Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
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)19261936
- 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
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
- 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
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)