William T. Doty papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 751

Scope and content

The William T. Doty papers (1842-1945, bulk 1864-1934) document William T. Doty’s career as a newspaper editor, journalist, agriculturist, historian, and politician, and labor leader. It contains manuscripts, notes and drafts, newspaper clippings, press releases, diaries, pamphlets, scrapbooks, and ephemera. The collection primarily consists of materials related to Doty’s career as a newspaperman, historian, and politician: materials include drafts of articles, manuscripts detailing the histories of journalism and printing in Orange County, New York, and correspondence from his term as New York Assemblyman, primarily related to the Foley bill and the Jackson-Murtagh labor bill. The collection also includes materials related to Doty’s interest in agriculture and farming, correspondence includes letters between Doty and the United States Department of Agriculture concerning the identification of apples in New York State and ephemera materials include Farmer’s Almanacs and New York State Agriculture Experimentation Station bulletins and publications. Scrapbooks and clippings in the collection cover topics such as agriculture and farming, banking laws, game laws, trust companies, crimes and scandals, philosophy and religion, politics, spiritualism, and local issues.

The William T. Doty papers includes a small amount of correspondence between members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman and Enginemen but materials relating to the founding and organization of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman and Enginemen cannot be found in this collection.

Dates

1842 - 1945
Majority of material found within 1863 - 1934

Creator

Doty, William T. (Person)

Biographical / Historical

William T. Doty (1847-1936) was an American newspaper editor, journalist, agriculturalist, historian, politician, and labor leader born in Sussex County, New Jersey. Over the course of his career, he worked in various capacities on newspapers in New York and New Jersey, including the Tri-State Union, the Middletown Mercury, the Banner of Liberty, the Whig Press, Sign of the Times, the Middletown Daily Mail, the Orange Country Press, the Goshen Independent, the Port Jervis Gazette, the New York Tribune, and the Times and World. In 1873, Doty assisted Joshua A. Leach in the organization of locomotive fireman of the Erie Railroad, helping found the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman and Enginemen by writing its constitution and by-laws. In the late 1890s, Doty worked alongside Horace W. Corey in the publication of the Middletown Sunday Forum in Middletown, New York. In 1912, Doty was elected to the New York Assembly, serving one term. Issues put before by the Assembly during Doty’s term included temperance and prohibition, women’s suffrage, and religious opposition to public and social activities on Sundays. In 1923, Doty helped found the Historical Society of Middletown and Wallkill Precinct, serving as president for ten years and honorary president until his death in 1936.

In his personal life, Doty was a member of several fraternal orders and social clubs, including the Port Jervis Masonic Lodge, Neversink Royal Arch Chapter, the Delaware Valley Commandery of Knights Templar, the Elks Lodge, and the Knights of Pythias.

Extent

5.2 cubic feet.

6 volumes.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

William T. Doty (1847-1936) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey. The William T. Doty papers (1842-1945, bulk 1864-1934) document William T. Doty’s career as a newspaper editor, journalist, agriculturist, historian, and politician. It contains manuscripts, notes and drafts, newspaper clippings, press releases, diaries, pamphlets, scrapbooks, and ephemera.