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Frank A. Barrett Papers, 1920-1981

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Barrett, Frank A.
Title
Frank A. Barrett Papers
Dates
1920-1981 (inclusive)
1952-1958 (bulk)
Quantity
33.55 cubic ft. (75 boxes)
Collection Number
00631
Summary
Collection consists mainly of Barrett's U.S. senatorial department subject files, primarily on legislative issues.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Frank A. Barrett, Wyoming senator, governor, and congressman, had the distinction of being the only Wyomingite ever to serve in both houses of Congress and as governor. He was one of only six men in United States history to accomplish this. His distinguished political career lasted over twenty years.

Frank Barrett was born 19 November 1892 in Omaha, Nebraska, to Patrick and Elizabeth Barrett. After attending public schools in Omaha, he earned his B.A. and law degrees from Creighton University in 1913 and 1916, respectively. Barrett worked his way through college as a mail collector with the United States Mail Service.

With the coming of World War I, Barrett enlisted in the "Balloon Corps" of the infant air service, and served for three years. After returning home he married Alice Catherine Donoghue on 21 May 1919.

The Barretts relocated to Lusk, Wyoming, where Frank began practicing law. His temporary office was his own porch until he found a room in which he could establish his practice. Two years later the couple bought a large sheep and cattle ranch, which ignited his interest in the wool industry. Eventually he would become one of the nation's top authorities on wool and sheep. He served as Niobrara County Attorney from 1923-1932.

Frank Barrett's political career began in 1933 when he was elected to the Wyoming State Senate. In 1936 he was the Republican candidate for the United States Congress but was unsuccessful. From 1939-1945 he served as a University of Wyoming Trustee. He was then elected a United States Congressman in 1942 and served an eight-year term until 1950, when he was elected governor of Wyoming.

Only governor for two years, Barrett seized the opportunity to run for the United States Senate in 1952 and was successful. He served a six-year term in the Senate until 1958, sitting on a number of committees including the Interior and Armed Services Committees. When he was defeated by Gale McGee in 1958, Barrett attributed his loss to "vicious and unwarranted" reports by Washington columnist Drew Pearson. Pearson stated that Barrett had intervened with the Treasury Department to help former Senator E.V. Roberson (R-Wyo.) out of a tax case. The charge was later retracted.

Barrett was then appointed Chief Counsel for the United States Department of Agriculture. He made an unsuccessful comeback attempt in 1960 when Representative Keith Thomson defeated him in the Republican senatorial primary.

Barrett and his wife Alice had three children, Dr. Frank A. Barrett, Jr., James E. Barrett, and Marialyce Barrett Tobin. Alice Barrett died in 1956, and Frank married his second wife, Augusta K. Hogan, in 1959. Frank Barrett died on 30 May 1962, shortly after being diagnosed with leukemia. He is buried in Lusk.

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Content Description

Collection consists mainly of Barrett's U.S. senatorial department subject files, primarily on legislative issues. Files contain correspondence including letters from constituents, reports, bills, and newspaper clippings, andrelate to reclamation projects, cattle, sheep and wool industries, mining, and the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne. Collection also includes a family scrapbook and miscellaneous photographs.

The Frank A. Barrett Papers, 1920-1981, are mainly from his six-year term in the United States Senate. They include correspondence, reports, memorandums, bills and resolutions from Congress, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

The Departmental Files (Boxes 1-61) include material concerning the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Health, Education and Welfare, Interior, Justice, Labor, and Treasury. There is a large amount of information from the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, especially concerning woolgrowers and sheep ranching. Senator Barrett's bill proposing to give mineral royalties back to the states instead of the federal government (known as "Fair Play for Western States") may be of interest to the researcher (Boxes 40-41).

Subject Files (Boxes 62-74) include correspondence with various independent agencies. It also contains bills and resolutions which the Senator introduced or sponsored, and presidential messages to Congress.

The Family Scrapbook (Box 75), which was photocopied from the original, contains newspaper clippings related to Frank Barrett's career and death, as well as articles on his wife Alice and his children. In addition there are two pictorial directories of Congress from 1944 and 1947.

The Photographs (Box 75) contain family photographs of the senator's wife and children. Miscellaneous Photographs include pictures of Brownlee Dam, an Idaho Power Company Shareowner Meeting, Barrett at Warren Air Force Base, speakers at the Armed Services' Committees's Missiles and Satellites Hearings, White Mountain Storage Depot, and Vachel Davis' Coal Mine Commemorative Stamp.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Frank A. Barrett Papers, Collection Number 00631, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Frank A. Barrett at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

The Frank A. Barrett Papers were given to the American Heritage Center by Senator Barrett in 1958. His son, Dr. Frank A. Barrett, Jr., also lent a family scrapbook to the collection on 15 April 1996, which was copied and returned to him. The papers were well organized and in good condition. The arrangement and original folder titles were maintained. The scrapbook, as well as photographs, were arranged in separate series.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Susan Horan.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cattle trade --United States.
  • Mines and mineral resources --United States.
  • Reclamation of land --United States.
  • Sheep industry --United States.
  • Wool trade and industry --United States.

Personal Names

  • Barrett family.

Corporate Names

  • United States. Congress. Senate.

Geographical Names

  • F.E. Warren Air Force Base (Wyo.)
  • Wyoming --History --1946-
  • Wyoming --Politics and government.

Processed by Susan Horan
"" 2006

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

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