Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections
James L. Skerritt papers
Skerritt, James Lewis, 1898-1974
MSS.80.3
Archival Resource Key
Previous Archival Resource Key
/repositories/4/resources/88
6 Linear Feet
15 archival boxes
1910-1978
1935-1974
English
Scope and Contents
The papers of New York attorney James L. Skerritt contain the cases of Thomas Smidt and Richard H. Strongman, US 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 percent 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. 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.
This collection was arranged alphabetically by client's name and chronologically.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access conditions.
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 addendum to these papers was donated to the Law Library by Skerritt's daughter, Elizabeth Skerritt, in 2004.
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.
Conditions Governing Use
There are no restrictions
American property -- Foreign countries -- Germany
Property (International law)
United States -- Claims
Wills
Skerritt, James Lewis, 1898-1974
Smidt, Thomas L., 1871-1940
Strongman, Richard H., 1880-1940
Whitney, Gertrude Vanderbilt, 1875-1942
F. W. Woolworth Company
United States. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
Skerritt: Bank AccountsArchival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90331963-1977MSS 80-3, Box 1 1Skerritt: Correspondence and memoranda re clients and Skerritt's health while in hospitalArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90341944-04-1944-05MSS 80-3, Box 1 2Skerritt: Time SheetsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90351941-1942MSS 80-3, Box 1 James, H. P. and James, Arthur Curtis Estates. Memoranda, draft of litigation history, will of William DeForest Manice, and some Skerritt's notesArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90361944, 1964, 1966MSS 80-3, Box 21Slater, Cecelia. Deed of Woodlawn Cemetery plotArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90371910MSS 80-3, Box 22Slater, John J. Estate: Legal documents. Skerritt's memoranda and some correspondenceArchival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90381932-1979MSS 80-3, Box 23Slater, John J. Estate. Annual Reports of Citizens Southern National BankArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90391935, 1957, 1960, 1962MSS 80-3, Box 24Slater, John J. Estate: Appraisals, court documents re Elliott R. May; some correspondence. Adjustment of Skerritt fees for legal servicesArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90401939-1967MSS 80-3, Box 25Slater, John J. Estate: Printed materials and newspaper clippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90411957-1958, 1966MSS 80-3, Box 26Slater, John J. Estate re: May, Robert M. Guardian of Elliot R. May. Legal documents: letter of guardianship, agreements, deed, affidavit, summonsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90421960-1963MSS 80-3, Box 27Slater, John J. and Cecelia Estate re Division of fees and bills of services between Gabriel E. Torre and Mr. Skerritt.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90431964-1966MSS 80-3, Box 28Smidt, Thomas L: Will of 1937 and 1940 English translation of will; German inventory of propertyArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90441937-1940MSS 80-3, Box 31Smidt, Thomas L. Estate: Record Roll. Executors Account(1st)documentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90451937-1952MSS 80-3, Box 32Smidt 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 materialsArchival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90461937-1967MSS 80-3, Box 33Smidt, Thomas L. Estate re: Helene Smidt Trust schedules. Skerritt's notesArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90471937-1974MSS 80-3, Box 34Smidt, 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 and Consular Rights Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90481935, 1953, 1954; Instructions for preparing claims for World War losses , 1962. 1942-1956MSS 80-3, Box 35Smidt, Thomas L. Estate: Statements of German accountsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90491942-1956, 1964MSS 80-3, Box 36Smidt, 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].Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90501945-1956MSS 80-3, Box 37Smidt, Thomas L. Estate: German property. Correspondence with German attorneys Hermann Janssen and Johann G. LohmannArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90511949-1954MSS 80-3, Box 41-3Smidt, Thomas L. Estate: Statements of stocks dividends, sales of securities, account of proceedingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90521952-1963MSS 80-3, Box 44Smidt, Thomas L. Estate: Accounting schedulesArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90531952-1963MSS 80-3, Box 45Smidt, Thomas L. Estate: newspaper clippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90541953-1955MSS 80-3, Box 46Smidt, Thomas L. Estate: Magazine articles [copies]; State Department Press Release No. 122 (March 3, 1955); Skerritt's notesArchival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90551953-1956MSS 80-3, Box 47Smidt, 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.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90561954 (1935-1945)MSS 80-3, Box 48Smidt, Thomas L. Estate: Income tax on German property. [Correspondence, memoranda].Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90571954-1957MSS 80-3, Box 49Smidt, Thomas L. Estate: Market value and annual income of trust estate. [Skerrit's notes]Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90581962-1964MSS 80-3, Box 51Smidt, Thomas L. Estate Trust: Final AccountingArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90591962-1965MSS 80-3, Box 52-3Smidt, Thomas L. Estate Trust: 1963 income taxes, accounts. [Some correspondence, Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90601963-1964MSS 80-3, Box 54Smidt, Thomas L. Estate Trust: Trustees Second and Final Account of Proceedings (1952-1963)Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90611963-1965MSS 80-3, Box 55Smidt Thomas L Estate Trust: Attorneys fees. [Skerritt's attorney fees, notes, some memoranda, drafts, newspaper clippings]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90621964-1974MSS 80-3, Box 56Strongman 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.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90631921-1962MSS 80-3, Box 61Strongman Richard H: German inventories and German appraisal of property in Germany. Divorce actionArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90641930, 1940-1941MSS 80-3, Box 62Strongman Richard H: Miscellaneous documents: translations of German documents, memoranda, copies of correspondence with German officials and heirs, notes.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90651934-1966MSS 80-3, Box 63-4Strongman Richard H: Woolworth Co. [Memoranda, copies of correspondence, and notes re reorganization of Woolworth in Germany, and German assets].Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90661932-1968MSS 80-3, Box 65Strongman Richard H: Woolworth Co. G. M. B. H. of Berlin documentsArchival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90671938-1951MSS 80-3, Box 71Strongman Richard H. Estate: Executors First Intermediate Account.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90681940-1943MSS 80-3, Box 72Strongman Richard H. Estate: Skerritt's time reportArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90691940-1944MSS 80-3, Box 73Strongman Richard H. Estate: Correspondence. Domestic and foreignArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90701940-1951MSS 80-3, Box 74-5Strongman Richard H. Estate: Correspondence. Domestic and foreignArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90711940-1951MSS 80-3, Box 81-3Strongman Richard H. Estate: Power of attorneys copies and draft of Skerritt's Compensation explanationArchival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90721940-1950, 1972MSS 80-3, Box 84Strongman Richard H. Estate: German inventory. Petition for discovery of property.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90731940-1968MSS 80-3, Box 85Strongman Richard H: Newspaper clippings.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90741941-1942MSS 80-3, Box 86Strongman Richard H. Newspaper clippings re German property.Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90751941-1945MSS 80-3, Box 91Strongman Richard H. Estate - German estate. Memoranda and related miscellaneous documentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90761941-1945MSS 80-3, Box 92Strongman Richard H. Estate - Federal Estate Tax [documents].Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90771941-1946MSS 80-3, Box 93Strongman Richard H. - German Woolworth. Balance sheets and printed materials.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90781941, 1948, 1952, 1974MSS 80-3, Box 94Strongman Richard H. Biography and background. [Skerritt's notes].Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90791941, 1950-1973MSS 80-3, Box 95Strongman Richard H. Estate - New York State Taxes Record. 1948. Executors accounts.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90801942-1948MSS 80-3, Box 96Strongman Richard H. Estate - New York State Tax returns.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90811942, 1957-1968MSS 80-3, Box 97Strongman Richard H. Estate - Miller, Hortense S. legal documents: birth certificate, wills, death certificate, newspaper clippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90821942-1972MSS 80-3, Box 98Strongman Richard H. Estate - Executors accounts. Second intermediate account.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90831943-1944MSS 80-3, Box 99Strongman, Richard H. Estate re War Claims. [Miscellaneous copies of documents related to Strongman's claims; printed materials, handwritten notes].Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90841944-1973MSS 80-3, Box 101Strongman Richard H. Estate - Executors accounts. Third intermediate account.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90851948-1964MSS 80-3, Box 102Strongman Richard H. Estate - War Claims Act and International Law. [Printed materials, newspapers clippings, Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90861948-1972MSS 80-3, Box 103Strongman Richard H. Estate - Woolworth Co. Annual Report and Extract of Woolworth German Co. Correspondence. [Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90871948-1973MSS 80-3, Box 104Strongman Richard H. Estate Germany - N. Y. Woolworth Officers re German Woolworth.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90881949-1958MSS 80-3, Box 105Strongman Richard H. Estate - German estate inventory; powers of attorney; Assignment of Right to Purchase.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90891950MSS 80-3, Box 106Strongman Richard H. Estate - German Woolworth stock transfer and Gift Tax return.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90901950-1951MSS 80-3, Box 107Strongman Richard H. Estate - Correspondence primarily between Skerritt and German notary Heinrich F. Albert, Woolworth officials and German representatives.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90911950-1964MSS 80-3, Box 108Strongman Richard H. Estate - Heinrich F. Albert,[German notary], feesArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90921950-1964MSS 80-3, Box 111Skerritt's notes re Strongman Estate.Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90931950,1968, 1971, 1973MSS 80-3, Box 112Strongman Richard H. Estate - Correspondence. Copies of correspondence with Woolworth representatives and Strongman heirs; [Skerritt's notes].Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90941951-1967MSS 80-3, Box 113Strongman Richard H. Estate - Miscellaneous copies of documentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90951951-1972MSS 80-3, Box 114Strongman Richard H. Estate - Research materials and notes.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90961959-1973MSS 80-3, Box 115Strongman Richard H. Estate - Woolworth Co. Annual Reports, [Skerritt's notes].Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90971960-1973MSS 80-3, Box 116Strongman Richard H. Estate - War Claims. Copies of legislative documentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90981961-1965MSS 80-3, Box 117Strongman Richard H. Estate - German documentation of Strongman's property in BerlinArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/90991961-1967MSS 80-3, Box 118Strongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt's legal feesArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91001961-1976MSS 80-3, Box 121Strongman Richard H. Estate - Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Claim No. W-13008Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91011962-1966MSS 80-3, Box 122Strongman Richard H. Estate - Chapple, Charlotte S. and Linda Miller Bain and Byron Strongman Miller Claims. [Copies of documents]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91021962-1972MSS 80-3, Box 123German War Claims - New York Law. [Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91031962-1973MSS 80-3, Box 124Strongman Richard H. Estate - Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Correspondence, awards and related documents re Strongman, Chapple, and Miller estates.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91041962-1976MSS 80-3, Box 125Strongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt accountArchival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91051963-1974MSS 80-3, Box 126Strongman Richard H. Estate - German claims. Copies of translations of German documents.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91061965MSS 80-3, Box 127Strongman Richard H. Estate - Proof of American citizenship. War Claim - NY Woolworth.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91071965MSS 80-3, Box 128Strongman Richard H. Estate- Congressional Petition re Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Claims No. W-13008; W-7116; W- 7122Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91081966-1967MSS 80-3, Box 131Strongman Richard H. Estate - Hortense S. Miller War claims awardsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91091966-1968MSS 80-3, Box 132Strongman Richard H. Estate - Linda Hart Miller, Byron Strongman and Gail Hart claimsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91101966-1973MSS 80-3, Box 133Strongman Richard H. Estate - Memoranda in connection with additional fee claimArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91111966-1972MSS 80-3, Box 134Strongman Richard H. Estate - Fees, correspondence with Dr. Koch-WeserArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91121966-1972MSS 80-3, Box 135Strongman Richard H. Estate - Congressman Ogden R. Reid letterArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91131968MSS 80-3, Box 136Strongman Richard H. Estate - Administrative Procedure Act. [Annotated copies of treatises and Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91141968-1972MSS 80-3, Box 137Strongman Richard H. Estate - Law Reports (copies). Skerritt's notesArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91151972MSS 80-3, Box 138Strongman Richard H. Estate - Mistake of Law and Fact of Commission. [Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91161972MSS 80-3, Box 139Strongman, Richard H. Estate - [Annotated printed materials, Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91171972MSS 80-3, Box 141Strongman Richard H. Estate - Congressional Staff Directory. [Copy]Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91181972MSS 80-3, Box 142Strongman Richard H. Estate - German laws of inheritance and conflict of laws. [Skerritt's notes and clippings]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91191972MSS 80-3, Box 143Strongman, Richard H. Estate - Modern Constitutional Laws. Federal laws, [Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91201972MSS 80-3, Box 144Strongman Richard H. Estate - Violation of JLS [Skerritt] constitutional right of due process of law. [Newspaper clippings and copies of Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91211972MSS 80-3, Box 145Strongman Richard H. Estate - Law dictionaries. Interpretation of terms. [Skerritt's notes]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91221972-1973MSS 80-3, Box 146Strongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt's correspondence with Zvonko R. Rode re Claims W-7116 and W-7122 of Byron S. Miller, et al.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91231972-1973MSS 80-3, Box 147Strongman Richard H. Estate - Correspondence with G. Kirby Munson, Esq.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91241972-1974MSS 80-3, Box 148Strongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt's drafts as executor of Strongman Estate.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91251972-1974MSS 80-3, Box 149Strongman Richard H. Estate - [Skerritt's notes and reflections re compensation for attorney fees].Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91261972-1974MSS 80-3, Box 1410Strongman Richard H. Estate - Correspondence re Woolworth Claims.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91271973MSS 80-3, Box 1411Strongman Richard H. Estate - Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Skerritt letter to Wayland McCleland, General Counsel of the FCSC.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91281973-06-11MSS 80-3, Box 1412Strongman Richard H. Estate - Skerritt's correspondence, memoranda and notes re Strongman's German war claims.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91291973-1974MSS 80-3, Box 1413Strongman Richard H. Estate - [Correspondence between Elizabeth Skerritt and Clyde R. Armstrong re Richard H. Strongman estate accounts]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91301975-1978MSS 80-3, Box 1414Whitney, 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 of Proceedings of the Executors and of the Trustees from Nov.1, 1936 to March 31, 1941.Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91311941MSS 80-3, Box 15Whitney, Gertrude Vanderbilt. Photocopy of Decree on Accounting (Executors)Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91321943MSS 80-3, Box 152Whitney, Gertrude Vanderbilt. Newspaper clippings.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91331972-1973MSS 80-3, Box 153Bibliographic 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 Congress for the Period January 1-December 31, 1967. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States. Annual Report to the Congress for the Period January 1-December 31, 1968. Lilich, Richard B. and Gordon A. Christenson: International Claims: Their Preparation and Presentation. Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse University Press, 1962.Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/91341962-1968MSS 80-3, Box 16Strongman, Richard H. PortraitArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/9135ca. 1930-1931Law Special Collections photographs cabinet