Frederick Shepherd [RG3527.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG3527.AM:  Frederick Shepherd, 1864-1953

Papers:  1898-1940

Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska:  Lawyer; judge

Size:  1.0 cu.ft.; 2 boxes

BACKGROUND NOTE

Frederick Shepherd, the son of Fredrick Shepherd and Elizabeth Bull, was born on January 4, 1864 in Galesburg, Illinois, and moved with his parents to Lincoln, Nebraska, at the age of eight.  He received his formal education from Lincoln High School and the University of Nebraska.  Immediately after college graduation he was employed by the C.B.&Q. railroad in the engineering department from 1886-1888.  After studying law in the office of Lamb, Ricketts and Wilson of Lincoln, Nebraska, he was admitted to the bar in 1890 and for a period of 25 years thereafter actively practiced law.  He was elevated to the judgeship of the third judicial court district in 1916 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1945.  Numerous times during his tenure at the district court level he was called upon to serve on the State Supreme Court.

Shepherd married Miss Harriet Curtis and they were the parents of one daughter, Helen (Mrs. Daniel Derieg) of Piedmont, California.  After Mrs. Shepherd’s death in 1897, he married Miss Edna Curtis, sister of Harriet Curtis, and they too were the parents of a daughter, Elizabeth (Mrs. Sheldon Tefft) of Chicago, Illinois.  During his life time, Mr. Shepherd was active in both political and community activities.  He gave his full support to William Jennings Bryan and actively campaigned for him in Lancaster County.  In addition, he was a member of the First Plymouth Congregational Church and was former president of both the Lancaster County and Nebraska Bar Association.

Frederick Shepherd died in Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 19, 1953.  He is buried in Wyuka Cemetery.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection relates to Shepherd’s legal career and to his political activities from 1898 to 1940.  The collection consists of three boxes of papers containing correspondence, speeches, manuscripts, newspaper clippings and miscellany.  The bulk of the material consists of speeches relating to United States foreign policy in the 1930’s, prohibition, tariffs, free silver, the League of Nations, World War I and II, government, and also includes eulogies and miscellaneous speeches.  One of the most dominant themes consistently found in those speeches concerning the 1930’s and 1940’s, is that of isolationism.  Additional materials in the collection consist of unpublished manuscripts (short stories, poems, etc.) and miscellaneous clippings and programs.

INVENTORY

Box 1

Folder

1. 1. Correspondence, 1901-1929

1. 1. Speeches relating to government:  Interpretation of Constitution, good citizenship, etc.

1. 1. Speeches relating to government:  Interpretation of Constitution, good citizenship, etc.

1. 1. Speeches relating to political topics:  Tariff, prohibition, free silver, etc.

1. 1. Speeches for national holidays:  Memorial Day and Fourth of July

1. 1. Speeches on sports:  Personal reminiscences, dedication of sports facilities

1. 1. Speeches relating to World War I and II

1. 1. Eulogies:  Funeral eulogies for Ira Hatfield, Will Owen Jones, Stephen L. Geisthardt and William Jennings Bryan

1. 1. Speeches to and about youth:  Commencement speeches, etc.

Box 2

Folder

1. 1. Miscellaneous speeches

1. 1. Miscellaneous speeches

1. 1. Miscellaneous speeches

1. 1. Manuscripts including several unpublished short stories and one poem (undated)

1. 1. Manuscripts, cont.

1. 1. Newspaper clippings relating to both of the World War periods, sports, politics, activities, etc.

1. 1. Miscellaneous pamphlets, programs, etc.

Subject headings:

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

Lawyers — Nebraska

Prohibition

Shepherd, Frederick, 1864-1953

Silver question

Tariff

United States — Foreign relations — 20^th century

World War, 1914-1918

World War, 1939-1945

JEP/cr                  06-10-1970

Revised TMM      05-30-2019