Evening star., 1925-12-25
HARDING LETTERS
BURNEDBY WIDOW
Library Collection Gap Great
ed by Unconscious Action
of Mrs. Harding.

A wide gap in the presidential cor
respondence now being collected by
and In possession Of the manuscript
division of the Library of Congress
was unconsciously created by the late
Mrs. Harding when she, unaware OF
the desire of the library for her hus-
bands letters concerning political and
national affairs, destroyed them.
DR.. Charles Moore, acting chief Of
the manuscript division, today con-
fiI1ned this hitherto unrevealed fact,
explaining he was informed by Mrs
Harding shortly after the Presidents s
death that she had burned practically
all Of the correspondence. The let
ters consisted chiefly of letters writ
ten to him and there were only q few
copies of those he had written.
Originals Scattered.
The originals of letters written by
President Harding are in the hands
chiefly of the persons to whom they
were addressed. Copies of some of
these weer made and most of them
are in the custody, IL IS understood,
Of the Harding Memorial Association.
The Library has not been able to
obtain possession. despite the fact
that they would constitute notable
addition TO its collection of presden-
tial papers and give to President
Harding u proper representation. 1t
is understood that former Attorney
General Harry NJ. Dougherty Is in
sympathy with the idea of placing
these papers in The Library and is
using his influence in that direction.
The Library is not entirely without
letters with which the former Presi-
dent can he closely identified, but
these number nowhere near the col
lection as compared with other Presi-
dents. The manuscript division has
been unable 10 date to obtain more
than a few letters written by the
two Adams, Hays and Garfield. With
the exception of these the collection
is complete up through President
Taft Mrs. Wilson still is in posses.
sion of the letters of her husband,
to turn them over to the Library
later.
Harding Link Weakest.
The weakest link in the chain of
presidential papers now is the Hard
ing link, and for that reason the Ii
brary officials are anxious TO obtain
not only the letters in custody of the
Harding Memorial Association, but
to personal and political friends which
are in their possession. If the origi-
nails cannot be obtained. the Library
has expressed the desire to receive
photostat copies or photographs of
them.
The Library recently completed a
15year diligent search for letters of
President Arthur. Their acquisition
was accomplished only by strong and
persistent appeals 10 the owners after
they had been located.
President Mckinley is we'll repre-
sented In the Library, but the bulk of
his letters are in the hands of George
3. Cortelyou, who was private secre-
tary to President Mckinley and later
a member of the cabinet. 1t is under
stood they are to be used by Mr.. Cor.
teiyou in writing a biography and
eventually they will be turned over to
the Library.
Harrison Collection Good.
The Benjamin Harrison collection
already fairly complete. was well
rounded out this year when his widow
gave to the manuscript division a col.
lection OF letters and kilograms ad
dressed to him. These included let
ters from Senators Edmunds, Allison,
Quay, Evarts. Hitchcock, Hoar,
Foraker, Lodge, w. u. Washburn
Thomas W Palmer and Thomas c.
Platt; Secretaries Blaine, Window and
Hay; Postmaster General Wanamaker
Vice President Morton. Chief Justice
Fuller and Associate Justices Harlan.
Field and Brewer.
The George Washington papers in
the manuscript division fill more than
400 bound volumes and are studied
more than any others. Additions to
them from year TO year have been
numerous and important Mary
Washington papers are very rare, and
Martha Washington destroyed the
correspondence between the President
and herself.
Mai. U. s. Grant, Sd. now on duty
here. recently added to the Grant data
in the collection papers relating to the
battle Of Shiloh and maps used by
Gen. Grant in writing his memoirs.