Marion A. Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Zioncheck, Marion A. (Marion Anthony), 1901-1936
Title
Marion A. Zioncheck papers
Dates
1926-1936 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.91 cubic feet (5 boxes and 1 vertical file)
Collection Number
1308, 3169
Summary
Papers of a Democratic representative to the United States Congress from Seattle, Washington.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

The papers are open to all users.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Marion Anthony Zioncheck (1901-1936) was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat from Washington State in 1932, the year of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt landslide. Zioncheck served in the 73th and 74th Congresses from March 4, 1933, until his death on August 7, 1936. He represented the First Congressional District, which encompassed Seattle and Kitsap County and he served on the Naval Affairs Committee.

A Progressive Democrat and a supporter of the Roosevelt New Deal, Zioncheck was an avowed defender of the "forgotten man." He stated during his campaign that he would not represent the interests of banks, power companies, and chambers of commerce when they conflicted with the interests of the working man, the farmer, or the small businessman. His papers provide evidence that he attempted to fulfill his promise. He supported the Wagner-Connery Labor Bill and the Federal Communications Act, took an active interest in veterans' and farm legislation, and worked for the passage of the Widows and Orphans Bill, HR 9936.

Zioncheck committed suicide on August 7, 1936, by jumping from a window of his campaign office in Seattle. Prior to his death, Zioncheck underwent treatment for mental illness. He had also been the subject of public censure and extensive publicity for his conduct in the House of Representatives and his personal conduct outside of Congress. Reportedly, Zioncheck felt himself a personal failure in his frustrated attempts at political reform.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

These papers document the political activities of Marion A. Zioncheck, Democratic representative to the United States Congress for the First Congressional District of Washington State, 1933-1936. The materials offer insight into several of the controversies that marked Zioncheck's political career, including his denunciation of J. Edgar Hoover in a speech given on the House floor in 1936, and factional disputes within the Washington State Democratic Party in the 1930s. The materials also describe Zioncheck's accomplishments in the House as a freshman Congressman.

The bulk of the collection consists of political and legislative correspondence from 1932 to 1936. Also included are campaign literature, speech drafts and related data, legislation, clippings, newsletters, reports, and other ephemera.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The creator's literary rights have not been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged into 3 accessions:

  • Accession 1308-001, Marion A. Zioncheck correspondence and clippings, 1936
  • Accession 3169-001, Marion A. Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936
  • Accession 3169-002, Marion A. Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 1308-001: Marion Zioncheck correspondence and clippings, 1936Return to Top

.02 cubic feet (7 items)

Scope and Content: This accession contains clippings, negative photostats of the clippings, and one item of correspondence, 1936.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Gift of Judge E.E. Henry, December 23, 1969.

Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936Return to Top

1.68 cubic feet (4 boxes)
Arrangement: Arranged in 5 series:
  • Biographical information, 1936
  • General correspondence, 1932-1936
  • Campaign ephemera, 1932-1936
  • Subject file on the American Liberty League, 1936
  • Speeches and background data, 1933-1935

Scope and Content: The bulk of this accession is correspondence documenting Zioncheck's political activities in United States Congress and in the Washington State Democratic Party. Some highlights of this correspondence include letters Zioncheck received in response to his denunciation of J. Edgar Hoover in 1936, as well as letters documenting internal disputes within the Democratic organization in King and Kitsap counties between 1933 and 1936. In Kitsap County Zioncheck was drawn into a battle, ostensibly over postmaster appointments, between two factions of the party. He was denounced in a February 18, 1936, resolution of the Kitsap County Democratic Executive Committee for misconduct and for breaking faith with the committee.

The accession also includes files containing endorsements Zioncheck solicited from other members of Congress for campaign purposes, 1933-1934. These files contain numerous favorable recommendations of Zioncheck and descriptions of his achievements as a freshman congressman, including his service to the Consent Calendar and Private Calendar Committee. In this capacity he was required to read and report on every bill which appeared on the calendar. Several of his colleagues reported that he performed this duty with distinction.

In addition to these files, the accession contains ephemera, clippings, and drafts of speeches and writings, 1932-1936.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Relocated from the Warren G. Magnuson papers, December 1, 1980.

Processing Info: From a large number of folders originally labelled "Miscellaneous Speech Data," the correspondence was extracted and filed under the "Campaign" subseries of the "General correspondence" series. The remainder of this material comprises the "Speeches and background data" series.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 3169-001
Biographical information
1936
General correspondence
Legislation
Box/Folder Accession
1/2-4 3169-001
Alaska Highway Bill (H.R. 6538)
1934-1936
1/5-7 3169-001
Federal Communications Act (S.B. 3954)
1934-1936, undated
1/8-20 3169-001
Wagner-Connery Labor Bill (S.B. 1958)
1933-1935, undated
Miscellaneous
Box/Folder Accession
1/21 3169-001
A - Z
1934-1936
1/22 3169-001
American Civil Liberties Union
1935-1936
2/1 3169-001
Communism
1933-1936
2/2 3169-001
G-Men
1936
2/3-6 3169-001
New Deal endorsers
1934-1935
Case files
Box/Folder Accession
2/7 3169-001
Chris Di Julio indictment
1935
2/8 3169-001
United States War Department
1934
Political appointments
Box/Folder Accession
2/9-16 3169-001
United States district and circuit court attorneys, federal marshal, and deputy marshals
1932-1934
2/17-18 3169-001
Cabinet and assistants
1933-1934
2/19 3169-001
Postmasters and postal carriers
1935, 1936
Democratic Party, King and Kitsap Counties
1933-1936
Box/Folder Accession
2/20-23 3169-001
General correspondence
1933-1936
3/1 3169-001
Resolutions
1933-1936
3/2 3169-001
Petitions
1933-1936
3/3-4 3169-001
Lists
1933-1936
3/5-6 3169-001
Ephemera and clippings
1933-1936
Box/Folder Accession
3/7-8 3169-001
Congressional elections
2 folders
1934-1936
Box/Folder Accession
3/9 3169-001
Third political party
1935
Campaign
Box/Folder Accession
3/10-14 3169-001
Solicited endorsements from members of Congress
1934
3/15 3169-001
Constituent letters of support
1933-1936
3/16 3169-001
Questionnaires
1934
Personal
1932-1935
Box/Folder Accession
3/17-22 3169-001
General correspondence
1932-1935
3/23 3169-001
Trips
1932-1935
3/24 3169-001
Ephemera
1932-1935
Box/Folder Accession
3/25, 4/1-7 3169-001
Invitations
1934-1936
Box/Folder Accession
4/8 3169-001
Campaign ephemera
1932-1936
4/9 3169-001
Subject file - American Liberty League
1936
Speeches and background data
Speeches and writings
Box/Folder Accession
4/10 3169-001
Drafts
undated
4/11 3169-001
Excerpts from solicited endorsements
undated
4/12 3169-001
Speeches of others
1933-1934
Box/Folder Accession
4/13 3169-001
Legislation
1933-1934
4/14 3169-001
Clippings
1933-1934
4/15-16 3169-001
Ephemera
1933-1935

Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)Return to Top

.21 cubic feet (1 box)
Arrangement: Arranged by type of document.

Scope and Content: This accession contains correspondence regarding the proposed Alaska Highway, annual reports, newsletters and bulletins, ephemera, and other miscellany, 1926-1936.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Relocated from the Warren G. Magnuson papers, date unknown.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/1-2 3169-002
General correspondence
1933-1936
1/3 3169-002
Annual report
1934
1/4 3169-002
Newsletters and bulletins
1934-1935
1/5 3169-002
Ephemera
1926-1934
1/6 3169-002
List
1933
1/7 3169-002
Itinerary
undated
1/8 3169-002
Miscellaneous
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Legislation--United States
  • Legislators--United States--Archives
  • Political parties--Washington (State)
  • Politicians--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Suicide victims--Washington (State)--Archives

Personal Names

  • Zioncheck, Marion A. (Marion Anthony), 1901-1936--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Democratic Party (King County, Wash.)
  • Democratic Party (Kitsap County, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • King County (Wash.)--Politics and government--20th century
  • Kitsap County (Wash.)--Politics and government--20th century
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government--20th century
  • United States--Politics and government--20th century
  • Washington (State)--Politics and government--1889-1950

Form or Genre Terms

  • Campaign literature
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Newsletters
  • Speeches, addresses, etc
  • case files
  • correspondence
  • ephemera
  • legislative records
  • reports

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)