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Warren R. Austin Papers

 Collection
Identifier: mss-930

Scope and Content

The Warren Robinson Austin Papers include correspondence, speeches and writings of Austin, notes and notebooks, legislative bills and drafts, printed and published material, memoranda, newspaper clippings, documents, photographs, slides and assorted memorabilia. The 110 linear feet of records are housed in nine file drawers, 110 document boxes, one oversize drawer, and 17 assorted parcels and cartons. The papers, 1877-1962, span Austin's whole career, and are arranged under the headings indicated under the Container List.

Dates

  • 1877-1962

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Access:

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.

Chronological Biography

  • 1877 Austin, Warren Robinson, born at Highgate, Vt. Nov. 12, 1877, son of Chauncey Goodrich and Ann Mathilda (Robinson) Austin;
  • 1895 Graduated Brigham Academy, Bakersfield, Vt;
  • 1895 Initiated in Alpha Lambda Chapter of Kappa Sigma;
  • 1899 Graduated University of Vermont, Ph.B. 1899;
  • 1899-1902 Studied law with C.G. Austin and Sons;
  • 1901 Married Mildred Marie Lucas, of St. Albans, Vt. June 26;
  • 1902 Son, Warren R. Jr., born Oct. 6;
  • 1902 Admitted to Vt. Bar;
  • 1902-1916 Practiced as a member of father's law firm;
  • 1904-1906 State's Atty. Of Franklin County, Vermont
  • 1906 Admitted to 2nd Circuit, of U.S. Circuit Court;
  • 1907-1915 Appointed U.S. Commissioner;
  • 1908 Chairman of Republican State Convention;
  • 1909 Elected Mayor of City of St. Albans, Vermont;
  • 1910 Son, Edward Lucas, born June 20th;
  • 1912 Delegate of Pres. Of U.S. to the Congress of the Mint;
  • 1914-1941 Elected by Legislature of Vt. As Trustee of UVM and SAC
  • 1914 Admitted to the Supreme Court of the U.S.
  • 1916-1917 In Republic of China, representing the American International Corporation as attorney;
  • 1917 U.S. Court for China in extraterritorial jurisdiction in China, admitted to practice as member of bar;
  • 1917 At UVM, Lecturer on Military Law during World War I;
  • 1917-1931 Practiced law, with hdqrs at Burlington, Vermont
  • 1919 Admitted the District Court of the U.S. for the Eastern District of N.Y.
  • 1922 Burlington Rotary Club-Charter President;
  • 1923 Vermont Bar Association President;
  • 1925-1928 UVM-Medical College, Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence;
  • 1925-1927 In the Supreme Court of the U.S. Special Attorney for Vermont in boundary case between Vt. And N.H.
  • 1928 Delegate from Vt. To Republican National Convention, Kansas City, Mo. Seconded nomination of Herbert Hoover, corroborating position of Pres. Calvin Coolidge: "I DO NOT CHOOSE TO RUN!"
  • 1931 Initiated member of the Order of AHEPA; May 16th
  • 1931-1934 Elected U.S. Senator from Vt. In special election to complete the unexpired term of Senator Frank Lester Greene
  • 1932 UVM Awarded honorary degree of LL.D.
  • 1932 Elected member and honorary Vice-Pres. Of the Alfalfa Club of Wash. D.C.
  • 1934-1940 Reelected U.S. Senator from Vt.
  • 1935 Philippine Commonwealth Inauguration, appointed visitor; viewed conditions in Japan and China
  • 1935 In Philippines, elected member of Order of the Adventurous Swimmers of Pagansan;
  • 1936 Palestine, studied conditions under Mandate and in Egypt and Italy;
  • 1937 Puerto Rico, studied as Committee of Senate, the Island judicial system;
  • 1938 Alibi Club, Washington, D.C. initiated
  • 1939 Awarded Man of the Year in Kappa Sigma
  • 1940-1946 Reelected U.S. Senator from Vermont
  • 1940 May 29, Address at the unveiling of the painting depicting the signing of the Constitution of the U.S. in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Wash. D.C.
  • 1944 Honorary 33rd Degree Mason, initiated Sept. 17
  • 1944 Columbia University awarded honorary degree LL.D.
  • 1944 Norwich University, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
  • 1945- Feb. 21 to March 8, 1945, Mexico, D.F. adviser to U.S. Delegation to Inter-American conference on problems of War and Peace; credited with devising the plan ultimately adopted the ACT OF CHAPULTEPEC;
  • 1946 June 5 in the Senate of the U.S. tributes to Warren R. Austin, a Senator from the State of Vermont, relative to his appointment as Representative of the U.S. to the U.N. and to the Security Council;
  • 1946 June 25, in the Senate, tribute by the President (Mr. McKellar) and the response by Mr. Austin, in the Senate, on the nomination to be Representative of the United States to the United Nations and to the Security Council;
  • 1946 Dartmouth College, awarded honorary degree LL.D
  • 1946 University of the State of New York Education Department, Regents, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
  • 1946 June 5, appointed by President Truman as Special Ambassador of the President and Advisor, to be Acting Representative of the United States in the United Nations;
  • 1946 July 4, Elected honorary member in the N.H. Society of Cincinnati;
  • 1946 Aug. 22nd, Biographical sketch in Sat. Eve. Post by Beverley Smith, "A Yankee Meets the World".
  • 1946 Aug. 3, biographical sketch in Colliers by Frank Gervasi, "United Neighbors";
  • 1947 Jan. 13, Patent, Representative of the United States in the UN with rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Ambassador Plenipotentiary;
  • 1947 Award by American Association for the United Nations to the American who had made the most outstanding contribution to the United Nations during the past year;
  • 1947 Washington National Monument Society, elected member, Wash. D.C.
  • 1947 Kindergarten Playmates- Letter to Ambassador Austin for PEACE, Alma M. Haring, Teacher, Horace Mann School, Richmond Hill, New York;
  • 1947 Theodore Roosevelt, Roosevelt Memorial Association, Medal of Honor for distinguished service "If I must choose between righteousness and peace I choose righteousness".
  • 1947 Vt. State Committee of United Service to China, Inc., Honorary Chairman
  • 1947 Library Fellows of the University of Vermont member;
  • 1947 Award "Father of the Year".
  • 1947 Boston University, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
  • 1947 Bates College, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
  • 1947 Princeton University, awarded honorary degree LL.D. (Medallion)
  • 1947 March 30-C.K. Berryman, Washington Star, Cartoon of Trygve Lie and Austin at erection of headquarters of the United Nations; Austin to Lie: "He'll (Uncle Sam) turn his trade over to you when you are ready to handle it" Answer (Lie) "Well spoken, my good friend Warren R. Austin, and more power to you!"
  • 1947 Sept. 16, patent of Warren R. Austin Representative of U.S. to the 2nd Session of the General Assembly (N.Y.)
  • 1947 Lafayette University, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
  • 1947 University of Vermont, awarded honorary degree D.C.L.
  • 1947 Honorary Trustee for the painting "Signing of the Federal Constitution" by Howard Chandler Christy (supra 1940, May 29)
  • 1947 Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, delegate of U.S. to inter-American Conference for Maintenance of Continental Peace and Security (Quitandinha)
  • 1948 American University, Washington, D.C. awarded honorary degree LL.D. (presentation by Baron Silvercruys, Ambassador of Belgium)
  • 1948 National Institute of Social Sciences awarded Gold Medal for distinguished service to humanity;
  • 1948 Congregational Christian Churches of the U.S. at Oberlin, Ohio, awarded churchmanship by the Council for Social Action
  • 1948 University of Vermont, awarded honorary degree Phi Beta Kappa "Pioneer in recognition of the ideals of a United Nations as the ultimate means of peace and security for the peoples of the world" and " A diplomat with indefatigable patience and tolerance"
  • 1948 National 4-H Club presented by the Red Clover and the Caspian Lake 4-H Clubs in the field of humanity in the UN, and in conjunction with the National 4-H theme "Working together for World Understanding", certificate of service;
  • 1948 April 14, patent of Warren R. Austin, Representative of the U.S. to the Special session of the G.A. of the United Nations to be held in New York;
  • 1948 Aug. 11th, patent of Warren R. Austin, Representative of the U.S. of America to the 3rd session of the General Assembly of the UN to be held in Paris, France;
  • 1949 March 2, Patent of Warren R. Austin, Representative of the U.S. to the 3rd session of the G.A. of the UN held in Paris France
  • 1949 Middlebury College, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
  • 1949 Sept. 27, patent of Warren R. Austin, Representative of the U.S. of America to the 4th session of the G/A. Of the UN to be held in N.Y.
  • 1949 International Business Machine Corporation elected honorary member of The Hundred Percent Club
  • 1949 Oct. 24 Silver Trowel engraved " To the Hon. Warren R. Austin Headquarters Advisory Committee from Trygve Lie, Sec. General, United Nations Headquarters Cornerstone ceremony, 14 Oct. 1949
  • 1950 Jan 26, -31- In Cuba on invitation of the Government of Cuba to the Government of the U.S.
  • 1950 Feb. 6, the Cuban Government decorated Ambassador Austin with Cuba's highest honor, the order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, indicating by this act Cuba's enthusiastic support of the United Nations and of its admiration and respect for Senator Austin and his outstanding record as Permanent Delegate of the United States to the United Nations". (part of a dispatch to Dept. of State of U.S. by Carroll E. Cobb, 2nd Secretary of Embassy of U.S. to Cuba
  • 1950 Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 Virgin Islands (ST. Thomas and Charlotte and Aemelie) and St. Croix
  • 1950 Feb. 2-8 Puerto Rico, Special Session of the G.A. at San Juan in honor of Ambassador Austin;
  • 1950 Feb. 8-11 Dominican Republic-Official guest on good will mission;
  • 1950 Feb. 10, decree translated from Spanish with singular gratification "His Excellency, Pres. Of the Republic of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) by decree number 6358 promulgated the 19th of Feb. 1950, decoration of the Order of Merit, Juan Pablo Duarte in the grade of Grand Cross, being of the highest distinction offered by the Republic"
  • 1950 Feb. 10, University of Santo Domingo, awarded Ambassador Austin honorary degree LL.D.
  • 1950 Feb. 11-16, Republic of Haiti, Official guest of Government; member in ceremony :U.S. Meets a Neighbor" Centennial Exposition at Port-au-Prince (Haiti)
  • 1950 Feb. 16-26 Bahamas Islands- Visit at "Old Fort" built by the Spanish 400 yrs. ago, rebuilt in 1744; Guidam and Helen Cutting hosts, Nassau
  • 1950 March 2 Placed in escrow the Cuban and Dominican decorations in Dept. of State, until authorization is given to accept and use;
  • 1950 March 10, Vermont Warren Austin Day, presentation by American Legion of the State of Vermont and school children of portrait painted by Fritz Werner, unveiled in capitol of State of Vermont; and booklet with preface by A. Luke Crisp, Dept. Commander, the American Legion of Vermont, and edited by Paul R. Teeter;
  • 1950 April 27, dedication to The Guild of the Good Neighbors, 14 Gloucester Place, Parkman Square, London, W.1 delivered by John F. Hutch

1877
Austin, Warren Robinson, born at Highgate, Vt. Nov. 12, 1877, son of Chauncey Goodrich and Ann Mathilda (Robinson) Austin;
1895
Graduated Brigham Academy, Bakersfield, Vt;
1895
Initiated in Alpha Lambda Chapter of Kappa Sigma;
1899
Graduated University of Vermont, Ph.B. 1899;
1899-1902
Studied law with C.G. Austin and Sons;
1901
Married Mildred Marie Lucas, of St. Albans, Vt. June 26;
1902
Son, Warren R. Jr., born Oct. 6;
1902
Admitted to Vt. Bar;
1902-1916
Practiced as a member of father's law firm;
1904-1906
State's Atty. Of Franklin County, Vermont
1906
Admitted to 2nd Circuit, of U.S. Circuit Court;
1907-1915
Appointed U.S. Commissioner;
1908
Chairman of Republican State Convention;
1909
Elected Mayor of City of St. Albans, Vermont;
1910
Son, Edward Lucas, born June 20th;
1912
Delegate of Pres. Of U.S. to the Congress of the Mint;
1914-1941
Elected by Legislature of Vt. As Trustee of UVM and SAC
1914
Admitted to the Supreme Court of the U.S.
1916-1917
In Republic of China, representing the American International Corporation as attorney;
1917
U.S. Court for China in extraterritorial jurisdiction in China, admitted to practice as member of bar;
1917
At UVM, Lecturer on Military Law during World War I;
1917-1931
Practiced law, with hdqrs at Burlington, Vermont
1919
Admitted the District Court of the U.S. for the Eastern District of N.Y.
1922
Burlington Rotary Club-Charter President;
1923
Vermont Bar Association President;
1925-1928
UVM-Medical College, Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence;
1925-1927
In the Supreme Court of the U.S. Special Attorney for Vermont in boundary case between Vt. And N.H.
1928
Delegate from Vt. To Republican National Convention, Kansas City, Mo. Seconded nomination of Herbert Hoover, corroborating position of Pres. Calvin Coolidge: "I DO NOT CHOOSE TO RUN!"
1931
Initiated member of the Order of AHEPA; May 16th
1931-1934
Elected U.S. Senator from Vt. In special election to complete the unexpired term of Senator Frank Lester Greene
1932
UVM Awarded honorary degree of LL.D.
1932
Elected member and honorary Vice-Pres. Of the Alfalfa Club of Wash. D.C.
1934-1940
Reelected U.S. Senator from Vt.
1935
Philippine Commonwealth Inauguration, appointed visitor; viewed conditions in Japan and China
1935
In Philippines, elected member of Order of the Adventurous Swimmers of Pagansan;
1936
Palestine, studied conditions under Mandate and in Egypt and Italy;
1937
Puerto Rico, studied as Committee of Senate, the Island judicial system;
1938
Alibi Club, Washington, D.C. initiated
1939
Awarded Man of the Year in Kappa Sigma
1940-1946
Reelected U.S. Senator from Vermont
1940
May 29, Address at the unveiling of the painting depicting the signing of the Constitution of the U.S. in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Wash. D.C.
1944
Honorary 33rd Degree Mason, initiated Sept. 17
1944
Columbia University awarded honorary degree LL.D.
1944
Norwich University, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
1945-
Feb. 21 to March 8, 1945, Mexico, D.F. adviser to U.S. Delegation to Inter-American conference on problems of War and Peace; credited with devising the plan ultimately adopted the ACT OF CHAPULTEPEC;
1946
June 5 in the Senate of the U.S. tributes to Warren R. Austin, a Senator from the State of Vermont, relative to his appointment as Representative of the U.S. to the U.N. and to the Security Council;
1946
June 25, in the Senate, tribute by the President (Mr. McKellar) and the response by Mr. Austin, in the Senate, on the nomination to be Representative of the United States to the United Nations and to the Security Council;
1946
Dartmouth College, awarded honorary degree LL.D
1946
University of the State of New York Education Department, Regents, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
1946
June 5, appointed by President Truman as Special Ambassador of the President and Advisor, to be Acting Representative of the United States in the United Nations;
1946
July 4, Elected honorary member in the N.H. Society of Cincinnati;
1946
Aug. 22nd, Biographical sketch in Sat. Eve. Post by Beverley Smith, "A Yankee Meets the World".
1946
Aug. 3, biographical sketch in Colliers by Frank Gervasi, "United Neighbors";
1947
Jan. 13, Patent, Representative of the United States in the UN with rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Ambassador Plenipotentiary;
1947
Award by American Association for the United Nations to the American who had made the most outstanding contribution to the United Nations during the past year;
1947
Washington National Monument Society, elected member, Wash. D.C.
1947
Kindergarten Playmates- Letter to Ambassador Austin for PEACE, Alma M. Haring, Teacher, Horace Mann School, Richmond Hill, New York;
1947
Theodore Roosevelt, Roosevelt Memorial Association, Medal of Honor for distinguished service "If I must choose between righteousness and peace I choose righteousness".
1947
Vt. State Committee of United Service to China, Inc., Honorary Chairman
1947
Library Fellows of the University of Vermont member;
1947
Award "Father of the Year".
1947
Boston University, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
1947
Bates College, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
1947
Princeton University, awarded honorary degree LL.D. (Medallion)
1947
March 30-C.K. Berryman, Washington Star, Cartoon of Trygve Lie and Austin at erection of headquarters of the United Nations; Austin to Lie: "He'll (Uncle Sam) turn his trade over to you when you are ready to handle it" Answer (Lie) "Well spoken, my good friend Warren R. Austin, and more power to you!"
1947
Sept. 16, patent of Warren R. Austin Representative of U.S. to the 2nd Session of the General Assembly (N.Y.)
1947
Lafayette University, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
1947
University of Vermont, awarded honorary degree D.C.L.
1947
Honorary Trustee for the painting "Signing of the Federal Constitution" by Howard Chandler Christy (supra 1940, May 29)
1947
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, delegate of U.S. to inter-American Conference for Maintenance of Continental Peace and Security (Quitandinha)
1948
American University, Washington, D.C. awarded honorary degree LL.D. (presentation by Baron Silvercruys, Ambassador of Belgium)
1948
National Institute of Social Sciences awarded Gold Medal for distinguished service to humanity;
1948
Congregational Christian Churches of the U.S. at Oberlin, Ohio, awarded churchmanship by the Council for Social Action
1948
University of Vermont, awarded honorary degree Phi Beta Kappa "Pioneer in recognition of the ideals of a United Nations as the ultimate means of peace and security for the peoples of the world" and " A diplomat with indefatigable patience and tolerance"
1948
National 4-H Club presented by the Red Clover and the Caspian Lake 4-H Clubs in the field of humanity in the UN, and in conjunction with the National 4-H theme "Working together for World Understanding", certificate of service;
1948
April 14, patent of Warren R. Austin, Representative of the U.S. to the Special session of the G.A. of the United Nations to be held in New York;
1948
Aug. 11th, patent of Warren R. Austin, Representative of the U.S. of America to the 3rd session of the General Assembly of the UN to be held in Paris, France;
1949
March 2, Patent of Warren R. Austin, Representative of the U.S. to the 3rd session of the G.A. of the UN held in Paris France
1949
Middlebury College, awarded honorary degree LL.D.
1949
Sept. 27, patent of Warren R. Austin, Representative of the U.S. of America to the 4th session of the G/A. Of the UN to be held in N.Y.
1949
International Business Machine Corporation elected honorary member of The Hundred Percent Club
1949
Oct. 24 Silver Trowel engraved " To the Hon. Warren R. Austin Headquarters Advisory Committee from Trygve Lie, Sec. General, United Nations Headquarters Cornerstone ceremony, 14 Oct. 1949
1950
Jan 26, -31- In Cuba on invitation of the Government of Cuba to the Government of the U.S.
1950
Feb. 6, the Cuban Government decorated Ambassador Austin with Cuba's highest honor, the order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, indicating by this act Cuba's enthusiastic support of the United Nations and of its admiration and respect for Senator Austin and his outstanding record as Permanent Delegate of the United States to the United Nations". (part of a dispatch to Dept. of State of U.S. by Carroll E. Cobb, 2nd Secretary of Embassy of U.S. to Cuba
1950
Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 Virgin Islands (ST. Thomas and Charlotte and Aemelie) and St. Croix
1950
Feb. 2-8 Puerto Rico, Special Session of the G.A. at San Juan in honor of Ambassador Austin;
1950
Feb. 8-11 Dominican Republic-Official guest on good will mission;
1950
Feb. 10, decree translated from Spanish with singular gratification "His Excellency, Pres. Of the Republic of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) by decree number 6358 promulgated the 19th of Feb. 1950, decoration of the Order of Merit, Juan Pablo Duarte in the grade of Grand Cross, being of the highest distinction offered by the Republic"
1950
Feb. 10, University of Santo Domingo, awarded Ambassador Austin honorary degree LL.D.
1950
Feb. 11-16, Republic of Haiti, Official guest of Government; member in ceremony :U.S. Meets a Neighbor" Centennial Exposition at Port-au-Prince (Haiti)
1950
Feb. 16-26 Bahamas Islands- Visit at "Old Fort" built by the Spanish 400 yrs. ago, rebuilt in 1744; Guidam and Helen Cutting hosts, Nassau
1950
March 2 Placed in escrow the Cuban and Dominican decorations in Dept. of State, until authorization is given to accept and use;
1950
March 10, Vermont Warren Austin Day, presentation by American Legion of the State of Vermont and school children of portrait painted by Fritz Werner, unveiled in capitol of State of Vermont; and booklet with preface by A. Luke Crisp, Dept. Commander, the American Legion of Vermont, and edited by Paul R. Teeter;
1950
April 27, dedication to The Guild of the Good Neighbors, 14 Gloucester Place, Parkman Square, London, W.1 delivered by John F. Hutch

Extent

110 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Abstract

The Warren R. Austin papers include correspondence, speeches, and writings, notes and notebooks, legislative bills and drafts, printed and published materials, memoranda, newspaper clippings, documents, and photographs. Organized into seven major series: I. General Correspondence; II. Speeches, speech materials, and writings; III. China period; IV. US Senate; V. United Nations and afterward; VI. Published materials, biographical, personal, and memorabilia; VII. Law career.

Physical Location

Silver Special Collections, Billings Library.

Additional Information

The 17 parcels and cartons (30 ft.) of Austin's legal papers, 1902-1962, have not been arranged. They include various University of Vermont cases, the White River Chair case, Cavendish case, the Vermont-New Hampshire Boundary Dispute case, and others. Austin's law firm remained in operation all through his public life, and still continues under the leadership of his son.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Warren R. Austin Collection, 1877-1962
Status
Completed
Author
Processor: Connell B. Gallagher; machine-readable finding aid created by Apex Corporation, Aaron A. Shamp, Amelia Gulkis, and James P. Tranowski.
Date
1998
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the University of Vermont Libraries, Special Collections Repository

http://specialcollections.uvm.edu/
Contact:
Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington Vermont 05405 U.S.A. US
(802) 656-2138
(802) 656-4038 (Fax)

THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

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Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington, VT 05405
(802) 656-2138 | Contact Special Collections