Chester Castle Bolton (1882-1949) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio's 22nd Congressional district from 1928-1939. Bolton served previously in the Ohio State Senate from 1922-1928. During World War I, Bolton served in the Ordnance Department and the War Industries Board, and became aide to Benedict Crowell, assistant secretary of war. As a U.S. Congressman, Bolton was esteemed representative of the Great Lakes states on the Rivers and Harbors Committee, and served on the Appropriations Committee and numerous other committees. Bolton was chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 1934 and 1936, and helped to bring the Republican National Convention to Cleveland, Ohio in 1936. His widow, Frances Payne Bolton, succeeded him in Congress following his death in 1939. The collection consists of Army records pertaining to Bolton's service in the Ordnance Department, the War Industries Board, and attendance at the Army War College during World War I; records relating to Bolton's membership on Ohio State Senate committees (1922-1928); U.S. House of Representatives records (1928-1940), consisting of campaign files, committee files, correspondence, personal journals, material on redistricting, speeches, and service on the National Republican Congressional Committee (1932-1934); personal papers consisting of correspondence and memorials; and scrapbooks and newspaper clippings (1924-1940).
