One to 1½ pages each, in ink, 5 on letterhead of the State of Ohio, Executive Department, Office of the Governor, 1 on letterhead of M.A. Hanna & Co., coal & iron merchants. 5 are 27.5x20 cm. (11x8”); one is 21.4x14.3 cm. (8¾x5½”).

Revealing archive showing the financial misfortunes of the then Governor of Ohio and future President of the United States, William McKinley. McKinley writes to his sometime lawyer and longtime associate, Judge William R. Day, thanking him for his ongoing assistance and support, and giving details of his difficulties and attempts to alleviate them. On Feb. 25th, 1893: “…I want first of all to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sympathy and services in this crisis of my life. Your presence and counsel at Cleveland gave me great comfort. Mrs. McKinley shares with me fully in this sentiment, and both of us are full of gratitude. I have at the City Natl. Bank Canton four notes of 500$ each payable to Mark Campbell or his lumber co. – the first one is due the first of March. It would seem to me that Mr. Campbell should… carry the notes until such time as they can be repaid. Will you be kind enough to see to this…” (this letter is uniformly smeared, but legible). * March 12, 1893, regarding interest on a note of McKinley held by a Miss Robins in Cleveland, “Mr. Herrick who has seen the note can tell you whether Miss Robins’ note bears such endorsement, I am sure I do not remember…” (this letter with portion darkened.) * Aug. 7, 1893: “As you know there are $2,000 of my paper at Isaac Harder Sons, which I gave to Campbell and Sons in full on my contact with them for the erection of the frame store room on South Market Street. Messrs. Campbell and Sons have gone into assignment. I have told them that I would pay them some money, and I have it to pay on the notes…” * Dec. 2, 1893: "We have talked matters over & Herrick will write you. You can sell the stock in Banks at any time. I want to get out of debt..." * Jan. 10, 1894: “…Now that the rush is over, I answer I can let you have 1500$ & two thousands on a pinch. I found that my mortgages were for small amts and therefore not available for use…” * Feb. 12, 1894: “I have your favor of the 10th with statement and check, for which please accept my thanks. I can not find language to convey to you my grateful appreciation of the work you have don the the clearing of my assignment, and in all the steps preceding it. The unfortunate affair was a great trial to me, and that I was able to bear it so philosophically was because of the warm friendship of yourself and others…”