Harry Augustus Garfield papers

Harry Augustus Garfield was appointed U.S. Fuel Administrator by President Woodrow Wilson on August 10, 1917. Garfield, taking a leave of absence from Williams College, assumed office on September 1, 1917. The main objective of the U.S. Fuel Administration was to maintain and manage the supply of fuel, especially coal, during wartime. In order to obtain this objective, it was necessary for the government to control production, supply, and prices. As Fuel Administrator, Garfield handed down dozens of administrative orders that dictated what coal producers and transporters could and could not do. These decisions, which were not always popular, were credited with the successful maintenance of the coal supply and non-stop operation of war industries. The Fuel Administration officially ceased its operations July 1, 1919 after requests for continued funding were denied. Wrap up of the Administration continued for several months. Records were transferred to the Department of the Interior, the Treasury Department completed a final audit, and a final report of all operations was published. The easing of government regulations at the close of the Fuel Administration left mineworkers and operators uncertain of future contracts. Mineworkers eventually went on strike and demanded new contracts with higher wages. As production of coal dropped and reserves were depleted, prices soared. In October 1919, Garfield was called back to his post as Fuel Administrator to stabilize prices. Garfield proposed a five-point plan to ease the conflict. One of his points proposed the creation of an advisory board made up of workers, operators and the public. This board would not have the power to set wages or prices, but merely advise. Instead of an advisory board, a commission with voting power was proposed by President Woodrow Wilson. Garfield disagreed with the proposal citing that the interest of the public could easily be out voted. Garfield resigned as U.S. Fuel Administrator on December 13, 1919.

October 11, 1863

HAG is born in Hiram, Ohio to Lucretia R. and General James A. Garfield. General Garfield is away serving in the Union Army at the time of his son's birth. Garfield spends his childhood years between Washington D.C. (while his father serves in Congress) and Hiram and Mentor, Ohio.

1879-1880

HAG attends St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H.

1880

James A. Garfield is elected 20th President of the United States.

1881

HAG returns to Washington in 1881 to be privately tutored.

July 2, 1881

James A. Garfield is shot at the Washington train station while enroute to Williamstown to attend his class reunion. HAG and his brother James R. are accompanying their father on the trip.

September 5, 1881

HAG and James R. enter Williams College.

September 19, 1881

James A. Garfield dies at Elberon, N.J.

1881-1885

HAG attends Williams College where he is a member of Alpha Delta Phi, the Philologian Society, Glee Club, church choir and the Athenaeum writing staff.

1885-1886

HAG teaches Latin and ancient history at St. Paul's School.

1886-1888

HAG studies at Columbia Law School, and spends the second year reading law at All Soul's College, Oxford and the Inns Court, London.

1888-1895

HAG practices law in Cleveland, Ohio in partnership with his brother James.

June 14, 1888

HAG marries Belle Mason, his third cousin. His sister Mollie marries Joseph Stanley-Brown in the double wedding ceremony.

October 28, 1889

The Garfields' first child James is born.

1891-1897

HAG serves as Professor of Contracts at Western Reserve Law School.

October 3, 1892

Mason, the Garfields' second son, is born.

1893

HAG becomes a charter member of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. He serves as chairman of the building committee 1895-1898 and then as president 1898 .

1894

HAG helps organize the Cleveland Trust Co.

January 18, 1894

Lucretia, the Garfields' only daughter, is born.

August 3, 1895

Stanton, the fourth and last of the Garfields' children, is born.

1896-1899

HAG serves as a charter member and the first president of the Cleveland Municipal Association.

1897-1903

HAG serves as trustee of Western Reserve University.

1900-1902

HAG manages a syndicate for Ohio railroad companies. The syndicate is involved in the development of coal mines and the transportation of coal to markets.

1900-1906

HAG serves as president of the National Consular Reorganization Committee. The committee works to abolish political patronage in consular appointments.

1903

Woodrow Wilson appoints HAG Professor of Politics at Princeton University.

1907

HAG accepts appointment as the President of Williams College.

1908

HAG is inducted as the eighth President of Williams College.

1917

HAG serves as Chairman of the Price Committee of the United States Food Administration. The Committee fixes the price of the 1917 wheat crop.

1917-1919

HAG serves as Fuel Administrator of the United States Fuel Administration. The Administration regulates the production, price and distribution of coal during World War I. Garfield takes a leave of absence from his duties as Williams College President.

March 13, 1918

Lucretia R. Garfield dies in Pasadena, Calif. after a lengthy illness.

1921

HAG receives the Distinguished Service Medal presented by Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker.

1921

The first Institute of Politics is held in August.

1932

The last session of the Institute of Politics is held. HAG cites lack of funds as the demise of the Institute.

October 1933

HAG announces his will resign from the Williams College presidency in June 1934.

1934

HAG retires and begins a one-year round-the-world trip with Belle.

1935

The Garfields return to the U.S. and settle in Washington D.C. where HAG spends time studying international problems. The Garfields continue to spend their summers in Williamstown and Duxbury.

1941

HAG accepts an appointment to the War Department Defense Board, a fourteen-member board whose purpose is to study applications of the Excess Profits Law during World War II.

December 12, 1942

HAG dies of natural causes at the Williamstown Inn.