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Edwin F. Jaeckle papers

 Collection
Identifier: A.J22

Biographical/Historical note

Edwin Frederick Jaeckle, (1894–1992) was a Republican politician and party chairman in New York State. He was born in Buffalo, New York. During his Chairmanship of the state Republican party in the 1930s, he advanced party discipline to a previously unachieved level, resulting in a dramatic change of the GOP statewide.

He was responsible for selecting a New York City District Attorney, Thomas E. Dewey, as the party's candidate for the New York governorship. Dewey won and went on to two unsuccessful runs for the White House in the 1940s. Jaeckle was the campaign chairman of the first run.

"Without Mr. Jaeckle's early support," the New York Times noted in 1992, "Dewey might never have served three terms as Governor of New York or made two runs for President." (NYT May 16, 1992) "I was not Dewey's man," Jaeckle recalled in an interview. "Nor was he mine. Events brought us together. We were a very strong combination. There was a mutual respect. I was like a trainer with a good horse." (NYT May 16, 1992)

Jaeckle began his political career at the end of World War I and was elected Erie County Republican Chairman in 1935, a post he held until 1948. At that time he resigned to help Dewey run his presidential campaign. In 1940, he was elected Republican state chairman.

He graduated in 1915 from the University of Buffalo Law School. He was a successful lawyer and was a partner of the Jaeckle, Fleischman, & Mugel law firm in Buffalo, NY.

Mr. Jaeckle died May 14, 1992 in Florida.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains correspondence and printed material on Jaeckle's political career locally in the Buffalo area; then statewide as NY State Chairman of the Republican Party and then on a national level; running Governor Dewey's campaign for the presidency.

Box 15 is comprised of photographs of Mr. Jaeckle at social functions with other political leaders including Rockefeller and Dewey. There are many newspaper clippings and speeches from the years 1935-1948 that help define the political scene at the time.

Box 17 houses interviews with Edwin Jaeckle (1981) by Professor Emeritus William E. Diez of the University of Rochester. It has also has notes and outlines Professor Diez kept.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1930-1980

Language of Materials

English

Extent

21 box(es)

Access

The Edwin F. Jaeckle Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Edwin F. Jaeckle, June 12, 1957.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Edwin F. Jaeckle Papers, A.J22, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Title
Edwin F. Jaeckle papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA