Skip to Search

Library Catalog | Databases | Ask a Librarian | Remote Logon | Search
Library > Special & Area Studies Collections > Library of Florida History > Finding Aids



A Guide to the Ernest R. Graham Papers

Finding aid created by Dept. Staff

University of Florida Smathers Libraries - Special and Area Studies Collections
August 2011


Descriptive Summary

Creator: Graham, Ernest R. 1886-1957
Title: Ernest R. Graham Papers
Dates: 1908-1957
Bulk dates: 1923-1948
Abstract: Correspondence, photographs and clippings from Ernest Graham's career as a truck and dairy farmer, Florida public servant, and political campaigner. There is strong emphasis on subjects such as horse racing, racketeering, drainage, flooding and water control in South Florida.
Extent: 15 Linear feet. 37 boxes.
Identification: MS 46
Language(s): English
Online Content Items from this collection have been digitized and are available online in the UF Digital Collections. For more information please see the note below.

Biographical/Historical Note

Ernest R. "Cap" Graham was a Florida politician, dairy farmer, and rancher. He was born in 1886 and moved to Dade County, Florida, in 1921 to raise sugar for the Pennsylvania Sugar Company. By 1929, Pennsylvania Sugar apparently had discontinued operations in Florida, and Graham was involved as operator of the Pennsuco Farming Company, either leasing land from or in partnership with the sugar company. In time Graham acquired the property and converted it to dairy farming. He was a member of the boards of the Dade Drainage District and the State Road Department (1929-1931).

In 1936 Graham was elected to the Florida State Senate, where he served two terms from 1937 to 1944. As a state senator, he sought to increase taxes on horse racing in order to increase funding for the aged. This led to his chairing of a Senate Committee to Investigate Racing in the State of Florida, which resulted in the publicizing of alleged corruption and mob connections within the Florida racing industry. Some increase in taxation did result. Graham went to Washington in 1942 as a lobbyist for Dade County and Miami, seeking more government contracts and other benefits for the area. He promoted the use of a barge canal across Florida through Lake Okeechobee to avoid the risk of war-time shipping through the Florida Straits. He entered the 1944 gubernatorial campaign against two major opponents, Millard Caldwell and Robert Lex Green. After finishing third in the Democratic primary, he supported Green.

After leaving the state legislature, Graham returned to farming in Dade county. In 1947-48, he returned to politics to campaign for a seat on the Dade County Commission, running largely on water control issues. He lost in the primary election.

Graham was married twice, to Florence Morris and Hilda Simmons Graham, and had four children: Philip Graham, former publisher of the Washington Post; William "Bill" Graham, president of the Graham Company and principal developer of Miami Lakes; Mary Graham Crow; and D. Robert "Bob" Graham, former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator. Ernest Graham died in 1957.

Scope and Content

The Ernest R. Graham papers contain correspondence and other written documents, photographs, and newspaper clippings, illustrating Graham's career in truck and dairy farming, as a public servant on the Dade Drainage Commission and the State Highway Board, as a member of the Florida Senate, and as a political campaigner for the Governor of Florida and Dade County Commission. There is strong emphasis on subjects such as horse racing and racketeering, the gubernatorial campaign, and on drainage and other forms of water control in Dade County and in the Everglades.

Arrangement

Ernest Graham's papers are divided into five groups, usually centered on a major phase of his career. There is slight chronological overlapping between groups, and all items may not relate to the overall theme. The small number of personal papers, for example, is divided among the groups, based on date. The groups include: (I) Correspondence and business records, ca. 1925-1936, (II) Legislative Correspondence and Records, 1936-1944, (III) Gubernatorial Campaign, 1943-1944, (IV) Later papers and records, 1912 [bulk 1945]-1957, and (V) Photographs and scrapbooks of clippings 1908 [bulk 1923]-1948.

Access or Use Restrictions

Access

The collection is open for research.

Related or Separated Material

The University of Florida also holds the state legislative papers and the Senatorial papers of Ernest Graham's son, Bob Graham.

Administrative Information

Alternate Form of Material

Items in the Ernest Graham collection have been digitized for America's Swamp: The Historical Everglades project, which is generously supported by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). In addition to the links that are provided in this guide to the collection, the digital reproductions can be browsed at the Ernest R. Graham page in the University of Florida Digital Collections (UFDC).

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Ernest R. Graham Papers, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Contents List

Correspondence and Records Circa 1925-1936

5 boxes.

The bulk of the correspondence relates to Pennsuco Farms, Graham's truck farm, and to operations of Graham's Dairy. It also includes Graham's files as a member of the State Road Department and the Dade Drainage District, including a consulting engineer's report on drainage and State Road Department financial records. Some personal papers are included.

Box
1 Bowers, James B. (defendant in forgery case). 1929-1930
1 Echlin, Allen (Crosswell, MI). 1931
1 Eddy, C. F. (C.F. and G.W. Eddy Co., Boston). 1931-1932
1 Graham, Ernest R. - Miscellaneous Correspondence. 1928-1929
1 Graham, Ernest R. - Miscellaneous Correspondence. 1931
1 Gutleben, Dan (Pennsylvania Sugar Co.). 1931
1 Hanscom, Jessie K(San Francisco). 1931
1 Hoodless, W. H. (Vice-President, Pennsylvania Sugar Co.) Pennsuco Farming Co. Correspondence,. 1929
1 Hoodless, W. H. 1931
1 Jones, H. H. (Secretary and Treasurer, Pennsylvania Sugar Co.) Pennsuco Correspondence,. 1929
1 Jones, H. H. 1931
1 Canned Goods. 1929
1 Canned Goods Information. 1931
1 Canning Information. 1929
1 Dairying (Dade County, Miami). 1931
1 Potato Brokers, Buyers. 1931
1 Potatoes and Beans. 1929
1 Taxes. 1931
2 Albert Miller and Co., (Chicago). 1929
2 Brown, Francis M., plaintiff vs. Pennsylvania Sugar Company and E. R. Graham, [bulk]. 1925, 1927-1928
2 Dade Drainage District Report Submitting a Plan for the Reclamation of the Lands of the District / Dayton Morgan Engineering Co. 1928
2 Dade Drainage District. 1929
2 Dade Drainage District. 1931
2 Florida Milk Control Board. Minutes of Special Meeting, Dec. 28, 1933, Miami. "Hearing involving Graham's Dairy.". 1933
2 Miami (City). 1929
2 Reuben Marks and Co., New York (Pennsuco Farming). 1929-1930
2 State of Florida (Various state agencies). 1929
2 State of Florida (Various state agencies). 1931
2 U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies. 1929
2 U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies. 1931
3 Florida State Road Department, Correspondence, Secretary of the Board, and Minutes, June-December. 1929
3 Florida State Road Department, Correspondence (W.A. Shands, Howard Sharp, W.J. Steed, and others). 1929
3 State Road Department, Correspondence, Highway engineers. 1929
3 State Road Department, Correspondence, Robert W. Bentley, Chairman. 1929
3 State Road Department, Financial Statements. 1929
3 State Road Department, Financial Statements, Minutes. 1931
3 State Road Department, Correspondence. 1931
4 General Correspondence "A". 1929
4 General Correspondence "B". 1929
4 General Correspondence "C". 1929
4 General Correspondence "D". 1929
4 General Correspondence "E". 1929
4 General Correspondence "F". 1929
4 General Correspondence "G". 1929
4 General Correspondence "H". 1929
5 General Correspondence "K". 1929
5 General Correspondence "L". 1929
5 General Correspondence "M". 1929
5 General Correspondence "N". 1929
5 General Correspondence "O". 1929
5 General Correspondence "P". 1929
5 General Correspondence "R". 1929
5 General Correspondence "S". 1929 Jul-Dec
5 General Correspondence "S". 1929 Jan-Jun
5 General Correspondence "T". 1929
5 General Correspondence "U". 1929
5 General Correspondence "V". 1929
5 General Correspondence "W". 1929
5 General Correspondence "Y". 1929
5 Correspondence "A". 1931
5 Correspondence "B". 1931-1935
5 Correspondence "D". 1931
5 Correspondence "E". 1931-1933
5 Correspondence "F". 1931
5 Correspondence "G". 1931
5 Correspondence "H". 1936
5 Correspondence "J". 1931
5 Correspondence "K". 1931
5 Correspondence "M". 1931
5 Correspondence "Mc". 1931
5 Correspondence "N". 1931
5 Correspondence "S". 1931
5 Correspondence "T". 1931
5 Correspondence "U-W". 1931

Legislative Correspondence and Records 1937-1944

17 boxes.

Includes correspondence, records of bills, information files on legislation, and racetrack investigation material. Primarily the records of Graham's legislative career, from his campaign announcement in 1936 to documents concerning a proposed special session in May, 1944, but excluding records of his run for governor. The majority of documents are correspondence, often accompanied by copies of bills and other records. There is a subarrangement of correspondence from 1936-1943 (boxes 6-15), and subject files corresponding to the legislative sessions of 1937, 1939, 1941, and 1943 (boxes 16-22). The major subject treated is horse racing (boxes 17-­19), including one box each of documents, correspondence, and clippings. Records in this part are not strictly related to legislation, and there are some personal and private business records.

Correspondence and Clippings

Box
6 Copy of press release, announcing 1936 candidacy for State Senate, and campaign material. 1936
6 Campaign clippings. 1936-1939
6 Clippings relating to old age funding. 1939
6 Clippings. 1940
6 Correspondence, Auchter, George D. 1938
6 Correspondence, Buford, Rivers. 1938
6 Correspondence, Codrington, C. C. (State Democratic Headquarters). 1936
6 Correspondence, Evans, Mershon, and Sawyer (attorneys). 1936-1938
6 Correspondence, Gillis, D. Stuart. 1936-1938
6 Graham Family Correspondence (Mary, Philip, etc.). 1936-1937
6 Correspondence, Mahoney, Daniel B. 1937
6 Correspondence, State Road Department. 1936-1937
7 General Correspondence "A". 1936-1938
7 General Correspondence "B". 1936-1937
7 General Correspondence "B". 1938
7 General Correspondence "C". 1936-1937
7 General Correspondence "C". 1938
7 General Correspondence "D". 1936-1938
7 General Correspondence "E". 1936-1938
7 General Correspondence "F". 1936-1938
7 General Correspondence "G". 1936-1938
7 General Correspondence "H". 1936-1937
7 General Correspondence "H". 1938
8 General Correspondence "I-K". 1936-1938
8 General Correspondence "L". 1936-1938
8 General Correspondence "M". 1936-1937
8 General Correspondence "M". 1938
8 General Correspondence "N". 1937-1938
8 General Correspondence "O". 1937-1938
8 General Correspondence "P". 1936-1938
8 General Correspondence "R". 1936-1938
8 General Correspondence "S". 1936
8 General Correspondence "S". 1937
8 General Correspondence "S". 1938
8 General Correspondence "T". 1936-1938
8 General Correspondence "U-V". 1936-1939
8 General Correspondence "W". 1936-1937
8 General Correspondence "W". 1938
8 General Correspondence "Y". 1936-1937
9 Correspondence - Barnes, Paul D. 1941, 1943
9 Correspondence - Bebinger, Ernest W. 1942
9 Correspondence - Beckham, Walter, (Judge, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court) Juvenile Court Bill. 1941
9 Correspondence - Beckham, Walter H., Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Miami. 1942
9 Correspondence - Beckham, Walter H., Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Miami. 1943
9 Correspondence - Carlson, Sidney (Florida Industrial Commission ). 1941
9 Correspondence - Evans, Mershon and Sawyer, attorneys. 1943
9 Correspondence - Grady, Tom. 1942
9 Correspondence - Graham, E. R., Family correspondence. 1943-1944
9 Correspondence - Harris Grady. 1943
9 Correspondence - Harrison, Byron. 1941
9 Correspondence - Herr, Ben. 1942
9 Correspondence - Holland, Spessard L., Governor. 1942
9 Correspondence - Johnson, Kennard (Largely relates to Miami-bade County Emergency Coordinating Board). 1942
9 Correspondence - Lummis, Newton (Dade County Tax Assessor). 1943
9 Correspondence - Mayo, Nathan (Commissioner of Agriculture). 1943
9 Correspondence - Milledge, Stanley, (judicial appointment). 1941
9 Correspondence - Milledge, Stanley. 1943
9 Correspondence - National War Labor Board. 1943
9 Correspondence - Newman, Bob (Florida Taxpayers Association). 1943
9 Correspondence - Overstreet, H. Earnest. 1941-1942
9 Correspondence - Powers, Tom (State Racing Commission). 1941
9 Correspondence - Webster, Wallace. 1943
9 Correspondence - Wood, Hayes (Dade County Tax Collector).
10 General Correspondence "A". 1941
10 General Correspondence "A". 1942
10 General Correspondence "A". 1943
10 General Correspondence "B". 1941
10 General Correspondence "B". 1942
10 General Correspondence "B". 1943
11 General Correspondence "C". 1941 March-April
11 General Correspondence "C". 1941 May-June
11 General Correspondence "C". 1942 February-April
11 General Correspondence "C". 1942 May-September
11 General Correspondence "C". 1943
11 General Correspondence "D". 1941
11 General Correspondence "D". 1942
11 General Correspondence "D". 1943
12 General Correspondence "E". 1941
12 General Correspondence "E". 1943
12 General Correspondence "F". 1941
12 General Correspondence "F". 1943
12 General Correspondence "G". 1941
12 General Correspondence "G". 1942 April-August
12 General Correspondence "G". 1942 January-March
12 General Correspondence "G". 1942 April-August
12 General Correspondence "G". 1943
12 General Correspondence "H". 1941
12 General Correspondence "H". 1942
12 General Correspondence "I". 1941
12 General Correspondence "H-I". 1943
13 General Correspondence "J". 1941
13 General Correspondence "J". 1943
13 General Correspondence "K". 1941
13 General Correspondence "K". 1942
13 General Correspondence "K". 1943
13 General Correspondence "L". 1941
13 General Correspondence "L". 1942
13 General Correspondence "L". 1943
13 General Correspondence "M". 1941 April
13 General Correspondence "M". 1941 May-June
13 General Correspondence "M". 1942
13 General Correspondence "M". 1943
14 General Correspondence "N". 1941-1943
14 General Correspondence "O". 1941-1942
14 General Correspondence "O". 1943
14 General Correspondence "P". 1941
14 General Correspondence "P". 1942
14 General Correspondence "P". 1943
14 General Correspondence "R". 1941
14 General Correspondence "R". 1942
14 General Correspondence "R". 1943
15 General Correspondence "S". 1941 April
15 General Correspondence "S". 1942 May-June
15 General Correspondence "S". 1943
15 General Correspondence "T". 1941
15 General Correspondence "T". 1943
15 General Correspondence "U-V". 1943
15 General Correspondence "U". 1941 May
15 General Correspondence "V". 1940-1941
15 General Correspondence "W". 1941 March-April
15 General Correspondence "W". 1941 May
15 General Correspondence "W". 1941 June
15 General Correspondence "W". 1943
15 General Correspondence "Y-Z". 1941

Legislative Matters, 1937-1939

Box
16 Affidavits Regarding Miami Beach Gambling. 1937
16 Gasoline Tax Allocation. 1937
16 Hialeah - Clippings. 1937
16 Hialeah - Testimony of W.L. Schuyler, Apri123, 1937, and Tom Williams, March 25, before Dade County Solicitor Robert Taylor. 1937
16 Hialeah Charter - Correspondence. 1937
16 Hialeah Charter - Documents. 1937
16 Milk Control Law. 1937
16 Plumbing Industry Act. 1937-1939
16 State Employees Salaries (Appropriations Committee). 1939
16 Unemployment Compensation Law. 1937-1939
16 Unemployment Compensation Law. 1938-1941

Racing Committee Documents, Correspondence, and Clippings

Box
17 Appointment of Joseph Stein to Racing Commission - Correspondence, notes, May, 1939. Cf. also Correspondence, 1939. 1939
17 Bills Relating to Racing and Gambling. 1939
17 Committee to Investigate Racing in the State of Florida. Committee Report and other documentation, i.e., records of testimony, outlines of proceedings, etc.
17 Exhibits Accompanying Racing Hearings. 1939
17 Florida Sate Racing Commissioners and State Employees at Race Tracks (lists). 1936-1939
17 Memorandum of Conversation with Mr. John Hurst by Senator Graham and John Stembler. 1939
17 Miscellaneous Committee Documents re: racing, gambling, etc. 1937-1939
17 Racing data. 1937-1943
17 Resolution by the Mayor and City Council of Hialeah re: Senator Graham. 1939
17 Subpoenas issued by the Committee to Investigate Racing in the State of Florida. 1939
17 Track Payrolls. 1938-1939
17 Transcript of Testimony before the Committee to Investigate Racing in the State of Florida. 1939
18 Transcript of Testimony before the Committee to Investigate Racing in the State of Florida. 1939
18 Correspondence. 1937-1938
18 Correspondence. 1939
18 Correspondence. 1939
18 Correspondence. 1939
18 Correspondence. 1940
18 Correspondence. 1941
19 Clippings. 1927-1931
19 Clippings (press outside Miami). 1939
19 Clippings Miami press). 1939
19 Clippings. 1939
19 Clippings. 1940
19 State Racing Commission Audits. 1934-1936
19 State Racing Commission Audits. 1938-1939

Legislative matters, 1941 Session (1939-1941)

Box
20 Aid to Dependent Children. 1941
20 Architects' Bill. 1941
20 Barbers Bill. 1941
20 Beautician Laws. 1941
20 Beer and Wines. 1941
20 Dental Bill. 1941
20 Drainage Bill. 1941
20 Fishing Legislation. 1941
20 Goss Receipt Tax. 1941
20 Hotel Bills. 1941
20 Income Tax. 1941
20 Insurance Bill. 1941
20 Jackson Memorial Hospital. 1941
20 Laundry and Dry Cleaning Bill. 1941
20 Legislative Council of Various States. 1939-1941
20 Married Women's Bill. 1941
20 Miami Beach Fronton. 1941
20 Miami Beach Legislation. 1941
20 Milk Board. 1941
20 Old Age Assistance. 1940-1941
20 Open Shop Bill. 1941
20 Proposed Legislation. 1941
20 Soil Survey Bill. 1941
20 State (District) Welfare Board, Primarily "Old Age Assistance". 1940-1941
20 State (District) Welfare Board, Primarily "Old Age Assistance". 1941
20 State (District) Welfare Board, Primarily "Old Age Assistance". 1941
20 Urban Redevelopment Corporations. 1941
20 W.P.A. (Works Project Administration). 1941

Legislative matters, 1943 Session (1943-1944)

Box
21 Adoption Act.
21 Appropriations Act.
21 Bottled Gas Bill.
21 Change of Time Bill.
21 Cigarette Tax.
21 Circuit Judge Appointment.
21 Consolidation of Tax Collector and Tax Assessor positions.
21 County Health Unit Bill.
21 Dry Cleaning and Laundry Board Bill.
21 Everglades Fire Control District.
21 Everglades National Park.
21 Florida Highway Patrol.
21 Hialeah Head Tax and local bills.
21 Hollywood Reclamation District.
21 Hospital Bill.
21 Hotel Bill.
21 Insurance Bill.
21 Intangible Tax Bill.
21 Judge's Salary Raise Bill.
21 Labor Bill (Anti-closed shop).
21 Labor Union Bill.
21 Law Practice Bill.
21 Lime Growers Bill.
22 Married Women's Bill.
22 Merit Rating System.
22 Miami-local bills.
22 Miami Beach-insurance regulation and other local bills.
22 Miami Port Authority Bill.
22 Midget Auto Racing Bill.
22 Pharmacy Bill.
22 Redistricting Proposal.
22 Social Welfare.
22 State Board of Health.
22 Superintendent of Public Instruction.
22 Tax Collector.
22 Uniform System of Government.
22 University Bill.
22 Utilities Bill.
22 Venetian Causeway Tolls 17 Welfare.
22 Worthless Checks Bill.
22 Schools - Special Legislative Session, 1944.

Gubernatorial Campaign 1943-1944

8 boxes.

The campaign papers consist primarily of correspondence (7 boxes), and of one box of media material, primarily newspaper and radio, advertising, speeches, and platform drafts. The correspondence contains individual letters with supporters and voters, and examples of direct mailing to groups of constituents. Files on his opponents are included in the correspondence, which is primarily about the opponents rather than with them. This part of the papers extensively documents Graham's use of direct mail, print and radio advertising in the campaign.

County Files

Box
23 Alachua County.
23 Baker County.
23 Bay County.
23 Bradford County.
23 Brevard County.
23 Broward County.
23 Calhoun County.
23 Charlotte County.
23 Citrus County.
23 Clay County.
23 Collier County.
23 Columbia County.
23 Dade County (1).
23 Dade County (2).
23 De Soto County.
23 Dixie County.
23 Duval County (1).
23 Duval County (2).
24 Escambia County.
24 Flagler County.
24 Franklin County.
24 Gadsden County.
24 Gilchrist County.
24 Glades County.
24 Gulf County.
24 Hamilton County.
24 Hardee County.
24 Hendry County.
24 Hernando County.
24 Highlands County.
24 Hillsborough County (1).
24 Hillsborough County (2).
24 Holmes County.
24 Indian River County.
24 Jackson County.
24 Jefferson County.
24 Lafayette County.
25 Lake County.
25 Lee County.
25 Leon County.
25 Levy County.
25 Liberty County.
25 Madison County.
25 Manatee County.
25 Marion County.
25 Martin County.
25 Monroe County.
25 Nassau County.
25 Okaloosa County.
25 Okeechobee County.
25 Orange County (1).
25 Orange County (2).
25 Osceola County.
26 Palm Beach County.
26 Pasco County.
26 Pinellas County.
26 Polk County.
26 Putnam County.
26 St. Johns County.
26 St. Lucie County.
26 Santa Rosa County.
26 Sarasota County.
26 Seminole County.
26 Suwannee County.
26 Sumter County.
26 Taylor County.
26 Union County.
26 Volusia County.
26 Wakulla County.
26 Walton County (1).
26 Walton County (2).
26 Washington County.

Campaign Correspondence

Box
27 Campaign Correspondence "A-B".
27 Campaign Correspondence "C".
27 Campaign Correspondence "D-E".
27 Campaign Correspondence "F".
27 Campaign Correspondence "G".
27 Campaign Correspondence "H".
27 Campaign Correspondence "J".
27 Campaign Correspondence "K".
27 Campaign Correspondence "L".
27 Campaign Correspondence "M".
27 Campaign Correspondence "Mc".
27 Campaign Correspondence "N".
27 Campaign Correspondence "O".
27 Campaign Correspondence "P-Q".
27 Campaign Correspondence "R".
27 Campaign Correspondence "S".
27 Campaign Correspondence "T".
27 Campaign Correspondence "U-V".
27 Campaign Correspondence "W".
28 Baxter, Maxwell.
28 Brooker, William C.
28 Caldwell, Millard F.
28 Callahan, Frances, et al, re Old Age Assistance.
28 Cliett, William.
28 Collins, Leroy.
28 Continuing Education Council of Florida.
28 Copeland, D. Graham.
28 Florida Chambers of Commerce.
28 Green, Robert "Lex".
28 Harris, Phil.
28 Hayes, Neil.
28 Herr, Ben.
28 Holland, Spessard L.
28 Lay, George T.
28 Leaird, Mrs. George.
28 Lewis, Amos and Hayes.
28 Marchant, Jep.
28 Newman, Bob (Florida Taxpayers Association).
28 Shands, William A.
28 Sheldon, Raymond.
28 Smith, Tom Q.
28 Toole, Jr., Warren.
28 Upchurch, Frank (primarily campaign material).
29 Waldo, Seldon F.
29 Welch, Lew.
29 Warren, Miles.
29 Warren, Marvel O.
29 Watkins, Roger.
29 Wilson, A. L.
29 Walker, Walter G.
29 Williams. Boyce A.
29 Miscellaneous out of state correspondence.
29 Samples of form letters sent to various groups.
29 Lists of "Key Men" and other Groups targeted by letters.
29 Sample letters to Campaign contributors and lists.
29 Campaign "Thank You letters".

Campaign Advertising and Other Campaign Material

Box
30 Samples of print ads.
30 Correspondence and information relating to print advertising.
30 Newspapers advertising rates and schedules.
30 "Radio - Live Talk," transcripts of talks given by Graham supporters throughout Florida.
30 "Platters," Transcripts of short radio talks by Graham on planks of his platform.
30 "Radio -100 Word Spots".
30 Speeches, primarily radio, by Graham and others.
30 Radio station correspondence and schedules.
30 Miscellaneous Campaign Documents - Drafts of statements by and about Graham, platform outline, statement by unidentified person about prisoners and labor shortage, etc.
30 Platform - Typed draft statements and published pamphlets.
30 Jacksonville visit - Notes about people to meet and lists.
30 Sample Ballot, Dade County Primary. 1944
30 Ernest Graham Speaking Itinerary. 1944

Later Career: County Commission Race, Everglades Drainage, and Graham's Dairy

3 boxes.

Chronologically these papers include records from the end of Graham's legislative career and gubernatorial campaign until his death. They include records, primarily clippings, but also speeches and correspondence from his Dade County Commission race in 1948, correspondence and other records relating to the management of the dairy and a group of documents relating to drainage and water control. The dairy papers include documents assessing its value, probably compiled to settle Graham's estate following his death in 1957. The drainage and other water files transcend the time period and span the whole period of Graham's life in Florida. Water control is a central theme of Graham's papers. Flooding was a major concern of the Pennsuco sugar operation, perhaps leading to its demise. It occurs as a topic in the legislative records, and was a major concern to Graham, as a property owner, after he left the legislature. His Dade County Commission race was based largely on water control issue, and Graham was involved in litigation against the Everglades Drainage District.

County Commission Race, 1948

Box
31 Newspaper clippings, (Dade County political race). 1947-1948
31 Newspaper clippings. 1948
31 Newspaper clippings. 1948
31 Newspaper clippings (Dade County political race). 1948
31 Newspaper clippings, Dade County Rackets. 1948
31 Radio Speeches. 1948
31 Press releases and statements, comments by supporters, etc.
31 Supporters' correspondence, records, etc.
31 Tabulation of Votes by Precincts. 1948

Everglades Drainage and Other Water Issues, 1912-1948 [bulk: 1923-1948]

Box
32 Report on the Drainage of the Everglades of Florida [by] Daniel W. Mead, et al., Nov. 12, 1912. Typed ms. (copy) with annotations. 1912
32 Telegrams and correspondence between Graham and F. C Elliott, Chief Drainage Engineer of Florida. 1922-1923
32 Map of Everglades Drainage District of Florida. 1924
32 Correspondence. 1924-1926
32 Bill Relating to Everglades Drainage District. 1925?
32 Digest and Analysis of Senate Bills relating to the Everglades Drainage District. 1927?
32 Everglades of Florida. Photos to Accompany Report of December 19, 1927 by Dayton Morgan Engineering Company. 56+29 photographs. 1927
32 Everglades of Florida. Photos to Accompany Report of December 19, 1927 by Dayton Morgan Engineering Company. 56+29 photographs. 1927
32 Total Collections by Everglades Drainage District. 1936-1937
32 Everglades Drainage, 1943 legislative session. 1943
32 Exchange with Miami Herald over water problems. 1945
32 Remarks by Graham on "water situation," June 10, 1946. 1946
32 Miami Canal Lock Hearing, July 11, 1946 -Transcript of testimony. "The Dade Drainage District and Related Water Problems," by Carl A. Bock, May 25, 1946, and Remarks by Graham. 1946
32 Everglades Drainage and Drainage District. Miscellaneous correspondence, documents, statements by Graham, proposed legislation, etc. including attempt to abolish district and litigation against it, 1946 - 1947.
32 Everglades Drainage and Drainage District - Miscellaneous correspondence and documents continued. 1948-1949
32 Hydrologic documents, Dade County. 1948-1954
32 Copeland, D. Graham, mostly regarding water. 1944-1947

Graham's Dairy

Box
33 Correspondence (Primarily relates to Graham Dairy, but includes some personal correspondence). 1944-1948
33 Correspondence, primarily dairy. 1948-1950
33 Correspondence (dairy personnel). 1944-1950
33 Correspondence - Cody Publications, March 1945-Oct. 1946. Proposed Remarks at Arcadia, Oct. 25 [1945?] on beef production in Florida, and Speeches. -Short talks on Florida tourism, politics. 1946-1950
33 Correspondence with D. D. Laxson re: archaeological excavation of dairy property. 1954
33 Graham Dairy, 1940-[bulk 1957] 1957 - Primarily documents regarding value of farm in 1957. 1957
33 Choate, Emmett C. TLS (copy) to Philip Graham, Feb. 28, 1946, re: veteran housing. 1946
33 Cross Florida Waterway - Documents and photographs re Stuart - Fort Myers Canal-report and photographs. 1938-1940
33 Personal Correspondence. 1944
33 Shands, William A., 1946-48. Correspondence partially regarding Shands' race for governor. 1946-1948

Photographs and Scrapbooks (Clippings)

4 boxes.

Two boxes of photographs and eight albums and scrapbooks. The loose photographs contain pictures of Graham and a few relating to his investigation of bookie operations, and one image from his home in Michigan. The great majority, however, relate to flooding in Dade County. Like the water documents, they are from two periods: the 1920s, and the late 1940s. There are extensive photographs of high water in various places, following the hurricanes in 1947 and 1948. The photograph album contains pictorial records of growing sugar cane in 1923. The scrapbooks contain clippings primarily of Graham's experience as Washington lobbyist in 1942, the Cross-Florida Barge Canal (Stuart-Ft. Myers), and Florida political issues, prior to his entering the gubernatorial race in 1943.

Box
34 "1st train in 10 days," Croswell, Michigan. 1908 January 28
34 Nine 4 x 5" photos of Graham and other men in various business establishments. Photos by Hicks: Mays store, New York restaurant, Oriental drug store, Lopez Grocery Store, Appels store, Julio Lopez store, Orto's Grocery Store, Watkins Law office, and photos of Graham, Watkins, and Evaristo Rodriguez. Watkins is in several of the photos.
34 Nine photographs, taken at various times and places, including: Young man, probably Graham, in U.S. Army uniform, Corps of Engineers insignia. Formal photograph of Graham in middle age, by Sarli; Two photos in sugar cane field; Graham and another man, probably at farm house; Horses on ranch; Graham and Watkins in law office; Graham giving speech.
34 Photographs of rooms with rows of telephones. The location of some is identified. 1936
34 Photographs, marked LR6-LR48, dated July 2-8, 1921, probably showing levee construction. 1921
34 Three photographs of tractors pulling a steam shovel. 1923 April 20
34 Seven photos, probably on Tamiami Trail. 1924 October 10
34 Fifteen photos of flooding. 1924 October 31
34 Photographs (17) mounted on cloth showing high water at various points along the Tamiami Trail. 1924 November 7
34 Nine photos mounted on cloth showing high water at various points along the Tamiami Trail. 1924?
34 Ten photos, probably on Tamiami Trail. 1924 November 21
34 Eight photos, canals and water. 1924?
34 Four photos of dredge and levee construction. 1924 December 11
34 Eight photos of water on Brown Farm. 1925 February 1
34 Fifteen photos of Brown's Grove. Circa October 1926
34 Four miles west of city limits, Tamiami Trail (3 copies); SW 108 Avenue from Tamiami Trail; and flooded home at Miami Springs, north or railway. 1947 October 1
34 Seven scenes of flooding at M. J. Lawrence home, etc. 1947 October 17
34 Four flooding scenes: 4 miles west of Miami on Tamiami Trail and Lajune (or Le Jeune) Road and air field. 1947 October 18
34 Twenty photos of Snake Creek Dam, 36th Street Dam, Biscayne Canal Dam, Little River Canal, Tamiami Trail County Dam, and Snapper Creek Dam. 1947 October 25
34 Photos (23) of County Dam, Biscayne Canal, Dade Broward Levee, dike near Pennsuco, and Miami Canal. 1947 October 28
34 Twelve photographs of Krome Avenue and Tamiami Trail; Bill Mac's Oasis, Tamiami Trail; Ouster's Dairy, Golden Glade Road, Miami Springs; Hales Dairy, Biscayne Canal and Red Road; and Dade-Broward Levee. 1947 October 29
34 Seventeen flood photos. 1947 November 1
34 Twenty-one photographs (some duplicates) of water scenes in Dade County. 1948 October 1
34 Photo of canal. 1950?
34 Sixteen unidentified photos, possibly at Graham's Dairy. Circa 1950
34 Three unidentified photos, probably Graham's Dairy. Circa 1950
34 Six aerial photos [Dade County]. Not dated
34 Nine aerial photographs. Not dated
34 Aerial photographs [Dade County] One identified as of property section, 14-52-40.
34 Seven photos of machinery and fields (B22).
35 Aerial photographs of various sites. Included are scenes of farmland, a farm, probably Ernest Graham's, an island probably between intercoastal waterway and ocean, and Miami Beach. Several are signed "Robert C. Ernest Graham" on verso.

Box Volume
36 1 Album: mounted photographs, primarily of sugar cane growing and dredging operations. Marked "Pennsylvania Sugar Co., Miama [sic], Fl." [Photos have been removed from album, digitized and stored in separate folders.] 1921-1923
36 1 Mounted photographs, primarily of sugar cane growing and dredging operations. Eight leaves removed from photograph album (Volume #l). [Photos have been removed from pages, digitized and stored in separate folders.] 1923
37 2 Scrapbook, March - October, 1941. Legislative news clippings. 1941
37 3 Scrapbook, January, Jan.-April, 1942. Graham's Lobbying in Washington, and Cross-Florida Canal (Stuart-Ft. Myers). 1942
37 4 Scrapbook, March-April 1942. Graham's Lobbying in Washington, and Cross Florida Canal (Stuart-Ft. Myers). 1942
37 5 Scrapbook, May-July, 1942. Graham's Lobbying in Washington and Cross Florida Canal (Stuart-Ft. Myers). 1942
37 6 Scrapbook, March-May, 1943. Primarily Florida political clippings. 1943
37 7 Scrapbook, March-May 1943. Legislative clippings. 1943
37 8 Scrapbook, April 1944. Campaign for governor. 1944

Volume
9 Scrapbook, Cross Florida Barge Canal. 1941

Selected Subjects and Access Terms

Canals -- Florida
Dairying -- Florida
Dog racing -- Florida
Drainage -- Florida -- Everglades
Everglades (Fla.)
Everglades Drainage District (Fla.)
Flood control -- Florida -- Everglades
Florida -- Legislature
Florida -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950
Florida -- State Road Dept
Horse racing -- Florida
Miami (Fla.) -- Politics and government
Miami Dade County (Fla.) -- History
Miami Dade County (Fla.) -- Politics and government
Roads -- Florida
Sugar growing -- Florida -- Everglades
Truck farming -- Florida -- Everglades


For further information, please contact: Special Collections Access Services.

University of Florida Home Page