Woods was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1889 and by
1912 was one of the foremost corporation lawyers in the
state, practicing in Pittsburgh. In his early career, he had
become closely affiliated with the Mellons in Republican politics and
for a time was leader of the Western Pennsylvania Republican
machine, then under Mellon control. Later he served as general counsel
of the Pittsburgh Coal Co. and represented the Mellon banking interests
in some of the celebrated railroad cases of the time. In 1912 he
was appointed by President William Howard Taft as minister to Portugal.
However, in 1915 he returned to his native state to become secretary of
the commonwealth. In 1921 he was once again sent abroad, this time Warren
G. Harding appointed him ambassador extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to Spain (1921-23), and later Japan (1923-24). On his
return to the United States he became active in state politics and ended
his public career in 1930 as attorney general of Pennsylvania.
Woods became minister to Portugal at a critical time in that country's
history. Four years previous, King Charles and the Crown Prince were
assassinated in the streets of Lisbon. Emmanuel II came to the throne but
in 1910 a revolution took place, and a republican form of government was
proclaimed with Theophilus Braga, a native of the Azores, as President.
He immediately carried out various radical measures, including the
abolishing of religious orders, the Senate, and all hereditary privileges
and titles. It was into this arena that Woods stepped in 1912.
These papers, bound together in a single volume with a complete index at
the front, cover the first year (1912) of Woods' term as minister to
Portugal. They are his official papers with the in-coming correspondence
as well as retained carbons of Woods' replies, the latter group all being
signed by him. The incoming letters include from official communications
with the State Department in Washington, correspondence with the
Portuguese government in Lisbon and requests for assistance by
Americans either visiting Portugal or seeking favors from the
Portuguese government. Correspondents include such statesmen as Philander
C. Knox, Huntington Wilson, and John Bassett. A series to and
from Arthur Macdonald are important; he was the father of the study
of abnormal psychology. Perhaps the most important section of
the archives is correspondence with the American consul in the Azores.
American-Portuguese citizens would return to Portugal, primarily to the
Azores, to visit relatives or to inaugurate business ventures. For the
most part they were born in Portuguese fishing communities in California
and Massachusetts, and many in 1912 were living in the New Bedford and
fall river areas. If they were staying for some length of time in
Portugal they were required to fill out a detailed "Certificate of
Registration" for the American consul which would then be forwarded to the
Ambassador in Lisbon. These certificates are present and constitute a
wealth of statistical and cultural information about the Portuguese in
America. The Cyrus E. Woods Papers are an important source for
any scholars studying Portuguese American diplomatic relations,
American foreign relations, and the history of the Portuguese
in America. Extent: .25 linear feet Number of Boxes:
1 Provenance: Gift of Frederick B. Scheetz, December, 1986 Date Span:
1912 Processed by: Michael J. North Date: October 19, 1990
ACCESSION DATA: Gift of Frederick B. Scheetz, December, 1986
BULK DATES: 1912 - 1912
SPAN DATES: 1912 - 1912
EXTENT: 1 SMALL BOX