Orvin B. Fjare Papers, 1955-1957

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Fjare, Orvin B. (Orvin Benonie), 1918-
Title
Orvin B. Fjare Papers
Dates
1955-1957
Quantity
7.5 linear feet and 1 reel microfilm
Collection Number
Collection 1058, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The Orvin B. Fjare Papers contains office files from Mr. Fjare's Washington congressional office in 1954-1956. Includes much correspondence with Republican Party leaders at both state and national levels. Also included are case file responses and correspondence between Fjare and his constituents. Issues discussed include farm legislation, national defense installations in Montana, Yellowtail and Hungry Horse dams, Charles M. Russel Memorials, proposed highway projects, and additions to the national forests. Office bills and records are also included. Two photographs of Fjare are included along with political scrapbooks are copied on microfilm.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Orvin Benorie Fjare was born on a ranch in the Melville area near Big Timber, Sweet Grass County, Montana on April 16, 1918. He attended the local schools and Sweet Grass County High School. He became part owner of the clothing store where he worked before enlisting as a private in the U.S. Army in 1940. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant of Artillery in 1942, received his air force wings in 1944, and was discharged as a captain in 1946 after service in the South Pacific. Fjare became active in Junior Chamber of Commerce, served on the Board of Trustees of the Big Timber Schools 1951-1954, and was a member of the Montana Public Welfare Commission 1952 - 1954. He was elected as a Republican to the 84th Congress (January 3, 1955 - January 3, 1956 and was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1956. He was a member of the State House of Representatives in 1959 and was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1960. He engaged in the life insurance business and was advertising director of the Montana State Highway Department, 1962-1969. In 1970, he became director of the Montana Federal Housing Administration.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Fjare Collection contains 7.5 linear feet of office files from Mr. Fjare's Washington congressional office in 1954-1956. Includes much correspondence with Republican Party leaders at both state and national levels. Also included are case file responses and correspondence between Fjare and his constituents. Issues discussed include farm legislation, national defense installations in Montana, Yellowtail and Hungry Horse dams, Charles M. Russel Memorials, proposed highway projects, and additions to the national forests. Office bills and records are also included. Original order has been preserved. Two photographs of Fjare are included along with political scrapbooks are copied on microfilm.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1 Campaign and Republican Party Correspondence, 1954-1957

Series 2 Private Organizations Correspondence, 1954-1956

Series 3 Speeches, Releases, Legislation, and Related Papers, 1954-1956

Series 4 Case File Responses, 1955-1956

Series 5 Washington Office Papers, 1955-1956

Series 6 Independent Federal Agencies Correspondence, 1955-1956

Series 7 National Defense Correspondence, 1955-1957

Series 8 Miscellaneous Montana Papers

Series 9 Federal Department Agencies Correspondence, 1955-1957

Series 10 Legislative Files, 1955-1957

Series 11 Photographs and microfilm

Acquisition Information

Congressional papers created or collected by U.S. Congressman Orvin B. Fjare were donated to Special Collections by Mr. Fjare in August, 1971. A 16mm sound motion picture film of Fjare campaign material was donated by Jon Fjare of Helena, Montana on July 12, 2018.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 May 19

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  Campaign and Republican Party Correspondence, 1954-1957Return to Top

Includes correspondence involving Fjare's supporters, The Fjare For Congress Club officers, Montana Republican National Sec. Gladys Knowles, Wally Spangelo, Fjare's Office Manager, Montana Federation of Women's Republican Clubs, Montana Republican mailing lists, Montana Republican Central Committee, Montana Young Republicans, and the National Republican Committee. Much subject matter involves Fjare's congressional campaigns, while some involves Republican Party affairs, speaking engagements, and political matters.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Campaign Correspondence, Donor Lists and Voting Record
1956
1/2
Gladys Knowles, Republican National Sec. Correspondence
January 1955-November 1956
1/3
Republican Mailing Lists
1956
1/4
Montana Federation of Women's Republican Clubs Correspondence
1955-1956
1/5
Montana Republican State Central Committee
1955-1956
1/6
Republican Party Correspondence (General)
1955-1956
1/7
Montana Young Republicans Correspondence
1955-1956
1/8
National Republican Committee
July 1955-June 1956

Series 2:  Private Organizations Correspondence, 1954-1956Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/9
American Legion
December 1954-August 1956
1/10
American Legion Auxillery
September 1955-February 1956
1/11
Billings Chamber of Commerce (Air Fair)
August-December 1955
1/12
Montana Chamber of Commerce
January 1955-April 1956
1/13
Farm Bureau
April 1955-May 1956
1/14
Montana Farmer's Union
January 1955-October 1956
1/15
Montana Hotel Association
July-December 1955
1/16
Montana Stockgrower's Association
January 1955-March 1956
2/1
Montana Veterans of Foreign Wars
July 1955-March 1956
2/2
Montana Wildlife Association
January-June 1956
2/3
Montana Woolgrowers Association
January 1955-March 1956

Series 3:  Speeches, Press Releases, Legislation, and Related PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/4
Radio and TV Station Correspondence
January 1955-July 1956
2/5
Press Releases (Farm Bill, Durham Wheat, Oil and Gas, etc.)
2/6
General Personal Correspondence, Congratulations, etc.
June 1954-October 1956
2/7
Fjare Speeches in Congressional Record
1955-1956
2/8
Fjare Legislation
February 7, 1955-June 1956

Series 4:  Case File Responses, 1955-1956Return to Top

This series contains blue copies of case work responses from Fjare's office during his term in the House of Representatives. The initial incoming correspondence from Fjare's constituents is not included. This correspondence is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the recipient. Recipients are primarily Montana constituents of Rep. Fjare and issues discussed cover a wide array of subject matter. A general idea of subject matter may be found typed in the upper right-hand heading of each letter. Files are organized alphabetically by first letter of the last name of the addressee. Correspondence within a particular letter file are not arranged alphabetically, however.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/1
A
3/2-4
B
3/5-6
C
3/7-8
D
4/1
D (Cont.)
4/2
E
4/3
F
4/4-5
G
4/6-8
H
5/1
I
5/2
J
5/3-4
K
5/5-6
L
5/7-8
Mc
5/9-11
M
6/1
N
6/2
O
6/3-4
P
6/5
Q
6/6-7
R
6/8-10
S
7/1
S (Cont.)
7/2-3
T
7/4
U
7/5
V
7/6-8
W
7/9-10
X, Y, Z
7/11-13
Case Work on Academy Nominations (West Point, Annapolis, and Air Force)

Series 5:  Washington Office Papers, 1955-1957Return to Top

Includes inter-office phone bills, telegraph account forms, postage records, expense vouchers, correspondence and receipts for office furnishings. Also included are office letters such as requests by constituents to be placed on the mailing list for the Congressional Record.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
8/1
Correspondence regarding Congressional Record mailing list
8/2
Office Phone Bills, Telegram, and Postage Records
8/3
Office Correspondence with Library of Congress
8/4
Expense Vouchers, Receipts
8/5
Office Furnishings - Receipts, Purchas Orders, Correspondence

Series 6:  Independent Federal Agencies Correspondence, 1955-1957Return to Top

Includes general correspondence between Fjare's Congressional office and numerous independent federal agencies (agencies not under a cabinet department). Papers pertaining to U.S. Department agencies are organized as Series 9 (this is done to maintain the original order of Fjare's office files). Much of this correspondence is initiated by Representative Fjare on behalf of constituents. Both correspondence between Fjare's office and the agencies and between Fjare and his constituents are included. Agencies included herein include the Federal Communications Commission, the General Accounting Office, the National Labor Relations Board, and others.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
8/6
Post Office, Regional Post Offices, and Constituents
8/7
Postal Transportation Department, Requests for Appointments, etc.
8/8
Civil Aeronautics Administration Activities
8/9
Civil Defense Administration
8/10
Civil Service Commission
8/11
Civil Aeronautics Board
8/12
Federal Communications Commission
8/13
Federal Power Commission
8/14
Federal Housing Administration
8/15
Foreign Claims Commission
9/1
General Accounting Office
9/2
Hoover Commission
9/3
General Services Administration
9/4
Housing and Home Finance Agency
9/5
Interstate Commerce Commission
9/6
National Labor Relations Board
9/7
Railroad Retirement Board
9/8
Small Business Administration

Series 7:  National Defense CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Includes correspondence between the Fjare office, constituents, and defense agencies about defense efforts in Montana and nationwide. Matters discussed include a possible Air Force fighter base at Miles City, possible radar stations site near Jordan, Lewistown, and elsewhere, Glasgow air base housing shortages, discharges of Montana servicemen, efforts to bring Montana Air Reserve Center to Billings, Enlistment rank concerns, disbanding of Veterinary Corps, inquiries about purchasing surplus army equipment, reserve training in Billings, personnel transfers for Army officers, Army Corps of Engineer projects, nominations, complaints, Concerns about a guided missile range near Glasgow, Jaycee Air Fair in Billings, and other matters.

Container(s) Description
Box/Folder
9/9
Air Force
9/10
Army Correspondence
9/11
Army Corps of Engineers (Flood Control, etc.)
10/1
Navy
10/2
Coast Guard
10/3
Defense Department

Series 8:  Miscellaneous Montana PapersReturn to Top

Contains papers and correspondence pertaining to Fjare's operations and activities inside Montana. These files are kept in the original order and include correspondence regarding the Fjare for Congress Club, Charles M. Russell memorials, and proposed highway projects inside Montana. Much miscellaneous correspondence of a salutory nature is included, along with correspondence between Fjare and the Montana State legislature.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
10/4
Correspondence at Billings Office (Campaign Finances, and Organization)
10/5
Papers and Correspondence from Montana Legislature
1955-1956
10/6
Miscellaneous Correspondence, Foreign Affairs, etc.
10/7
Miscellaneous Correspondence with Constituents
1955-1956
10/8
Correspondence (Roads, Wilderness Area, Unemployment)
10/9
Miscellaneous Correspondence (Pending Legislation, etc.)
10/10
Miscellaneous Correspondence (C.M. Russell Statue, Attorneys, etc.)
11/1
Miscellaneous Correspondence (Montana Legislature, Youth Council)
11/2
Chalk Butte Road, Montana Highways
11/3
Montana Roads, Proposed Highways
11/4
C.M. Russell Statue, Stamp
11/5
Federal Job Clearances
1953-1956
11/6
Montana Fish and Game
1954-1956
11/7
Montana Highway Commission
1955
11/8
Montana Railroad/Public Service Commission
1955

Series 9:  Papers and Correspondence Pertaining to Federal Department AgenciesReturn to Top

Contains papers and correspondence between Fjare, his constituents, and agencies of the executive cabinet. A wide range of subject matter is covered, including agriculture, soil conservation, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Yellowtail and Fort Peck Dams, unemployment, military matters, and other concerns. Most correspondence is between Fjare and his Montana constituency. Original order is maintained.

Container(s) Description Dates
Department Of Agriculture
Box/Folder
12/1
Department Of Agriculture
1955-1956
12/2
Department Of Agriculture
1956
12/3
Agricultural Stabilization Commission
1955-1956
12/4
National Bison Range (Wesley D'Ewart)
1952-1954
12/5
Production Credit Associations, Bozeman, Great Falls, etc
1956
12/6
Soil Conservation
1954-1956
12/7
Paul Van Cleve Land Trade, Nat. Forest
1954-1955
12/8
Commodity Credit Corporations
1955
12/9
Farmers Home Administration
1955-1956
12/10
U.S. Forest Service (Bob Marshall Wilderness, etc.)
1954-1956
12/11
Rural Electrification Administration
1955-1956
12/12
Tongue River Electrical Co-op
1956
Department Of Commerce
Box/Folder
13/1
Bureau of Public Roads
1955-1956
13/2
U.S. Patent Office, Unemployment, etc
1955-1956
13/3
Patents, U.S. Patent Office
1955-1956
13/4
U.S. Weather Bureau
1955-1956
13/5
Health, Education, and Welfare
1955-1956
13/6
Food and Drug Administration
1956
13/7
Social Security Administration
1955-1956
Department Of Interior
Box/Folder
13/8
Bureau of Indian Affairs
1955-1956
13/9
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Reservation, Blackfoot Reservation
1955-1956
13/10
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Council, Crow Lawsuits, etc.
1956
13/11
Flathead Reservation
1955
13/12
Fort Belnap Reservation
1955-1956
14/1
Fort Peck Reservation
1954-1956
14/2
Northern Cheyenne Reservation
1955
14/3
Rocky Boy Reservation
1955-1956
14/4
Bureau of Land Management (Oil and Gas, etc)
1956
14/5
Bureau of Land Management (Rents, Claims, Fees, etc.)
1955-1956
14/6
Bureau of Mines
1954-1956
14/7
Bureau of Reclamation (Irrigation at Helena, Havre, etc.)
1955
14/8
Fish and Wildlife Service
1955-1956
14/9
National Park Service (Yellowstone Elk, Roads, Park Employment, etc.)
1955-1956
15/1
Office of Minerals Mobilization (Manganese Mining, etc.)
1956
15/2
Regarding Red Lodge Chrome Deposits
1953-1956
15/3
Buffalo Rapids Irrigation Project, Terry, Montana
1954-1955
15/4
Colorado River Basin Project (Bur. of Reclamation, etc.)
1955-1956
15/5
Fort Peck Dam
1955
15/6
Helena Valley Unit/Bureau of Reclamation
1955
15/7
Hell's Canyon
1955-1956
15/8
Huntley Project
1956
15/9
Moorehead Dam, Powder River, Bureau of Reclamation
1955
15/10
Yellowtail Dam Correspondence Papers
1954-1956
15/11
Yellowtail Dam Publicity, Legislation, Clippings
1953-1956
U.S. Justice Department
Box/Folder
16/1
Kodak Anti-Trust Case, U.S. Marshalls Salary, etc
1955-1956
16/2
FBI (Hotel Reservations)
1955
16/3
Immigration and Naturalization Service
1955-1956
U.S. Department Of Labor
Box/Folder
16/4
Veterans Administration
1955-1956
16/5
Department of Labor
1955-1956
U.S. State Department
Box/Folder
16/6
U.S. State Department (Foreign Aid, etc.)
1955-1956
16/7
Visas and Passports
1955-1956
16/8
Foreign Aid
1956
U.S. Treasury Department
Box/Folder
16/9
Bureau of Customs
1955-1956
16/10
Port of Entry at Raymond, Mont, etc.
1955-1956
16/11
Treasury Department Regulations, Matters
1955-1956
16/12
Atomic Energy Commission
1955-1956

Series 10:  Legislative Files, 1955-1957Return to Top

Contains papers and correspondence from constituents, interest groups, and government agencies regarding legislation being considered by the various committees and subcommittees of the U.S. House of Representatives. Correspondence includes requests to vote for or against bills or alter specific provisions of bills. Some correspondence is of an informative nature. These papers are organized alphabetically according to the separate committees of the House of Representatives.

Container(s) Description Dates
Agriucuture Committee
Box/Folder
17/1
Farm Legislation, House Agriculture Committee
1956
17/2
House Agriculture Committee
1954-1956
17/3
Correspondence/Farm Questionnaire
1956
17/4
Soil Bank
1956
17/5
House Agriculture Committee
1955-1956
17/6
Public Lands
1955-1956
17/7
Regarding Worm Infestations, Interior Appropriations
1955
17/8
Durham Wheat/Wheat Farmers
1954-1956
17/9
Sugar Act Extensions
1954-1956
Appropriations
Box/Folder
18/1
House Appropriations Committee
1955-1956
18/2
Appropriations Committee, Proposed Research, Drainage, Mosquitoes
1955-1956
18/3
Appropriations/Construction of Drainage Projects
1955-1956
Armed Services
Box/Folder
18/4
House Armed Services Committee
1955-1956
18/5
House Bills/ Universal Military Training, etc.
1955-1956
18/6
House Banking and Currency Committee
1955-1956
18/7
House Committee on Committees
1955-1956
Education and Labor
Box/Folder
18/8
House Committee on Education and Labor (School Funding, Libraries)
1955-1956
18/9
Committee on Education and Labor (School Bonding Laws, etc.)
1955
19/1
Committee on Eductation and Labor (Indian Education Contracts, Appropriations)
1955
19/2
Committee on Education and Labor (School Construction)
1955-1956
Foreign Affairs
Box/Folder
19/3
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
1955-1956
Government Operations
Box/Folder
19/4
House Committee on Government Operations
1955-1956
Interior and Insular Affailrs
Box/Folder
19/5
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1955-1956
19/6
Interior and Insular Affairs, Indian Affairs Subcommittee
1955-1956
19/7
Crow Reservation Land Restoration, Interior and Insular Affairs
1955-1956
19/8
Interior and Insular Affairs, Agnes Voorhies Land Deal
1955
19/9
Interior and Insular Affairs, (Mining, Use of Public Lands)
1955
19/10
Interior and Insular Affairs, Legislation on Building Funds
1955
19/11
Interior and Insular Affairs, Land Transfer to Miles City
1955
19/12
Interior and Insular Affairs, Mineral Grant to Crow Res.
1955
Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Box/Folder
19/13
Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Committee Correspondence
1955-1956
19/14
Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Committee Correspondence, Silver Bill
1956
19/15
Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Natural Gas Regulations
1955-1956
Judiciary
Box/Folder
20/1
Judiciary Committee, McCarron-Walter Bill
1955-1956
20/2
Judiciary Committee, Construction Codes
1955-1956
20/3
Judiciary Committee, Regarding Medicine Lake, Montana Water Pollution
1954-1956
20/4
Judiciary Committee, Regarding Keith Botterud
1955-1956
20/5
Judiciary Committee, Regarding Dr. Kuo York Chynn
1955-1956
20/6
Judiciary Committee, Havre Sacred Heart Hospital Relief
1951-1956
20/7
Judiciary Committee, Equal Rights Amendment
1955
Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (House and Senate)
Box/Folder
20/8
Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
1955
Merchant Marine and Fisheries
Box/Folder
20/9
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
1955-1956
20/10
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Miles City Hatchery
1956
Post Office and Civil Service
Box/Folder
20/11
Post Office and Civil Service Committee, Civil Service Retirement, Rates, etc.
1955-1956
20/12
Post Office and Civil Service Committee, Pay Raises, Other Issues
1954-1955
Public Works
Box/Folder
20/13
Public Works Committee
1955-1956
21/1
Public Works Committee, National Highway Program
1952-1956
21/2
Public Works Committee, National Highway Program
1955-1956
21/3
Public Works Committee, National Rivers and Harbors
1955
21/4
Rules Committee
1956
Un-American Activities
Box/Folder
21/5
Un-American Activities Committee
1955-1956
Veterans Affairs
Box/Folder
21/6
Veterans Affairs Committee
1955-1956
Ways and Means
Box/Folder
21/7
Ways and Means Committee
1955-1956
21/8
Ways and Means Committee, Reciprocal Trade
1955-1956
21/9
Ways and Means Committee, Co-ops
1955-1956
21/10
Ways and Means Committee, Social Security
1955-1956
21/11
Ways and Means Committee, Excise Tax
1955-1956
21/12
Ways and Means Committee, Fluorspar Mining
1955

Series 11:  Photographs and MicrofilmReturn to Top

Two photographs of Orvin Fjare taken during his political career and a microfilm copy of the congressman's scrapbooks.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
21/13
#1: Fjare Portrait
4" × 7"
#2: Fjare Addressing Republican National Convention, San Francisco
1956
Box
22
Microfilmed scrapbooks
23
Fjare campaign film

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agricultural laws and legislation-United States
  • Dams-Montana
  • Forest reserves-United States
  • Highway planning-Law and legislation-United States
  • Legislators-United States
  • Military bases-Montana

Personal Names

  • Russell, Charles M. (Charles Marion), 1864-1926

Corporate Names

  • Republican Party (Mont.)
  • Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
  • United States-Congress-House

Geographical Names

  • Hungry Horse Dam (Mont.)
  • Montana-Politics and government-20th century
  • United States-Politics and government-1953-1961
  • Yellowtail Dam (Mont.)