Gerard, James W. (James Watson), 1867-1951

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Lawyer, diplomat.

From the description of Reminiscences of James w. Gerard : oral history, 1950. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309742271

James Watson Gerard was born August 25, 1867 at Geneseo, New York. He received his AB and AM degrees from Columbia University in 1890 and 1891 respectively. In 1892 he received his LL. B. from New York Law School and was admitted to the New York bar. He entered practice with Bowers and Sands, a firm founded by his paternal grandfather, and became a partner in 1899.

He was interested in politics and in 1907 was elected an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. He resigned before the end of his term to accept an appointment from President Woodrow Wilson as United States Ambassador to Germany in 1913. After World War I began his duties increased, and he was entrusted with the interests of Great Britain, Japan, Serbia, Romania, and San Marino. The German government asked him to leave in January 1917. He left the following month and retired from diplomatic service the following July.

Gerard returned to private law practice but retained his interest in Democratic politics. He played a leading role in the nomination of Franklin D. Roosevelt as the Democratic candidate for President in 1932 and served several terms as treasurer for the Democratic National Committee and as chairman of the Democratic Finance Committee.

He wrote three books: My Four Years in Germany (1917), Face to Face with Kaiserism (1918), and My First Eighty-Three Years in America (1951).

Gerard married Mary Daly, daughter of Marcus Daly, in 1901. During his lifetime he maintained an interest in the Montana properties and investments of the Daly family, and had a ranch of his own north of Hamilton, Montana. He died September 6, 1951, in New York City.

From the guide to the James Watson Gerard Papers, 1750-1955, (Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Gerard, James W. (James Watson), 1867-1951. Reminiscences of James w. Gerard : oral history, 1950. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Correspondence, 1914-1927. Houghton Library
creatorOf Gerard, James Watson. History of the marriage and divorce laws of Massachusetts. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf James Watson Gerard Papers, 1750-1955 Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Letters sent to Walter Hines Page from various correspondents, English period, 1876-1937. Houghton Library
referencedIn Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956. H. L. Mencken papers, 1917-1941. Library of Congress
referencedIn Burlingham, Charles Culp, 1858-1959. Papers, 1876-1960 Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Carl W. Ackerman Papers, 1833-1970, (bulk 1931-1956) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Robert Lansing Papers, 1831-1935, (bulk 1914-1920) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Letters from various correspondents, 1871-1940. Houghton Library
referencedIn Edward L. Bernays Papers, 1777-1994, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Papers, 1879-1926 (inclusive), 1916-1922 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Cleveland, Francis G. (Francis Grover), 1903-. Grover Cleveland, U.S. President collection, 1885-1935. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn Edward Mandell House papers, 1885-2007, 1885-1938 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Mooney, May Parsons. Scrapbook, 1917-1948 (bulk 1917-1919). SUNY Geneseo, Milne Library
referencedIn Clark, L. Donovan (Lewis Donovan), 1905-. Papers, 1924-1961. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Ackerman, Carl W. (Carl William), 1890-1970. person
associatedWith Albertson, Dean, 1920-, person
associatedWith Beal, Boylston Adams, 1865-1944 person
correspondedWith Bernays, Edward L., 1891-1995. person
associatedWith Burlingham, Charles Culp, 1858-1959 person
associatedWith Cinco Minas Mining Company corporateBody
associatedWith Clark, L. Donovan (Lewis Donovan), 1905- person
associatedWith Cleveland, Francis G. (Francis Grover), 1903- person
associatedWith Daly, Marcus, 1841-1900 person
associatedWith Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Dresel, Ellis Loring, 1865-1925 person
associatedWith House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938. person
correspondedWith Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928. person
associatedWith Link, Wendell, person
associatedWith Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956. person
associatedWith Mooney, May Parsons. person
associatedWith Nevins, Allan, 1890-1971, person
associatedWith Page, Walter Hines, 1855-1918 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Germany
Germany
United States
New York (State)
United States
Subject
Charities
Diplomacy
Diplomatic and consular service, American
Diplomats
International relations
Journalism
Labor History
Mines and mineral resources
Mines and mineral resources
Mining corporations
Photographs
Practice of law
Scrapbooks
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Ambassadors
Landowners
Lawyers
Philanthropists
Politicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1867-08-25

Death 1951-09-06

Americans

English

Information

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