Samuel K. Dennis papers

The Samuel K. Dennis Papers span the years 1900-1952 with the bulk of the material falling into the period 1944-1952, the years between Dennis' retirement from the Supreme Bench of Baltimore and his death. Correspondence and legal papers relating to his business and personal activities constitute a majority of the items. Contained in the collection also are materials relating to all phases of his legal career, commencing around 1900.

The correspondence section of the collection is somewhat confusing. Mostly general in nature, the correspondence is also broken down by both correspondents and by topic. A large portion of Dennis' papers may have been separated from those appearing in the collection, thus probably explaining the gaps in dates and subjects. The existance of Miscellaneous L and T through Z correspondence may also substantiate the missing papers theory. Dennis preferred to group his correspondence into six groups: 1944-45; 1946-47; 1946-48; 1946-52; and 1950-52. Arrangement of this type creates overlapping correspondence and it is not known why Dennis chose this method. Materials relating to legal cases were mostly kept together. In his general correspondence files, however, can be found items referring to Dennis' legal case work and financial matters.

Correspondence concerns both business and personal matters. As Dennis was semi-retired during the creation of the majority of the items, the personal aspect tends to be rather well represented. Letters are generally to and from such family members as Alfred Dennis, John V. Dennis, Philip C. Dennis, Caroline M. Crisfield and Mrs. Mary Balloch. Friends such as Godfrey Child, D. Princeton Buckey, Dr. Alfred T. Gundry and Harry F. Ogden, among others, are represented in abundance. Letters of note written to Dennis are from Alfred Dennis serving in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps in such places as Oslo, Norway (1947), Italy (1952), and Germany (1946); and letters written by soldiers fighting during World War II. Dennis' involvement in the University Club and the American Red Cross are also represented in the letters from 1946-47. Finally, some correspondence concerns the Maryland Historical Society and Dennis family genealogy.

Legal cases cover issues including divorce, claims for damages, arbitration, reinbursement of debt, and estate management. Dennis was involved in many arbitration cases from 1944-52, many of which were employee grievances:

Taxicab Drivers Union v. Yellow Cab Company, et al.

Freight Drives and Helpers Union. v. Baltimore Transfer

Adkins v. Coastal Tank Lines, Inc

Brewery and Yeast Workers, Soft Drink Worker, and Driver Salesmen Union v. Federal Yeast Company

Martin v. Davidson Transfer and Storage Company

Smith v. Mundy Motor Line

Cummings v. Mushroom Transportation Company, Inc.

Whistler v. Dramer Brother Freight Lines, Inc.

Safe Drivers Association, Inc. v. Belle Isle Cab Company

A significant amount of material exists relating to the Administration of Criminal Justice Commission on which Dennis served. The commission investigated several legal problems, Dennis being apparently most interested in the prevention of lynching in Maryland. Included also are items dealing with George L. Radcliffe's 1946 senatorial primary campaign of which Dennis was chairman.

Other materials contained in the collection relate to the Presbyterian Church, Juvenile Court reorganization, Fidelity Trust Company, as well as material associated with the 1932 controversy over whether or not Dennis was being ethical in serving as both a judge and a director of the Fidelity Trust Bank.