Manuscript Group 159 JOHN S. FISHER PAPERS 1886-1940 64 cu. ft.
John S. Fisher (b. 1867, d. 1940) was born in South Mahoning Township, Indiana
County, where he was a prominent lawyer and for many years a leading figure in
Republican Party politics. He was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the Indiana-Jefferson district twice, in 1900 and 1904. During his second
term in 1907, Fisher was named chairman of the Capitol Investigation Commission,
which exposed frauds in connection with the furnishing of the state capitol building.
He served as the Commonwealth's commissioner of banking from 1919-1922, Pennsylvania's
governor, 1927-1931, and was one of the chief organizers of the good roads
movement in Pennsylvania. These papers shed considerable light on the operations
of a number of state offices and agencies, including: the adjutant general, Department
of Agriculture, attorney general, auditor general, Department of Banking, Boies
Penrose Statue Executive Commission, State Boxing Commission, State Board of Censors
of Motion Pictures, secretary of the Commonwealth, Cook Forest Association, Delaware
River Bridge Commission, factory inspectors, Board of Fish Commissioners, Department
of Forests and Waters, Game Commission, Department of Health, Department of Highways,
Hoover Prosperity Program, state hospitals, Department of Insurance, Department
of Internal Affairs, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Industry,
state legislature, lieutenant governor, Department of Military Affairs, Department
of Mines, state penal institutions, Pennsylvania State Police, Porto Rico Child
Feeding Committee, Department of Property and Supplies, Department of Public Instruction,
Public Service Commission, Department of Revenue, Department of Treasury, Valley
Forge Park Commission, Department of Welfare, etc.