Russell A. Austin papers, 1964-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Austin, Russell A., 1930-
Title
Russell A. Austin papers
Dates
1964-1983 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.73 cubic feet (6 boxes)
Collection Number
4585 (Accession No. 4585-001)
Summary
Papers of a King County, Washington, Republic party leader.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

The papers are open to all users.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Although he served little time as a public official, Russell Austin was an active King County, Washington, Republican party leader from the 1960s through the 1980s. Born in 1930, Austin received his B.A. from the University of Washington in 1953. He then served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and after his release in 1955 he became active in the Republican party. During this period Austin returned to the University of Washington, where he earned his law degree in 1964. During most of his career he worked as a partner in the Seattle law firm of Rutherford, Kargianis & Austin.

In 1966 Austin ran for the State House of Representatives and lost. However, after this defeat he became even more active in the Republican party and began serving on many different committees and delegations. He attended numerous national Republican party conventions between 1964 and 1980, he was active in promoting Ronald Reagan for president in 1968 and 1976, and he served on the King County Central Committee of the Republican party in the late 1960s, the Sea-Tac Republican Club, and the Washington State Central Committee of the Republican party.

In February 1980 Austin was appointed to fill an unexpected vacancy in the state House of Representatives, but he did not win the election for that post in the following November.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Russell A. Austin papers consist of campaign and convention materials that Russell collected. There is also a substantial amount of material from Austin’s service on state and local Republican committees.

General correspondence contains materials related to a controversy surrounding the denial of tenure to University of Washington law professor James E. Beaver in 1968, and some materials related to the 1968 U.S. House election campaign by Seattle Republican Bob Eberle. The papers also include correspondence in subject files or in the Republican Party files. In addition to these materials are the files, including notes and correspondence, from Austin’s 1966 campaign for the Washington State legislature.

Major correspondents include Kenneth Rogstad, Dennis H. Dunn, Earl Davenport, and C. Montgomery Johnson.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Preferred Citation

Russell A. Austin Papers. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 2 series:

  • Personal papers, 1964-1983
  • Republican party files, 1965-1976

Acquisition Information

Austin donated the papers in 1996.

Processing Note

Processing was completed by Molly Quick in July 1997.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Personal papers, 1964-1983Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Biographical features
undated
1/2
General correspondence
1968
1/3-2/7
Republican Party National Conventions
1964-1980
Campaign files
Box/Folder
2/8-15
Russell Austin for Washington State Representative, 30th District
1966
2/16
Horton Smith for Judge
1968
2/17
Nelson Rockefeller for President
1968
2/18-20
Ronald Reagan for President
1976
Subject files
Box/Folder
2/21
Law Offices of Rutherford, Kargianis & Austin
circa 1972
2/22
McGovern, George
1972
Box/Folder
2/23
Reports
1967-1976
2/24
Invitations
1981-1983
2/25
Certificates
1966
3/1-2
Clippings
1966, 1976
3/3
Court Papers
1966-1976
5/1-2
Ephemera
undated
Box
6
Campaign memorabilia and ephemera

Republican Party records, 1965-1976Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Republican Party, King County Central Committee
Box/Folder
3/4
Organizational features
1969
3/5-7
General correspondence
Major correspondent: Kenneth Rogstad.
1969-1973, undated
3/8
Speeches and writings
undated
3/9
Notes
undated
3/10
Lists
undated
3/11
Newsletters
undated
3/12
Clippings
circa 1969
3/13
Certificates
1970, 1972
3/14
Caucus questionnaire
1972
3/15
Ephemera
undated
Subject Files
Box/Folder
3/16
Biographical
undated
3/17
Reorganizational meeting
1966
3/18-19
Club '68
circa 1968
Box/Folder
3/20-24
Republican Party, King Country Central Committee, Rules Committee
1966-1972
3/25
Republican Party, Sea-Tac Republican Club
1967
Republican Party, Washington State Central Committee
Box/Folder
3/26-27
General correspondence
Major correspondents: Dennis H. Dunn, Earl Davenport, C. Montgomery Johnson.
1969-1972
3/28
Minutes
1969-1972
3/29
By-laws
undated
3/30-31
Executive board notebooks
1967-1970
3/32-4/1
Republican Party, Washington State Convention
1968-1976
4/2
Clippings
1968-1972
4/3
Reports
1969
4/4
Directories
1967-1970
4/5
Lists
undated
4/6
Court Papers
1970
Subject files
Box/Folder
4/7
The Seventh Congressional Club
1967
4/8
State credentials
1968
4/9
Washington Young Republican Federation
1965-1969
Box/Folder
4/10
Republican Party, Washington State Central Committee, Ballot Committee
circa 1976

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Elections--Washington (State)
  • Lawyers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Legislators--Washington (State)
  • Party committees--Washington (State)
  • Party committees--Washington (State)--King County
  • Political campaigns--Washington (State)
  • Political candidates--Washington (State)
  • Political parties--Washington (State)
  • Political parties--Washington (State)--King County

Personal Names

  • Austin, Russell A., 1930---Archives
  • Davenport, Earl
  • Dunn, Dennis H
  • Johnson, C. Montgomery (Charles Montgomery)
  • Rogstad, Kenneth

Corporate Names

  • Republican Party (King County, Wash.). Central Committee
  • Republican Party (Wash.). Central Committee
  • Republican Party. Sea-Tac Republican Club

Geographical Names

  • King County (Wash.).--Politics and government--20th century
  • Washington (State)--Politics and government--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • By-laws
  • Campaign literature
  • Campaign paraphernalia
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Court records
  • Newsletters
  • Notebooks
  • Speeches, addresses, etc
  • correspondence
  • minutes
  • reports
  • writings

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)