Philip Ackley Stanton Papers

The collection consists of papers related to the political, business and personal life of Philip A. Stanton. The papers span the years from 1909 to 1929. The majority of the collection concerns Philip Stanton's political relationships, ambitions, and positions. Notable items include letters from William H. Taft, Samuel M. Shortridge, fellow legislators, and exchanges with Charles C. Chapman and Henry M. Wisler about citrus growers' aid to the suffering civilian populations of Western Europe during World War I.

One folder contains correspondence related to Stanton's business interests, almost exclusively in real estate and land development in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. It is organized chronologically. Notable items include a letter from Henry E. Huntington, several from his son Howard Huntington, and fifteen letters from Isaias W. Hellman, the prominent German-Jewish L.A. based businessman.

The one folder of newspaper clippings concerns Stanton's political career, specifically the 1910 Republican gubernatorial primary and 1916 Republican senatorial primary. An ornate leather-bound scrapbook, decorated with metal plates, contains eleven telegrams and letters from such notables as David Starr Jordan, Harrison Gray Otis, and Hiram Johnson, congratulating Stanton on his role as California Assembly Speaker in defeating anti-Japanese legislation in 1909.

Overall, the papers illuminate the tight social networks that linked leading businessmen, land development, and the powerful conservative wing of the California Republican Party. Major subjects include land development in Orange and L.A. Counties and state and national politics in Southern California, including the California Assembly, Republican National Committee, the 1920 Presidential election, the status of Japanese in California, and relief of European civilians affected by World War I. Major participants include Charles C. Chapman, Isaias W. Hellman, Henry E. Huntington, Howard Huntington, Senator Samuel M. Shortridge, President William Taft and Henry M. Wisler.