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Cecil D. Andrus Papers, 1951-1998

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Andrus, Cecil D., 1931-2017;; Carlson, Chris; Carter, Jimmy, 1924- ;; Nagel, Joseph J.;
Title
Cecil D. Andrus Papers
Dates
1951-1998 (inclusive)
Quantity
78.0 linear feet, (104 boxes)
Collection Number
MSS 140
Summary
Correspondence, memoranda, press releases, calendars, reports and similar materials documenting Cecil D. Andrus' service as U.S. Secretary of the Interior and also personal items pertaining to his five campaigns for Governor of Idaho and as a member of the Idaho legislature. For an easier way to search the collection, use the Cecil Andrus Papers Search.
Repository
Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
1910 University Drive
Boise ID
83725
Telephone: 2084263990
archives@boisestate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is available for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
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Biographical Note

Democrat Cecil D. Andrus (1931-2017) served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1977 until 1981 during the Carter administration. He was also elected to the Idaho Senate (1960, 1964 and 1964) and as Governor of Idaho (1970, 1974, 1986, and 1990), becoming the longest-serving governor in Idaho’s history.

Andrus is well-known as an avid outdoorsman and for his conservationist and environmental views. During his tenure as Secretary, he played pivotal roles in the passage of the Alaska Lands Act and the National Surface Mining Act of 1977, and for the creation of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, the Snake River Birds of Prey Area, and the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. As Governor of Idaho, he took a strong stance against development of a molybdenum mine in the White Cloud Mountains; opposed federal efforts to store nuclear waste in Idaho; vetoed a strict anti-abortion bill passed by the Idaho Legislature, despite his personal pro-life beliefs; and sought modification of Federal dams to allow passage by anadromous fish.

In 1995, Andrus founded the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University, dedicated to independent, non-partisan policy formation on critical issues confronting Idaho, the American West and the United States. He is the author (with Joel Connelly) of Cecil Andrus: Politics Western Style (Seattle: Sasquatch Books, 1998) and is the subject of a recent book, Cecil Andrus: Idaho’s Greatest Governor by Chris Carlson (Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press, 2011).

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Content Description

The collection includes correspondence, memoranda, press releases, calendars, itineraries, reports, studies, briefing books, clippings, and other papers, from Andrus' service as U.S. Secretary of the Interior, 1977-1981 (circa 12 ft.); files of staff aides Joseph J. Nagel, assistant for state and federal relations, and D. Chris Carlson, director of public affairs (circa 30 ft.); records and clippings from Andrus' five campaigns for Governor of Idaho (1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, and 1990); scrapbook from his service in the Idaho legislature (1960s); and photos, videos, and memorabilia from his service as Secretary of the Interior and as Governor of Idaho. Secretary of Interior papers include typewritten minutes of Cabinet meetings, annotated in Andrus' hand; scrapbooks of press clippings documenting his activities as Secretary; and material relating to public lands in Alaska, coal, nuclear waste management, water projects review, and the nomination of James Watt as his successor, among other issues. Correspondents include President Jimmy Carter.

Please include the MSS and Series number when requesting boxes.

For an easier way to search the collection, use the Cecil Andrus Papers Search, which contains all the finding aid information for Boise State's two Andrus collections (MSS 140 and MSS 141).

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[item description], Cecil D. Andrus Papers, Box [number] Folder [number], Boise State University Special Collections and Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in five series: 1. Interior Secretary; 2. Governor's Office; 3. Campaign/political; 4. Andrus Center for Public Policy; and 5. Photographs and albums.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Cecil D. Andrus, 1994.

Related Materials

See also: Governor Cecil D. Andrus Records

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Coal
  • Federal aid to water resources development--United States
  • Governors--Idaho
  • Idaho--Politics and government--20th century
  • Political campaigns--Idaho
  • Public lands--Alaska
  • Radioactive Waste Disposal
  • United States. Deptartment of the Interior--Officials and employees
  • Water resources development--United States

Personal Names

  • Watt, James G., 1938-


June 23, 2021

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

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