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University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
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e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

Posted to Internet: October 2002

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Biographical Note

Merritt C. Speidel was born in Port Jervis, New York, on May 19, 1879, the son of Martin and Hanna Speidel. He was educated in the public and private schools of New York State.

His newspaper career began at the age of thirteen with the local newspaper. During high school he published the Union School Journal. While in his teens, he joined the Tri-States Publishing Company, publishers of the Port Jervis Daily Union, the Tri-States and the New York Farmer. He became editor of the Daily Union while still in his teens. In 1910 Mr. Speidel purchased the Piqua (Ohio) Daily Call. In 1921 he moved to Iowa City, Iowa, and purchased the Iowa City Press Citizen. Mr. Speidel moved to Palo Alto in 1937, and he was active in that community. He served on the Press and Union League Club's general reception during the 1951 Japanese Peace Treaty Conference in San Francisco. He also served on the National Commission for Reorganization of the federal government under President Hoover. Mr. Speidel died March 2, 1960.

Throughout his professional life, Merritt C. Speidel was active in public service and had been appointed to public office by Democratic and Republican officials. In Ohio, he was offered the nomination for lieutenant governor, but turned it down.

Inventory of Letters

Abbaticchio, R.J., Jr., to MCS, December 20, 1951

Ackerman, Care W. to MCS April 5, 1946

Adler, E.P. to MSC, November 14, 1935

Adler, E.P. from MCS [nd] Attachment: Adler, E.P. to MSC, October 3, 1947 and March 31, 1956

Allread, James I. to MCS February 18, 1921

Babcock, G.M. to MCS, January 8, 1904

Baillie, Hugh to MCS January 26, 1943

Baillie, Hugh from MCS April 27, 1945

Baker, C.M. to MCS, August 10, 1942 and August 17, 1942. Attachment: C.M. Baker from MCS, August 14, 1942

Bartholomew, Frank H. to MCS, March 11, 1946. Attachment: Frank H. Bartholomew to MCS, March, 12, 1946

Bartholomew., Frank H. to MCS, July 24, 1946. Attachment: Frank H. Bartholomew from MCS, August 2, 1946

Bartow, Edward to MCS, January 21, 1950

Becker, Neal Dow to MCS, April 26, 1949 and June 2, 1941

Bickel, Karl A. to MCS June 29, 1914

Boettiger, John to MCS, April 25, 1950

Bricker, John W. to MCS, April 29, 1946. Attachment: John W. Bricker from MCS, May 10, 1946

Bricker, John W. to MCS, December 9, 1946

Brown, D. K. to MCS, February 17, 1953

Brown, Edmund G. to MCS, July 14, 1949. Attachment: Geraldine L. Dibb to Edmund G. Brown, July 19, 1949

Brown, Edmund G. to MCS June 21, 1950

Brown Edmund G. to MCS, July 7, 1953. Attachment: Geraldine L. Dibb to Edmund G. Brown, July 9, 1953; Edmund G. Brown to Geraldine L. Dibb, July 21, 1953

Brown, Edmund G. to MCS, January 16, 1956 and April 2, 1956

Brown, James W. to MCS, December 7, 1942. Attachment: James W. Brown from MCS, December 11, 1942

Brown, James W. to MCS, January 13, 1943 and November 27, 1944

Burke, Webb to Robert G. Alderman, April 21, 1959

Burton, Harold H. to J.K. Hunter, June 20, 1941

Carmichael, Cecil to MCS, June 16, 1941

Carville, E. P. to MCS, August 29, 1945. Attachment: E.P. Carville from MCS, August 17, 1945

Cavagnaron, Bob to MCS, June 9, 1941

Chess, T. Louis to MCS, November 21, 1947

Clark, Mark W. to MCS, June 11, 1951 and June 29, 1959

Coblentz, E.D. to MCS January 26, 1951. Attachment: Garrett J. Welch to MCS, January 29, 1951; E.D. Coblentz from MCS, February 5, 1951; E.D. Coblentz to MCS, February 12, 1951; Garrett J. Welch to MCS, February 15, 1951; E.D. Coblentz from MCS, February 19, 1951; Thomas H. Werdel from MCS, February 14, 1951; Thomas H. Werdel to MCS, February 23, 1951; E.D. Coblentz from MCS, April 23, 1951; Walter Kane to Robert M. Speidel, April 18, 1951; Robert M. Speidel to Walter Kane, April 17, 1951

Condliffe, J.B. to MCS, November 12, 1948. Attachment: J.B. Condliffe from MCS, November 17, 1948

Conner, G.F. to MCS, October 5, 1942

Cowles, Mike to MCS, March 9, 1946. Attachment: Gardner Cowles, Jr. from MCS, March 1, 1946

Craemer, Justus F. to MCS, December 18, 1944

Crary, Charles J. from MCS, October 17, 1945

Cuaf(?), Kent to MCS, May 15, 1925; June 16, 1941 and March 22, 1946

Davies, Lawrence D. to MCS, September 18, 1947

Davis, Harry L. to MCS, February 25, 1921

Davis, Joseph P. to Mr. and Mrs. MCS, June 11, 1948. Attachment: Joseph P. Davis from MCS, June 15, 1948

Dean, Graham M. to MCS, February 1, 1946

Ditz, George A. to MCS, May 29, 1941

Dodds, R.S. to MCS, August 22, 1916

Earnist, L.C. to MCS, February 26, 1921

Ehrlich, J.W. to MCS, October 23, 1956 and January 29, 1960

Ellis, Sylvester E. to MCS, November 22, 1921. Attachment: Rollin B. Beck to Sylvester E. Ellis, September 22, 1921

Engle, Clair to MCS, June 18, 1959

Eurich, Alvin C. to MCS, September 6, 1949

Farley, James A. to MCS, September 10, 1951, June 7, 1951 and February 19, 1958

Feick, William to MCS, May 27, 1941

Feick, William to MCS, August 11, 1949. Attachment: William Feick to MCS, August 13, 1949

Feick, William to MCS, April 29, 1953

Ferger, Roger H. to MCS, March 25, 1949

Fish, Hamilton to MCS, May 28, 1941

Fitzgerald, R.H. to MCS, August 23, 1954

Forrester, Donal F. to MCS, (n.d). Attachment: Father Donal F. Forrester from MCS, February 10, 1953

Foster, D.H. to MCS, June 13, 1914

Foster, H.G. to MCS, November 6, 1956 and October 24, 1957

Fowler, W.H.B. to MCS, December 27, 1948. Attachment: W.H.B. Fowler from MCS, December 30, 1948

Fowler, W.H.B. to MCS, January 3, 1949. Attachment: W.H.B. Fowler from MCS, January 9, 1949

Fox, Frederic to Robert G. Alderman, April 27, 1959

Galbreath, C.B. to MCS, March 7, 1921

Gilbersten, George E. to MCS, April 13, 1951

Green, Eddie to MCS, April 2, 1946. Attachment: Edwin B. Green from MCS, April 6, 1946

Gros, Robert R. to MCS, June 11, 1951

Gubser, Charles S. to MCS, February 28, 1955

Halley, W.E. to MCS, February 18, 1921

Hancher, Virgil M. to MCS, November 22, 1954

Hard, Charles E. to MCS, November 12, 1920

Harding, Warren G. to C.W. Park, June 6, 1921

Hassett, William D. to MCS, December 16, 1942. Attachment: William D. Hassett to MCS, January 20, 1943

Hoe, Robert to MCS, January 14, 1943

Hoe, Robert to MCS, December 18, 1945. Attachment: Robert Hoe from MCS, January 7, 1946

Hoe, Robert to MCS, July 30, 1948. Attachment: Robert Hoe from MCS, August 9, 1948; Robert Hoe to MCS, August 13, 1948; Robert Hoe from MCS, August 21, 1948; Robert Hoe to MCS, September 3, 1948

Hook, Henry B. to MCS, August 9, 1954. Attachment: Henry B. Hook from MCS, August 30, 1954; Henry B . Hook from MCS, September 28, 1954

Hoover, Herbert from MCS, August 9, 1948. Attachment: Herbert Hoover from MCS, August 17, 1948

Hoover, Herbert to MCS, August 29, 1949. Attachment Herbert Hoover from MCS, August 10, 1949

Hoover, Herbert to MCS, June 3, 1943. Attachment: Herbert Hoover from MCS, June 21, 1943

Hoover, Herbert to MCS, August 24, 1956

Hoover, Herbert to MCS, August 10, 1956

Hoover, Herbert to MCS, May 16, 1949 and May 14, 1949

Hoover, J. Edgar to MCS, June 1, 1956 and January 25, 1957

Hoover, J. Edgar to to Robert G. Alderman, April 14, 1959

Hoover, J. Edgar to MCS, July 9, 1959; July 23, 1959 and September 4, 1958

Hopkins, F.M. to MCS, February 8, 1921

Hughes, Andrew C. to MCS, April 25, 1946

Hunt, Lester C. to MCS, May 14, 1951

Huston, John to MCS, February 15, 1937

Huston, John to MCS, August 26, 1948. Attachment: John Huston from MCS, August 23, 1948

Hynes, William A. to MCS, April 6, 1956

Jessup, Walter A. to MCS, June 19, 1941

Jones, C.G. to MCS, April 7, 1928

Kilgore, Eugene S. to MCS, February 4, 1960

Knight, Goodwin to MCS, December 12, 1949

Knight, Goodwin to MCS, April 7, 1953. Attachment: Goodwin Knight from the secretary to MCS, April 10, 1953; Goodwin Knight from MCS, October 2, 1953

Knight, Goodwin to MCS October 8, 1953 and August 31, 1954

Knorpp, Wes W. to MCS May 27, 1941

Knowland, J.R. to MCS, April 19, 1956

Knowland, William F. to MCS, July 28, 1952

Kraschel, Nelson G. from MCS, July 17, 1937. Attachment: Robert E. O'Brian from MCS, July 17, 1937; Robert Burlingame to G.L.Dibb, July 12, 1937; Nelson G. Kraschel from MCS, July 17, 1937; Nelson G. Kraschel to MCS, July 20, 1937; Robert E. O'Brian from MCS, July 17, 1937

Kuchel, Thomas H. to MCS, December 13, 1952. Attachment: Thomas H. Kuchel from MCS, December 24, 1952

Kuchel, Thomas H. to MCS, November 13, 1955. Attachment: Thomas H. Kuchel from MCS, November 16, 1955

Kuchel, THomas H. to MCS, December 8, 1955

Lampe, M. Willard to MCS, January 19, 1935. Attachment: M. Willard Lampe to MCS, February 11, 1935; M. Willard Lampe to MCS,
October 16, 1943; M. Willard Lampe to MCS, October 13, 1944; M. Willard Lampe to MCS, October 9, 1945; M. Willard Lampe from
MCS, December 22, 1945; M. Willard Lampe to MCS, December 27, 1945

Lampe, M. Willard to MCS, January 2, 1951

Laushce, Frank J. to MCS, February 27, 1950; October 23, 1950; February 19, 1953 and May 7, 1956

Leake, Paul R. to MCS, April 27, 1944

Leake, Paul R. to MCS, April 24, 1946. Attachment: Paul R. Leake from MCS, May 7, 1946; Paul R. Leake to MCS, May 8, 1946

Letts, F. Dickinson to MCS, December 23, 1954 and October 10, 1956

Letts, F. Dickinson from MCS, November 8, 1956

Levin, Gerald S. to MCS, February 15, 1960

London, Dan E. to MCS, January 15, 1953

Loomis, Lee P. to MCS, April 11, 1956

Lurie, Louis R. to MCS, April 18, 1951 and January 29, 1960

McDonough, J.J. to MCS, November 14, 1947

McIntyre, O.O. to MCS, September 2, (no year). Attachment: O.O. McIntyre to MCS, February 20; O.O. McIntyre to MCS, February 26

Martin, Thos. E. to MCS, June 28, 1941 and November 16, 1954

Mathews, WIlliam R. to Geraldine L. Dibb, March 7, 1957

Meckstroth, J.A. to MCS, March 2, 1951

Newman, J.H. to MCS, December 1, 1921

Nicht, Frank J. to MCS, February 28, 1949

Odell, Wallace to MCS, June 11, 1943

Odell, Wallace from MCS, June 21, 1943

Opstad, Iver A. to MCS, August 26, 1952. Attachment: William J. Peterson from MCS, March 13, 1956; William Peterson to MCS,
February 20, 1956

Phillips, Chester A. to MCS, December 8, 1956. Attachment: Chester A. Phillips from Geraldine L. Dibb, April 15, 1957

Pittman, Vail to MCS, August 23, 1945. Attachment: Vail Pittman from MCS, August 17, 1945

Poletti, Charles to MCS, July 2, 1941

Rauford, L. Chas to MCS, October 22, 1926

Robinson, Elmer E. to MCS, January 22, 1957

Rogers, Walter to MCS, May 21, 1921

Roosevelt, Edith Kermit to MCS, February 12, 1952

Roosevelt, Franklin D. to MCS, September 8, 1944. Attachment: Franklin D. Roosevelt from MCS, July 19, 1944

Ross, Nellie Tayloe to MCS, April 1, 1948

Rutledge Wiley B. from MCS, January 13, 1943. Attachment: Wiley B. Rutledge from MCS, January 13, 1943

Sands, Alexander to MCS, February 20, 1920

Savage, George W. to MCS, March 16, 1948

Sawyer, Charles to MCS, September 22, 1939. Attachment: F.D.R. to Charles Sawyer, September 18, 1939

Sawyer, Charles to MCS, October 12, 1949 and April 8, 1955

Scott, H.E. to MCS, August 26, 1921. Attachment: H.E. Scott to MCS, August 31, 1921; F.M. Shay to MCS, May 23, 1956; John W. Shenk to MCS, December 18, 1942; John W. Shenk from MCS, December 24, 1942; John W. Shenk to MCS, December 20, 1944; J.E. Wallace Sterling to MCS, October 14, 1949; J.E. Wallace Sterling to MCS, August 4, 1955; Roger B. Stevens to MCS, June 8, 1943; Roger B. Stevens from MCS, June 21, 1943

Starzel, Frank J. to MCS, March 30, 1956

Stone, Robert J. to MCS, May 7, 1953. Attachment: Robert J. Stone from MCS, May 14, 1953

Stoughton, Geo. L. to MCS, August 23, 1916

Tipton, Forest F. to MCS, June 25, 1914 and January 31, 1916

Voigt, Edwin Edgar to MCS, November 8, 1943. Attachment: Edwin Edgar Voight from MCS, December 11, 1943

Voigt, Edwin Edgar to MCS, August 5, 1952

Walker, Frank F. to MCS, December 31, 1945. Attachment: Frank F. Walker from MCS, January 5, 1946

Ward, Stuart R. to MCS, January 28, 1960

Warren, Earl to MCS, December 28, 1950

Warren, Earl from MCS, October 2, 1953

Wedemeyer, Albert C. to MCS, May 19, 1950. Attachment: Albert C. Wedemeyer from MCS, May 24, 1950

Wedemeyer, Albert C. to MCS, June 29, 1959

Weller, C.H. to MCS, September 26, 1924

Whelan, William M. to MCS, September 7, 1954 and June 11, 1956

Whelan, William M. to MCS, January 2, 1957. Attachment: William M. Whelan from Geraldine L. Dibb, April 4, 1957; W.M.W. to MCS, January 21, 1957

Wilbur, R.L. to MCS, June 10, 1941 and June 25, 1941

Willis, Frank B. to MCS, June 6, 1914 and July 1, 1914

Willis, Frank B. to MCS, March 22, 1915. Attachment: Frank B. Willis to MCS, March 9, 1915; Frank B. Willis to MSC, April 6, 1915; Frank B. Willis to MCS, March 1, 1915; Frank B. Willis to MCS, February 22, 1915; Frank B. Willis to MCS, December 18, 1914; Frank B. Willis to MCS, November 6, 1914; Forest F. Tepton to MCS, January 26, 1915

Willis, Frank B. to MCS, May 1, 1915. Attachment: Geo. J. Hubbard to Frank B. Willis, April 29, 1915; Geo. J. Hubbard to MCS, April 29, 1915

Willlis, Frank B. to MCS, June 4, 1915; June 30, 1916; August 28, 1916; October 29, 1918, and February 22, 1922

Woods, Andrew H. to MCS, January 3, 1951. Attachment: Andrew H. Woods from MCS, January 10, 1951; Andrew H. Woods, Old Age

Woods, Andrew H. to MCS, February 12, 1954. Attachment: Andrew H. Woods to MCS, February 12, 1954; Andrew H. Woods from MCS, March 3, 1954; Andrew H. Woods MCS, March 12, 1954; Andrew H. Woods to MCS, March 12, 1954; Andrew H. Woods from MCS, March 18, 1954

Newspaper Articles

Palo Alto Times, November 26, 1956, resignation article

S.N.I. Home News, December 1956, resignation article

Scoop, December 10, 1956, resignation article. Attachment: reprint from the California Publisher, January 1957