The collection consists of speeches and printed matter relating to the building of the Panama Canal, a book "Panama" by Ashley Carter, material relating to the proposed Nicaragua Canal, and numerous newspaper obituaries about Malby. St. Lawrence University received the collection from Mrs. Ada Armstrong of Ogdensburg, New York in June of 1971. Malby was Mrs. Armstrong's husband Howard's great uncle.
Collection Overview
George Roland Malby was born in Canton, St. Lawrence County, N.Y., September 16, 1857; attended Canton Union School and St. Lawrence University; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1881 and commenced the practice of law in Ogdensburg, New York. He became a member of the State assembly from 1890-1895 and served in the State senate from 1895 until 1907. In 1907 he was elected as a Republican to the Sixtieth, Sixty-first, and Sixty-second Congresses and served until his death July 5, 1912 in New York City. Malby was instrumental in getting the Panama Canal built in its present location rather than through Nicaragua. He also introduced and pushed to passage the bill for the erection, equipment and maintenance of an agricultural school in connection with St. Lawrence University.