JAMES QUIGG NEWTON, SR. PAPERS
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
James Newton knew many important people in the community, investment business and government. Included in the collection are correspondence between James and Mahlon Thatcher, Senator C. S. Thomas, Thurman Arnold, William O. Douglas, Joseph Wilson, Colonel E. M. House, and Samuel Huston Thompson Jr. He was a highly respected businessman who was involved in the community. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings and publications. The collection documents the investment business from 1900-1944.
Papers in the series include business correspondence from 1909-1943. The correspondence is organized according to general, individuals and companies. To maintain the integrity of the collection the general correspondence was kept in alphabetical order as it was received. The correspondence with individuals and businesses is organized in chronological order. Documents include newspaper clippings, publications, brochures and financial statements.
The series includes correspondence between James and his brothers, parents, wife, and children. Included in the series are documents from the various clubs and organizations he was involved in, newspaper articles about and by James Newton, and financial papers.
Investment journals for James Quigg Newton and Newton Investment Company and personal cash disbursement journals comprise this series.
Photographs of the Southwestern Portland Cement Company in Victorville, California; of Havana, Cuba; and of the Atlas Tunnel Plant in Mullen, Idaho comprise this series.
Dates
- TBD
ACCESS:
The collection is open for research.
OWNERSHIP:
Records are the physical property of the Denver Public Library.
PUBLICATION RIGHTS:
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
A native of Colorado, James Quigg Newton was born in Pueblo, Colorado, on Dec. 31, 1885. His grandfather and uncle moved to Colorado in 1868. After his arrival his grandfather saw the business possibilities and moved the family lumber business from Wisconsin. James Newton's father was the first graduate of the old Denver High School (now East High) in 1875. His father went to Cornell and then settled in Pueblo marrying Mary Quigg. In 1899, the family moved to Denver. James graduated from East High School. He went on to Cornell, studied law and graduated in 1907. James married Nellie Singleton in 1908. He was admitted to the Colorado bar but did not practice.
In 1909, James Newton opened an investment business, Newton and Company, in Denver. He worked closely with his four brothers, Whitney, Jr., George, Robert and Wilber. His brothers operated Newton Lumber Company in Pueblo. During the war, he was Assistant Executive Secretary of the Federal Reserve Board. In 1918, James Newton went to New York and worked for the firm Equitable Trust Company as Manager of the New Business Company. He returned to Denver in 1920 to work for the firm Boettcher, Porter and Company, Inc. After two years, James formed his own firm Newton, Inc. and Company and continued working with his brothers. In 1928, he merged with Boettcher and Company to form Boettcher, Newton and Company. James was a partner in the firm, and a member of the New York Stock Exchange. In 1934, he retired from active business, still maintaining a partnership with Boettcher and Company, and devoted himself to public endeavors.
He served on the State Relief Committee (later the State Board of Public Welfare) by appointment of Governor Johnson and Governor Ammons. In 1939, James was named by Mayor Stapleton to organize and head the Public Housing Authority. During WW II, James Newton accepted the position as coordinator of the Colorado Defense Council. As coordinator, he directed the organization of local communities throughout Colorado. He was actively involved in many organizations including the Republican National Committee, Capital Issues Committee, Kiwanis Club and the United China Relief Committee where he served as state chairman in 1942.
In 1940, James and his brothers gave the Newton farm near Conifer to be used as a boy's camp in memory of their mother. James was a member of several clubs including Alpha Delta Phi, University Club, Denver Country Club, City Club of Denver, Cherry Hills Country Club and the Elks. He was also a member of the Colorado Sons of the Revolution. James and Nelle Newton had three children: James Quigg, Jr., Ruth and Nancy. James Quigg, Jr., who is known as Quigg Newton, went on to become Mayor of Denver from 1947-1955. James Newton passed away in March of 1944.
Extent
5 boxes
2 oversize boxes
1 photoboxes
Other Finding Aids
PROVENANCE:
The James Quigg Newton Collection was donated by his son James Quigg Newton, Jr. on May 31, 1989.
SIZE:
Number of boxes: 5
Number of oversize boxes: 2
Number of photoboxes: 1
LOCATION:
WH1223
PROCESSED BY:
Ellen Zazzarino
February 1999
REVISED AND ENCODED BY:
Ann Brown
June 2007
2011
Merrie Jo Schroeder
August 2004
PROJECT MANAGER:
Ellen Zazzarino
- Boettcher, Porter and Company, Inc. -- Archival resources.
- Businessmen -- Colorado -- Denver. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Colorado State Council of Defense -- Archival resources.
- Letters. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Newton and Company -- Archival resources.
- Newton, James Quigg, Sr. -- 1885-1944 -- Archives.
- Photographic prints Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- JAMES QUIGG NEWTON, SR. PAPERS
- Date
- 2011
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository
