Henry Watterson papers, 1857-1983, 1882-1821 (bulk dates)
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Henry Watterson papers, 1857-1983, 1882-1821 (bulk dates)
- Creator
- Watterson, Henry, 1840-1921.
- Extent
- 7 Reels of microfilm
- Subjects
- Watterson, Henry, 1840-1921.
- Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925.
- Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931.
- MacVeagh, Wayne, 1833-1917.
- Buel, Clarence Clough, 1850-1933.
- Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
- Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.
- Taft, William Howard, 1856-1924.
- Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924.
- Watterson, Rebecca.
- Louisville Courier Journal (Ky.)
- United States._tCivil Service Act.
- Genealogy.
- Journalism--Editing.
- Suffrage--History.
- Reconstruction (1914-1939)
- Editors--Kentucky--Louisville.
- Editorials.
- Arrangement
- Organized by series: Series I - Correspondence; Series II - Editorials; Series III - Autobiography; Series IV - Books and Articles; Series V - Speeches; Series VI - Newspaper Clippings; Series VII - Family History and Memorabilia and Series VIII - Special Editions of the COURIER JOURNAL honoring Henry Watterson. Arrangement thereunder is generally chronological.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Jounalist, politician, author. Born in Washington D. C. in 1840, Henry Watterson attended the Academy of the Protestant Episcopal Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) from 1852 to 1856. From 1861 to 1865 he served intermittently in the Confederate Army and during that period edited the Confederate newspaper, REBEL. After becoming editor of the LOUISVILLE JOURNAL (Louisville, Ky.) in 1868, that same year he and Walter N. Haldeman established the COURIER JOURNAL. For the next 50 years Watterson continued to edit the COURIER JOURNAL during which time (1919) he received the Pulitzer Prize for his editorial writing chiefly for articles on World War I.
- In addition to serving as editor of the LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL, Watterson was chairman of the Democratic National Convention in 1876 and served as a member of the United States Congress, 1876-1877. He was the author of several books and the most successful, "MARSE HENRY" (1919) was serialized in the COURIER JOURNAL and the SATURDAY EVENING POST under the title "Looking Backward".
- Scope and Content
- The papers of Henry Watterson are preserved on microfilm and include letters, telegrams, editorials, speeches, newspaper clippings, family history, photographs and Watterson's autobiography. This collection records the newspaper editor's career and documents, through his editorials and correspondence, his stand against protective tariff, his objection to the Civil Service Act, endorsement of the Gold Democrats in 1896, his opinions on William Jennings Bryan, the rift and subsequent reconciliation with Woodrow Wilson, his views on American involvement in World War I, his opposition to woman's suffrage and other political/social/economic issues.
- Among Watterson's correspondents (Series #1) were William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Buel, David Starr Jordan and Wayne MacVeagh. Topics of his editorials and correspondence included politics, journalism and reconstruction. Several of his editorials (Series #2) were written on William Jennings Bryan, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson. Also present is Watterson's autobiography (Series #3) which ran as a serial in the COURIER JOURNAL in 1919. Watterson's favorite topics for speeches were Abraham Lincoln and journalism and are included in Series #5 - Speeches. Series #6 is comprised of newspaper clippings from around the country and Series (#7) is a collection of genealogical materials of Henry and Rebecca Watterson and includes various memorabilia.
- Microfilm. August 1984.
Special Collections Research Center - Closed
The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.
Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.
Contact SCRC with questions.
Table of Contents
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Special Collections Research Center - Closed
The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.
Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.
Contact SCRC with questions.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
