ca. 1860-1961; bulk: 1953-1960
Guide to the Collection
Abstract
This collection consists of photographs documenting the life and career of Christian Archibald Herter, the 59th governor of Massachusetts, who served from 1953-1957.
Biographical Sketch
Christian Archibald Herter was born in Paris in March of 1895 to expatriate artists Albert and Adele McGinnis Herter. He attended the Browning School in New York City and graduated from Harvard with the Class of 1915. In 1917, he married Mary Caroline Pratt, with whom he had four children.
A Republican, Herter was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1930 and later served five terms in the United States House of Representatives. In 1953, he was elected governor of Massachusetts; he did not seek a third term in 1956. The following year, he was appointed Under Secretary of State in the Eisenhower administration, becoming Secretary of State in 1959. After the 1960 election, he served in various roles in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Herter died in Washington, D.C. at the age of 71 and is buried in Millis, Mass.
Collection Description
This collection consists primarily of albums of photographs from Christian A. Herter's terms as governor of Massachusetts, documenting visitors to the governor's office and other official events. The other albums in the collection date from Herter's service as Under Secretary of State, and later Secretary of State, and contain photographs of Korea and Japan, Paris, Berlin, and Tehran, Iran. There are also a small number of loose family photographs, mostly unidentified, as well as several rolled photographs.
Acquisition Information
Gift of E. Miles Herter, 1981.
Restrictions on Use
The rolled photographs (Photo. 399.3175-399.3184) are extremely brittle and unavailable for use.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. Photograph albums, 1953-1960
A. Governor's office photographs, 1953-1956
This series contains photographs of constituent visits and other events in the governor's office during Christian Herter's term in office. Photographs are dated, but most subjects are not identified by name. Photographs have been removed from albums due to preservation concerns, but the order of photographs has been maintained. The photographer is not identified.
Governor's office photographs, vol. 1, 15 Jan. 1953-1 Sep. 1953
Governor's office photographs, vol. 2, 1 Sep. 1953-30 Apr. 1954
Governor's office photographs, vol. 3, 3 May 1954-28 Feb. 1955
Governor's office photographs, vol. 4, Mar. 1955-5 Mar. 1956
Governor's office photographs, vol. 5, 5 Mar. 1956-undated
Reception to the public, Washington's Birthday, Hall of Flags, 22 Feb. 1955
B. Miscellaneous photograph albums, 1953-1960
"Happy days with the 102nd Wing," 1953-1956
This album contains photographs of activities of the Massachusetts National Guard 102nd Air Defense Wing, including a visit by Dwight D. Eisenhower to Logan Airport in Sep. 1953; Governor's Day ceremonies, 1953-1955; and the Air National Guard Wing reception in February of 1956.
Korea and Japan, 1955-1956
This spiral-bound photograph book is inscribed with "The Under Secretary of State and Mrs. Christian A. Herter" on the front cover. Included are photographs of temples and other landmarks in Japan and Korea, taken by U.S. Army photographers.
Paris, [1959?]
This album contains photographs of Christian Herter and others at an unidentified conference in Paris, possibly the December 1959 NATO ministerial meeting. Photographs are unidentified. In addition to conference attendees, photographs include a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris. Each image is stamped on verso: "J. Lajournade L'IMAGE document 63, Rue Veneau, Paris."
Christian Herter in Berlin, 1959
This scrapbook contains newspaper clippings from German newspapers and black-and-white photographs documenting Christian Herter's trip to Berlin as Secretary of State in July of 1959. The photographer is unidentified.
U.S. Secretary of State Christian A. Herter's visit to Berlin, 25 July 1959
Prepared by the United States Information Service, U.S. Mission Berlin.This scrapbook contains German newspaper clippings and black-and-white photographs documenting Christian Herter's trip to Berlin as Secretary of State in July of 1959. The photographer is unidentified. Images are captioned.
U.S. Secretary of State Christian A. Herter's visit to Berlin, 25 July 1959
Prepared by the United States Information Service, U.S. Mission Berlin.Included are loose clippings and additional photographs removed from vol. 11.
Christian A. Herter, Tehran, Iran, 28-30 April 1960
This album contains photographs of Herter's visit to Iran to attend the CENTO meeting. The album begins with a photograph of Dwight D. Eisenhower with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran.
II. Loose photographs, ca. 1860-1961
A. Family photographs, ca. 1860-1919, undated
Albert Herter (1871-1950)
Albert Herter [and Christian Herter], [ca. 1905?]
Christian Herter (1895-1966)
Everit A. Herter (1894-1918)
Mary Caroline Pratt Herter & Christian Herter, Jr., ca. 1919
Susan D. Herter & Linda D. Cooksey, 1891
John McGinnis
Unidentified children
Unidentified men
Unidentified women
Unidentified views
B. Rolled photographs, 1915-1919
Due to their fragility, these rolled photographs are not currently available for use.
Photographs of the U.S. Naval Fleet entering New York Harbor, 1919
Taken by Pictorial News Co., New York.Representatives of National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage after being received by Pres. Wilson at the White House, 14 Dec. 1915
Auxiliary Remount Depot No. 317. Camp Pike, Ark. G. H. Pryor, Major Q.M.C., N.A. commanding, 26 June 1918
Taken by Ewing & Co.Reunion of members, Massachusetts House of Representatives for 1895-6, 21 Feb. 1916
Taken by J. F. Meldon, Boston.C. Oversize photographs, 1917-[1961?]
Christian Herter, ca. 1952
Taken by Fabian Bachrach, Boston.Color photograph.Christian Herter, [1952-1956]
Taken by Fabian Bachrach, Boston.Christian Herter, undated
Taken by an unidentified photographer.Christian Herter, [1957-1960]
Taken by an unidentified photographer.Christian Herter, [1960]
Taken by Peter A. Juley & Son, New York.This black-and-white photograph depicts a portrait of Herter painted by Albert Ketcham Murray in 1960. The mount is inscribed in ink to Herter by Murray.
Christian Herter wearing a flight suit with an unidentified man, undated
Taken by an unidentified photographer.Wedding party of Christian Herter and Mary Caroline Pratt, 1917
Albert & Adele McGinnis Herter, [1930s?]
Herbert Hoover throwing out the first pitch at the Washington Senators/Philadelphia Athletics game, 14 Apr. 1931
Testimonial banquet to Honorable Christian A. Herter, 2 June 1941
Taken by Fay Foto, Boston.Unidentified group, probably members of the Herter Committee, 1947
This photograph depicts fourteen men; Christian Herter is seated in the front row, Richard Nixon in the back row.
Presentation of Collier's Award for Distinguished Congressional Service, 8 May 1948
Pictured are Eric A. Johnston, Alben W. Barkley, Harry S. Truman, and Christian A. Herter.
Christian Herter addressing the Massachusetts legislature, [1953-1957]
Christian Herter and members of the Governor's Council, 1953 or 1954
Christian Herter and members of the Governor's Council, 1955 or 1956
Christian Herter, Mary Caroline Herter and Dwight D. Eisenhower, [1959-1961?]
Preferred Citation
Christian A. Herter photographs, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.
Persons:
Organizations:
Subjects:
Materials Removed from the Collection
A "Stereo Realist" stereoview viewer and 60 glass transparencies of Christian Herter's inauguration as Massachusetts governor in 1953 have been removed to the Artifact Collection (Cameras 01.006) and separately cataloged.