Green, Theodore Francis, 1867-1966

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Brown University class of 1887. At different times lawyer with Green, Hinckley and Allen; and with Green, Curran, and Hart. Instructor in law at Brown University. Governor of Rhode Island.

From the description of Papers, [ca. 1907-1938]. (Brown University). WorldCat record id: 122365837

U.S. senator and governor of Rhode Island and lawyer.

From the description of Theodore Francis Green papers, 1924-1960 (bulk 1937-1960). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 75382875

Biographical Note

  • 1867, Oct. 2: Born, Providence, R.I.
  • 1894 - 1897 : Instructor in law, Brown University, Providence, R.I.
  • 1906: Became senior member of law firm of Green, Hinckley, and Allen, Providence, R.I.
  • 1907 - 1908 : Member, Rhode Island House of Representatives
  • 1912: Democratic candidate for governor of Rhode Island
  • 1912 - 1960 : Delegate to Democratic national convention
  • 1914: Chairman, Democratic state convention, Rhode Island
  • 1920: Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives
  • 1924: Chairman, Democratic state convention, Rhode Island
  • 1924 - 1937 : Member, Council of Legal Education of American Bar Association
  • 1926: Chairman, Democratic state convention, Rhode Island
  • 1928: Democratic candidate for governor of Rhode Island
  • 1929 - 1930 : Chairman, Democratic State Central Committee, Rhode Island
  • 1930: Democratic candidate for governor of Rhode Island
  • 1933 - 1937 : Governor of Rhode Island
  • 1936 - 1960 : National committeeman, Democratic Party
  • 1937 - 1960 : U.S. senator
  • 1949 - 1960 : Member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (chairman, 1957-1959)
  • 1957 - 1958 : Chairman, Joint Congressional Delegation to the Third NATO Parliamentary Conference, Paris, France
  • 1966, May 19: Died, Providence, R.I.

From the guide to the Theodore Francis Green Papers, 1924-1960, (bulk 1937-1960), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Born October 2, 1867 in Providence, RI, U. S. Senator Theodore Francis Green received his A.B. (1887) and A.M. (1888) from Brown University. He studied law, 1888-1892, at Harvard Law School and the Universities of Berlin and Bonn, Germany. Returning to Providence, he practiced law after admittance to the Rhode Island Bar in 1892 and taught Roman Law at Brown, 1894-1898. He received a commission as a lieutenant during the Spanish-American War.

Green served RISD as a Trustee and Honorary Trustee from 1900 till his death in 1966. In addition, he served as Vice-President (1907-1939), Acting President (1913, 1931), a member of the Executive Committee (1900-1936), and Chair of the Endowment Committees of 1902 and 1910. He served as a trustee of Brown University, Butler Hospital for the Insane, and Providence Public Library as well as Chair of the Providence City Plan Commission, 1917-1919.

Green began his political career in 1906 winning election to the State House (Providence; 11th District) as a member of the reform Lincoln Party, serving a one-year term. Created by wealthy Rhode Island families such as the Metcalfs, Goddards, and Sharpes, the Lincoln party aligned with the Democratic Party against the corrupt Republican Party machine. Moving to the Democratic Party, Green remained active in politics running unsuccessfully for Governor (1912; 1930) and Congress, 1st District (1918). Renominated for Governor in 1932, Green won the election and then reelection in 1934. The 1935 New Years Day "Green Revolution" broke the Republican Party's control of state government. In 1936, he defeated fellow RISD Trustee Jesse H. Metcalf for a seat in the U. S. Senate. He served until 1961.

From the guide to the Theodore Francis Green papers, Green (Theodore Francis) papers, 1901-1910, (bulk 1902), (Rhode Island School of Design Archives)

Theodore Francis Green (1867-1966), was born in Providence on October 2, 1867, the son of Arnold Green (1858). He entered Brown at fifteen and graduated in 1887. After that he studied at Harvard Law School and the Universities of Berlin and Bonn. He joined his father's law firm, and after 1906 headed the law firm of Green, Hinckley and Allen until 1923, and after that the firm of Green, Curran and Hart. He was an instructor in Roman law at Brown from 1894 to 1897. In 1932, at the age of 65, instead of retiring, Green was elected Governor of Rhode Island on the Democratic ticket. His political career up to that point had not been promising. In 1907 he had been elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives, but his bids for higher office were unsuccessful. He was defeated for election as Governor in 1912, as Congressman in 1918, and as Governor again in 1930. He finally came into office along with Franklin D. Roosevelt's Democratic sweep in 1932. After that it was easy. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1936 and remained there until 1961. He served on the Foreign Relations Committee from 1937 to 1947 and from 1949 to 1959, and in 1957, at age 89, was appointed chairman of the committee. He voluntarily resigned the chairmanship in 1959.

Green was a dedicated alumnus of the University. He was on the building committee for Rockefeller Hall and was chairman of the Brown Union from 1903 to 1907. He introduced the bear as the mascot of the University and composed the verse of the Class of 1887 Gate. He served 66 years on the Corporation, as a trustee from 1900 to 1929 and as a fellow from that time until his death on May 19, 1966 in Providence.

From the guide to the Theodore Francis Green speeches and personal papers, Green (Theodore Francis) speeches and personal papers, 1883-1960, (John Hay Library Special Collections)

Theodore Francis Green (1867-1966), was born in Providence on October 2, 1867, the son of Arnold Green (1858). He entered Brown at fifteen and graduated in 1887. After that he studied at Harvard Law School and the Universities of Berlin and Bonn. He joined his father’s law firm, and after 1906 headed the law firm of Green, Hinckley and Allen until 1923, and after that the firm of Green, Curran and Hart. He was an instructor in Roman law at Brown from 1894 to 1897. In 1932, at the age of 65, instead of retiring, Green was elected Governor of Rhode Island on the Democratic ticket. His political career up to that point had not been promising. In 1907 he had been elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives, but his bids for higher office were unsuccessful. He was defeated for election as Governor in 1912, as Congressman in 1918, and as Governor again in 1930. He finally came into office along with Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Democratic sweep in 1932. After that it was easy. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1936 and remained there until 1961. He served on the Foreign Relations Committee from 1937 to 1947 and from 1949 to 1959, and in 1957 at age 89 achieved his fondest wish of becoming chairman of the committee. He voluntarily resigned the chairmanship in 1959. The very last years of his life he suffered two falls and a critical illness, during which he was accustomed to following the local news bulletins on his condition on television, which he explained was “the only way I can find out how I feel.” He had been very frail as a child as a result of early illness, but compensated for this by being very athletic, especially in tennis and swimming, into his 80s.

Green’s loyalty to Brown was legendary. He had lived nearby and attended Brown Commencements from his early childhood until his old age, being absent only while he was a student in Germany. In 1957, after he had worn his academic gown for more than fifty years, he was presented with a new one. He was on the building committee for Rockefeller Hall and was chairman of the Brown Union from 1903 to 1907. He introduced the bear as the mascot of the University and composed the verse of the Class of 1887 Gate. He served 66 years on the Corporation, as a trustee from 1900 to 1929 and as a fellow from that time until his death on May 19, 1966 in Providence.

(The above entry appears in Encyclopedia Brunoniana by Martha Mitchell, copyright ©1993 by the Brown University Library. It is used here by permission of the author and the University and may not be copied or further distributed without permission.)

From the guide to the Theodore Francis Green papers, Green (Theodore Francis) papers, (bulk 1900-1961), 1821-1961, (John Hay Library Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Altieri, Alice LaFond, 1894-1976. [Edward J. Higgins papers] 1935-1976. Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Phillips Memorial Library
creatorOf Green, Theodore Francis, 1867-1966. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1958. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Green, Theodore Francis, 1867-. Letter to Charles Warren, 1949. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. Letter, 1939, January 12 : White House, Washington, D.C., to Honorable Theodore F. Green, Washington, D.C. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn John E. Fogarty papers, Fogarty, (John E, ) papers, 1941-1967 Phillips Memorial Library
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Aime J. Forand papers, Forand (Aime J.) papers, 1918-1972 Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections
referencedIn Papers, 1889-1957, n.d. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Theodore Francis Green speeches and personal papers, Green (Theodore Francis) speeches and personal papers, 1883-1960 John Hay Library, Special Collections
creatorOf Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972. Letter, 1953, January 15 : the White House, Washington, D.C., to Honorable Theodore Francis Green, United States Senate. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Blair Moody Papers, 1928-1954, 1934-1952 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Theodore Francis Green Papers, 1924-1960, (bulk 1937-1960) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Brown University. Correspondence with Paul Philippe Cret, 1922-1937. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Stokes, Anson Phelps, 1874-1958. Anson Phelps Stokes family papers, 1761-1960 (inclusive), 1892-1958 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Dennis J. Roberts papers, Roberts (Dennis J.) papers, 1927-1972 Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections
referencedIn William Ernest Hocking papers Houghton Library
creatorOf Theodore Francis Green Papers, 1924-1960, (bulk 1937-1960) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Roberts, Dennis Joseph, 1903-1994. [Guide to the Dennis J. Roberts papers ] Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Phillips Memorial Library
creatorOf Theodore Francis Green papers, Green (Theodore Francis) papers, (bulk 1900-1961), 1821-1961 John Hay Library, Special Collections
referencedIn Elsie Bronson papers, Bronson (Elsie) papers, 1932 Rhode Island School of Design Archives.
referencedIn Harvard University Archives Photograph Collection: Portraits, ca. 1852-ca. 2004 Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Green, Theodore Francis, 1867-1966. Correspondence to Paul Philippe Cret, 1940. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Forand, Aimé Joseph, 1895-1972. [Guide to the Aime J. Forand papers 1918-1972.] Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Phillips Memorial Library
creatorOf Theodore Francis Green papers, Green (Theodore Francis) papers, 1901-1910, (bulk 1902) Rhode Island School of Design Archives.
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers, 1833-1975 (bulk: 1884-1972) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Crow, Charles B. (Charles Brandon), 1897-1955. Papers, 1920-1949. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Altieri, Alice LaFond, 1894-1976. [Guide to the Alice LaFond Altieri papers]. Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Phillips Memorial Library
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers: Series I-II, 1833-1975 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Prescott S. Bush Papers., undated, 1952-1962. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Natalie Bayard Brown papers, Brown (Natalie Bayard) Papers, (bulk 1897-1950), 1877-1950 John Hay Library, Special Collections
referencedIn Henry Frederick Lippitt papers, Lippitt (Henry Frederick) Papers, 1881-1933 John Hay Library, Special Collections
referencedIn Edward J. Higgins papers, Higgins (Edward J.) papers, 1935-1976 Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections
referencedIn David E. Finley papers, 1921-1977 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Mark Anthony De Wolfe Howe additional papers Houghton Library
creatorOf Keating, David T. Letters, 1939, January 1 to 1941, February 6, to Theodore Francis Green. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Papers, 1912-1960. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Alice LaFond Altieri papers, Altieri (Alice LaFond) papers, 1914-1976 Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections
creatorOf Green, Theodore Francis, 1867-1966. Papers, [ca. 1907-1938]. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Rhode Island State Records Collection, 1661-1979 Rhode Island Historical Society
referencedIn William Ernest Hocking papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Lippitt, Henry Frederick 1856-1933. Henry Frederick Lippitt Papers 1881 - 1933 Brown University, Brown University Library
creatorOf Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Green family papers, 1828-1984. Brown University, Brown University Library
creatorOf Lyndon Baines Johnson Archives Collection. 1931 - 1968. Congressional Correspondence Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Martha Lipmann Collection, 1927-1980, bulk 1936-1942 Leo Baeck Institute Archives
referencedIn George Sarton additional papers, 1901-1956 Houghton Library
creatorOf Stephen, Emmett E. Letter, 1939, February, Baltimore, Md., to Senator Theodore Francis Green. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn The Nation, records, 1879-1974 (inclusive), 1920-1955 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Anson Phelps Stokes family papers, 1761-1960, 1892-1958 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Brown University. Student essays and orations, 1786-1983. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Roscoe Pound Papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Altieri, Alice LaFond, 1894-1976. person
associatedWith Bowles, Chester, 1901-1986. person
associatedWith Bronson, Elsie person
associatedWith Brown, Natalie Bayard, 1869-1950 person
associatedWith Brown University. corporateBody
associatedWith Bush, Prescott Sheldon. person
associatedWith Crow, Charles B. (Charles Brandon), 1897-1955. person
associatedWith Democratic National Committee (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Edward J. Higgins person
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. person
associatedWith Emma (Guffey) Miller, 1874-1970 person
associatedWith Finley, David E. (David Edward) person
associatedWith Fogarty, John Edward, 1913-1967 person
associatedWith Forand, Aimé Joseph, 1895-1972. person
associatedWith Green, Arnold, 1838-1903 person
associatedWith Green family. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. corporateBody
correspondedWith Hocking, William Ernest, 1873-1966 person
correspondedWith Howe, M. A. De Wolfe (Mark Antony De Wolfe), 1864-1960 person
associatedWith Keating, David T. person
associatedWith Lipmann, Erich person
associatedWith Lipmann, Martha (née Spier), 1889- person
associatedWith Lippitt, Henry Frederick 1856-1933 person
associatedWith McCarthy, Joseph, 1908-1957. person
associatedWith Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. person
associatedWith Moody, Blair, 1902-1954 person
correspondedWith Nation (New York, N.Y. : 1865). corporateBody
associatedWith North Atlantic Treaty Organization. corporateBody
associatedWith Osborn, Stellanova, 1894-1988. person
associatedWith Pell, Herbert Claiborne, 1884-1961. person
correspondedWith Pound, Roscoe, 1870-1964 person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Rhode Island corporateBody
associatedWith Rhode Island. Governor. corporateBody
associatedWith Rhode Island School of Design corporateBody
associatedWith Roberts, Dennis Joseph, 1903-1994. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. person
correspondedWith Sarton, George, 1884-1956 person
associatedWith Stephen, Emmett E. person
associatedWith Stokes, Anson Phelps, 1874-1958. person
associatedWith Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972. person
associatedWith United Nations. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. corporateBody
associatedWith United States Commission on Civil Rights. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of State. corporateBody
associatedWith U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith Vira Boarman Whitehouse, 1875-1957 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
United States
Rhode Island
United States
Subject
Agriculture
Communism
Finance, Public
Finance, Public
Fisheries
Fishery law and legislation
Internal security
Law
Lawyers
Loyalty
Patronage, Political
Rhode Island
Silver
Veterans
Occupation
Governors
Lawyers
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1867-10-02

Death 1966-05-19

English

Information

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