Sackett, Olive Speed Papers, 1927-1966

Held by The Filson Historical Society 

Creator:  Sackett, Olive Speed 

Title:  Papers, 1927-1966 

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department. 

Size of Collection:  0.33 cubic feet 

Location Number:  Mss. A S121a 

Scope and Content Note 

Collection contains Olive Sackett’s two diaries, 1927-1928, and 1932-1933, which discuss the Sacketts’ activities in Washington, D.C. where her husband, Frederic M. Sackett served in the U.S. Senate, and Berlin where he was the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1930-1933. The couple socialize with important political figures of the day like Herbert Hoover and Adolph Hitler, but most entries are about social and cultural occasions, with little comment on substantive subjects. Collection also contains a 1966 dissertation on Frederic M. Sackett and the Weimar Republic and newspaper clippings made up of obituaries and some political articles. 

Biographical Note 

Olive Speed Sackett: 

Speed was the daughter of James Breckinridge Speed and Cora Coffin, who were married in 1867. The couple had three children, Olive, William, and Douglas Breckinridge. J.B. Speed was the president of the Louisville Cement Company and Speed Realty. Olive Speed married Frederic Mosley Sackett on 12 April 1898. 

Frederic Mosley Sackett: 

Sackett was born in Providence, Rhode Island on 17 December 1868. His parents were Frederick M. and Louisa (Paine) Sackett. He graduated from Brown University and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. Sackett moved to Louisville, Ky. in 1898 where he practiced law and served as president of the Louisville Gas Company, the Louisville Lighting Company, the Louisville Board of Trade, and the Louisville Cement Company. He also served as director for the Federal Reserve Bank. President Woodrow Wilson appointed Sackett federal food administrator for Kentucky during World War I. In 1924 Sackett, a Republican, ran against Augustus A.O. Stanley, Democrat, for Stanley’s seat in the U.S. Senate. Sackett defeated Stanley and entered the U.S. Senate on 4 March 1925. Her served in the Senate until 9 January 1930, when he resigned to become the U.S. Ambassador to Germany. He resigned his position in 1933 and returned to Louisville. Sackett was married to Olive Speed, the daughter of J.B. Speed, the founder of the Louisville Cement Company and Speed Realty. He died on 18 May 1941, and was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery. 

Folder List 

Folder 1. Diary, 1927-1928 

Folder 2. Diary, 1932-1933 

Folder 3. Dissertation, 1966 

Folder 4. Newspaper Clippings