Joseph B. Ely
Encyclopedia
Joseph Buell Ely was the 52nd Governor
of the U.S. state
of Massachusetts
.
Born in Westfield, Massachusetts
, Joseph B. Ely graduated from Williams College
in 1902, before earning a degree from Harvard Law School
in 1905. He returned to Westfield and practiced law as a partner of Ely & Ely and expanded his practice to Boston in 1926. Governor David I. Walsh
appointed him to serve as District Attorney for Massachusetts' Western District in 1915; he was elected in his own right to this position the next year, serving until 1920. Mr. Ely became active in the Democratic Party, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1924 and 1928.
In 1930, Mr. Ely challenged incumbent Governor Frank G. Allen
, defeating him in the popular election by a narrow margin. Chief among Governor Ely's concerns was contending with the effects of the Great Depression
. He began a series of public works projects to relieve unemployment. Highway construction in Massachusetts' was accelerated by this work, which was supported by the imposition of a gasoline tax. Ely advocated substantial reductions in state salaries during the depression, but met with overwhelming legislative resistance. In concert with the City of Boston, Ely established a permanent Boston Police Academy to increase the training of public safety officers.
Ely supported Al Smith
in the 1932 Democratic Primary, but shifted his support to Franklin Roosevelt
after the latter won the party's nomination. Later, Ely became a member of the American Liberty League
and supported Republican Alf Landon in the 1936 presidential election.http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0154
Ely declined to run for reelection in 1936 and returned to Westfield where he remained active in state and national Democratic politics. He ran for Democratic Presidential nomination in 1944, losing to Franklin Delano Roosevelt by a substantial margin. Joseph Ely is well remembered in his hometown, where Westfield State College's Governor Joseph B. Ely Library is named in his honor.
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Born in Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
, Joseph B. Ely graduated from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1902, before earning a degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1905. He returned to Westfield and practiced law as a partner of Ely & Ely and expanded his practice to Boston in 1926. Governor David I. Walsh
David I. Walsh
David Ignatius Walsh was a United States politician from Massachusetts. As a member of the Democratic Party, he served in the state legislature and then as Lieutenant Governor and then as the 46th Governor . His first term in the U.S...
appointed him to serve as District Attorney for Massachusetts' Western District in 1915; he was elected in his own right to this position the next year, serving until 1920. Mr. Ely became active in the Democratic Party, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1924 and 1928.
In 1930, Mr. Ely challenged incumbent Governor Frank G. Allen
Frank G. Allen
Frank G. Allen was a Governor of Massachusetts.Allen was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on October 6, 1874. A businessman and executive with the Winslow Brothers & Smith Company from 1893, he rose to become the company's president from 1912 to 1929, and was married to Clara Winslow in 1897.He entered...
, defeating him in the popular election by a narrow margin. Chief among Governor Ely's concerns was contending with the effects of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He began a series of public works projects to relieve unemployment. Highway construction in Massachusetts' was accelerated by this work, which was supported by the imposition of a gasoline tax. Ely advocated substantial reductions in state salaries during the depression, but met with overwhelming legislative resistance. In concert with the City of Boston, Ely established a permanent Boston Police Academy to increase the training of public safety officers.
Ely supported Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
in the 1932 Democratic Primary, but shifted his support to Franklin Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
after the latter won the party's nomination. Later, Ely became a member of the American Liberty League
American Liberty League
The American Liberty League was an American political organization formed in 1934 by conservative Democrats to oppose the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was active for just two years...
and supported Republican Alf Landon in the 1936 presidential election.http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0154
Ely declined to run for reelection in 1936 and returned to Westfield where he remained active in state and national Democratic politics. He ran for Democratic Presidential nomination in 1944, losing to Franklin Delano Roosevelt by a substantial margin. Joseph Ely is well remembered in his hometown, where Westfield State College's Governor Joseph B. Ely Library is named in his honor.