Walter Dennis Myers
Walter D. Myers Papers and Medals
L 115, OB 2
1906-1969
1 mss. box, 1 card file box, 1 ov. folder
Manuscript Section, Indiana Division
Indiana State Library
Processed by: Christina Baich, December 2005
Biographical Note:
Walter D. Myers was born on December 19, 1882, in Rye Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania. He received an A.B. degree from Yale University in 1905 and an LL.B. from Indiana University in 1907. He was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1907 and began practicing law in Indianapolis. On June 3, 1913, Myers married Katharine Lyons with whom he had three children, Walter, Jr., Joseph, and Kitty. From 1913 to 1937, Myers served in a variety of public offices including attorney for the Safety, Public Health, Park and Sanitary Boards of Indiana; assistant city attorney; Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives (1931-1933); and special counsel to a U.S. Senate Committee (1936-1937). In 1940, he was appointed Fourth Assistant Postmaster General by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Myers was very active in Democratic politics serving a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1920, 1924, and 1928. When FDR was up for the vice-presidential nomination, Myers delivered one of the nominating speeches at the National Convention. He ran for Mayor of Indianapolis in 1925 as an anti-Ku Klux Klan candidate, but was defeated by John L. Duvall. In 1928, he ran for the United States Senate, but was again defeated. In addition to his career of public service, Walter Myers was also an author. He wrote a number of articles and law books including The ‘Guv’: A Tale of Midwest Law and Politics. Myers died on August 4, 1973.
Scope and Content Note:
The collection includes Myer’s political speeches (1928-1931), including speeches for his 1928 Senate race; correspondence and other papers relating to Democratic Party politics and Myers’ career in Indianapolis and with the U.S. Post Office (1908-1969); newspaper and magazine clippings relating to Myers’ career, the Democratic party, and the achievements of his children and his father, Charles W. Myers. Also included in the collection are medals and various other memorabilia from throughout his life.
The collection is organized chronologically by document type.
Box and Folder Listing:
Box 1.
Folder
1. Programs and keepsakes, 1906-1924
2. Programs and keepsakes, 1925-1952
3. Correspondence, 1910-1944
4. Correspondence, 1946-1969, n.d.
5. Speeches, 1928-1931
6. Newspaper clippings, 1926-1949
7. Newspaper clippings, 1950-1954, n.d.
8. Magazine clippings, 1938-1952, n.d.
Item Listing:
Box 2. Medals
Item
1. 35th Annual Convention, National League of District Postmasters of the United States, New York City, Sept. 17-20, 1940
2. 1940 Annual Convention, National Association of Postmasters, Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 25-28
3. Indiana State Chapter Convention, National Association of Postmasters, Michigan City, July 17-19, 1941
4. Indiana State Chapter Convention, National Association of Postmasters, Evansville, June 18-20, 1942
5. Annual Convention, Georgia Chapter, National Association of Postmasters, Atlanta, June 14-15, 1944
6. Walter Myers, 1905
7. Walter Myers, Yale 1905
8. Yale medal
9. Associated Western Yale Clubs, 13th Annual Meeting, June 16-17, 1916
10. Reception, Marshal Foch Day, Indianapolis, November 4, 1921
11. Guest ribbon with name badge
12. Florida State Fair, Tampa, Fla.
13. “Do Right and Fear No Man” medal
14. Train car medal
15. President’s Visit to Indianapolis 1964, Honored Guest name badge
OB 2
Folder 11.
1940 June 15 Certificate of appointment as Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Collection Information:
Size of Collection:
1 manuscript box, 1 card file box, 1 oversized folder
Collection Dates:
1906-1969
Provenance:
Walter Myers, 12 March 1974; Mrs. Dickson, 31 March 1975
Access: This collection is open for research.
Restrictions:
None
Reproduction Rights:
Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library. Possession of a reproduction from an Indiana State Library collection does not constitute permission for use.
Language Materials are entirely in English
Alternate Formats:
None
Related Holdings:
Pictures of Myers located in Indiana Picture Collection
Notes:
Search the Indiana State Library's Online Catalog.