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Creator
Greene, F. V. (Francis Vinton), 1850-1921
Call number
MssCol 1235
Physical description
3 linear feet (6 boxes, 11 v.)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Francis Vinton Greene papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Francis Vinton Greene (1850-1921) was an American soldier, engineer and author. His military duties included serving as military attaché in Russia in 1877, teaching at West Point, and commanding volunteers during the Spanish-American War. In 1903 he was appointed Police Commissioner of New York City. He also worked as an engineer on various projects and wrote military histories. Collection consists of Greene's correspondence, his papers pertaining to service in the Spanish-American War, speeches, miscellaneous materials, and books. Correspondence, 1801-1921, includes general correspondence; letters from Theodore Roosevelt, Major General Emory Upton and General William Tecumseh Sherman; and family letters. Spanish-American War papers, 1898-1900, contain orders, telegrams, accounts, reports, and some correspondence. Speeches, 1898-1918, were given by Greene as a soldier, businessman and police commissioner. Miscellaneous papers, 1801-1915, consist of a wide range of materials relating to all aspects of Greene's life and include genealogical information, orders, maps, memoranda, drafts of articles and reports, notes, photographs, and clippings. Bound volumes are orderly books (including 1776 orderly book of Nathanael Greene), writings on military tactics, diaries kept by Greene, and correspondence.

Biographical/historical information

Francis Vinton Greene (1850 - 1921), was a soldier, business executive, author and Police Commissioner of the city of New York.

Greene received his early education at Trinity School, N. Y., and Burlington College, N. J. He graduated head of his class at West Point in 1870. After two years on duty in the mountains of N. C., he spent four with the International Boundary Commission marking the northern border of the U. S. In 1877 the government sent him to Russia as Military Attaché to accompany the Russian army in the field in the war against Turkey. Greene received three decorations from the Czar, and on his return wrote a military history of the war that was regarded as "a standard work on the subject". When duties permitted Greene continued to write; among his books are: "Army Life in Russia", "The Revolutionary War" and "The Mississippi Campaigns in the Civil War".

From 1879 to 1885 Greene was Chief Assistant to the Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia and in charge of the public works of the district. From August 1885 to January 1886, he was an instructor in the Department of Practical Military Engineering at West Point. Greene was on leave from January 1886 to December of that year, when he resigned from the army and went into business. In 1889 Greene joined the National Guard of New York as Major and Engineer of the first brigade and in 1892 was elected Colonel of the 71st Regiment.

For his services during the Spanish - American war, Greene was made a Major - General of volunteers on August 13, 1898. In September of 1898 he returned to the U. S. and was assigned to command a division of the seventh army corps, then stationed in Georgia, but was soon sent to Havana, Cuba, having been selected governor of the city. Greene declined the assignment and resigned from the volunteer army on February 28, 1899. At this time Greene went back into business.

In 1903 Mayor Seth Low appointed Greene Police Commissioner. After his term of one year, Greene resumed business relations with several important organizations. In 1915 he moved from Buffalo to New York City, and from that year until the time of his death his business activity was only that of consulting engineer.

General Greene was married in 1879 at Washington to Miss Belle Chevallié and had five children.

Scope and arrangement

Arrangement

Five series: I. Correspondence; II. Papers Relating to Service in the Spanish-American War; III. Speeches; IV. Miscellaneous Materials; V. Books

Administrative information

Processing information

jds, 1973

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328

Alternative form available

Report on Philippines; diary, 1898; and speeches, 1894, 1898 and 1915, available on microfilm; New York Public Library

Sketchbook, 1872-1876, available on microfilm; New York Public Library

Letters, 1872-1876, available on microfilm; New York Public Library

Diary, 1875, available on microfilm; New York Public Library