Kenton Bird Papers, 1950s-2003

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bird, Kenton, 1954-
Title
Kenton Bird Papers
Dates
1950s-2003 (inclusive)
1995-1997 (bulk)
Quantity
6 Linear feet of shelf space, (12 Boxes)
Collection Number
Cage 802 (collection)
Summary
This collection consists of papers related to Kenton Bird's research on Thomas S. Foley, Representative from the Fifth Congressional District of Washington State from 1964 to 1994, and Speaker of the House from 1989 to 1995. Most materials are research files, notes, and drafts related to Bird's 1999 Ph.D. dissertation, "The Speaker from Spokane: The Rise and Fall of Tom Foley as a Congressional Leader" (Washington State University).
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Journalism educator, reporter, and editor Robert Kenton Bird earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Idaho, where he edited the student newspaper, the Argonaut. He attended the University of Wales on a Rotary fellowship, earning a master's degree in journalism history, and continued his graduate work at Washington State University, earning a Ph.D. in American Studies. His doctoral dissertation is a political biography of Tom Foley, speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1989 to 1995.

During a 15-year career as a reporter and editor, Bird worked for newspapers in Moscow, Lewiston, Sandpoint and Kellogg, Idaho, and spent a summer at The Washington Post. In 1989, he was a congressional fellow of the American Political Science Association, assigned as a congressional staff member in Washington, D.C. He spent three years on the faculty at Colorado State University before returning to the University of Idaho in 1999. In 2003, he was appointed director of the University of Idaho School of Journalism and Mass Media.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of papers related to Kenton Bird's Ph.D. dissertation, "The Speaker from Spokane: The Rise and Fall of Tom Foley as a Congressional Leader" (Washington State University, 1999). It includes planning and research notes, drafts, collected primary and secondary sources (mainly reproductions), interview records including audio recordings and notes, and video recordings (compilations of 1994 campaign advertising for Foley and his opponent, George Nethercutt).

Series 1: Research files: Chronological - This file sequence follows the chronology of Tom Foley's career, from the 1950s to 1997. It includes collected research material (mainly reproductions), as well as correspondence.

Series 2: Research files: Subject - This file sequence consists of research materials arranged by topic. It includes collected research material (mainly reproductions and clippings).

Series 3: Other research files - This series contains additional Foley research files, and consists of notes and collected research material (mainly reproductions and clippings).

Series 4: Dissertation drafts, outlines, notes, and additional research material.

Series 5: Manuscript for "Tom Foley: The Man in the Middle" - This series includes a complete manuscript of the book as well as production notes, interview transcripts, and other related materials.

Series 6: Other Foley projects by Kenton Bird - This series includes book proposals, publications, and presentations.

Series 7: Interview documentation and audiovisual media - This series consists of audio recordings (microcassettes) of interviews conducted by Bird, interview documentation including notes and a name and topic index, and video recordings (VHS cassettes) of campaign advertising for Foley and his opponent, George Nethercutt.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Audio recordings in this collection were digitized in January 2021. The audio files are retained both as unedited wav files and as speed-corrected mp3 files in MASC’s archival digital storage. Contact the repository for access information.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]

Kenton Bird Papers, circa 1950s-2003 (Cage 802)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in seven series.

Acquisition Information

Kenton Bird donated these papers to the Washington State University Libraries in two installments, in 2005 and 2012 (MS.2005.29, MS.2012.22)

Processing Note

Cheryl Gunselman processed this collection in 2013.

Related Materials

Thomas S. Foley Congressional Papers, 1964-1997 (Cage 655)

Thomas S. Foley Photographs, 1905-1995 (PC 111)

Thomas S. Foley Papers, 1962-2001 (MSSM.073)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Research files: Chronological, circa 1950s-1997Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1-4 1-71
Research files: Chronological
circa 1950s-1997

Series 2: Research files: SubjectReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 72
John Barry, 1989, The Ambition and the Power (J. Wright)
1989
4 73
Election overviews
1994
4 74
Gun control-NRA
undated
4 75
Tribune clips
1980-1989
4 76
Judge Ralph Foley (father), Helen Higgins Foley (mother)
undated
4 77
Heather Foley
undated
4 78
Clarice Privette
undated
4 79
Medicare
undated
4 80
Grand Coulee Dam
undated
4 81
Civil rights, fair housing
1966
4 82
District 5, pork barrel projects
undated
4 83
Term limits I (I-553, 1991)
1991
4 84
Term limits II (I-573, 1992)
1992
4 85
Term limits III (lawsuit)
1993-1995
4 86
Term limits (miscellaneous)
undated
5 87
Term limits
undated
5 88
Term limits, opposition
1991
5 89
House bank scandal
1991-1992
5 90
Bank, Post Office
undated
5 91
Post Office
undated
5 92
Internet, NFIB
1994
5 93
Pay and perks
undated
5 94
Campaign finance
undated
5 95
Congress, Contra aid
1986-1988
5 96
Foreign policy
undated
5 97
Congressional reforms, Hamilton committee
1995
5 98
First Amendment, free press, FOIA, flag
undated
5 99
Rivers and dams
undated
5 100
The Ragged Edge (S-R series)
1995 December
6 101
Great Divide--Spokane vs. Seattle
undated
6 102
J. Wright, K. Olsen (miscellaneous Foley notes)
undated
6 103
Farmers, agricultural issues
undated
6 104
Forests, logging, ESA
undated
6 105
Legislators, Leading, and Lawmaking (Sinclair)
1995
6 106
Remaking Congress
1995
6 107
LBJ Papers, University of Texas
undated
6 108
Senators on the Campaign Trail (Fenno)
l996
6 109
Former members of Congress, Northwest
undated
6 110
Henry Jackson Papers, UW
undated
6 111
Foley Papers at WSU
undated
6 112
Foley Institute, WSU
undated
6 113
Tony Coelho (1989 resignation, 1994 rehabilitation)
1989, 1994
6 114
Newt Gingrich
undated
6 115
Lee Hamilton
undated
7 116
George Nethercutt
undated
7 117
Nethercutt--term limits
1998-1999
7 118
John Sonneland
undated
7 119
Agriculture
undated
7 120
Student unrest
circa 1970s
7 121
Vietnam--student protests
1967-1970
7 122
Voter pamphlet profiles
1966-1994
7 123
Jim Wright, gun control
undated
7 124
Campaign (miscellaneous)
1988-1990
7 125
Expo 74
undated
7 126
FEC reports
1976-1996
7 127
Miscellaneous brochures and newsletters
undated

Series 3: Other Research filesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
7 128
Foley research (contact information)
undated
7 129
D.C. trip
1995 June
7 130
To read, write on D.C. trip
undated
7 131
D.C. trip
1997
7 132
D.C. trip
1997 May
7 133
Biographical/research strategies
undated
7 134
Official biographies of TSF
undated
7 135-136
Profiles (newspapers, magazines)
undated
8 137
Fifth District: geography, economics, population
undated
8 138
Demographics, migration
undated
8 139
Pacific Northwest politics (overviews)
undated
8 140
Abstracts of votes, Fifth District
1964-1988
8 141
State general elections (official returns and abstracts)
undated
8 142
Syllabus for course at American University (Congress and the Executive)
1996
8 143
Research notes, Foley Papers
undated
8 144
TSF schedules
undated
8 145
Foley Papers (copies from the collection at WSU)
undated
8 146
The System (Broder and Johnson)
1996
8 147
Jeff Biggs (manuscript)
undated
8 148
McCormack Institute, UMass
undated
8 149
O'Brien (2)
undated
8 150
Mike Mansfield biography (excerpt)
undated

Series 4: Dissertation drafts, outlines, notes, and additional research material Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
8-10 154-162
Dissertation drafts
undated
10 163
Bibliographic essay
undated
10 164-167
WSU dissertation and thesis guidelines; planning, notes, proposals, advisor questions
undated
10 168-173
Comments and corrections
undated
10 174-175
Unlabeled drafts
undated

Series 5: Manuscript for "Tom Foley: The Man in the Middle"Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
11 176
Front matter
2021
11 177
Chapter 1: Man in the Middle
2021
11 178
Chapter 3: A Bipartisan Speaker
2021
11 179
Chapter 4: The Political Landscape
2021
11 180
Chapter 5: Holding the Center
2021
11 181
Chapter 6: Pinnacle of Power
2021
11 182
Chapter 7: Defending the House
2021
11 183
Chapter 8: The Perfect Storm
2021
11 184
Chapter 9: Conclusion
2021
11 185
Bibliography
2021
11 186
Epilogue (folder 1)
2021
11 187
Epilogue (folder 2)
1997-2004
11 188
Lewiston Tribune Photos
2021-2022
11 189
Health Care
1994-2020, undated
11 190
Production notes and editor's comments
2021
11 191
Military record / FBI files (selected)
1947-2022
11 192
Interview indices and transcripts
2020, undated

Series 6: Other Foley projects by Kenton BirdReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
12 193
Book proposal, UW Press
1999
12 194
Books/query letters
undated
12 195
Research presentation
1997 January 30
12 196
Foley Institute Report article
1997
12 197
PNQ (Pacific Northwest Quarterly), volume 95, number 1. Contains Bird's article "Tom Foley's Last Campaign: Why Eastern Washington Voters Ousted the Speaker of the House."
2003
12 197-199
PNQ article (manuscripts, revisions, proofs, correspondence)
undated

Series 7: Interview documentation and audiovisual mediaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
12 200
Interview consent forms
undated
12 201
Interviews (from unlabeled binder). Includes detailed notes and an index to names and topics.
undated
12 202
Interviews
undated
12 203
Video recordings (VHS). Compilations of campaign advertising for Foley and his opponent, George Nethercutt
1994
13 204
Interview notebooks (5 items)
1995-1997
Audio recordings (microcassettes, 22 items) conducted by Kenton Bird.
1995-1998
Box microcassette
13 Tape 1
Duane Alton; Ken Casanant
July 1997
13 Tape 2
Tim Wirth
20 February 1998
13 Tape 3
Side A: Marilyn Cornell Side B: Sherwin Broadhead
8 July 1997
13 Tape 4
Joel Prichard Side B: Pat Gregg / Walla Walla Democrats
July 1997
13 Tape 5
Side A: Lloyd Meads and Joseph Moakley (May 1997) Side B: James McClure (23 March 1997)
1997
13 Tape 6
Side A: Ken Degerness (1 August 1996) Side B: John Sonneland (13 August 1996)
August 1996
13 Tape 7
Side A: Rick Eskill Side B: Phyllis Pulfur
8 July 1996
13 Tape 8
Side A: Mike Lowery; Wilfred Woods and Jim Davenport Side B: Wilfred Woods and Jim Davenport (continued)
28 June 1996
13 Tape 9
Foley Institute panel discussion
April 1996
13 Tape 10
Side A: R. Larson (27 May 1996) Side B: Sid Morrison (29 May 1996)
May 1996
13 Tape 11
Side A: James Fallows (23 April 1996); Scott Lukins (23 May 1996) Side B: Scott Lukins (continued)
1996
13 Tape 12
Side A: Werner Brandtt Side B: Werner Brandtt (continued)
22 March 1996
13 Tape 13
Side A: Lee Hamilton (21 March 1996) Side B: David Bonior (22 March 1996)
March 1996
13 Tape 14
Side A: Larry LaRocco Side B: Larry LaRocco
21 March 1996
13 Tape 15
Side A: Tom Foley (19 May 1997) Side B: Tom Foley (continued 20 May 1997)
May 1997
13 Tape 16
Side A: Tom Foley (continued) Side B: Barney Frank and Al Swift
20 March 1996
13 Tape 17
Side A: Tom Foley (continued) (Side B blank)
20 March 1996
13 Tape 18
Side A: Tom Foley Side B: Tom Foley (continued)
20 June 1995
13 Tape 19
Side A: Les Aspin (Side B blank)
27 April 1995
13 Tape 20
Side A: Al Swift Side B: Al Swift (continued)
20 March 1996
13 Tape 21
Side A: Jim McDermott and Patty Murray (22 March 1996) Side B: R. Larsen (27 May 1996)
1996
13 Tape 22
Side A: Herb Legg (Side B blank)
13 August 1995

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Legislators -- Washington (State) -- Spokane -- Biography

Personal Names

  • Foley, Thomas S. -- Archives

Corporate Names

  • United States. Congress. House -- Speaker -- Biography