Stephen J. Doyle Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 998

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Stephen J. Doyle Papers have been organized into two series: Correspondence and Subject Files. The Correspondence Series, which is mainly political and arranged chronologically, is both incoming and outgoing. There is an 1890 letter written by Mr. Doyle to his mother while he was in college. There are letters to W.D. Jamieson of the Democratic Nation Committee and to H.H. Perry, also a number of letters from G.A. Fraser, Aubrey Lawrence, Thomas Hull, Fred Irish, J.F.T. O’Connor, E.H. Mattingly and the Tinley for Vice-President Headquarters, (1932). There’s a letter from Mr. Doyle to the Chicago Tribune replying to an editorial, and several to and from C.C. Webber and James A. Farley. Also included are letters from Louis Howe, Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Clyde Duffy, L.E. Birdzell, a letter of thanks from the Roosevelt Library and a letter bequeathing his property to his daughters. There are letters of condolence to his family from Secretary of State James Gronna, Gerald Movius and W.W. Howes (1940). The Subject Files Series contain a certificate of election and a memorial resolution from the North Dakota House of Representatives, also a Doyle Motor Company Certificate. There is the Constitution and by-laws of the Minutemen of the Democratic National Committee (1932). There are some Doyle family clippings and an interesting account of the origins of the Doyle family. Also included are a group of clippings and other material dealing with politics (1911-1939), as well as a scrapbook of political clippings (1910-1920) including his 1918 race against the Nonpartisan League and the 1914 Democratic Convention. There is also a 1933 report on the suit against Fargo concerning pollution of the Red River, and a speech to Catholics on Thanksgiving Day.

Dates

1890-1940.

Creator

Doyle, S. J. (Stephen J.), 1871-1940. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute does not hold the copyrights.

Biography

Stephen J. (S.J.) Doyle was born March 12, 1871, in New Marlboro, Massachusetts, to Irish immigrants, Kiernan and Margaret Doyle. He attended public school and then went to Eastman’s National Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating in 1890. He arrived in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1892, later going to Fargo where he worked for the International Harvester Company. In 1899 he moved to Carrington, North Dakota, where he founded a farm machinery and livestock business. In 1896 he had become involved in the real estate business, handling farm lands and later was president of the N.D. Land Townsite Company which handled townsites along the Northern Pacific Railroad Line from 1900 to 1922. In 1916, with his brother W.J. Doyle, he organized the Doyle (later, Interstate) Motor Company in Fargo, and in1928 founded the Doyle Finance Company which handled auto sales contracts. In 1895 at Grand Forks, Mr. Doyle married Kathryn J. Leonard of Sherbrooke, Quebec. They had four children, Catherine and Elizabeth, and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Doyle died in 1925. Mr. Doyle died August 1, 1940 and is buried in the Carrington Cemetery. Mr. Doyle served in 1909 and 1911 in the North Dakota House of Representatives, and helped frame the bill establishing a non-partisan judiciary. He was U. S. Marshal from 1914 to 1922 and 1934 to 1940. In 1918 he was the candidate for governor, but lost. He was a member of the Rotarians and Elks, belonged to the Fargo Country Club and was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus. He belonged to the Catholic Church and was a Democratic Committee-man.