The Albert J. Earling Papers include the papers of Mr. Earling, his daughter Harriet, and Lawrence Fitch. There is one folder of biographical material relating to Mr. Earling and there are a few business letters filed with the general correspondence. Two letters from William Rockefeller, January 16 and 17, 1906, refer to the finances of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad Company. Lawrence Fitch is represented in the collection by one folder of miscellaneous business papers, 1912-1915, and the minutes of the board of directors of the Western Malleables Iron Company, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, 1914-1924.
In addition there are letters in the collection addressed either to Mr. Earling, Mr. Thwaits, or Harriet Earling. All except the Masters and Aid letters are found with the general correspondence, while the former are with the correspondence relating to the Fatherless Children of France (box 2). The June 1920 Herbert Hoover correspondence relates to an unsuccessful attempt to nominate Hoover for the Presidency at the Republican National Convention of 1920.
Other correspondents of interest include:
- Theodore Roosevelt
- Nov. 9, 1900
- Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
- Dec. 6, 1915; Jan. 17, 1916
- Herbert Hoover
- June 2, 1920; June 23, 1920; Dec. 23, 1920; Feb. 28, 1921; March 9, 1921; March 1, 1929; May 14, 1938
- Edgar Lee Masters
- June 5, 1917
- George Ade
- July 17, 1917
The greater part of the collection concerns Harriet Earling's social and civic interests. The collection includes correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and subscription lists for the Fatherless Children of France, 1917- 1920, financial records of the Milwaukee Service Club, 1926-1948, and minutes and financial records of the board of directors of the Woman's Club of Wisconsin, 1943-1945. There are also clippings relating to Harriet Earling and the Earling and Fitch families and genealogies of the Earling, Fitch, and Tilton families.
