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Louise Shadduck papers, 1800-2006

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Shadduck, Louise, 1915-2008
Title
Louise Shadduck papers
Dates
1800-2006 (inclusive)
1950-2000 (bulk)
Quantity
19 cubic feet, (18 bankers boxes and 1 oversized box)
Collection Number
MG 501
Summary
The papers of the journalist, activist, author, speaker, and artist Louise Shadduck from both her professional and personal life. In particular, extensive research on Idaho doctors and other research on her published works are included, as well as binders, files, and scrapbooks of clippings detailing her career.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Processing of this collection was made possible through grant funds provided by the Idaho State Historical Records Advisory Board.
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Biographical Note

Louise Shadduck was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in 1915 as the only daughter amidst six brothers on a dairy farm. She was a native Idahoan her whole life, and her passion and pride for the state were defining features in her career that eventually earned her the title of the "Lioness of Idaho". Her career began shortly after graduating high school in 1933 when she was hired as a journalist in Coeur d'Alene. Soon after, her writing skills and involvement with the Republican party garnered the attention of Senator Henry Dworshak. Shadduck would continue her journalistic writing throughout her political career, as the president of the Idaho Press Women in 1966 and president of the National Federation of Press Women from 1971-1973. She then began working for Governor Charles Robins in 1946, where she shortly moved up the ranks and became the first female administrative assistant- and furthermore, the first woman in the U. S. to serve at the state cabinet level.

In 1956 Shadduck ran for U. S. Congress, ultimately losing to Gracie Pfost but making history in the process. Instead, she was appointed by Governor Bob Smylie to head commerce and development. While in this position, she was successful in implementing major events for the state such as the Boy Scout World Jamboree. In 1969, she returned to an administrative assistant position, this time at the helm of Congressman Orval Hansen. Shadduck then went on to lobby for the Idaho forest industry, even traveling to China in 1979 to do so. She also lobbied for various social issues, including speaking against the rise of Aryan groups in Idahoan areas. Louise Shadduck received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Idaho and was recognized in the Hall of Fame of National Federation of Press Women.

Following her political career, her writing career led her to publish five works from 1990 up to her death in 2008: Andy Little: Idaho Sheep King; Doctors with Buggies, Snowshoes, and Planes; At the Edge of the Ice; Rodeo Idaho; and, The House that Victor Built. Louise Shadduck was a decorated speaker as well as writer, and was frequently praised for her quality of speeches which continued to give until her final year. She never married or had children, but was survived by many nieces and nephews who all sung high praises of her character and progress. In her free time, she enjoyed painting and sketching, often decorating binders and envelopes with her art. Shadduck also had a fond spot for humor, as detailed by her speech "Idaho is a Funny State" and her various clippings of humorous quotes. Louise Shadduck's impact on Idaho can be plainly seen through her assemblage of works in this collection today.

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Content Description

The materials in Louise Shadduck's papers span from 1800-2006, with the majority of materials being focused on the 1950s to early 2000s.

Included in this collection are extensive research on Idaho doctors, speech cards, manuscripts, professional correspondence, materials relating to local history, newspaper clippings, speech materials, itineraries, proposals, and stories. Personal materials include Christmas cards, envelopes, scrapbooks, ledgers, paintings, coupons, and letters. Digital materials such as CDs and floppy disks pertaining to her published works are also included in this collection. Most of the floppy discs in this collection have been migrated for preservation and their contents are available by request.

Materials are dated in YYYY-MM-DD format.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Description of Item], Louise Shadduck papers, MG 501, Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Materials were donated by Louise Shadduck in 1995 and Jean Steingrebe (Louise's niece) in 2008 (MA 1995-48 and MA 2008-23).

Processing Note

Collection was processed by Jay Gaines in 2021 to 2022.

Processing Note

Materials in this collection may contain images, language, or other content that may be offensive or disturbing. These materials are a product of a time and place in history and should be viewed within their historical context. To maintain historical accuracy, the materials appear as they were originally created to serve as historical evidence of the social mindsets, occurrences, behaviors, and norms of their time. They do not reflect the current views of the University of Idaho. For more information on how we treat archival materials with offensive or disturbing content, please see the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Offensive Content Policy.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Feminism

Personal Names

  • Dworshack, Henry C. (Henry Clarence), 1894-1962
  • Hansen, Orval Howard, 1926-2017

Corporate Names

  • Boy Scouts of America
  • National Federation of Press Women
  • World Jamboree of Boy Scouts

Geographical Names

  • Coeur d'Alene (Idaho)
  • Idaho
  • Kootenai County (Idaho)

Finding aid prepared by Jay Gaines
2022

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

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