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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
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Biographical Note

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.

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Content Description

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.

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Use of the Collection

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.

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Administrative Information

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)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Finding aid prepared by Cheryl Gunselman.
2014

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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