Sirovich, William Irving, 1882-1939

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William Irving Sirovich (March 18, 1882 – December 17, 1939) was an American physician, playwright, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. Representative from New York's 14th congressional district from 1927 until his death.

Born in York, Pennsylvania, his family moved to New York City in 1888. Sirovich attended the public schools there and graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1902 and from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1906. He commenced the practice of medicine in New York City in 1906 and also engaged as a lecturer, editor, and playwright, several of his plays being produced on Broadway. In 1908 and 1910, he ran two unsuccessful races on the Independence League ticket for New York State Treasurer.

He was a member of the fifth district school board from 1906 to 1926 and was appointed as a member of the commission to inquire into the subject of widows' pensions and of the State pension commission in 1913. He was appointed a member of the State charities convention in 1914 and served as superintendent of Peoples Hospital in New York City from 1910 to 1927. He was appointed commissioner of child welfare in 1919 and served until 1931; in 1924 he was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the 69th United States Congress from New York's 14th district.

Sirovich was elected as a Democrat to the 70th, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, 75th and 76th United States Congresses, and served from March 4, 1927 until his death. During the 72nd through 76th Congresses he was Chairman of the Committee on Patents. He was President of the Industrial National Bank in New York City from 1929 to 1932 and was a delegate to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Congress held at Bucharest, Romania, in 1931. Sirovich died in New York City in 1939. He was buried at the Mount Hebron Cemetery in Flushing.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sulzer, William, 1863-1941. [Letter] 1912 February 26, New York City [to] Mr. [Edwin] Markham, [Staten Island] / W.I. Sirovich. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn David, Paul T. (Paul Theodore), 1906-1994. Paul T. David papers [manuscript], 1936-1939. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Ludlow mss., 1898-1948 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Sirovich, Wm. Irving. Poisoned alcohol: what every American should know about food, drugs , cosmetics and beverages. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Sirovich, William I. Memorabilia, [ca. 1933]-1940. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Learned Hand papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf United States. Congress. House. Committee on Patents. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1930-1932. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
alumnusOrAlumnaOf City University of New York. City College corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Columbia University. College of Physicians and Surgeons corporateBody
associatedWith David, Paul T. (Paul Theodore), 1906-1994. person
correspondedWith Hand, Learned, 1872-1961 person
associatedWith Ludlow, Louis, 1873-1950 person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Sulzer, William, 1863-1941. person
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Patents. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
York PA US
Subject
Occupation
Bank presidents
Editors
Physicians
Playwrights
Professors (teacher)
Representatives, U.S. Congress
State Government Appointee
Activity

Person

Birth 1882-03-18

Death 1939-12-17

Male

Americans

English

Information

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