Ferguson, Homer, 1888-1982

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Republican U.S. Senator from Michigan, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, and judge on the U.S. Court of Military Appeals.

From the description of Homer Ferguson papers, 1939-1976. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34419354

Senator, judge.

From the description of Reminiscences of Homer Ferguson : oral history, 1969. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122565301

Ferguson (1888-1982) graduated from the University of Mchigan in 1913 with a LL. B. He was appointed circuit judge of Wayne County in 1929; elected in 1930 and re-elected in 1935 and 1941. Ferguson was a professor at the Detroit College of Law, 1929-1938. He served as judge on the U.S. Court of Military Appeals and as U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines. He served as U.S. Senator in 1942-1955. Ferguson married and had a daughter. Woodruff (1876- ) began his career as a dentist. He served as a private in Company G, 33rd Michigan Infantry during the Spanish-American War. During World War I, he served with the American Expenditionary Forces in France, attaing the rank of Major. In 1911, Woodruff was elected as mayor of Bay City. He was then elected a Michigan Senator, an office in which he served until 1952. Woodruff married and had two children.(Michigan Biographies v. 1, p. 225 and v. 2, p. 203.).

From the description of Correspondence, 1951. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 44176116

Homer Ferguson, Wayne County circuit judge, United States senator, ambassador to the Philippines, and judge on the United States Court of Military Appeals, was born on February 25, 1888 in Harrison City, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pittsburgh (1910-1911) and received his LL.B. from the University of Michigan in 1913. In the same year, he was admitted to the Michigan Bar and practiced law in the state until 1929.

While serving as circuit court judge for Wayne County (1929-1941), Ferguson achieved fame when he sat as a One-Man grand jury (1939-1941) investigating crime, graft, and corruption in Detroit and Wayne County. Shortly thereafter, in 1942, he was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and was re-elected in 1948.

Ferguson's fame as a tough investigator grew during his tenure in the senate, when he sat on committees that drew public attention because of the probes and inquiries they initiated. Included among these committees were: Appropriations; Expenditures in the Executive Department; Judiciary; Special Committee Investigating the National Defense Program; and the Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor Attack. A conservative who was always interested in efficiency in government, the Senator was also appointed to the Hoover Commission on the Reorganization of the Executive Branch of the Government. His interest in international affairs was evident in his long-term participation, both during and after his senatorial career, in the activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a body of representatives from the parliaments of countries around the world that met approximately once a year to study issues of international concern related to law, economics, and world peace.

Shortly after losing his 1954 bid for a third senatorial term, Ferguson became United States Ambassador to the Philippines where he served for thirteen months (1955-1956). He thereupon returned to Washington, D.C., and sat for fifteen years on the United States Court of Military Appeals - the equivalent of the Supreme Court for the armed forces. Though his term expired in 1971, Ferguson continued on as a senior judge and rendered verdicts on various cases for another five years.

In 1976, the judge and his wife of sixty-three years, Myrtle, retired to Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Homer Ferguson died there on December 17, 1982.

From the guide to the Homer Ferguson Papers, 1939-1976, (Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Parsons, Charles, 1889-. Charles Parsons papers, 1880-1965 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf St. Andrew's Society (Detroit, Mich.). St. Andrew's Society records, 1850-1978. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Pollock, James K. (James Kerr), 1898-1968. James Kerr Pollock papers, 1920-1968. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Henry Moore Bates papers, 1886-1950 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Blair Moody Papers, 1928-1954, 1934-1952 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Louis Carlisle Walker papers, 1881-1963 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Universities Committee on Post-War International Problems. Ann Arbor Branch. Universities Committee on Post-War International Problems, Ann Arbor Branch papers, 1943-1944. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Boyles, Emerson R., 1881-1960. Emerson R. Boyles papers, 1879-1911 and 1931-1960. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn George William Cushing papers and sound recordings, 1942-1955 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Emerson R. Boyles papers, 1879-1911 and 1931-1960 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Frank Dwight Fitzgerald papers, 1928-1944, 1930-1939 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Rudolph E. Reichert Papers, 1907-1962 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Fitzgerald, Frank D. (Frank Dwight), 1885-1939. Frank Dwight Fitzgerald papers, 1928-1944. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Ferguson, Homer, 1888-1982. Reminiscences of Homer Ferguson : oral history, 1969. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Charles Parsons papers, 1880-1965 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation Records, 1940-1960 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Alexander G. Ruthven Papers, 1901-1961, 1906-1951 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Cushing, George William, 1888-1968. George Cushing sound recordings, 1942-1955. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Engel, Albert J. (Albert Joseph), 1888-1959. Albert Joseph Engel papers, 1911-1959. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Burke Woods Shartel papers, 1901-1959 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bennett, Wells Ira, 1888-. Wells I. Bennett papers, 1916-1965. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Ferguson, Homer, 1888-1982. Homer Ferguson papers, 1939-1976. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Ferguson, Homer, 1888-1982. Correspondence, 1951. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn Berkeley, Benjamin F., 1875-1962. Benjamin F. Berkeley : papers, 1902-1940. Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library, Sul Ross State University Library
referencedIn Arthur J. Lacy Papers, 1891-1975 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Cushing, George William, b. 1888. George William Cushing papers, 1904-1959. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Owen J. Cleary Papers, 1944-1959 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Howard Cyrus Lawrence Papers, 1916-1966 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn John Butlin Martin papers, 1948-1965 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Donald S. Leonard Papers, 1925-1966 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Wells Ira Bennett Papers, 1916-1965 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn James K. Pollock papers, 1920-1968 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Walker, L. C. (Louis Carlisle), 1875-1963. Louis Carlisle Walker papers, 1881-1963. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Cushing, George, 1888-. George Cushing papers, 1942-1955. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Reichert, Rudolph E. (Rudolph Edward), 1887-1965. Rudolph Edward Reichert papers, 1907-1962. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Germer, Adolph. Papers, 1898-1966. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Green, Fred W. (Fred Warren), 1872-1936. Fred Warren Green papers, 1881-1939. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Albert Joseph Engel Papers, 1885-1960 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Shirley Wheeler Smith Papers, 1881-1959 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Walker, L. C. (Louis Carlisle), 1875-1963. Louis Carlisle Walker papers, 1881-1963. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn DeHull Travis Papers, 1909-1960 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Homer Ferguson Papers, 1939-1976 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Fred W. Green papers, 1881-1939 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Martin, John Butlin, 1909-. John Butlin Martin papers, 1948-1965. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn George William Cushing papers and sound recordings, 1942-1955 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Cannon, Robert M. The Robert M. Cannon papers, 1953-1961. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Parsons, Charles, 1889-. Charles Parsons papers, 1880-1965 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Norris Family Papers, 1815-1960 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Engel, Albert J. (Albert Joseph), 1888-1959. Albert Joseph Engel papers, 1885-1960. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Reichert, Rudolph E. (Rudolph Edward), 1887-1965. Rudolph Edward Reichert papers, 1907-1965. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Fellowship of Reconciliation, Michigan records, 1940-1957 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Arthur Bliss Lane papers, 1904-1957 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation. Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation records, 1940-1960. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn George Murphy papers, 1911-1961 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bates, Henry Moore, 1869-1949. Henry Moore Bates papers, 1886-1950. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation. Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation records, 1940-1957. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Shartel, Burke Woods, 1889-1967. Burke Woods Shartel papers, 1901-1959. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Wilber M. Brucker Papers, 1877-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Papers. 1860 - 1964. Correspondence with Harry S. Truman. 1945 - 1962. Harry S. Truman, 1945-May 1947. 1945 - 1962. Letter from Harry S. Truman to Eleanor Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aircraft Parts Production Corporation (Ann Arbor, Mich.) corporateBody
associatedWith Barkley, Alben William, 1877-1956. person
associatedWith Bates, Henry Moore, 1869-1949. person
associatedWith Beard, Charles A. (Charles Austin), 1874-1948. person
associatedWith Bennett, Wells Ira, 1888- person
associatedWith Berkeley, Benjamin F., 1875-1962. person
associatedWith Boyles, Emerson R., 1881-1960. person
associatedWith Brucker, Wilber Marion, 1894-1968 person
associatedWith Cannon, Robert M. person
associatedWith Chrysler Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Cleary, Owen J., 1900-1960 person
associatedWith Cushing, George William, 1888-1968. person
associatedWith Dulles, John Foster, 1888-1959 person
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969 person
associatedWith Engel, Albert J. (Albert Joseph), 1888-1959. person
associatedWith Fellowship of Reconciliation (U.S.). Michigan. corporateBody
associatedWith Ferguson, Myrtle. person
associatedWith Fitzgerald, Frank D. (Frank Dwight), 1885-1939. person
associatedWith Fitzgerald, Frank Dwight, 1885-1939 person
associatedWith Ford, Gerald R., 1913- person
associatedWith Germer, Adolph. person
associatedWith Green, Fred W. (Fred Warren), 1872-1936. person
associatedWith Hughes Aircraft Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Hughes, Howard, 1905-1976 person
associatedWith Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978 person
associatedWith Inter-parliamentary Union. corporateBody
associatedWith Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 person
associatedWith Lacy, Arthur J. (Arthur Jay), 1876-1975 person
associatedWith Lane, Arthur Bliss, 1894-1956. person
associatedWith Lawrence, Howard Cyrus, 1890-1961 person
associatedWith Leonard, Donald S. (Donald Sparling), 1903-1976 person
associatedWith MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964. person
associatedWith Magsaysay, Ramon, 1907-1957 person
associatedWith Martin, John Butlin, 1909- person
associatedWith McCarthy, Joseph, 1908-1957. person
associatedWith Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation corporateBody
associatedWith Moody, Blair, 1902-1954 person
associatedWith Murphy, George, 1897-1961 person
associatedWith Norris Family. family
associatedWith Osborn, Stellanova, 1894-1988. person
associatedWith Parsons, Charles, 1889- person
associatedWith Patterson, James, person
associatedWith Pearson, Drew, 1897-1969. person
associatedWith Pollock, James K. (James Kerr), 1898-1968. person
associatedWith Potter, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1916-1979 person
associatedWith Reichert, Rudolph E. (Rudolph Edward), 1887-1965. person
associatedWith Republican Party (Mich.) corporateBody
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associatedWith Smith, Shirley Wheeler, 1875-1959 person
associatedWith St. Andrew's Society (Detroit, Mich.) corporateBody
associatedWith Taft, Robert A. (Robert Alphonso), 1889-1953. person
associatedWith Travis, DeHull N., 1882-1960 person
associatedWith Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 person
associatedWith United States. Army. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government (1953-1955) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Court of Military Appeals. corporateBody
associatedWith Universities Committee on Post-War International Problems. Ann Arbor Branch. corporateBody
associatedWith Vandenberg, Arthur H. (Arthur Hendrick), 1884-1951 person
associatedWith Walker, L. C. (Louis Carlisle), 1875-1963. person
associatedWith Wayne County (Mich.). One-Man Grand Jury (1939-1942) corporateBody
associatedWith Willow Run Bomber Plant. corporateBody
associatedWith Willow Run Bomber Plant. corporateBody
associatedWith Woodruff, Roy Orchard. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Far East.
Philippines
United States
East Asia.
Michigan
East Asia
United States
Willow Run (Mich.)
Michigan
Saint Lawrence Seaway.
Philippines
Inter-American Highway.
United States
Subject
Travel
Courts
Crime
Criminal courts
Elections
Elections
Elections
Elections
Forts and fortifications
Politics and government
Housing
Judges
Judges
Judges
Legislators
Military facilities
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941
Political elections
Racism
Travelers
Trials (Fraud)
Trials (Military offenses)
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1889-02-25

Death 1982-12-17

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 76175549