Contains numerous items documenting Heffernan's life and career from 1922-1940. The organization imposed on the materials by the creator, donor, or the Youngstown State University professor to whom the items were given was maintained as much as possible when the colection was processed. The bulk of the collection contains correspondence between Heffernan and Ohio Governor Vic Donahey. Alvin Victor Donahey (1873-1946) served as County Auditor from 1905-1909, State Auditor from 1913-1921, the 50th Governor of Ohio serving three terms from 1923-1929, and a United States Senator from 1935-1941. The correspondence covers various political matters of the time, including Donahey's re-election as Governor and then Senator, the fate of the Democratic Party, the effects of the Great Depression and Prohibition, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Niles, Ohio Riot. The November 1, 1924 riot, which is considered to be "one of the state's most famous riots," was characterized by beatings, overturned automobiles, and shootings involving the Ohio Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and their opposition, the Knights of the Flaming Circle. Bands of armed men freely roamed the streets of Niles, meeting little or no opposition from law enforcement agencies. Ohio state government refused to involve itself in what it felt to be a local problem, which is documented in Donahey's correspondence with Heffernan who was pleading for action. Correspondence also exists from 1922-1937 between Heffernan and Newton Diehl Baker (1871-1937). Baker served as the 37th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from 1912 to 1915 and as Secretary of War from 1916 to 1921. After stepping down as Secretary of War in 1921, Baker moved back to Cleveland to practice law, and never again served in a public office (although he was considered as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 1924, 1928, and 1932). The correspondence dates from this time period. Also included are political speeches made by Heffernan while he was campaigning for mayor, addresses he made while judge, and articles he published in the late 1930s on topics regarding history and politics. Of particular interest to the researcher is an unpublished draft where Heffernan candidly discusses not only his early life, but also his political career including discussions of corrupt politicians and underhanded dealings in city politics at the time that eventually led to his downfall. While the collection is strong in materials from Heffernan's mayoral years, it is lacking in materials from Heffernan's childhood, early career as a newspaperman, the time he served as judge, and his later career.
