Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Kenton Bird Papers, 1950s-2003
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Bird, Kenton, 1954-
- Title
- Kenton Bird Papers
- Dates
- 1950s-2003 (inclusive)19502003
1995-1997 (bulk)19951997 - 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).
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 six series:
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: Other Foley projects by Kenton Bird, including publications and presentations.
Series 6: 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.
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: Other Foley projects by Kenton BirdReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 11 | 176 | Book proposal, UW Press |
1999 |
| 11 | 177 | Books/query letters |
undated |
| 11 | 178 | Research presentation |
1997 January 30 |
| 11 | 179 | Foley Institute Report article |
1997 |
| 11 | 180 | 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 |
| 11 | 181-183 | PNQ article (manuscripts, revisions, proofs, correspondence) |
undated |
Series 6: Interview documentation and audiovisual mediaReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 11 | 184 | Interview consent forms |
undated |
| 11 | 185 | Interviews (from unlabeled binder). Includes detailed notes and an index to names and topics. |
undated |
| 11 | 186 | Interviews |
undated |
| 11 | 187-188 | Video recordings (VHS). Compilations of campaign advertising for Foley and his opponent, George Nethercutt |
1994 |
| 12 | 189-193 | Interview notebooks (5 items) |
1995-1997 |
| 12 | 194-212 | Audio recordings (microcassettes, 19 items).
Interviews conducted by Kenton Bird. Audio recordings include: Tom Foley, Les Aspin,
Barney Frank, Al Swift, Lee Hamilton, Larry LaRocco, Werner Brandt, James Fallows,
Scott Lukins, Richard Larson, Sid Morrison, Mike Lowry, Wilfred Woods, Jim Davenport,
Rick Eskill, Phyllis Pulfur, Ken Degerness, John Sonneland, Lloyd Meeds, Joseph
Moakley, James McClure, Joel Prichard, Pat Gregg, Marilyn Cornell, Sherwin Broadhead,
Duane Alton, Ken Casavant, Tim Wirth, David Bonior |
1995-1998 |
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
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
