HAYS MSS.
The Hays mss., ca. 1895-1954, consist the papers of William Harrison Hays, Sr., the namesake of the Hays Code for censorship of American films. Will H. Hays was born in Sullivan, Indiana on November 5, 1879, to John T. Hays and Mary Cain Hays. Hays served as the Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1918-1921, managing the successful campaign of Warren G. Harding for the presidency in 1920. Following Harding's election, Hays was appointed Postmaster General in 1921, a post he held until 1922, when he resigned in order to become the first President of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA). Hays retired from the post in 1945, returning to Sullivan where he died on March 7, 1954.
The collection contains diaries, correspondence, book drafts, phonograph records, and photographs.
Acquired: 2009
ca. 800 items
NOTE: Access to this collection requires advance notice. Please contact the Curator of Manuscripts for additional information.