William Buchanan Price, 1865-1935 [RG4336.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG4336.AM: William Buchanan Price, 1865-1935

Papers: 1891-1935
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb.: Lawyer; state auditor
Size: 0.75 cu.ft.; 1 box and 1 oversize scrapbook

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Born in Lynchburg, Virginia on July 2, 1865, William Buchanan Price was educated in the public schools of Kentucky and Kansas. He graduated from the College of Law at the University of Iowa in 1890. He married Grace Corey in Lincoln, Nebraska, on June 23, 1891. Grace Corey was the aunt of noted anthropologist, Loren Eiseley.

Admitted to practice law in Nebraska in 1890, Price served as deputy of insurance on the Nebraska State Insurance Commission from 1896-1900. He served as private secretary for Lt. Governor Moore and in 1908 was a Democratic nominee for state auditor. He was also a Democratic nominee for Congress and in 1916 he defeated William Jennings Bryan for delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Following the death of J. Sterling Morton, Price was appointed Morton’s successor on the Committee of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis.

Price was a candidate for Nebraska State Attorney General in 1926. He was elected in 1932 as state auditor and was serving his second term when he died of a heart attack on August 19, 1935. During his time not in political office, Price practiced law with the Lincoln firm of Ames and Ames. He acted as legal counsel for several companies conducting business in Nebraska, specializing in matters concerning insurance and land transactions. Price served as an attorney for Woodmen of the World, and was a member of Woodmen of the World, Modern Woodmen of America, Woodmen Circle and the Masonic lodge. He was also a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist.

Note: For a more detailed biographical account, see Price’s obituary from the Lincoln Evening State Journal, August 20, 1935, pp. 1-2.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists of one box and one oversized scrapbook relating to William B. Price’s career as a lawyer and his time in political office. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence dating from 1891-1922. Most of the letters deal with Price’s legal work on behalf of various insurance companies. Additional letters deal with land speculation in Texas. A few personal letters are also included.

Correspondents include: Ned C. Abbott, 1901; F.J. Birss, 1901; William Jennings Bryan, 1901; E.J. Burkett, 1901’1902; W.H. Dalton, 1901; L.H. Davis, 1900; Lee J. Dunn, 1901; Charles H. Epperson, 1901; Theo. Griess, 1901; A.D. Hall, 1901; David Hamilton, 1901; Lee Herdman, 1901; W.F. Hayward, 1901; C.H. Imhoff, 1900’1901; William McLaughlin, 1901; David Patterson, 1901; F.H. Pierson, 1901; G.W. Poynton, 1901; W. Stull, 1901; A.M. Walling, 1901.

The collection also contains various items relating to Price’s political campaigns, the bulk of which include two scrapbooks and various newspaper clippings.

INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

1. Correspondence, 1891
2. Correspondence, 1900
3. Correspondence, 1901, Jan.-Mar.
4. Correspondence, 1901, Apr.-Dec.
5. Correspondence, 1902, Jan.-Apr.
6. Correspondence, 1922, n.d.
7. Political campaign materials
8. Certificates
9. Miscellaneous
10. Newspaper articles and clippings
11. Scrapbook, v. 1
    Scrapbook, v. 2 (see oversize)

Subject headings:

Lawyers — Nebraska
Politics — Nebraska
Price, William Buchanan, 1865-1935

DAB/HEK/jlc 04-29-1966
Revised TMM 03-15-2011
Encoded TMM 03-15-2011