New York State Library
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James William Husted
Family Papers, ca. 1853-1943

SC23259

Quantity: 5 boxes (ca. 2.0 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Gift: Lewis C. Rubenstein, Schodack, N.Y., August 2010
Processed By: Manuscripts & Special Collections, April 2012

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Biographical Note:

James William Husted was born in Peekskill, Westchester County, New York, March 16, 1870. He attended private schools, the Peekskill Military Academy, and Cutler's School, New York City. He graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., in 1888, from Yale University in 1892, and from the New York Law School in 1894, and was admitted to the bar in 1894.

Husted practiced law in Peekskill, New York, and, Served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1895 through 1897. From 1897 to 1902 he lived in White Plains before moving back to Peekskill. He served as president of the village of Peekskill in 1903 and 1904, and as a member and treasurer of the board of park commissioners from 1909 to 1920. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the House of Representatives in 1912 before winning a seat in the 1914 election, serving from March 4, 1915 to March 3, 1923, and choosing not to run in 1922. He resumed the practice of law in Peekskill and, Served as president of the Peekskill Bank. He died in New York City January 2, 1925, and is buried in Hillside Cemetery, Peekskill, N.Y.

Husted first married Louise Wetmore Spaulding (1873–1914). They had 6 children: James William, Jr. (1896-1975), John G.W. (1897-1965), Pricilla (1899-?), David (1900-?), Ellery (ca. 1901-?), and Robert (ca. 1906-?). After Louise's death, he married Bertha Frances Harricks (?-1947).

Scope and Content Note:

These papers consist chiefly of personal letters of James W. Husted and his immediate family, and include a number of letters James William Husted, Jr. received from his parents while he was a student at Phillips Andover Academy, 1912-1914; letters James W. Husted, Jr., sent to his father, first as a student at Yale, and later while serving in the army during the World War I; and correspondence of James W. Husted, Jr., with his wife, Alice, and his brothers, Robert and, James, circa 1937-1938.

The papers also include a scrapbook containing maps and other documents related to the service of James W. Husted, Jr., in the army during World War I; documents concerned with the settlement of the estate of James William Husted, Sr.; and photographs, diplomas, and honorary certificates, and other family memorabilia.

Box and Folder List:


Box Folder Description
1 1 Family correspondence, ca. 1883-1887 (4 items)
1 2 Letters: Louise Husted to James Husted, Jr., 1912 (8 items)
1 3 Letters: Louise Husted to James Husted, Jr., 1913 (16 items)
1 4 Letters: James W. Husted, Sr., and Louise Husted to James Husted, Jr., 1914 (4 items)
1 5 Letters: James W. Husted, Jr. to James W. Husted, Sr., 1917 (21 items)
1 6 Letters: James W. Husted, Jr. to James W. Husted, Sr., 1917-1918 (16 items)
1 7 Letters: James W. Husted, Jr. to James W. Husted, Sr., 1918 (12 items)
1 8 Letters: James W. Husted, Jr. to James W. Husted, Sr., 1918 (11 items)
1 9 Telegrams: James W. Husted, Jr. to James W. Husted, Sr., 1917-1918 ( 8 items)
1 10 Letter, James W. Husted, Sr., to James W. Husted, Jr., October 27, 1917 (1 item)
2 1 Letters: Alice Husted to James Husted, Jr., 1936 (4 items)
2 2 Letters: John Husted to James W. Husted, Jr., 1937-1938 (8 items)
2 3 Letters: Robert Husted to James W. Husted, Jr., 1936 (6 items)
2 4 Letters: Robert Husted to James W. Husted, Jr., 1936-1937 (7 items)
2 5 Letters: Robert Husted to James W. Husted, Jr., 1936-1937 (10 items)
2 6 Letters: Robert Husted to James W. Husted, Jr., 1936-1937 (12 items)
2 7 Letters to James Husted, Jr., from various persons, ca. 1936-1943 (8 items)
3 1 Scrapbook related to military service of James W. Husted, Jr., during World War I; includes maps and military records related to service in the 2nd Army Corps A.E.F., 1st Regiment of Cavalry; also includes news clippings related to the General Husted Monument in Peekskill, New York (1 v. ca. 100 p.; 35 cm.)
3 2 Retained copy of letter and detailed report concerning experiences of military service, ca. September-October 1918 (24 p.)
3 3 Congratulatory messages, etc., concerning operations of the Second Corps, September 27-October 21, 1918 (typescript; 22 p.)
3 4 Report of the operations of the 2nd Army Corps, September 29-October 20, 1918 (typescript; 27 p.)
3 5 Official letters relative to commissioning of James W. Husted, Jr. as an officer, 1918 (3 items)
3 6 Loose papers from the scrapbook related to the military service of James W. Husted, Jr., 1917-1920 (15 items)
4 1 Letters to James Husted, Sr., 1920-1924 (3 items)
4 2 Annotated printed report relative to the European occupation of Africa, ca. early 1900s
4 3 Biographical sketch of the life of James W. Husted, Sr., compiled for publication in Yale University Obituary Record, 1925 (annotated) (2 items)
4 4 Papers related to the estate of James W. Husted, Sr., 1925 (8 items)
4 5 Notes concerning the finances of the late James Husted, Sr., ca. 1925
4 6 Papers related to James William Husted I (1833-1892), ca. 1853-1890 (6 items)
4 7 Address at the Memorial Services by the Legislature of the State of New York in Honor of General James W. Husted, in the Assembly Chamber at Albany, Mar. 28, 1893 / Chauncey M. Depew (New York: s.n., 1893)
4 8 Proceedings of the Legislature of the State of New York in Memory of Gen. James W. Husted, Held at the Capitol, March 28, 1893 (Albany, [N.Y.]: James B. Lyon, Printer, 1893)
4 9 Composition: "British Essayists of the 19th century" (33 p.)
4 10 Composition: untitled discussion of English literature (30 p.)
4 11 Composition: "Trans Himalaya" (Typescript; 16 p.)
4 12 Composition: "Cowper"; discusses the literary life and works of William Cowper, eighteenth-century English poet (Typescript; 11p.)
4 13 Miscellaneous papers  (4 items)
4 14 Golf score cards filled in at Riddells Bay Golf and Country Club, Warwick West, Bermuda; pages from the Congressional Record (3 items)
5 1 Portrait and news clipping of obituary of James W. Husted from Highland Democrat, January 10, 1925
5 2 Portrait of Congressman James W. Husted, ca. 1920 (Harris & Ewing, 1311 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.)
5 3 Photograph: [Family of James W. Husted, Sr., ca. 1920; picture shows James W. Husted, Sr., with his sons and daughter] (E.E. Ballard, Peekskill, N.Y.)
5 4 Diplomas, Yale University (2 items)
  1. John J. Cox, 1891
  2. James William Husted, 1892
5 5 Diploma, New York Law School, June 6, 1894
5 6 Certificate to practice law, New York State Supreme Court, July 14, 1857
5 7 Certificate of appointment of James William Husted as grand master of Masonic Order District No, 4, New York State, March 7, 1862
5 8 Photographs related to World War I (water damaged – need conservation work)
5 Rolls Honorary certificates, Yale University, ca. 1892 (2 items)
EL 1 Campaign poster: "For Representative in Congress, 25th District, James W. Husted" [ca. 1914-1920] (63 x 48 cm.)
EL 1 Poster (broadside): "Big Republican Rally: The Republican campaign of Sussex County will be opened with a meeting of the Republican Club, in Rudes Hall, Hamburg, N.J., Friday Evening Oct. 11, [1918], Hon. James W. Husted…, Hon. S. Wood McClave, Hon. Henry Huston…" (74 x 59 cm.)
Last Updated: March 4, 2022