Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Russell A. Austin papers, 1964-1983
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Austin, Russell A., 1930-
- Title
- Russell A. Austin papers
- Dates
- 1964-1983 (inclusive)19641983
- Quantity
- 4.73 cubic feet (6 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 4585 (Accession No. 4585-001)
- Summary
- Papers of a King County, Washington, Republic party leader.
- 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
Although he served little time as a public official, Russell Austin was an active King County, Washington, Republican party leader from the 1960s through the 1980s. Born in 1930, Austin received his B.A. from the University of Washington in 1953. He then served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and after his release in 1955 he became active in the Republican party. During this period Austin returned to the University of Washington, where he earned his law degree in 1964. During most of his career he worked as a partner in the Seattle law firm of Rutherford, Kargianis & Austin.
In 1966 Austin ran for the State House of Representatives and lost. However, after this defeat he became even more active in the Republican party and began serving on many different committees and delegations. He attended numerous national Republican party conventions between 1964 and 1980, he was active in promoting Ronald Reagan for president in 1968 and 1976, and he served on the King County Central Committee of the Republican party in the late 1960s, the Sea-Tac Republican Club, and the Washington State Central Committee of the Republican party.
In February 1980 Austin was appointed to fill an unexpected vacancy in the state House of Representatives, but he did not win the election for that post in the following November.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Russell A. Austin papers consist of campaign and convention materials that Russell collected. There is also a substantial amount of material from Austin’s service on state and local Republican committees.
General correspondence contains materials related to a controversy surrounding the denial of tenure to University of Washington law professor James E. Beaver in 1968, and some materials related to the 1968 U.S. House election campaign by Seattle Republican Bob Eberle. The papers also include correspondence in subject files or in the Republican Party files. In addition to these materials are the files, including notes and correspondence, from Austin’s 1966 campaign for the Washington State legislature.
Major correspondents include Kenneth Rogstad, Dennis H. Dunn, Earl Davenport, and C. Montgomery Johnson.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Preferred Citation
Russell A. Austin Papers. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Personal papers, 1964-1983Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Biographical features |
undated |
1/2 | General correspondence |
1968 |
1/3-2/7 | Republican Party National Conventions |
1964-1980 |
Campaign files |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/8-15 | Russell Austin for Washington State Representative,
30th District |
1966 |
2/16 | Horton Smith for Judge |
1968 |
2/17 | Nelson Rockefeller for President |
1968 |
2/18-20 | Ronald Reagan for President |
1976 |
Subject files |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/21 | Law Offices of Rutherford, Kargianis &
Austin |
circa 1972 |
2/22 | McGovern, George |
1972 |
Box/Folder | ||
2/23 | Reports |
1967-1976 |
2/24 | Invitations |
1981-1983 |
2/25 | Certificates |
1966 |
3/1-2 | Clippings |
1966, 1976 |
3/3 | Court Papers |
1966-1976 |
5/1-2 | Ephemera |
undated |
Box | ||
6 | Campaign memorabilia and ephemera |
Republican Party records, 1965-1976Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Republican Party, King County Central
Committee |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/4 | Organizational features |
1969 |
3/5-7 | General correspondence
Major correspondent: Kenneth Rogstad.
|
1969-1973, undated |
3/8 | Speeches and writings |
undated |
3/9 | Notes |
undated |
3/10 | Lists |
undated |
3/11 | Newsletters |
undated |
3/12 | Clippings |
circa 1969 |
3/13 | Certificates |
1970, 1972 |
3/14 | Caucus questionnaire |
1972 |
3/15 | Ephemera |
undated |
Subject Files |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/16 | Biographical |
undated |
3/17 | Reorganizational meeting |
1966 |
3/18-19 | Club '68 |
circa 1968 |
Box/Folder | ||
3/20-24 | Republican Party, King Country Central Committee, Rules
Committee |
1966-1972 |
3/25 | Republican Party, Sea-Tac Republican Club |
1967 |
Republican Party, Washington State Central
Committee |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/26-27 | General correspondence
Major correspondents: Dennis H. Dunn, Earl Davenport, C.
Montgomery Johnson.
|
1969-1972 |
3/28 | Minutes |
1969-1972 |
3/29 | By-laws |
undated |
3/30-31 | Executive board notebooks |
1967-1970 |
3/32-4/1 | Republican Party, Washington State
Convention |
1968-1976 |
4/2 | Clippings |
1968-1972 |
4/3 | Reports |
1969 |
4/4 | Directories |
1967-1970 |
4/5 | Lists |
undated |
4/6 | Court Papers |
1970 |
Subject files |
||
Box/Folder | ||
4/7 | The Seventh Congressional Club |
1967 |
4/8 | State credentials |
1968 |
4/9 | Washington Young Republican Federation |
1965-1969 |
Box/Folder | ||
4/10 | Republican Party, Washington State Central Committee,
Ballot Committee |
circa 1976 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Elections--Washington (State)
- Lawyers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- Legislators--Washington (State)
- Party committees--Washington (State)
- Party committees--Washington (State)--King County
- Political campaigns--Washington (State)
- Political candidates--Washington (State)
- Political parties--Washington (State)
- Political parties--Washington (State)--King County
Personal Names
- Austin, Russell A., 1930---Archives
- Davenport, Earl
- Dunn, Dennis H
- Johnson, C. Montgomery (Charles Montgomery)
- Rogstad, Kenneth
Corporate Names
- Republican Party (King County, Wash.). Central Committee
- Republican Party (Wash.). Central Committee
- Republican Party. Sea-Tac Republican Club
Geographical Names
- King County (Wash.).--Politics and government--20th century
- Washington (State)--Politics and government--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- By-laws
- Campaign literature
- Campaign paraphernalia
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Court records
- Newsletters
- Notebooks
- Speeches, addresses, etc
- correspondence
- minutes
- reports
- writings
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)