Henry Herman Schwartz papers, 1886-1944

Henry Herman "Harry" Schwartz (1869-1955) was a politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming. Schwartz was born near Fort Recovery, Mercer County, Ohio. He was engaged in the newspaper business at Fort Recovery from 1892 to 1894 and at Sioux Fall, South Dakota, from 1894 to 1896. Schwartz studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1895, and commenced practice in Sioux Falls. Schwartz's political career started in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving from 1897 to 1898, where he was elected on the Fusion ticket. He served as chief of the field division of the U.S. General Land Office at Spokane, Washington and Helena, Montana, from 1897 to 1907. Schwartz was special assistant to the Attorney General in 1907; and chief of field service, General Land Office in Washington, D.C., from 1907 to 1910. Schwartz moved to Casper, Wyoming, in 1915, where he established a law practice. He was also president of the Casper Board of Education and the Natrona County High School Board from 1928 to 1934. Schwartz was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1930, but he served as a member of the Wyoming Senate from 1933 to 1935 and was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1936 and served from 1937 to 1943. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1942. During his term as a U.S. Senator, Harry Schwartz played a key role in opening the door to black military pilots in World War II. Also, during his term, Schwartz was chairman of the Committee on Pensions (77th Congress). He was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the National Mediation Board, serving from 1943 to 1947. Afterwards, he resumed the practice of law in Casper until his death there in 1955.