Arthur W. Coolidge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 56th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 2, 1947 – January 6, 1949 | |
| Governor | Robert F. Bradford |
| Preceded by | Robert F. Bradford |
| Succeeded by | Charles F. Sullivan |
| President of the Massachusetts Senate | |
| In office 1945–1946 | |
| Preceded by | Jarvis Hunt |
| Succeeded by | Donald W. Nicholson |
| Member of theMassachusetts Senate from the 7th Middlesex District | |
| In office 1941–1946 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph R. Cotton |
| Succeeded by | George Jelly Evans |
| Member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office 1937–1940 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Arthur William Coolidge October 13, 1881 Cumberland County, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | January 23, 1952 (aged 70) Reading, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mabel Tilton |
| Relations | Richard B. Coolidge (brother) Calvin Coolidge (cousin) Martha Coolidge (granddaughter) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Tufts University (1903) Harvard Law School (1906) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Arthur William Coolidge (October 13, 1881 – January 23, 1952) was aMassachusetts politician who served multiple positions within the state government.[1]
Coolidge was born inCumberland County, Maine.
Coolidge worked as a lawyer before becoming a member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives (1937–1940) and of theMassachusetts State Senate (1941–1946). From 1947 to 1949 he was the 56thlieutenant governor of Massachusetts. He was the Republican nominee forgovernor in1950.
From 1943 to 1947, Coolidge was head of a legislative commission (popularly known as the Coolidge Commission) to address the future of theBoston Elevated Railway (BERy). The commission proposed a number of suburban extensions – some of which were built over the following four decades – and created the plans to reform the BERy as the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the predecessor of the modernMassachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.[2]
AUnitarian andFreemason, Coolidge served as Grand Master of Masons (1943–1944) and a member of theAmerican Bar Association andTheta Delta Chi. In 1951, he was elected as a member of the Massachusetts Society of theSons of the American Revolution.
A fourth cousin toPresidentCalvin Coolidge, he had one daughter, Dorothy Coolidge Cox and two sons: Robert Tilton Coolidge (1915–1955) and Arthur William Coolidge II.[3] One of his grandchildren is film directorMartha Coolidge.[4]
He was brother of Massachusetts politicianRichard B. Coolidge.
Coolidge died at his home in Boston and is buried in Forest Glen Cemetery inReading, Massachusetts. The Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School was named in his honor.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 1946, 1948 | Succeeded by |
| Republican nominee forGovernor of Massachusetts 1950 | Succeeded by | |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Robert Bradford | Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 1947–1949 | Succeeded by |
