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Collection Calvin Coolidge Papers

Timeline

A chronology of key events in the life of John Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), lawyer, businessman, Massachusetts governor, vice president, and thirtieth president of the United States.

John Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)

  1. 1872, July 4

    Born John Calvin Coolidge, Plymouth Notch, Vt.
    The Coolidge Home, Plymouth, Vt., 1924. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. LC-USZ62-59114

  2. 1895

    Graduated, Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.

  3. 1897

    Admitted to Massachusetts bar

  4. 1898

    Opened law office, Northampton, Mass.; elected to Northampton’s city council

  5. 1900-1902

    City solicitor, Northampton, Mass.

  6. 1903

    Clerk of the courts, Hampshire County, Mass.

  7. 1905

    Married Grace Anna Goodhue (died 1957)
    Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, ca. 1924. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. LC-USZ62-25810

  8. 1907-1908

    Member, Massachusetts house of representatives

  9. 1910-1911

    Mayor, Northampton, Mass.

  10. 1912-1915

    Member, Massachusetts state senate

  11. 1916-1918

    Lieutenant governor, Massachusetts

  12. 1919-1920

    Governor, Massachusetts
    Governor Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts, 1920. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. LC-DIG-ds-07523

  13. 1921-1923

    Vice president of the United States
    President Warren G. Harding and Vice President Calvin Coolidge, 1920. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. LC-USZ62-1075741923-19

  14. 1923, Aug. 3

    Sworn-in as U.S. president following Warren G. Harding’s death on Aug. 2. The oath of office was administered by his father, John Coolidge, a justice of the peace, in the Coolidge home in Plymouth, Vt.
    First correct composite photograph made of President Coolidge's first dramatic inaugural in Plymouth, Vt., Aug. 3, 1923. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. LC-USZ62-7885

  15. 1924

    Death of sixteen-year-old son Calvin on July 7
    Won the presidential election on Nov. 4

  16. 1925-1929

    Served a full four-year term as U.S. president, declining to run for reelection in 1928
    President Coolidge, Mrs. Coolidge and Senator Curtis on the way to the Capitol, Mar. 4, 1925. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. LC-USZ62-29717

  17. 1929

    Returned to Northampton, Mass.
    Published the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge. New York: Cosmopolitan Book Corp.

  18. 1930-1931

    Published columns “Calvin Coolidge Says” and “Thinking Things Over with Calvin Coolidge” for the McClure Newspaper Syndicate

  19. 1933, Jan. 5

    Died, Northampton, Mass.