George L. Radcliffe papers

The Civil War had been over only twelve years when George Lovic Pierce Radcliffe was born on the family farm in Dorchester County, Maryland. He was raised in the midst of political unrest from the recent war, coupled with English influences brought by settlers and perpetuated by their descendants on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Specott, the farm where Radcliffe grew up, was completely self-sufficient. Cotton and wool raised there furnished clothing. Livestock, crops, fruit and nuts provided necessary food. Inexhaustible supplies of seafood teamed in the waters nearby. Timber provided the raw materials needed in shipbuilding. Wind mills, carpenter's shops, and blacksmiths were all present. The fertile soil and the mildness of climate helped contribute to the type of economic self-sufficiency present at Specott.

The foundation for Radcliffe's interests and occupations later in life was molded out of this environment of political upheaval, gracious Eastern Shore life styles, and hard work on the farm. His studies at Johns Hopkins University focused on history and political science, and he eventually took a Ph.D. from the university after writing a thesis on the then still contoversial subject of the secession movement in Maryland during the Civil War. After teaching history at Baltimore City College, Radcliffe decided to shift his career towards law. In 1903 he received a law degree from the University of Maryland and after having been admitted to the bar, began an extensive career in the business world as an attorney for the American Bonding Company. By 1913, Radcliffe was president of the American Bonding Company and was also 1st Vice President of Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland. His work and interest with these companies spanned his lifetime.

By 1916 Radcliffe began to show interest in governmental work. From 1916-1919 he was Liquor License Commissioner of Baltimore City, and in 1919 he became Secretary of State in Maryland. He was also deeply involved with the inauguration of Governor Albert Ritchie and became an influential figure in Maryland Democratic campaigns, especially the campaigns of Franklin D. Roosevelt and prominent Maryland political figures. In 1934, at Franklin Roosevelt's request, Radcliffe became regional advisor for the Public Works Administration. In this capacity he had a great influence on securing funds for New Deal projects not only in Maryland but in nine other states of the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions as well.

Urged to run for governor of Maryland in 1934, Radcliffe somewhat reluctantly entered the race, then abruptly withdrew out of a desire for party unity. He did, however, shift his aspirations towards the United States Senate and won handily in November of 1934. This was the first elected position Radcliffe had ever held. His years in the Senate spanned 1934-1946 and included work in the Banking and Currency, Finance, Commerce, Merchant Marine, Immigration, Migratory Wild Life, and Library Committees. Although accused of being a rubber stamp for President Roosevelt (as a result of his close personal friendship with the President) Radcliffe split ideologically with Roosevelt over the Supreme Court Packing Case, and the re-election of Maryland Senator Millard E. Tydings. Radcliffe lost his bid for re-election in 1946 to Herbert L. O'Conor.

Throughout this hectic period of Radcliffe's life he never lost sight of his first two loves, history and farming. He became a member of the Maryland Historical Society in 1908, became its Vice President in 1933, and its President in 1939. Not until 1964 did he relinquish his position as President, to become Chairman from 1965-1974. During his years as President, Radcliffe increased the membership of the society, added significantly to its holdings and its physical plant, and generally improved the status of the institution. Radcliffe supplemented his devotion to the Maryland Historical Society by accepting other responsibilities related to Maryland history. These included: Chairman of the 1924 Baltimore City Commission which saved the Shot Tower; chairman of the Star Spangled Banner Committee 1939; Maryland War Records 1942; Chairman of the celebration of the 300th Anniversary of the Religious Toleration Act, 1949; Chairman of the Committee of Historical Markers in Maryland, 1954; organizer of Grace Foundation Inc. of Taylor's Island to restore Old Trinity Church and Chapel of Ease.

Radcliffe also never lost sight of his Eastern Shore heritage, nor of his property and homes in Dorchester County. He had tenants on some of his land, and frequently corresponded with them concerning crops, farm buildings, and finances. Radcliffe, although never actually farming the land himself, played a major role in the decision-making processes of the farms. His devotion to the land was pervasive even up to the year he died when he gave the Maryland Environmental Trust a perpetual easement on Specott. Under the terms of the deed of easement, the Radcliffe family retained ownership of the land yet gave up the right to develop it. The easement contains development restrictions which the Environmental Trust has the right to enforce.

History, farming, banking, law, and politics all had a profound effect on George Radcliffe's life. He was also a great humanitarian whose interest in the general welfare of the public was strong. His work as state chairman of the Infantile Paralysis March of Dimes Campaign for over 30 years is just one of the many areas of public welfare to which he gave his time and effort.

A vigorous and physically active man throughout his life, Radcliffe lived 96 full and productive years. He died in Baltimore on July 29, 1974 and is buried in the Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, Maryland.