Garfield, Harry Augustus, 1863-1942

Son of James A. Garfield, 20th President of United States. Practiced law with Garfield, Garfield & Howe, served as President of Williams College, 1908-1934. Involved with numerous civic commitments; received many honorariums.

From the description of H. A. Garfield letters to Byron J. Rees [manuscript], 1914 Jun 22 and 1919 Dec 30. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 316338458

Lawyer, educator, public official, and son of President James A. Garfield.

From the description of Harry Augustus Garfield papers, 1855-1961 (bulk 1888-1934). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71131151

Harry Augustus Garfield (1863-1942) was born in Hiram, Ohio and was the son of U.S. President James A. Garfield. He graduated from Williams College in 1885 and received a law degree from Columbia Law School in 1888. Garfield practiced law in partnership with his brother James in Cleveland, Ohio, 1888-1895. He served as Trustee and Professor of Contracts at Western Reserve Law School, 1891-1897 and Professor of Politics at Princeton University, 1903-1908. Garfield became the eighth President of Williams College and served until his retirement in June 1934. In 1917, he served on the Price Committee of the U.S. Food Administration and later that year, was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson as U.S. Fuel Administrator. Taking a leave of absence from Williams College, Garfield served as U.S. Fuel Administrator from August 1917 to June 1919.

From the description of Papers, 1909-1934. (Williams College). WorldCat record id: 46346009

From the description of Personal papers, 1918-1934. (Williams College). WorldCat record id: 50647108

Biographical Note

• 1863, Oct. 11: Born, Hiram, Ohio
• 1880: Attended St. Paul's School, Concord, N.H.
• 1881: Entered Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. Father, President James A. Garfield, assassinated
• 1885: Graduated, Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.
• 1885 - 1886 : Taught, St. Paul's School, Concord, N.H.
• 1886 - 1887 : Studied law, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., and with the firm of Bange and Stetson, New York, N.Y.
• 1887 - 1888 : Studied law, Oxford University, Oxford, England, and traveled in Europe
• 1888: Married Belle Hartford Mason (died 1944) Began practice of law with younger brother, James Rudolph Garfield, Cleveland, Ohio
• 1892 - 1895 : Taught law, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, in addition to practicing law
• 1893 - 1903 : Engaged in various business interests
• 1894: Frederic C. Howe taken into law firm
• 1898: Formed law practice of Garfield, Garfield and Howe
• 1903: Moved to Princeton, N.J., at the request of Woodrow Wilson to become professor of politics, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
• 1907: Became president of Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.
• 1917 - 1919 : United States fuel administrator
• 1921: Received Distinguished Service Medal from President Woodrow Wilson Established Institute of Politics, Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.
• 1934: Retired
• 1934 - 1935 : Traveled around the world
• 1930s - 1942 : Lived in Washington, D.C., and in Williamstown and Duxbury, Massachusetts; active in civic, church, and educational affairs
• 1942, Dec. 12: Died, Williamstown, Mass.

From the guide to the Harry Augustus Garfield Papers, 1855-1961, (bulk 1888-1934), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)