Copeland, Royal S.

Description

Autograph ID: 4407
Condition: Very good, 2 mail folds
Description: “(1868-1938) American academic, homeopathic physician, and politician who held elected offices in Michigan (as a Republican) and New York (as a Democrat). New York US Senator 1923-38. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in medicine in 1889. After graduate studies in Europe, Dr. Copeland practiced medicine in Bay City, Michigan 1890-95. He was admitted to the Homeopathy Society of Michigan in 1890, and was secretary of the society in October 1893. He was a professor of Ophthalmology and Otology in the University of Michigan Medical School’s Homeopathic Department 1895-1908. He was Republican mayor of Ann Arbor 1901-03. In 1908, after his marriage he moved to NYC to become dean at the New York Flower Hospital & Medical College until 1918 when he served as President of the New York Board of Health. He gained much positive public attention for keeping New Yorkers calm during the influenza outbreak of 1918. In 1922, Copeland ran as a Democrat for the Senate, with Franklin D. Roosevelt as his honorary campaign manager for this election. He was re-elected in 1928 & 1934. Copeland was chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration 1933-36 and chairman of the Committee on Commerce 1935-38. He was Chairman of the highly controversial 1935-36 Copeland Committee that gave a scathing review of air traffic safety and the operation of the Bureau of Air Commerce. He was primary author and sponsor of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, an important consumers rights law. He was a conservative Democrat and not especially supportive of FDR’s New Deal policies. In 1937 he lost the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York City to Judge Jeremiah Mahoney, and the Republican nomination to incumbent Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia.

TLS on his 10 x 8 US Senate letterhead, Washington, April 3 1925, to James Elmer Christie, Nyack, NY. Senator Copeland is pleased to order the 1920 and 1921 Reports of the Smithsonian Institution be sent to Christie if available for distribution.”
Type: Letter