MSS 80-3
Papers of James L. Skerritt
Overview
Professional legal files (1935-1974) regarding the claims of Thomas Smidt and Richard H. Strongman with property in Germany at the time of their deaths in 1940. Also files of H. P. James, John J. Slater and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.
Dates |
1910-1978 (bulk 1935-1974) [Inclusive] |
|---|---|
Extents |
6 Cubic Feet (15 archival boxes) |
Scope & Contents
The papers of New York attorney James L. Skerritt contain the cases of Thomas Smidt and Richard H. Strongman, U.S. nationals with assets and property in Germany at the time of their deaths in 1940. Skerritt, acting as executor for both clients, dealt with the problems the settlements presented because of World War II. The majority of the documents consist of executor accounts and correspondence with the heirs. There is some correspondence with German lawyers and petitions with the War Claims Settlement Commission. Both cases were not completed until the 1960s.
The Strongman case is of particular interest. He worked for the Woolworth Company from 1901 to 1939 and owned 3% of the shares of the German Woolworth Parent Company. The vast majority of this case file documents Skerritt's research and efforts to recuperate the value of those shares for the heirs. There is some correspondence between Woolworth officials and Skerritt. Though Skerritt represented Strongman most of his life, these files relate solely to the German property.
Other files added to the collection are of clients: H. P. James, John J. Slater and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. Mr. Skerritt acted as executor and administrator of their estates. The Whitney Vanderbilt file reflects Skerritt's work as part of a larger team in the accounting of the estate.
Collection Description
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Physical Description
Professional legal files, approximately 6 linear feet.<extent>1 arbitrary_unit</extent>
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Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to research.
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Conditions Governing Use
There are no restrictions
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Preferred Citation
The Papers of James L. Skerritt, MSS 80-3, Box Number, Special Collections, University of Virginia Law Library.
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Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated to the library in 1980 by Richard Lillich who was given them by a Skerritt relative. An addition to these papers was donated to the Law Library by his daughter Elizabeth Skerritt in 2004.
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Biographical / Historical
James Lewis Skerritt was born in Kentucky in 1898, and attended the University of Louisville prior to receiving his law degree from the New York University School of Law. He practiced in New York, specializing in estate and trust matters. He was associated with the firm of Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller for a time, but subsequently established a solo practice. He served on the Committee on the Surrogates' Courts of the Bar Association of the City of New York. He resided for a number of years in Mount Vernon, New York. James L. Skerritt died in 1974.
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Arrangement
This collection was arranged alphabetically by client's name and chronologically.
| fileSkerritt: Bank Accounts, 1963 - 1977 | MSS 80-3, Box 1 |
| Richard H. Strongman | |
| fileSkerritt: Correspondence and memoranda re clients and Skerritt's health while in hospital, 1944-04 - 1944-05 | MSS 80-3, Box 1 |
| fileSkerritt: Time Sheets, 1941 - 1942 | MSS 80-3, Box 1 |
| fileJames, H. P. and James, Arthur Curtis Estates. Memoranda, draft of litigation history, will of William DeForest Manice, and some Skerritt's notes, 1944, 1964, 1966 | MSS 80-3, Box 2 |
| fileSlater, Cecelia. Deed of Woodlawn Cemetery plot, 1910 | MSS 80-3, Box 2 |
| fileSlater, John J. Estate: Legal documents. Skerritt's memoranda and some correspondence, 1932 - 1979 | MSS 80-3, Box 2 |
| fileSlater, John J. Estate. Annual Reports of Citizens Southern National Bank, 1935, 1957, 1960, 1962 | MSS 80-3, Box 2 |
| fileSlater, John J. Estate: Appraisals, court documents re Elliott R. May; some correspondence. Adjustment of Skerritt fees for legal services, 1939-1967 | MSS 80-3, Box 2 |
| fileSlater, John J. Estate: Printed materials and newspaper clippings, 1957-1958, 1966 | MSS 80-3, Box 2 |
| fileSlater, John J. Estate re: May, Robert M. Guardian of Elliot R. May. Legal documents: letter of guardianship, agreements, deed, affidavit, summons, 1960 - 1963 | MSS 80-3, Box 2 |
| fileSlater, John J. and Cecelia Estate re Division of fees and bills of services between Gabriel E. Torre and Mr. Skerritt., 1964 - 1966 | MSS 80-3, Box 2 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L: Will of 1937 and 1940 English translation of will; German inventory of property, 1937 - 1940 | MSS 80-3, Box 3 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: Record Roll. Executors Account(1st)documents, 1937 - 1952 | MSS 80-3, Box 3 |
| fileSmidt Thomas L. Estate: Correspondence between Thomas L. Smidt and Skerritt; German claim of John A. Smidt and Thomas R. Smidt; power of attorney for German lawyer; distribution of property from German estate; Skerritt's notes; printed materials, 1937 - 1 | MSS 80-3, Box 3 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate re: Helene Smidt Trust schedules. Skerritt's notes, 1937-1974 | MSS 80-3, Box 3 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate re: German assets. Approval of beneficiaries accounts; German statements of accounts and English translations; distributions of assets plans; printed copies of treaties between the United States and Germany: Friendship, Commerce an | MSS 80-3, Box 3 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: Statements of German accounts, 1942-1956, 1964 | MSS 80-3, Box 3 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: German accounts [of John A, Smidt; Thomas R. Smidt; Helene Smidt-Rockwell; Julies Smidt-Marshall; Bertha Smidt; Frieda Smidt-Bliss; Marie Smidt; Ethel Darley]., 1945 - 1956 | MSS 80-3, Box 3 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: German property. Correspondence with German attorneys Hermann Janssen and Johann G. Lohmann, 1949 - 1954 | MSS 80-3, Box 4 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: Statements of stocks dividends, sales of securities, account of proceedings, 1952 - 1963 | MSS 80-3, Box 4 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: Accounting schedules, 1952-1963 | MSS 80-3, Box 4 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: newspaper clippings, 1953 - 1955 | MSS 80-3, Box 4 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: Magazine articles [copies]; State Department Press Release No. 122 (March 3, 1955); Skerritt's notes, 1953-1956 | MSS 80-3, Box 4 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: [Wills of Helene Smidt, Bertha Smidt, Friede Smith, Marie Smidt, Thomas R. Smidt.] Skerritt's work schedule from 3/10/1954 - 12/1954., 1954 (1935-1945) | MSS 80-3, Box 4 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: Income tax on German property. [Correspondence, memoranda]., 1954 - 1957 | MSS 80-3, Box 4 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate: Market value and annual income of trust estate. [Skerrit's notes], 1962 - 1964 | MSS 80-3, Box 5 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate Trust: Final Accounting, 1962 - 1965 | MSS 80-3, Box 5 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate Trust: 1963 income taxes, accounts. [Some correspondence, Skerritt's notes], 1963 - 1964 | MSS 80-3, Box 5 |
| fileSmidt, Thomas L. Estate Trust: Trustees Second and Final Account of Proceedings (1952-1963), 1963 - 1965 | MSS 80-3, Box 5 |
| fileSmidt Thomas L Estate Trust: Attorneys fees. [Skerritt's attorney fees, notes, some memoranda, drafts, newspaper clippings], 1964 - 1974 | MSS 80-3, Box 5 |
| fileStrongman Richard H: Personal legal documents. [Certificate of marriage, U. S. passport, will, certificate of death]; some correspondence with State Department and The Grand Lodge of Masons of Illinois., 1921 - 1962 | MSS 80-3, Box 6 |
| fileStrongman Richard H: German inventories and German appraisal of property in Germany. Divorce action, 1930, 1940-1941 | MSS 80-3, Box 6 |
| fileStrongman Richard H: Miscellaneous documents: translations of German documents, memoranda, copies of correspondence with German officials and heirs, notes., 1934-1966 | MSS 80-3, Box 6 |
| fileStrongman Richard H: Woolworth Co. [Memoranda, copies of correspondence, and notes re reorganization of Woolworth in Germany, and German assets]., 1932 - 1968 | MSS 80-3, Box 6 |
| fileStrongman Richard H: Woolworth Co. G. M. B. H. of Berlin documents, 1938 - 1951 | MSS 80-3, Box 7 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate: Executors First Intermediate Account., 1940 - 1943 | MSS 80-3, Box 7 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate: Skerritt's time report, 1940 - 1944 | MSS 80-3, Box 7 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate: Correspondence. Domestic and foreign, 1940 - 1951 | MSS 80-3, Box 7 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate: Correspondence. Domestic and foreign, 1940 - 1951 | MSS 80-3, Box 8 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate: Power of attorneys copies and draft of Skerritt's Compensation explanation, 1940-1950, 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 8 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate: German inventory. Petition for discovery of property., 1940 - 1968 | MSS 80-3, Box 8 |
| fileStrongman Richard H: Newspaper clippings., 1941 - 1942 | MSS 80-3, Box 8 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Newspaper clippings re German property., 1941 - 1945 | MSS 80-3, Box 9 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - German estate. Memoranda and related miscellaneous documents, 1941 - 1945 | MSS 80-3, Box 9 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Federal Estate Tax [documents]., 1941 - 1946 | MSS 80-3, Box 9 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. - German Woolworth. Balance sheets and printed materials., 1941, 1948, 1952, 1974 | MSS 80-3, Box 9 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Biography and background. [Skerritt's notes]., 1941, 1950-1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 9 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - New York State Taxes Record. 1948. Executors accounts., 1942-1948 | MSS 80-3, Box 9 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - New York State Tax returns., 1942, 1957-1968 | MSS 80-3, Box 9 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Miller, Hortense S. legal documents: birth certificate, wills, death certificate, newspaper clippings, 1942-1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 9 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Executors accounts. Second intermediate account., 1943-1944 | MSS 80-3, Box 9 |
| fileStrongman, Richard H. Estate re War Claims. [Miscellaneous copies of documents related to Strongman's claims; printed materials, handwritten notes]., 1944 - 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 10 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Executors accounts. Third intermediate account., 1948 - 1964 | MSS 80-3, Box 10 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - War Claims Act and International Law. [Printed materials, newspapers clippings, Skerritt's notes], 1948 - 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 10 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Woolworth Co. Annual Report and Extract of Woolworth German Co. Correspondence. [Skerritt's notes], 1948 - 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 10 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate Germany - N. Y. Woolworth Officers re German Woolworth., 1949 - 1958 | MSS 80-3, Box 10 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - German estate inventory; powers of attorney; Assignment of Right to Purchase., 1950 | MSS 80-3, Box 10 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - German Woolworth stock transfer and Gift Tax return., 1950 - 1951 | MSS 80-3, Box 10 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Correspondence primarily between Skerritt and German notary Heinrich F. Albert, Woolworth officials and German representatives., 1950 - 1964 | MSS 80-3, Box 10 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Heinrich F. Albert,[German notary], fees, 1950 - 1964 | MSS 80-3, Box 11 |
| fileSkerritt's notes re Strongman Estate., 1950,1968, 1971, 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 11 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Correspondence. Copies of correspondence with Woolworth representatives and Strongman heirs; [Skerritt's notes]., 1951 - 1967 | MSS 80-3, Box 11 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Miscellaneous copies of documents, 1951 - 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 11 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Research materials and notes., 1959 - 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 11 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Woolworth Co. Annual Reports, [Skerritt's notes]., 1960 - 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 11 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - War Claims. Copies of legislative documents, 1961 - 1965 | MSS 80-3, Box 11 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - German documentation of Strongman's property in Berlin, 1961 - 1967 | MSS 80-3, Box 11 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt's legal fees, 1961 - 1976 | MSS 80-3, Box 12 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Claim No. W-13008, 1962 - 1966 | MSS 80-3, Box 12 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Chapple, Charlotte S. and Linda Miller Bain and Byron Strongman Miller Claims. [Copies of documents], 1962 - 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 12 |
| fileGerman War Claims - New York Law. [Skerritt's notes], 1962 - 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 12 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Correspondence, awards and related documents re Strongman, Chapple, and Miller estates., 1962 - 1976 | MSS 80-3, Box 12 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt account, 1963 - 1974 | MSS 80-3, Box 12 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - German claims. Copies of translations of German documents., 1965 | MSS 80-3, Box 12 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Proof of American citizenship. War Claim - NY Woolworth., 1965 | MSS 80-3, Box 12 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate- Congressional Petition re Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Claims No. W-13008; W-7116; W- 7122, 1966 - 1967 | MSS 80-3, Box 13 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Hortense S. Miller War claims awards, 1966 - 1968 | MSS 80-3, Box 13 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Linda Hart Miller, Byron Strongman and Gail Hart claims, 1966 - 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 13 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Memoranda in connection with additional fee claim, 1966 - 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 13 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Fees, correspondence with Dr. Koch-Weser, 1966 - 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 13 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Congressman Ogden R. Reid letter, 1968 | MSS 80-3, Box 13 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Administrative Procedure Act. [Annotated copies of treatises and Skerritt's notes], 1968 - 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 13 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Law Reports (copies). Skerritt's notes, 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 13 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Mistake of Law and Fact of Commission. [Skerritt's notes], 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 13 |
| fileStrongman, Richard H. Estate - [Annotated printed materials, Skerritt's notes], 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Congressional Staff Directory. [Copy], 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - German laws of inheritance and conflict of laws. [Skerritt's notes and clippings], 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman, Richard H. Estate - Modern Constitutional Laws. Federal laws, [Skerritt's notes], 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Violation of JLS [Skerritt] constitutional right of due process of law. [Newspaper clippings and copies of Skerritt's notes], 1972 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Law dictionaries. Interpretation of terms. [Skerritt's notes], 1972 - 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt's correspondence with Zvonko R. Rode re Claims W-7116 and W-7122 of Byron S. Miller, et al., 1972 - 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Correspondence with G. Kirby Munson, Esq., 1972 - 1974 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt's drafts as executor of Strongman Estate., 1972 - 1974 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - [Skerritt's notes and reflections re compensation for attorney fees]., 1972 - 1974 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Correspondence re Woolworth Claims., 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Skerritt letter to Wayland McCleland, General Counsel of the FCSC., 1973-06-11 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt's correspondence, memoranda and notes re Strongman's German war claims., 1973 - 1974 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileStrongman Richard H. Estate - [Correspondence between Elizabeth Skerritt and Clyde R. Armstrong re Richard H. Strongman estate accounts], 1975 - 1978 | MSS 80-3, Box 14 |
| fileWhitney, Gertrude Vanderbilt. Judicial Settlement of the Third Intermediate Account of Proceedings of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney and Frank L. Crocker as Executors..... of Harry Payne Whitney. P2717-1930. Intermediate Account | MSS 80-3, Box 15 |
| fileWhitney, Gertrude Vanderbilt. Decree on accounting (Executors), 1943 | MSS 80-3, Box 15 |
| fileWhitney, Gertrude Vanderbilt. Newspaper clippings., 1972 - 1973 | MSS 80-3, Box 15 |
| fileBibliographic materials. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States. Decisions and Annotations. Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, [1968]. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States. Annual Report to the Congr | MSS 80-3, Box 16 |
| fileStrongman, Richard H. Portrait, ca. 1930-1931 | Law Special Collections photographs cabinet |
English