Arthur B. Langlie papers, 1935-1966

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Langlie, Arthur B. (Arthur Bernard), 1900-1966
Title
Arthur B. Langlie papers
Dates
1935-1966 (inclusive)
1949-1957 (bulk)
Quantity
47 cubic ft. (boxes, packages, vertical files); 1 transcription disc
Collection Number
0061, 1327
Summary
Papers of a lawyer, politician, and business executive of 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

Consult the restrictions governing access for each of the accessions listed below.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

If not for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909, Arthur Bernard Langlie (July 25, 1900 – July 24, 1966) probably would never have become governor of Washington. He was born in Minnesota to Scandinavian immigrants on August 25th, 1900. His family moved repeatedly throughout Minnesota and North Dakota during his early childhood. After a fire destroyed his parents’ hotel in 1909, they planned to try their luck in Montana. Bjarne Langlie, Arthur’s father, discovered that because of special rates encouraging visits to the Exposition, a rail ticket to Seattle cost no more than one to Montana. He decided to check out the prospects in the Puget Sound region instead, and as a result the family settled in Bremerton.

Arthur attended the University of Washington, eventually receiving a law degree. He practiced in Seattle, and by the mid-1930s became involved in municipal reform. He served as mayor from 1938 to 1940, and led the effort to rehabilitate the city after the Great Depression, restoring a sense of stability, efficiency, and business-as-usual, along with the more tangible benefits of federal aid. In 1940, he became the Republican gubernatorial nominee, and won thanks largely to a deeply divided Democratic party. Bruising battles with both the legislature and with other state offices characterized his term, and he lost his re-election bid to U.S. Senator Monrad C. Wallgren. Langlie ran against Wallgren again in 1948, and avenged his defeat. In the subsequent election he became the first Washington state governor to win a third term. In 1956, at the urging of President Eisenhower, Langlie challenged, unsuccessfully, Warren G. Magnuson’s seat in the Senate. After this defeat, he decided to return to private life even though Eisenhower offered him a number of prominent positions in the federal government. Until his retirement in 1964, Langlie served as president, and later board chairman, of McCall’s Corporation, and oversaw the rejuvenation of the publishing company. He died in Seattle, one day shy of his 66th birthday.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Consult the scope and content information for each of the accessions listed below.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 5 accessions.

  • Accession No. 0061-001, Arthur B. Langlie papers, 1936-1964
  • Accession No. 0061-006, Arthur B. Langlie papers, 1952
  • Accession No. 1327-001, Arthur Langlie papers, 1965-1966
  • Accession No. 1327-005, Arthur Langlie papers, 1935-1966
  • Accession No. 1327-006, Arthur B. Langlie papers, 1940-1955

Related Materials

Photographs of Arthur B. Langlie (PH Collection 1451) can also be found in Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 0061-001: Arthur B. Langlie papers, 1936-1964Return to Top

44.64 cu. ft. (78 boxes, 4 oversize pkg., one oversize v.f.)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, speeches and writings, reports, ephemera, miscellany, 1936-1964.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users, but access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact repository for details.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Gift of Gov. Langlie through his son, Arthur Langlie: 1959, 1960, 1964, 1966. Langlie family 1966, 1967, and 1970., 1959-01-01

Description
Arthur B. Langlie papers

Accession No. 0061-006: Arthur B. Langlie papers, 1952Return to Top

.25 cu. ft. (oversize transcription disc)

Scope and Content: Address by Langlie to Washington State Historical Society, Tacoma, April 19, 1952.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Robert E. Burke, UW. History Dept., 1975-07-01

Description
Arthur B. Langlie papers

Accession No. 1327-001: Arthur Langlie papers, 1965-1966Return to Top

.21 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, 1956-1966.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Arthur Langlie, Jr., 1970-01-19

Description
Arthur Langlie papers

Accession No. 1327-005: Arthur Langlie papers, 1935-1966Return to Top

1 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Speech reference material, clippings, campaign material, ephemera, ca. 1935-1966 (bulk pre-1956).

Large file of general speech-making anecdotes, quotations, etc. Small amount of material from re-election campaign for governor.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Seattle Historical Society, 1980-04-01

Description
Arthur Langlie papers

Accession No. 1327-006: Arthur B. Langlie papers, 1940-1955Return to Top

1 folder

Scope and Content: Tax returns (photostatic copies), 1940-1955.

Tax records of Arthur Langlie which he sent to state newspapers duing the 1956 gubernatorial campaign.

In 1988 John McClelland, Jr. offered them to the Cowlitz County Historical Museum, which forwarded them to the Wash. State Historical Society. The Society is listed as donor, but McClelland is the actual donor.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Washington State Historical Society, 1998-09-01

Description
Arthur B. Langlie papers

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Politics, Practical--Washington (State)

Personal Names

  • Langlie, Arthur B. (Arthur Bernard), 1900-1966--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
  • United States. Federal Civil Defense Administration
  • United States. President's Committee on Scientists and Engineers
  • Washington (State). Forest Advisory Committee
  • Whitworth College

Geographical Names

  • Washington (State)--History--1889-
  • Washington (State)--Politics and government--1889-1950
  • Washington (State)--Politics and government--1951-

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Adams, Sherman, 1899-1986 (creator)
    • Cain, Harry P. (Harry Pulliam), 1906-1979 (creator)
    • Freeman, Roger A., 1904-1991 (creator)
    • Hamley, Frederick G. (Frederick George), 1903-1975 (creator)
    • Holmes, Otis Halbert, 1902- (creator)
    • Horan, Walter Franklin, 1898-1966 (creator)
    • Houston, Holland H (creator)
    • Jackson, Henry M. (Henry Martin), 1912-1983 (creator)
    • Jordan, Len B. (Len Beck), 1899-1983 (creator)
    • Mack, Russell V. (Russell Vernon), 1891-1960 (creator)
    • Magnuson, Warren G. (Warren Grant), 1905-1989 (creator)
    • McGrath, William L. (William Lynn), 1894- (creator)
    • McKay, Douglas, 1893-1959 (creator)
    • Mitchell, Hugh B. (Hugh Burnton), 1907-1996 (creator)
    • Patterson, Paul L (creator)
    • Tollefson, Thor C. (Thor Carl), 1901-1982 (creator)
    • Wallgren, Monrad C. (Monrad Charles), 1891-1961 (creator)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)