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Arthur Glenn Froe (March 24, 1876 – November 26, 1932) was an American lawyer and politician. He was appointed by President Warren G. Harding as the Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia, and served in this position from 1922 to 1930 during the presidential administrations of Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover.

Froe was born in Virginia in 1876, and attended Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. He served as a public schoolteacher before continuing his graduate studies at Shaw University and Howard University School of Law. In 1906, Froe relocated to Welch, West Virginia, where he established a law office, and later had a law firm with West Virginia House Delegate Harry J. Capehart and Leon P. Miller. Froe represented both African-American and white clients, including marginalized white ethnic groups.

Froe was active in West Virginia Republican Party politics. He served as a member of the board of education for McDowell County's Browns Creek school district from 1914 until 1919, and following the recommendation of West Virginia Governor John J. Cornwell, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Froe to a legal advisory board for McDowell County's draft boards during World War I. In 1921, Senator Davis Elkins and Congressperson Wells Goodykoontz, recommended Froe for the post Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia. President Harding announced Froe's appointment on February 1, 1922; the Senate confirmed him on February 15, and he took his oath of office on March 1. During his tenure, Froe sought support from Congress for higher salaries and increased office space for his agency. Froe served as recorder until his resignation in 1930. In September 1932, Senator Henry D. Hatfield named Froe as a member of the West Virginia Republican Party's advisory committee, aiding the party's campaigns ahead of the 1932 elections. Froe died in November 1932 following an extended illness.

Early life and education

Arthur Glenn Froe was born in Abingdon, Virginia, on March 24, 1876, where he spent his early childhood.[1][2][a] He was the son of Cheshire C. Froe and Leah Singleton Froe, and he had one sister, Cleopatra Froe.[1][2][5]

Froe was a nephew of prominent local merchant U. S. G. Froe.[2][5] He attended public school in Pocahontas, Tazewell County, Virginia,[5] from where he relocated to Petersburg, Virginia, and attended Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute.[5] Following his graduation from the institute, Froe became an active alumnus and regularly attended meetings of the institute's alumni association and commencement ceremonies.[6][7][8] After graduating, Froe returned to Pocahontas, where he taught in the town's public schools.[5] He later attended Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Howard University School of Law.[9]

Early law and political careers

Black and white photograph view of buildings in downtown Welch, West Virginia, in 1915.
Downtown Welch, 1915

Froe moved to Welch, West Virginia, in 1906 and established a law office.[2] He later started the law firm Froe, Capehart, and Miller, in which Froe was senior partner[2] with West Virginia House Delegate Harry J. Capehart and Leon P. Miller.[10] Froe represented both African-American and white clients, including marginalized white ethnic groups Hungarians, Italians, and Slavs.[11] He and Capehart represented Joseph Parise and Cosimo Spadaro, who in 1915 were indicted on charges of first-degree murder in connection with a strike riot in Farmington.[12][13]

In Welch, Froe became active in West Virginia Republican Party politics.[14] Froe represented West Virginia at the Second Annual National Negro Educational Congress in Denver in 1911, where resolutions condemning mob violence and opposing the different application of law for African-Americans were adopted.[15][16] By 1913, he was named treasurer of the McDowell County Colored Republican Organization, which was responsible for a growing number of African-American appointed and elected officials.[17] Froe served as a member of the board of education for McDowell County's Browns Creek school district from 1914 to 1919.[2][b] In addition, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Froe to a legal advisory board for McDowell County's draft boards during World War I following a recommendation from West Virginia Governor John J. Cornwell.[2][23][24]

In February 1915, Froe and African-American McDowell County lawyer E. H. Harper appeared before the West Virginia Senate committee on railroads at the final hearing for the "Full Crew Bill", which would have required railroad companies to hire additional brakemen on trains, thereby displacing African-American porters.[25][26] In his statement, Froe protested on behalf of all African-American railroad employees and argued such a law was unnecessary because West Virginia's Public Service Commission already had the power to prescribe what constituted a full crew.[25] At a September 1917 meeting of the Negro Bar Association of West Virginia, Froe recognized the absence of African-American judges in West Virginia and offered a resolution to extend honorary membership to the state's African-American justices of the peace, which was approved.[27]

Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia

Nomination and confirmation

Froe was endorsed by the McDowell County Colored Republican Organization for the position of Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.[11] In December 1921, however, West Virginia Republicans Senator Davis Elkins and Congressperson Wells Goodykoontz of West Virginia's 5th congressional district announced their intent to recommend Froe for the post Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia.[11][28] On February 1, 1922, Senator Elkins, Congressperson Goodykoontz, and Froe held a closed meeting with President Warren G. Harding,[29][30] who had previously nominated Henry Lincoln Johnson to the post, a nomination the Senate had rejected.[30][31] Senator Elkins described Froe as "an able lawyer" and "a colored man of the highest standing in the southern part of West Virginia" in his nomination letter to President Harding,[32] and he recommended Froe to recognize West Virginia's African-American Republican voters.[33] On February 1, 1922, following their meeting, President Harding formally announced his nomination of Froe for Recorder of Deeds to succeed John F. Costello.[30]

In a later speech at a conference of West Virginia African-American Republicans, Froe stated West Virginia's African-American voters "constituted a power that demanded recognition in both the state and nation".[32] President Harding echoed this sentiment by stating; "colored voters of West Virginia, holding the balance of power feel that they are entitled to recognition".[32] While Froe was being considered for this position, he received letters of endorsement from both Northern and Southern African-Americans, who emphasized the significance of his appointment for the advancement of the African-American community.[34]

At the time of Froe's appointment and tenure, the Recorder of Deeds was one of the highest U.S. government positions held by African-Americans[10][35][36] and all but three appointees who served in this post were African-American.[37] Froe's predecessor Costello was white; Froe's appointment returned an African-American to the post.[35][37] President Woodrow Wilson had appointed Costello following a campaign by the National Democratic Fair Play Association to whiten U.S. government offices and an accusation by a white female Record of Deeds copyist, Irene Monroe, she had been preyed upon by African-American men in that office.[38] Following Froe's appointment, California Republican Congressperson Julius Kahn cautioned Froe against disturbing Monroe's position in the office.[38]

The Senate confirmed Froe's appointment on February 15, 1922,[11][37][39] and he took his oath of office as Recorder of Deeds on March 1.[31] He was sworn in by William E. Williams, assistant clerk of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.[31] At Froe's induction ceremony, he said; "I shall endeavor to conduct the work of the office with credit to the cause and the race which I represent".[14]

Tenure

At the onset of his tenure, Froe deplored the low salaries of the Recorder of Deeds' employees and stated one of his missions was to increase their salaries.[14] At the time of his arrival to his post, the Recorder of Deeds office had over 50 employees―many of whom were African-American―and occupied four floors in the Century Building at 412 5th Street in the Judiciary Square neighborhood of Northwest Washington, D.C.[14][40] Froe soon found the need for more office space for the Recorder of Deeds staff and in November 1922, he sought support in Congress for a new office building at the cost of $250,000 (equivalent to $4,550,696 in 2023).[41] The following year, Froe also identified the need for more office space for the storage of the documents under his charge and enlisted the support of Congress and President Calvin Coolidge for an appropriation of $500,000 (equivalent to $8,941,406 in 2023) to build a new Recorder of Deeds office building.[42][43]

President Coolidge reappointed Froe to the position in 1926.[36] In August 1927, the General Accounting Office determined Froe's salary was not subject to deductions under the Civil Service Retirement Act because he was a presidential appointee and was not within the classified civil service. Froe had questioned such deductions to his salary by his deputy recorder and disbursing officer Robert W. Dutton.[44] In 1928, the Bureau of Efficiency released a report with recommendations to improve the efficiency of the Recorder of Deeds office to yield an estimated cost savings of $124,000 per year (equivalent to $2,200,279 in 2023).[45] While Froe approved the majority of the report's findings and recommendations, he objected to some of the cost-cutting recommendations because they could be construed as racially discriminatory.[45] A house sub-committee led by Ernest Willard Gibson inquired why the Recorder of Deeds office did not implement these recommendations.[45] Later in 1928, Froe identified the need for Congress to update the District of Columbia's code for incorporating companies.[46] He found the law, which required every stock share to be subscribed for in good faith, prevented companies from holding treasury stock.[46] This requirement discouraged the incorporation of companies in Washington, D.C., depriving the district of potential revenue.[46] At Froe's request, in December 1928, Maryland Republican Congressperson Frederick Nicholas Zihlman introduced a bill to update the code and enable companies to have treasury stock.[46]

In 1930, Senator Henry D. Hatfield and West Virginia's Republican congressional delegation urged President Herbert Hoover to retain Froe as Recorder of Deeds.[47][48] Froe had the support of Hatfield, all five of West Virginia's Republican congressmen, the state's Republican governor, and the state's Republican national committee members.[48] Froe was a popular African-American politician and the turnout of West Virginia's African-American electorate was critical for ensuring Republican Party campaign victories at the state and national levels.[48] West Virginia Republicans recognized the African-American vote represented the balance of power in the 1930 elections, and were concerned Democrats would "alienate the negro vote from the Republican ticket".[48] In September 1930—two months before the 1930 election⁠—however, District of Columbia Auditor Daniel J. Donovan accused Froe of being unable to effectively carry out his duties.[47][48] In response, Hoover demanded and received Froe's resignation,[47][48] and appointed Jefferson S. Coage to succeed him.[36][49] Senator Hatfield threatened to fight Hoover's nomination of Coage on the Senate floor but Hatfield was later appeased by lesser appointments.[47][49] Froe served as Recorder of Deeds during the presidential administrations of Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover.[2][50] While serving in his post, Froe resided at 1724 S Street in Northwest Washington, D.C.[40]

Personal life, death, and legacy

Froe married Hattie C. Johnson of Petersburg, Virginia.[1][2] He was a member of the McDowell County Bar Association and the Negro Bar Association of West Virginia.[2][27] In addition, Froe was a member of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, served as a grand district deputy, and attended their sessions in Baltimore and Cleveland.[51][52] Froe became known for his abilities as an orator, regularly delivering speeches and lectures, and multiple newspapers referred to him as "the colored William Jennings Bryan".[14][29] In April 1925, Froe delivered an address to the Annual Conference of the Association of Mail Carriers in Norfolk, Virginia,[53] and in November 1927, he gave a talk on records management entitled "What Papers Are Recordable and the Effect of Recordations".[54] A September 1918 article in The McDowell Times described Froe as the wealthiest African-American man in McDowell County.[51]

In April 1930, Froe attended the conference establishing the National Negro Republican League organization.[55] In September 1932, Senator Hatfield named Froe as a member of the West Virginia Republican Party's advisory committee, aiding the party's campaign effort ahead of the 1932 elections.[56] In late 1932, Froe's health declined due to a heart-related illness and he was hospitalized at Stevens Clinic Hospital in Welch for approximately a month,[2][50] and died there at 7:37 p.m. on November 26, 1932.[1][2][50] Froe was interred at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia, on November 30, 1932.[1][2][50]

Following his death in 1932, former students of Froe remarked on his abilities as a teacher.[5] In December 1936, portraits of 12 Recorders of Deeds, including Froe, were unveiled at the United States Department of Labor.[57][58] The portraits were requested by the Recorder of Deeds William J. Thompkins and were painted by Public Works Administration artists.[57][58] Froe's former law partner Capehart was among the attendees who were invited to pay tribute at the unveiling ceremony.[57][58]

While Froe's attempts to secure a new building for the Recorder of Deeds office were unsuccessful during his tenure, the agency eventually received the newly completed Recorder of Deeds Building at 515 D Street, Northwest, in 1943, under Recorder of Deeds Thompkins.[59][60]

References

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ a b Froe's death certificate, completed by his wife, and his November 27, 1932, obituary in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph list his place of birth as Abingdon, Virginia;[1][2] however, Froe's family reported to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph that his place of birth was in Russell County, Virginia.[3][4]
  2. ^ According to the West Virginia Educational Directory, Froe served as a member of Browns Creek district school board for the 1914–15,[18] 1915–16,[19] 1916–17,[20] 1917–18,[21] and 1918–19 school years.[22]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Death Record Detail: Arthur G. Froe". Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Archives and History, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. 2021. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Arthur G. Froe, Lawyer, Passes". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Bluefield, West Virginia. November 27, 1932. p. 4. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Leaves Virginia Side Kin". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Bluefield, West Virginia. December 2, 1932. p. 8. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Correction". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Bluefield, West Virginia. December 25, 1932. p. 7. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Pocahontas, Virginia". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Bluefield, West Virginia. December 4, 1932. p. 4. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Alumni Meeting Called" (PDF). The Broad Ax. Chicago, Illinois. May 6, 1922. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  7. ^ "Virginia N. & I. I. Exercises June 8–9" (PDF). The Northwestern Bulletin. St. Paul, Minnesota. May 13, 1922. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  8. ^ "From Petersburg, Virginia" (PDF). The Broad Ax. Chicago, Illinois. May 27, 1922. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  9. ^ "A. G. Froe, Former Recorder of Deeds, Dies in W. Virginia". The New York Age. New York City, New York. December 3, 1932. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Smith 1993, p. 241.
  11. ^ a b c d "Senate Promptly Confirms Froe As Recorder of Deeds" (PDF). The Monitor. Omaha, Nebraska. February 24, 1922. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  12. ^ "Two Years Each For Strike Rioters" (PDF). The West Virginian. Fairmont, West Virginia. November 29, 1915. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  13. ^ "Strike Riot Cases Come Up Friday" (PDF). The West Virginian. Fairmont, West Virginia. November 23, 1915. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  14. ^ a b c d e "New Recorder of Deeds Inducted Into Office" (PDF). Metropolis Weekly Gazette. Metropolis, Illinois. March 24, 1922. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  15. ^ "Negro Congress" (PDF). The Colorado Statesman. Denver, Colorado. August 19, 1911. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  16. ^ "National Negro Educational Congress Holds Second Annual Meeting" (PDF). Franklin's Paper The Statesman. Denver, Colorado. August 19, 1911. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  17. ^ Trotter 1990, p. 49.
  18. ^ Shawkey 1914, p. 136.
  19. ^ Shawkey 1915, p. 147.
  20. ^ Shawkey 1916, p. 125.
  21. ^ Shawkey 1917, p. 128.
  22. ^ Shawkey 1918, p. 121.
  23. ^ West Virginia Department of Military Census and Enrollment 1920, p. 22.
  24. ^ Beasley, Adrienne (2021). "Lynching in West Virginia". Huntington, West Virginia: Marshall University. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Negro Attorneys Appear Before Senate Committee. Protest Against "Full Crew" Bill" (PDF). The McDowell Times. Keystone, West Virginia. February 19, 1915. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  26. ^ "Negroes Object To A Full Crew Bill" (PDF). The West Virginian. Fairmont, West Virginia. February 12, 1915. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  27. ^ a b "Negro Bar Association Hold Successful Meeting" (PDF). The McDowell Times. Keystone, West Virginia. September 28, 1917. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  28. ^ "Negro Attorney Selected" (PDF). The Big Sandy News. Louisa, Kentucky. December 9, 1921. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  29. ^ a b "A. G. Froe Expected to be D.C. Recorder of Deeds" (PDF). The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. February 1, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved December 6, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  30. ^ a b c "Froe Is Named New Recorder Of Deeds Here" (PDF). The Washington Times. Washington, D.C. February 1, 1922. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  31. ^ a b c "A. G. Froe Takes Oath As Recorder Of Deeds" (PDF). The Washington Herald. Washington, D.C. March 2, 1922. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  32. ^ a b c Trotter 1990, p. 229.
  33. ^ Sherman 1973, p. 183
  34. ^ Trotter 1990, p. 231.
  35. ^ a b Nowlin 1970, pp. 108–109
  36. ^ a b c "Urban League Bulletin". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. December 4, 1932. p. 22. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b c Weaver 1947, p. 305
  38. ^ a b Yellin 2013, p. 181.
  39. ^ United States Congress 1922, p. 2611.
  40. ^ a b Hess 1928, p. 459
  41. ^ "Recorder Asks Capper's Support for New Building" (PDF). The Washington Herald. Washington, D.C. November 27, 1922. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  42. ^ "Short Cuts" (PDF). The Broad Ax. Chicago, Illinois. September 8, 1923. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  43. ^ "Coolidge Receives Official Callers" (PDF). The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. October 3, 1923. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  44. ^ "Office Not Classified: Salary of Recorder of Deeds Exempted From Deductions" (PDF). The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. August 9, 1927. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  45. ^ a b c "Gibson Body Probes Economy Proposals" (PDF). The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. March 4, 1928. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  46. ^ a b c d "Bill Would Revamp Corporation Code" (PDF). The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. December 4, 1928. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  47. ^ a b c d Thomas 1998, p. 201
  48. ^ a b c d e f Lisio 1985, p. 237
  49. ^ a b Lisio 1985, p. 238
  50. ^ a b c d "Arthur G. Froe Dies: D.C. Recorder of Deeds Under Three Administrations". The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. November 27, 1932. p. 13. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ a b "Attorney Froe Returned From Baltimore; Had Most Successful Trip" (PDF). The McDowell Times. Keystone, West Virginia. September 6, 1918. p. 2. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  52. ^ "Attorney A. G. Froe Returns from Annual Grand Lodge of Elks" (PDF). The McDowell Times. Keystone, West Virginia. October 19, 1917. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  53. ^ "Colorful News "Movies"" (PDF). Richmond Planet. Richmond, Virginia. April 18, 1925. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  54. ^ "Burkinshaw to Speak" (PDF). The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. November 3, 1927. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  55. ^ "Negro Republican League Is Formed" (PDF). The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. April 27, 1930. p. A-2. Retrieved December 6, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  56. ^ "Republicans Open Offices in City". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Bluefield, West Virginia. September 28, 1932. p. 4. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ a b c "Portraits of 12 to be Unveiled" (PDF). The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. December 15, 1936. p. C-8. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  58. ^ a b c "600 See Unveiling of 11 Portraits" (PDF). The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. December 16, 1936. p. B-5. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
  59. ^ Butler 2011, pp. 277–278.
  60. ^ Miller 2011, pp. 1–2, 4, & 12.

Bibliography

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_G._Froe