Scope and Contents

This collection consists of 11 record cartons, 2 oversize boxes, and 1 oversize folder, all containing the personal papers of Irving S. Olds, a former President of the New-York Historical Society. He led a notable life, as a clerk for Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, as a law partner at White & Case, as CEO of The United States Steel Corporation, and as an avid supporter of the arts. His papers do not contain many records from his legal and corporate careers, and instead, are largely personal in nature. Those files that do relate to his firms are mostly related to social matters. His correspondence files date primarily from his retirement years, and include pleasantries between him and colleagues, friends, and institutions. There is correspondence about his and his wife's art exhibitions: Olds was a collector of naval prints, and his wife, Evelyn, used those prints as inspiration to paint trays and a variety of other objects. His business records consist of the records of three corporations of which he was part owner. His personal diaries provide a detailed insight into his day to day affairs, although again, nearly all of these date from his retirement. His speeches and publications are mostly preserved in duplicate and triplicate, and were given to many corporate and collegiate audiences. Ephemeral records consist of photos, awards, and news clippings. Lastly, subject files consist of miscellaneous personal records divided by topic, mainly his and his family's financial and historical records.