Zales N. Ecton Papers, 1947-1953

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ecton, Zales N. (Zales Nelson), 1898-1961
Title
Zales N. Ecton Papers
Dates
1947-1953
Quantity
15 linear feet
Collection Number
Collection 1069, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The Zales N. Ecton Papers contains information pertaining to Ecton's position as a U.S. Senator. In general, the collection covers political issues from 1947-1953 at a state and national level. The topics range from correspondence, reclamation, communism and socialism, agriculture and the Brannon plan, and political opposition.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Zales N. Ecton, born in Iowa April 1, 1898, moved to Montana at age nine. He received his public education in the local schools. After graduation, he attended Montana State College. When the country entered World War 1, Ecton volunteered for training in the Student Army Training Corps. After the war, Ecton completed his education at the University of Chicago Law School. Ecton entered politics in 1932, running for office as a State Representative from Gallatin County. He served in the Montana House of Representatives for four years and in the Montana Senate for ten years. From 1947-1953, Ecton was a U.S. Senator, the first Republican elected by popular vote in Montana. As a Senator, Ecton served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, the Committee on the United States Post Office and Civil Service, and the Committee on Public Lands. Ecton lost the 1952 election to Mike Mansfield. He returned to Montana and resided in Bozeman until his death in 1961.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Ecton Collection contains information pertaining to Ecton's position as a U.S. Senator. Within this collection are eighteen series that follow closely to the original order put together by Ecton and his staff. The contents section and the series description of this finding aid provides a more thorough breakdown of each series. In general, the collection covers political issues at a state and national level. The topics range from correspondence, reclamation, communism and socialism, agriculture and the Brannon plan, and political opposition. There is also information dealing with other important governmental figures of the time: Senator Joseph McCarthy, General Douglas MacArthur, and others. The collection offers an overview of political history from 1947-1953.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1 Correspondence, 1947-1953

Series 2 Office Personnel and Office Space, 1947-1952

Series 3 Invitations, 1947-1952

Series 4 Congressional Records, 1949-1952

Series 5 Federal Issues, 1948-1952

Series 6 Agriculture and Natural Resources,1948-1952

Series 7 Valley Authorities, 1947-1952

Series 8 Republican Party Material, 1947-1952

Series 9 Republican Party--Montana, 1948-1952

Series 10 Montana, 1948-1952

Series 11 Mike Mansfield, 1948-1952

Series 12 Native Americans, 1948-1952

Series 13 Communism and Socialism, 1948-1952

Series 14 Government Men, 1948-1952

Series 15 General Information, 1948-1952

Series 16 Scrap Collection, 1948-1952

Series 17 Photographs

Series 18 Scrapbook Collection

Acquisition Information

Mrs. Zales Ecton, Sr. donated Senator Zales N. Ecton's political files, covering his term as a U.S. Senator (1947-1953), in the spring of 1969.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 May 19

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  Correspondence, 1947-1953Return to Top

The correspondence was mainly between Senator Ecton, his office staff, and constituents in Montana. The topics ranged from reclamation, communism, atomic energy, and a host of other political concerns. Generally, Ecton responded to each letter, and the response and the original letter are within the same file. The order of this series is chronological and alphabetical within each corresponding year except 1953, where all correspondence is in one file. Also, the correspondence in 1947 does include some correspondence from 1946.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
A
1947
1/2
B
1947
1/3-4
C
1947
1/5
D, E
1947
1/6
F
1947
1/7-8
G
1947
1/9-10
H
1947
1/11-12
I
1947
1/13
J
1947
1/14
K
1947
1/15
L
1947
1/16-17
M
1947
1/18
N
1947
1/19
O
1947
1/20
P
1947
1/21
Q
1947
1/22-23
R
1947
1/24-26
S
1947
1/27
T
1947
1/28
V
1947
1/29-30
W
1947
1/31
Y, Z
1947
2/1
A
1948
2/2
B
1948
2/3
C
1948
2/4
D
1948
2/5
E
1948
2/6
F
1948
2/7-8
G
1948
2/9-11
H
1948
2/12
I
1948
2/13
J, K
1948
2/14
L
1948
2/15
M
1948
2/16
N
1948
2/17
O
1948
2/18
P
1948
2/19
R
1948
2/20-21
S
1948
2/22
T
1948
2/23
W
1948
2/24
Y, Z
1948
2/25
A
1949
2/26
B
1949
2/27
C
1949
2/28
D
1949
2/29
E
1949
2/30
F
1949
2/31
G
1949
2/32
H
1949
3/1
I
1949
3/2
J
1949
3/3
K
1949
3/4
L
1949
3/5
M
1949
3/6
N
1949
3/7
O
1949
3/8
P
1949
3/9
Q
1949
3/10
R
1949
3/11
S
1949
3/12
T
1949
3/13
U, V, W, X, Y, Z
1949
3/14
A
1950
3/15
B
1950
3/16
C
1950
3/17
D
1950
3/18
E
1950
3/19
F
1950
3/20
G
1950
3/21
H
1950
3/22
I
1950
3/23
J
1950
3/24
K
1950
3/25
L
1950
4/1
M
1950
4/2
N
1950
4/3
O
1950
4/4
P, Q
1950
4/5
R
1950
4/6
S
1950
4/7
T
1950
4/8
U, V, W
1950
4/9
X, Y, Z
1950
4/10
A
1951
4/11
B
1951
4/12
C
1951
4/13
D
1951
4/14
E
1951
4/15
F
1951
4/16
G
1951
4/17
H
1951
4/18
I
1951
4/19
J
1951
4/20
K
1951
5/1
L
1951
5/2-3
M
1951
5/4
N
1951
5/5
O
1951
5/6
P
1951
5/7
Q, R
1951
5/8
S
1951
5/9
T
1951
5/10
U, V
1951
5/11
W
1951
5/12
X, Y, Z
1951
5/13
A
1952
5/14-16
B
1952
6/1
C
1952
6/2
D
1952
6/3
E
1952
6/4
F
1952
6/5
G
1952
6/6-8
H
1952
6/9
I
1952
6/10
J
1952
6/11
K
1952
7/1
L
1952
7/2-3
M
1952
7/4
N
1952
7/5
O
1952
7/6
P
1952
7/7
Q
1952
7/8
R
1952
7/9-11
S
1952
7/12
T
1952
8/1
U, V
1952
8/2-4
W
1952
8/5
X, Y, Z
1952
8/6
All
1953

Series 2:  Office Personnel and Office Space, 1947-1952Return to Top

This series covers details regarding Office Personnel and Office Space. Some of the correspondence includes individuals applying for a position on Ecton's staff. Other correspondence is between Ecton and staff members along with correspondence between staff members in Washington D.C. and staff members in Montana. The information encompassing Office Space generally follows the needs of setting up an office--renting and purchasing the necessary items for an office.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
8/7-8
Office Personnel
1947
8/9
Office Personnel
1948
8/10
Office Personnel
1949
8/11
Office Personnel
1950
8/12
Office Personnel
1951
8/13
Office Personnel
1952
8/14
Office Space
1947
8/15
Office Space
1948
8/16
Office Space
1949
8/17
Office Space
1950
8/18
Office Space
1951
8/19
Office Space
1952

Series 3:  Invitations, 1947-1952Return to Top

This series includes invitations received by Senator Ecton during his term as a federal senator. His constituents in Montana often invited Ecton to attend a variety of functions. Serving in the capacity of a federal senator, Ecton also received many invitations centered around national interests. Those in charge of reclamation projects and military development occasionally asked Ecton to review the progress. Ecton also received an invitation to a dinner sponsored by Albert Einstein in an effort to clear the accusations of the un-American like conduct of Edward U. Condon.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/1-5
1947
9/6-15
1948
9/16-20
1949
10/1-2
1949
10/3-4
1950
10/5-6
1951
10/7-8
1952

Series 4:  Congressional Records, 1949-1952Return to Top

This series is simply a collection of Congressional Records and covers a variety of issues brought before the congress between 1949 and 1952.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
11/1-2
1949
11/3-5
1950
11/6-9
1951
12/1-4
1951
12/5-8
1952

Series 5:  Federal Issues, 1948-1952Return to Top

This series is a compilation of political issues, ranging from state affairs, national affairs, and international affairs. Some of the files are specific to Ecton's activities in Washington D.C., yet other files include a summary of the Hiss Trial, federal finances, and many other political concerns during Ecton's time in Washington D.C.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
13/1
Taft-Hartley Act
13/2
Reorganization Plans
1950-1952
13/3
Public Work Funds Granted
1947-1952
13/4
Projects
1947-1952
13/5
Civilian Nominations, Montana, since
1947
13/6
Republican Administration Assistants and Executive Secretaries Association
13/7
Related Bills
13/8
Patronage
13/9
Interior and Insular Affairs
13/10
Harvey Machine Company--John P. Saylor
13/11
The Hiss Trial--Mundt
13/12
MacArthur's Cleveland Address
13/13
Why Prices Are High--Sanborn-Ecton
13/14
Repeal of Oleomargine Taxes--Ecton
13/15
Government by Law, Not by Men--Ecton
13/16
Why Tax the Cost of Sickness--Ecton
13/17
The Great Question before Senate--Ecton
13/18
Ecton Activities
1947-1952
13/19
Congressional Speeches--Ecton
13/20
Ecton Bills (except Indian Bills), 80th, 81st, 82nd Congresses
13/21
Ecton Votes for Reduced Appropriations, 80th-82nd Congresses
13/22-23
Washington Office Cases--Ecton
14/1
Repeal of McCarran Internal Security Act
14/2
Funds--Treasury and Post Office Departments
14/3
Party Platforms
14/4
Veterans
14/5
Senator George D. Aiken
14/6
81st and 82nd Congresses
14/7
Federal Finance
14/8-9
Finance--Mainly Ecton
14/10
Federal Finance
15/1
Federal Finance
15/2-3
Foreign Affairs
15/4
Dr. Manfred Zapp--Germany
15/5-6
Foreign Policy
15/7
The Korean Crisis--Taft
15/8-10
News Bulletins
1951
15/11-13
News Bulletins
1952

Series 6:  Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1948-1952Return to Top

This series contains some information regarding the Brannon Plan, and correspondence between Ecton and his constituents related to the Brannon Plan. Additional information discusses natural resources and the importance of natural resources for the future of the country

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
16/1-4
Agriculture-Brannon Plan--Correspondence
16/5
Agriculture-Brannon Plan
16/6-8
Agriculture--General
16/9-11
Defense Mobilization and Price Control
16/12
StockPile Report--Nation's Resources
16/13
Resources for Freedom

Series 7:  Valley Authorities, 1947-1952Return to Top

This series mainly deals with Valley Authorities, including the Missouri Valley Authority and Columbia Valley Authority. Some files include correspondence concerning the Valley Authorities. Valley Authority bills and power utilities are also part of this series along with a statement from Harold Ickes and Floyd Dominy's resume.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
17/1
M.V.A.
1947
17/2-4
M.V.A.
1948
17/5-9
M.V.A.
1949
17/10
M.V.A.
1950
17/11
C.V.A.
1949
17/12
C.V.A.
1950
17/13
V.A.--Correspondence
1949
17/14
V.A.--Correspondence
1949
17/15
V.A.--Correspondence
1950
17/16
V.A.
1950-1951
18/1
V.A. Bills
18/2-4
V.A. General
18/5-6
V.A. Memorandums
18/7
Statement of Harold L. Ickes--C.V.A.
18/8
Bureau of Reclamation--Floyd E. Dominy
18/9-11
Power Utilities--Montana Power
18/12-14
Power Utilities

Series 8:  Republican Party Material, 1947-1952Return to Top

This series contains a variety of information dealing with the Republican Party mainly at a National level. Speech material and campaign issues are part of this series, including Ecton's "The Meaning of Things"--a collection of papers written by Ecton, explaining his perspective of the state of affairs. Part of this series also details Republican activity in certain committees, which generally deals with their opposition, the Democrats.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
19/1
Republican Convention
1947
19/2-17
Republican Campaign
1948
19/18
Republican Campaign
1949
19/19-20
Republican Campaign
1950
20/1
Republican Campaign
1951
20/2
Republican Campaign
1952
20/3
Republican Speech Material
1947-1948
20/4-5
Republican Speech Material
1949
20/6
Republican Speech Material
1950
20/7-8
Republican Speech Material
1951
21/1
Republican Propaganda
21/2
News Release
1948
21/3
News Release
1949
21/4
"The Meaning of Things"--Ecton
1950-1951
21/5
"The Meaning of Things"--Ecton
1952
21/6
Redbook Our Worst Congressmen--Ecton
21/7
Ecton Newspaper Clippings
21/8
Material for Ecton's Senator Pamphlet
21/9-12
Democratic Corruption
22/1-6
Minority Committee
22/7
Resolutions Committee
22/8
Republican Senatorial Committee
1949
22/9
Republican Senatorial Committee
1950
22/10
Appropriations Committee
22/11
Committee Assignments
1950
22/12
Committee Assignments
1951
22/13
Republican National Committee

Series 9:  Republican Party--Montana, 1948-1952Return to Top

This series generally deals with the Republican Party in Montana and the campaign efforts involving Senator Ecton. Some of the files include information concerning committee members in Montana and their work regarding Ecton's campaign. Other files contain speeches made in Montana during Ecton's visits along with his itinerary. There is also general information regarding advertising and broadcasting.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
23/1
Republican State Central Committee
23/2
Montana Republican Committee men and women
23/3
Republican County Chairmen, Committee men, and committee women
23/4
Campaign's Key Men
23/5
Tabulation--Selected Election Returns
23/6
Ecton--Sectional Organization
23/7
Speeches to Montanans--Happenings in Washington
23/8-9
Campaign Speeches--Montana
23/10-11
Ecton Speeches Montana and Others
24/1
Ecton for Senator Club
24/2-3
Campaign Letters and Wires
24/4-6
Ecton Campaign
24/7
Contributions
24/8
Campaign Contributions
25/1
Broadcasting--Montana
25/2-5
Advertising and Publicity
25/6-7
Itinerary
26/1
League of Women Voters
26/2
Address to Women's Republican Club at Butte
1951
26/3-4
People Requesting Favors from Ecton
26/5
Thank You Letters--Endorsements During Campaign
26/6-7
Co-operation Other Organizations
26/8
Plans and Staff Instructions
1952
26/9-10
Opposition Activities

Series 10:  Montana, 1948-1952Return to Top

This series mainly contains a list of individuals, performing various occupations in Montana, such as the sheepmen's' list, physicians' list, etc. Rules of Senate and House for Montana are also part of this series--1933, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
27/1
Montana Labor Protest
27/2
Montana Events
27/3
Directory PMA Committeemen, Montana
1952
27/4
Ministers' List--Montana
27/5
VFW List--Montana
27/6
Postal Clerks' List--Montana
27/7
Librarians' List--Montana
27/8
Physicians' List--Montana
27/9
Lawyers' List and Some County Employees--Montana
27/10
Labor Unions' List
27/11
Government Employees--Montana
27/12
Sheepmen's' List--Montana
27/13
Civic Organizations
27/14
Bankers' List--Montana
27/15
American Legion List
27/16
Rules of Senate and House, Montana
1933; 1935; 1937
27/17
Rules of Senate and House, Montana
1939; 1941

Series 11:  Mike MansfieldReturn to Top

This series mainly contains Mansfield's voting records, remarks, and legislation through 1948-1952. Ecton collected this data in preparation for his campaign against Mansfield in the 1952 election. Mansfield defeated Ecton.

Container(s) Description
Box/Folder
28/1
Mike Mansfield--General
28/2
Mansfield--China
28/3
Mansfield's Voting Record--80th Congress, 1st session
28/4
Mansfield's Voting Record--80th Congress, 2nd session
28/5
Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--80th Congress, 1st Session
28/6
Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--80th Congress, 2nd Session
28/7
Mansfield's Voting Record--81st Congress, 1st session
28/8
Mansfield's Voting Record--81st Congress, 2nd session
28/9
Mansfield's Remarks--81st Congress, 1st Session
28/10
Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--81st Congress, 1st Session
28/11
Mansfield's Remarks--81st Congress, 2nd Session
28/12
Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--81st Congress, 2nd Session
28/13
Mansfield's Voting Record--82nd Congress, 1st session
28/14
Mansfield's Voting Record--82nd Congress, 2nd session
28/15
Mansfield's Remarks--82nd Congress, 1st Session
28/16
Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--82nd Congress, 1st Session
28/17
Mansfield's Remarks--82nd Congress, 2nd Session
28/18
Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--82nd Congress, 2nd Session
29/1
Voting Record--Mansfield
29/2
Voting Record--82nd Congress, 1st Session
29/3
Voting Record--82nd Congress, 2nd Session
29/4
Voting Record--General

Series 12:  Native AmericansReturn to Top

This series includes files pertaining to tubercular Indians and treatment at Galen Hospital. Also in this series are several Bill related to Indian affairs.

Container(s) Description
Box/Folder
29/5
Galen Hospital for Tubercular Indians
29/6
Indian Affairs
29/7
Indian Bills

Series 13:  Communism and SocialismReturn to Top

This series contains information pertaining to Communism and Socialism. The Republican Party maintained an anti-communism and anti-socialism and most of the information reflects this agenda.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
30/1
Moscow's Master Plan
30/2
U.S. News--Communist Threat
30/3
"True"--George John Dawson--War Surplus and Communist Customers
30/4
Saturday Evening Post--Hiss Case
30/5-8
Anti-Communism and Socialism
30/9
Minority Policy Committee
1952

Series 14:  Government Men, 1948-1952Return to Top

This series includes files regarding Senator McCarthy, Senator Martin, Congressman D'Ewart, and General MacArthur. Each file is specific to the person and contains a variety of information based on their role in the government. For instance, the McCarthy files provide some biographical discussion but also pertain to McCarthy's involvement in the federal government.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
31/1-3
Senator McCarthy
31/4-6
Senator Martin
31/7-8
Congressman D'Ewart
31/9
General MacArthur

Series 15:  General Information, 1948-1952Return to Top

This series is a collection of general subject materials put together by Ecton and his staff. It ranges from newspaper clippings, speech material, congressional records, and more.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
32/1-7
General Information

Series 16:  Scrap Collection, 1948-1952Return to Top

This series is mainly newspaper clippings, covering a variety of topics. Some of the files are under specific names, but the content within the file is generally a newspaper clipping about the person, such as the Eisenhower file.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
33/1
Copper and Civilization
33/2
Miscellaneous
33/3
Democratic Views
33/4
81st Congress clippings
33/5
Clippings
33/6
Clippings
33/7
Dwight D. Eisenhower
33/8
Leif Erickson
33/9
Defense
33/10
Robert A. Taft
33/11
Bills
33/12
Henry J. Taylor
33/13
Harry S. Truman
33/14
James E. Murray
33/15
Gov. John Bonner
33/16
Bernard Baruch
33/17
Herbert Hoover

Series 17:  PhotographsReturn to Top

This series includes several photographs of Ecton, members of congress, and other events during Ecton's service as a federal senator. The last file contains some information regarding some of the photographs.

Container(s) Description
Box/Folder
34/1
34/2
34/3
Photograph #22 removed and placed in oversize folder (enlarged picture of Ecton).
34/4
Letters Regarding Photographs

Series 18:  Scrapbook CollectionReturn to Top

This series contains one binder with congressional records for the 1st session of the 81st Congress and eight scrapbooks pertaining to Ecton and his service as a federal senator. Generally, the scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings linked to Ecton or other governmental issues during his time as a senator.

Container(s) Description
Box
35
Binder
36
Scrapbook collection, 1-8

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agriculture and state-United States
  • Communism
  • Legislators-United States
  • Reclamation of land-Government policy-United States
  • Socialism

Personal Names

  • MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964
  • McCarthy, Joseph, 1908-1957

Corporate Names

  • United States-Congress-Senate

Geographical Names

  • Montana-Politics and government-20th century
  • United States-Politics and government-1945-1953