
	Series: Part III, 1908-circa 1912	⇧
Box   63	File nos. 4-23
Box   64	File nos. 24-34
Box   64-65	File no. 35
Box   65	File nos. 36-37
Box   65-66	File no. 38
Box   66	File nos. 39-45
Box   66-67	File no. 46
Box   67	File nos. 47-48
Box   68	File nos. 51-55
Box   68-71	File no. 56
Box   71	File nos. 57-70
Box   71-73	File no. 71
Box   73	File no. 72
Box   74	File no. 73-74
Box   74-75	File no. 74
Box   75	File nos. 75-77
Box   76	File nos. 78-79
Box   76-80	File no. 80
Box   80	File nos. 81-94
Box   81	File nos. 95-98
Box   81-84	File no. 99
Box   84	File nos. 100-113
Box   85	File nos. 115-142
Box   85-87	File no. 143
Box   87	File nos. 144-174
Box   87-88	File no. 175
Box   88	File nos. 176-194
Box   88-89	File no. 195
Box   89	File nos. 196-207
Box   89-90	File no. 208
Box   90	File nos. 209-230
Box   90-91	File no. 231
Box   91	File nos. 232-247
Box   92	File nos. 250-261
Box   92-94	File no. 262
Box   94	File nos. 263-269
Box   95	File nos. 275-301
Box   95-96	File no. 302
Box   96	File nos. 303-350
Box   97	File nos. 351-441
Box   98	File nos. 445-478
Box   99	File nos. 479-495
Box   100	File nos. 496-507
Box   100-101	File no. 508
Box   101	File nos. 509-527
Box   101-102	File no. 528
Box   102	File no. 529
Box   102-105	File no. 530
Box   106	File nos. 531-562
Box   107	File nos. 563-595
	Miscellaneous
Box   107	A-B
Box   108	B-H
Box   109	I-P
Box   110	P-Z
	Series: Part IV, circa 1913	⇧
Box   111	File nos. 1-43
Box   112	File nos. 44-56
Box   113	File nos. 60-72
Box   114	File nos. 73-96
Box   114-115	File no. 97
Box   115	File nos. 98-102
Box   115-116	File no. 103
Box   116	File nos. 104-109
Box   117	File nos. 110-138
Box   118	File nos. 140-182
Box   119	File nos. 183-592
Box   120	Miscellaneous: A-Y
	Series: Part V, 1914-circa 1917	⇧
Box   121	File nos. 10-12
Box   122	File nos. 20-28
Box   123	File nos. 29-49
Box   124	File nos. 51-76
Box   124-125	File no. 77
Box   125	File nos. 78-79
Box   126	File nos. 80-81
Box   126-127	File no. 82
Box   127	File nos. 83-87
Box   127-128	File no. 88
Box   128	File nos. 89-92
Box   128-129	File no. 93
Box   129	File nos. 94-102
Box   130	File nos. 103-113
Box   130-131	File no. 114
Box   131	File nos. 115-121
Box   132	File nos. 122-123
Box   133	File no. 124
Box   133-134	File no. 125
Box   134	File nos. 126-127
Box   135	File no. 128
Box   136	File nos. 129-131
Box   136-137	File no. 132
Box   137	File nos. 133-141
Box   138	File nos. 142-149
Box   139	File nos. 150-158
Box   139-140	File no. 159
Box   140	File nos. 160-174
Box   141	File nos. 175-178
Box   142	File nos. 179-184
Box   142-143	File no. 185
Box   144	File nos. 187-196
Box   145	File nos. 197-211
Box   146	File nos. 212-213
Box   146-147	File no. 214
Box   147	File nos. 215-216
Box   148	File nos. 217-224
Box   149	File nos. 225-231
Box   149-151	File no. 232
Box   151	File no. 233
Box   151-152	File no. 234
Box   152	File no. 235
Box   153	File no. 236
Box   153-154	File no. 237
Box   154	File no. 238
Box   154-155	File no. 239
Box   155	File nos. 240-241
Box   156	File nos. 242-252
Box   157	File nos. 253-260
Box   157-158	File no. 261
Box   158	File nos. 262-264
Box   159	File nos. 265-271
Box   159-160	File no. 272
Box   160	File nos. 273-281
Box   160-161	File no. 282
Box   161	File nos. 283-284
Box   162	File nos. 285-287
Box   162-163	File no. 288
Box   163-164	File no. 289
Box   164-165	File nos. 290-311
Box   166	File nos. 312-327
Box   167	File nos. 328-335
Box   168	File nos. 336-355
Box   168-169	File no. 356
Box   169	File nos. 357-370
Box   169-170	File no. 371
Box   170	File nos. 372-379
Box   171-173	File nos. 380
Box   173	File nos. 381-384
Box   174	File nos. 386-399
Box   175-179	File no. 407
Box   179	File nos. 408-409
	Series: Part VI, 1918-circa 1921	⇧
Box   180	File nos. 10-19
Box   180-182	File no. 20
Box   182	File nos. 21-26
Box   182-183	File no. 27
Box   184-185	File no. 28
Box   185	File nos. 29-39
Box   186	File nos. 40-43
Box   186-187	File no. 44
Box   187	File nos. 45-53
Box   188	File nos. 55-69
Box   189	File nos. 70-73
Box   190	File nos. 74-77
Box   190-191	File no. 78
Box   191	File nos. 79-81
Box   191-192	File no. 82
Box   192	File nos. 83-85
Box   193	File nos. 88-94
Box   194	File nos. 95-113
Box   194-195	File no. 114
Box   195	File nos. 115-120
Box   195-196	File no. 121
Box   196	File nos. 122-125
Box   197	File nos. 126-127
Box   197-198	File no. 128
Box   198	File nos. 129-141
Box   198-199	File no. 142
Box   199	File nos. 143-152
Box   200	File nos. 153-159
Box   201	File nos. 161-181
Box   202	File nos. 182-187
Box   202-204	File no. 188
Box   204	File no. 189
Box   205	File nos. 191-208
Box   206	File nos. 211-213
Box   206-207	File no. 214
Box   207	File nos. 215-217
Box   207-208	File no. 218
Box   208	File nos. 219-231
Box   208-210	File no. 232
Box   210	File no. 233
Box   210-211	File no. 234
Box   211-212	File no. 235
Box   212	File nos. 236-237
Box   213	File nos. 238-239
Box   214	File nos. 240-244
Box   214-215	File no. 245
Box   215	File nos. 246-256
Box   216	File nos. 257-261
Box   216-217	File no. 262
Box   217-218	File no. 263
Box   218	File nos. 264-267
Box   218-219	File no. 268
Box   219	File nos. 269-272
Box   219-220	File no. 273
Box   220	File nos. 274-282
Box   221	File nos. 283-287
Box   221-222	File no. 288
Box   222-224	File no. 289
Box   224	File nos. 290-301
Box   225	File nos. 302-321
Box   225-226	File no. 322
Box   226	File nos. 323-352
Box   227	File nos. 353-359
Box   228-229	File no. 360
Box   229	File nos. 361-371
Box   229-230	File no. 372
Box   230	File nos. 373-377
Box   230-231	File no. 378
Box   231	File nos. 379-383
Box   232	File nos. 380-381
Box   233	File nos. 382-393
Box   234	File nos. 394-406
Box   234-239	File no. 407
Box   239	File nos. 408-409
	Series: Part VII, 1922-circa 1925	⇧
Box   240	File nos. 12-26
Box   240-241	File no. 27
Box   241	File nos. 28-70
Box   242	File nos. 71-77
Box   242-243	File no. 78
Box   243	File nos. 79-121
Box   244	File nos. 122-175
Box   245	File nos. 176-213
Box   245-246	File no. 214
Box   246	File nos. 215-233
Box   246-247	File no. 234
Box   247	File nos. 235-236
Box   247-248	File no. 237
Box   248	File nos. 238-244
Box   248-249	File no. 245
Box   249	File nos. 246-261
Box   249-251	File nos. 262
Box   251	File nos. 263-272
Box   252	File nos. 273-287
Box   253	File no. 288
Box   253-254	File no. 289
Box   254	File nos. 290-301
Box   255	File nos. 303-337
Box   256	File nos. 338-359
Box   256-258	File no. 360
Box   258	File nos. 361-380
Box   259	File nos. 383-406
Box   259-262	File no. 407
Box   262	File nos. 408-409
	Series: Part VIII, 1926-circa 1930	⇧
Box   263	File nos. 14-33
Box   264	File nos. 34-74
Box   265	File nos. 75-113
Box   265-266	File no. 114
Box   266	File nos. 115-151
Box   267	File nos. 153-202
Box   268	File nos. 214-234
Box   269	File nos. 235-236
Box   269-270	File no. 237
Box   270	File nos. 238-259
Box   271	File nos. 262-288
Box   272-275	File no. 289
Box   275	File nos. 290-315
Box   276	File nos. 316-378
Box   277	File nos. 380-382
Box   277-278	File no. 383
Box   278	File nos. 384-406
Box   278-279	File no. 407
Box   279	File nos. 408-409
	Series: Part IX, 1931-circa 1936	⇧
Box   280	File nos. 12-14
Box   281	File nos. 42-70
Box   281-282	File no. 71
Box   282	File nos. 72-88
Box   283	File nos. 89-128
Box   284	File nos. 129-185
Box   285	File nos. 187-231
Box   285-286	File no. 232
Box   286	File nos. 233-234
Box   286-287	File no. 235
Box   287	File no. 236
Box   287-290	File no. 237
Box   290	File nos. 238-258
Box   291	File nos. 261-288
Box   291-292	File no. 289
Box   292	File nos. 290-314
Box   293	File nos. 316-380
Box   294	File nos. 386-409
Volume   1	History of Walden, by Warren H. Manning, 1933
	Miscellaneous
Box   295	1874-1886
Box   296	1887-1832
Box   297	1893-1896
Box   298	1896-1898
Box   299	1898-1927