Rutherford B. Hayes Collections

(Description ID: 594045)

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums

Scott Russell Hayes (1871-1923)

HAYES-8

Introduction
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content
Inventory

Introduction
The bulk of the Scott R. Hayes Collection was donated to the Hayes Presidential Center by his widow in 1955.

Biographical Sketch
Scott Russell Hayes was the youngest surviving son of President and Mrs. Hayes. He was born February 8, 1871 in Columbus, Ohio, while his father was serving as the state’s governor. With childhood friends of the family he received instruction at the White House. Upon his parents’ return to Fremont he attended successively the Fremont schools, the Green Springs Academy of the Western Reserve University, and the Scott Manual Training School of Toledo before enrolling at Cornell University in the class of 1890.

He began his business career at the First National Bank of Fremont, but soon thereafter was employed at the Thompson-Houston Electric Company in Cincinnati, OH. In 1892, when the General Electric Company (formerly Thompson-Houston Electric Company) was formed, Mr. Hayes was placed in charge of its Cleveland office and remained in that position until the latter part of 1894. During 1895 and 1896, he was in the electrical supply business at Cleveland, Ohio, under the firm of Hayes & Arthur. In 1897, he was appointed agent for the Scott Spring Company, Cleveland, Ohio, and a year later, went to Chicago as a company representative. When the Railway Steel Springs Company was organized in 1902, he was transferred to the New York office as assistant sales agent, subsequently serving as general sales agent and vice president. He resigned from the latter position in March 1914 to become assistant to the president of the New York Air Brake Company and later became vice president of that company.

He was married on September 9, 1912 to Maude Wright Anderson of Los Angeles, California. They had no children. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes purchased a beautiful estate overlooking Croton Dam. It became one of the most beautiful and notable country places in Westchester County, New York. In memory of and in distinction from his childhood home at Spiegel Grove, Fremont, Ohio, he named his own estate Spiegel Farm. Scott and Maude Hayes visited Spiegel Grove for numerous celebrations. On October 4, 1920, Mr. & Mrs. Hayes escorted President and Mrs. Harding to Spiegel Grove.

In 1919, accompanied by his wife, Hayes began what was to be an extensive business trip through Central and South America, however, they were shipwrecked and forced to abandon the vessel off the coast of Peru. Just before the ship sank, the women passengers were placed in a metal tanker, with a single Peruvian in charge, followed by the male passengers in a second tanker. All their possessions were lost. In a subsequent storm, the metal tankers were picked up by a vessel carrying wild animals, and during the storm, the tigers, a boa constrictor and other animals broke loose, adding to the horrors of the supposed rescue ship. After repeated wireless calls, the passengers were again rescued and safely landed in Peru. Shortly after the belated return of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes to the United Sates, he suffered a physical breakdown from the horrors of the trip and never fully recovered. Scott Russell Hayes died May 6, 1923 from the effects of an apparent brain tumor. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Fremont, Ohio. Following his death, his widow spent several years traveling and living in Europe.

Scope and Content
The collection consists primarily of incoming correspondence from family members, business associates, and college friends regarding family and business matters and social events. Included are numerous letters written by Maude Hayes to Mrs. Webb C. (Mary Miller) Hayes, extending to 1930. The collection also contains photographs of Scott Hayes and Spiegel Farm, scrapbooks, and text books.

Inventory
Ac. 982
3/4 linear ft.

Papers, 1873-1930

Box 1
Folders:
1. Miscellaneous
2. Miscellaneous Books (5) - 2 autograph books; 2 books with condolences from Air Brake
    Company, New York; book with poetry clippings
3. School Papers
4. Correspondence - Hayes Family - Undated
5. Correspondence - Undated
6. Correspondence - 1873-1879
7. Correspondence - 1880-1883
8. Correspondence - 1884
9. Correspondence - 1885-1887
10. Correspondence - 1888
11. Correspondence - January-April 1889
12. Correspondence - May-December 1889

Box 2
Folders:
1. Correspondence - 1890
2. Correspondence - 1891
3. Correspondence - 1892-1893
4. Correspondence - 1894-1895
5. Correspondence - 1896-1903
6. Correspondence - 1904-1918
7. Correspondence - 1919-1924
8. Correspondence - 1925-1930
9. Books (3) - Aunt Louisa’s Favorite Toy Book; Conventional Signs United States
    Army Maps; and bank book from First National Bank of Fremont
10. Latin Text Book

Box 3
Scrapbook
Photographs of Scott R. Hayes and Spiegel Farm