Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Papers, 1940-1984
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Papers
- Dates
- 1940-198419401984
- Quantity
- 6.8 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Collection 2095, MtBC, us (collection)
- Summary
- The Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Papers consist of correspondence, speeches, research notes, and printed publications pertaining to the Republican far right, especially the John Birch Society in Montana during the 1960s. These papers are the resource material that explain the positions taken by The People's Voice and also document the tie between the Billings and the Montana AFL-CIO. Since the Billings were involved in many political issues, they corresponded with many high ranking government officials.
- Repository
-
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
- Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Harry L. Billings was born in Somers, Montana, in 1913 where his father worked in the lumber mill. His mother was a homesteader and early day schoolteacher in the Hot Springs area where he was raised. He was a graduate of Thompson Falls High School and earned a degree in journalism from the University of Montana in 1933. His wife, Gretchen Garber Billings was a native of Whitefish whose grandparents homesteaded in the Plains area in the mid-1880s. The Billings jointly edited the farmer-labor owned newspaper The People's Voice in Helena from 1946 to 1969, resigning after a lengthy dispute with organized labor over support of the Vietnam War. Billings opposed American involvement in Korea and Vietnam. During the sales tax fight of 1971, Harry coordinated the successful opposition to enactment of the proposed tax, and then spent two and one half years as Director of Education and Research for the Montana State AFL-CIO. He was also a member of the Montanan Bicentennial advisory council in the mid-1970s and in 1983 was awarded the University of Montana's distinguished alumni award. The Billings retired first to their home in Thompson Falls and then moved full-time to Apache Junction, Arizona, when Harry began suffering respiratory problems. He died on April 23, 1990.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Billings papers contains correspondence, speeches, research notes, and printed publications pertaining to the Republican far right, especially the John Birch Society in Montana during the 1960s. These papers are the resource material that explain the positions taken by The People's Voice and also document the tie between the Billings and the Montana AFL-CIO. Since the Billings were involved in many political issues, they corresponded with many high ranking government officials, including John F. Kennedy, who wrote to the Billings after a trip to Montana in 1959, and Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey, and Jeanette Rankin, a personal friend of the Billings. They also worked closely with several Montana governors and senators. Included in the papers are letters written by Mike Mansfield, Lee Metcalf, John Melcher, James E. Murray, and Burton K. Wheeler as well as governors Sam C. Ford, John W. Bonner, Tom Judge, and Ted Schwinden. Billings also collected the papers of Colonel Jerome G. Locke who was appointed General Surveyor of Montana by President Taft. Included in the Billings papers is Locke's certificate of his appointed signed by Taft. The Billings papers have been topically divided into series.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Series 1 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence and Speeches, 1946-1984
Series 2 Labor Movement, 1944-1979
Series 3 Montana AFL-CIO, 1956-1984
Series 4 General Subject Files, 1940-1981
Series 5 Individuals, 1947-1984
Series 6 The Right Wing, 1948-1968
Series 7 Group Research, Incorporated, 1961-1967
Series 8 Photographs and Audio Recordings, 1948-1974
Acquisition Information
Harry L. and Gretchen Billings donated their business and personal papers to Special Collections in the fall of 1982. A seperate donation of papers in 1984, originally accessioned as collection 2123, was combined with this collection during processing.
Processing Note
This collection was processed 2009 April 1
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence and Speeches, 1946-1984Return to Top
Through their work with The People's Voice and the labor movement, the Billings corresponded with many people across the state. This series contains correspondence with labor leaders and people voicing their support or disagreement over various political issues. The bulk of the letters were written when the Billings were editors of The People's Voice. Most of letters are connected with the paper, but a few are personal letters to Harry and Gretchen. The Billings were also ardent spokespersons for labor and the Democratic party and were often asked to speak at various functions. This series also contains speeches and radio broadcasts the Billings made in conjunction with their position with the paper. The bulk of the letters in Series 1 is general and some personal correspondence. The only specific topics contained in this series are the Grain Terminal Association, the Hillman Award, and the Billings's retirement from The People's Voice. Correspondence relating to specific topics such as the labor movement, the AFL-CIO, and the right wing are found in Series 2-6.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1946-1948 |
1/2 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1950-1953 |
1/3 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1954-1955 |
1/4 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
February to April 1956 |
1/5 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
May to December 1956 |
1/6 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to March 1957 |
1/7 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
April to May 1957 |
1/8 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
June to December 1957 |
1/9 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to April 1958 |
1/10 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
May to August 1958 |
1/11 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
September to December 1958 |
1/12 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to May 1959 |
1/13 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
June to July 1959 |
1/14 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
August to December 1959 |
1/15 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to February 1960 |
1/16 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
March to April 1960 |
1/17 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
May to August 1960 |
1/18 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
September 1960 |
1/19 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
October 1960 |
1/20 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
November to December 1960 |
1/21 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to March 1961 |
1/22 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
April to July 1961 |
1/23 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
August to October 1961 |
1/24 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
November to December 1961 |
1/25 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to May 1962 |
1/26 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
June to July 1962 |
1/27 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
August to December 1962 |
1/28 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to July 1963 |
1/29 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
August to September 1963 |
1/30 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
October to December 1963 |
1/31 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to April 1964 |
1/32 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
May 1964 |
1/33 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
June to July 1964 |
1/34 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
September to December 1964 |
1/35 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1965 |
2/1 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to March 1965 |
2/2 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
April 1965 |
2/3 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
May to June 1965 |
2/4 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
July to December 1965 |
2/5 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to February 1966 |
2/6 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
March to July 1966 |
2/7 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
September to October 1966 |
2/8 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
November to December 1966 |
2/9 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to August 1967 |
2/10 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
September to December 1967 |
2/11 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
January to May 1968 |
2/12 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
June 1968 to 1969 |
2/13 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1972 |
2/14 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1973-1974 |
2/15 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1975 |
2/16 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1976 |
2/17 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1977-1981 |
2/18 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1982 |
2/19 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings
Correspondence |
1983-1984 |
2/20 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Personal
Correspondence |
1968 to March 1969 |
2/21 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Personal
Correspondence |
April to December 1969 |
2/22 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Personal
Correspondence |
1970-1972 |
2/23 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Personal
Correspondence |
1973-1976 |
2/24 | Grain Terminal Association Correspondence |
1957 to January 1960 |
2/25 | Grain Terminal Association Correspondence |
February 1960 to 1961 |
2/26 | Grain Terminal Association Correspondence |
1962 to 1965; 1970 |
2/27 | Grain Terminal Association Correspondence |
1960; 1970 |
2/28 | November 1958 to March 1959 | |
2/29 | April 1959 | |
2/30 | May 1959 | |
2/31 | June 1959 | |
2/32 | July 1959 to 1961; 1967 | |
2/33 | 1959 | |
2/34 | Correspondence about Harry L. and Gretchen Billings'
Retirement |
1968 |
2/35 | Clippings about Harry L. and Gretchen Billings'
Retirement |
1968 |
3/1 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Radio
Broadcasts |
January 1953 |
3/2 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Radio
Broadcasts |
February to March 1953 |
3/3 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Radio
Broadcasts |
1957 |
3/4 | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Interviews |
1975-1976 |
3/5 | Dean Stone Night, Correspondence and
Speech |
April 1976 |
3/6 | Harry L. Billings Speeches |
1960 |
3/7 | Harry L. Billings Speeches |
1962-1963 |
3/8 | Harry L. Billings Speeches |
1964 |
3/9 | Harry L. Billings Speeches |
1972 |
3/10 | Harry L. Billings Speeches |
1973 |
3/11 | Harry L. Billings Speeches |
1974 |
3/12 | Harry L. Billings Speeches |
1976-1978 |
3/13 | Gretchen Billings Speeches, |
1960 |
3/14 | Gretchen Billings Speeches, |
circa 1960-1969 |
3/15 | Gretchen Billings Speeches, |
1964-1967 |
3/16 | Gretchen Billings Speeches, |
circa 1964-1967 |
3/17 | Gretchen Billings Speeches, |
1969 |
3/18 | Gretchen Billings Speeches, |
circa 1969-1970 |
3/19 | Gretchen Billings Correspondence and
Speeches |
1959-1961 |
3/20 | Gretchen Billings Correspondence and
Speeches |
1962-1963 |
3/21 | Gretchen Billings Correspondence and
Speeches |
1964-1965 |
3/22 | Gretchen Billings Correspondence and Clippings for
Speeches |
1964-1967 |
3/23 | Gretchen Billings Correspondence with Women in
Politics |
1959-1972 |
3/24 | Gretchen Billings Women in Politics Questionnaire and
Panels |
1973 |
3/25 | Gretchen Billings Notes about Teaching
Communism |
1961-1963 |
Series 2: Labor Movement, 1944-1979Return to Top
One area of specific interest to the Billings was the labor movement in Montana. Both Harry and Gretchen were involved in the farmer-labor institute, appearing at various conferences and meetings. This series contains mainly clippings dealing with the labor movement in Montana. It also contains correspondence with various labor leaders and programs from the Farmer-Labor Institute conferences during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. (The last conference was held in 1972)
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
4/1 | American Labor History Pamphlets, Samuel
Gompers |
|
4/2 | American Labor History Pamphlets, History of the
Department of Labor |
|
4/3 | American Labor History Pamphlets, Labor |
|
4/4 | American Labor History Pamphlets, Unions |
|
4/5 | American Labor History Clippings |
1961-1976 |
4/6 | Montana Labor History Correspondence |
1967; 1973 |
4/7 | Montana Labor History Correspondence |
1974-1979 |
4/8 | Montana Labor History Pamphlets |
1973-1976 |
4/9 | Montana Labor History Clippings |
1944; 1967 |
4/10 | Montana Labor History Clippings |
1968-1969 |
4/11 | Montana Labor History Clippings |
1972-1973 |
4/12 | Montana Labor History Clippings |
1974 |
4/13 | Montana Labor History Clippings |
1975-1977 |
4/14 | Montana Labor History Clippings |
1978-1979 |
4/15 | Montana Labor History Clippings |
undated |
4/16 | Montana State Federation of Labor Golden Jubilee Year
Book |
1894-1944 |
4/17 | Montana State Federation of Labor
Convention |
1951 |
4/18 | Montana State Federation of Labor |
1953-1955 |
4/19 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute
Correspondence |
1956-1959 |
4/20 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute
Correspondence |
1967-1970 |
4/21 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute
Correspondence |
1972 |
4/22 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Conference
Programs |
1952-1972 |
4/23 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Conference Summaries
and Addresses |
1949-1970 |
4/24 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Articles, Notes, and
Committee Members |
1953-1972 |
4/25 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Finances and
Receipts |
1972 |
4/26 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings |
1951-1958 |
4/27 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings |
1961 |
4/28 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings |
1962 |
4/29 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings |
1963 |
4/30 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings |
1965-1968 |
4/31 | Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings |
1972 |
Series 3: Montana AFL-CIO, 1956-1984Return to Top
After retiring from The People's Voice, Harry and Gretchen remained vocal about labor issues in Montana. During the 1970s, Harry became the Director of Education and Research of the Montana State AFL-CIO. This series contains correspondence with AFL-CIO leaders, especially James Murray, AFL-CIO publications, including the COPE pamphlets from 1979 to 1982, statements made by Harry and other AFL-CIO leaders at various hearings, information about the internal fight within AFL-CIO in 1978, and clippings about various topics pertaining to the AFL-CIO. Box 7 in this series contains the Montana State AFL-CIO Year Books from 1957-1983 (broken run).
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
5/1 | Montana AFL-CIO Merger |
1956 |
5/2 | Montana AFL-CIO Correspondence |
1962-1973 |
5/3 | Montana AFL-CIO Correspondence |
1974-1979 |
5/4 | Montana AFL-CIO Correspondence |
1980-1984 |
5/5 | Montana AFL-CIO Budget |
1971-1975 |
5/6 | Montana AFL-CIO Committee on Political
Education |
1959 |
5/7 | Montana AFL-CIO Committee on Political
Education |
1963 |
5/8 | Montana AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education
Clippings |
1962-1963 |
5/9 | Montana AFL-CIO "COPE" Pamphlets |
1979-1980 |
5/10 | Montana AFL-CIO "COPE" Pamphlets |
1981 |
5/11 | Montana AFL-CIO "COPE" Pamphlets |
1982 |
5/12 | Montana AFL-CIO Environmental Legislation |
1974 |
5/13 | Montana AFL-CIO Hearings and Statements |
1971-1973 |
5/14 | Montana AFL-CIO Hearings and Statements |
1974 |
5/15 | Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight
Correspondence |
1978 |
5/16 | Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight Executive Board Meeting
Minutes |
December 12, 1977 |
5/17 | Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight Executive Board Meeting
Minutes |
February 25, 1978 |
5/18 | Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight Executive Board Meeting
Minutes |
May 6, 1978 |
5/19 | Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight Clippings |
1977-1978 |
5/20 | Montana AFL-CIO Legislative Reports |
1974-1979 |
5/21 | Montana AFL-CIO Legislative Support |
1972-1974 |
5/22 | Montana AFL-CIO Occupational and Safety and Health
Bill |
1973-1974 |
5/23 | Montana AFL-CIO Pamphlets |
|
6/1 | Montana AFL-CIO The People's
Voice Correspondence |
1968 |
6/2 | Montana AFL-CIO The People's
Voice Clippings |
1968 |
6/3 | Montana AFL-CIO Statements and
Publications |
1964-1967 |
6/4 | Montana AFL-CIO Statements and
Publications |
1972-1973 |
6/5 | Montana AFL-CIO Statements and
Publications |
1974 |
6/6 | Montana AFL-CIO Statements and
Publications |
1975-1978; 1980-1981 |
6/7 | Montana AFL-CIO Clippings |
1957-1958 |
6/8 | Montana AFL-CIO Clippings |
1972-1979 |
6/9 | Montana AFL-CIO Clippings |
1980-1984 |
7/1 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1957 |
7/2 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1958 |
7/3 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1961-1962 |
7/4 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1966 |
7/5 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1967 |
7/6 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1968 |
7/7 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1969 |
7/8 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1970 |
7/9 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1971 |
7/10 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1972 |
7/11 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1973 |
7/12 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1974 |
7/13 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1975 |
7/14 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1976 |
7/15 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1977 |
7/16 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1978 |
7/17 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1979 |
7/18 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1980 |
7/19 | Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book |
1983 |
7/20 | Montana State AFL-CIO Delegate Handbook |
1971 |
7/21 | Montana State AFL-CIO Delegate Handbook |
1973 |
7/22 | Montana State AFL-CIO Delegate Handbook |
1974 |
Series 4: General Subject Files, 1940-1981Return to Top
The Billings were interested in a wide range of topics and issues. As editors of The People's Voice and during their retirement, they kept clippings, articles, and publications on various subjects, mainly dealing with labor and the right wing movement. This series contains subject headings arranged in alphabetical order of the various clippings and research Harry and Gretchen collected on topics such as the Democratic party, environmental concerns, gambling, land use, the legislature, Paradise Dam, poverty, taxation, and Young Americans for Freedom. Two main topics in this series are the Montana bicentennial and the fight against the proposed sales tax in 1971. As one of the main leaders in the opposition to the sales tax, Harry corresponded with many people across the state in order to defeat the tax. This series contains that correspondence and other materials used in the fight against the sales tax.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
8/1 | ACM Strike |
1967-1968 |
8/2 | America's Future Background Information and
Articles |
|
8/3 | America's Future Textbook Evaluation |
|
8/4 | Bicentennial Commission Correspondence |
1973 |
8/5 | Bicentennial Commission Correspondence |
1974 |
8/6 | Bicentennial Commission Correspondence |
1975 |
8/7 | Bicentennial Commission Correspondence |
1976 |
8/8 | Bicentennial Commission Project
Descriptions |
|
8/9 | Bicentennial Commission Final Report to the
Governor |
October 16, 1975 |
8/10 | Bicentennial Commission "The Bicentennial Era:
1972-1976" Pamphlet |
1972-1976 |
8/11 | Bicentennial Commission Bicentennial State Park, Three
Forks |
|
8/12 | Bicentennial Commission Clippings |
1973-1975 |
9/1 | Calendars: Goldwater; American Almanac
Calendars: Goldwater, 1964; American Almanac, 1973
|
1964; 1973 |
9/2 | Church League of America |
1961 |
9/3 | Coal |
1972-1974 |
9/4 | Coal Tax Correspondence and Clippings |
1972-1974 |
9/5 | Coal Tax Resolutions |
1972-1974 |
9/6 | Colstrip-Montana Power Company
Correspondence |
1966; 1977-1981 |
9/7 | Colstrip-Montana Power Company Clippings |
1972-1984 |
9/8 | Communism Pamphlets and Clippings |
1961-1962 |
9/9 | Environmental and Legislative Concerns Legislative
Reports, 1979; Clippings |
1960; 1964; 1977; 1979 |
9/10 | Democratic Party Platforms; Police
Committee
Democratic Party Platforms, 1972, 1976; Police Committee, 1981
|
1972; 1976; 1981 |
9/11 | Democratic Party Clippings |
1964-1981 |
9/12 | Frank Dryman Case |
1961-1962 |
9/13 | Educational Cooperative Publishing Company of
Montana |
1939 |
9/14 | Election Reform |
1974 |
9/15 | Environmental and Legislative Concerns "The Capital
Monitor" Newsletter |
1979 |
9/16 | Environmental and Legislative Concerns Legislative
Reports; Clippings
Environmental and Legislative Concerns Legislative Reports, 1979; Clippings,
1969-1979
|
1979; 1969-1979 |
9/17 | Free Press |
1977-1979 |
9/18 | Gambling |
1977 |
9/19 | Hellgate Herald |
July 1965 |
9/20 | Hellgate Herald |
August 1965 |
9/21 | Hellgate Herald |
September to October 1965 |
9/22 | House Un-American Committee |
1961; 1967 |
9/23 | KMON and KCAP Radio Stations |
1961-1962 |
10/1 | Land Use: SB625 |
1974 |
10/2 | Legislative Reports |
1973-1983 |
10/3 | Legislative Reports Publications |
1975-1983 |
10/4 | Legislative Reports Clippings |
1975; 1981-1985 |
10/5 | Legislature: Annual v. Biennial |
1974 |
10/6 | Lewistown Speech Correspondence and
Publications |
1961-1965 |
10/7 | Lewistown Speech Clippings |
1960-1965 |
10/8 | The Missoulian Centennial Edition |
April 30, 1973 |
10/9 | Montana Christian Conservative |
July 1961 to June 1962 |
10/10 | Montana History Conference |
1974 |
10/11 | Montana History Conference |
1975 |
10/12 | Montana and National Press Progressive Opinion Montana
Newspapers |
|
Daily Herald (Helena) |
August 1867 | |
Free Press (Helena) |
May 1930 | |
Great Falls News |
January 1933 | |
Roundup Record-Tribune |
March 1933 | |
The Scout (Terry) |
November 1932 | |
Montana Standard (Butte) |
June 1932 | |
The Western Progressive (Helena) |
April 1932; December 1932; March 1933; April 1933 | |
10/13 | Montana and National Press Progressive Opinion
National Newspapers |
|
American Freedom (Kansas) |
October 1932 | |
The Bugle Call (Missouri) |
July 1932 | |
Daily Worker (New York) |
October 1931 | |
New York Times |
January 1933 | |
The Progressive (Wisconsin) |
April 1932; February 1933 | |
Vinita Daily Journal (Oklahoma) |
February 1933 | |
10/14 | Nixon Support; League of Women Voters; Institute for
American Democracy
Nixon Support, 1956; League of Women Voters; Institute for American Democracy,
1967
|
1956; 1967 |
10/15 | Pamphlets "Looking Toward a Sound Fiscal Policy"; "The
Needle's Eye"; "Tax Facts and Figures"; "The NRAG Papers" |
|
10/16 | Paradise Dam Testimonies and Legal Papers |
1958-1959 |
10/17 | Paradise Dam Publications |
1958-1959 |
10/18 | Paradise Dam Clippings |
1958-1959 |
10/19 |
The People's Voice
Investigation by David Rankin for National Farmers Union Service
Corporation |
|
10/20 |
The People's Voice
Correspondence |
1940-1945 |
10/21 |
The People's Voice
Correspondence |
1947-1948 |
10/22 |
The People's Voice
Correspondence |
1951-1953; 1965 |
10/23 |
The People's Voice
Clippings |
1949; 1960-1966 |
11/1 | The People's
Voice |
February to June 1963 |
11/2 | The People's
Voice |
July 1963 to April 1964 |
11/3 | Plains Nuclear Power Plant Correspondence and
Publications |
1965-1968 |
11/4 | Plains Nuclear Power Plant Clippings |
1967-1969 |
11/5 | Poverty |
1965 |
11/6 | Proposed Northern Tier Pipeline |
1978-1980 |
11/7 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
May 10-12, 1971 |
11/8 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
May 13-21, 1971 |
11/9 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
May 26-31, 1971 |
11/10 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
June 1-7, 1971 |
11/11 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
June 8-30, 1971 |
11/12 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
July 1-13, 1971 |
11/13 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
July 14-31, 1971 |
11/14 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
August 1971 |
11/15 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
September 1971 |
11/16 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
October 1-12, 1971 |
11/17 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
October 13-21, 1971 |
11/18 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
October 22-31, 1971 |
11/19 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
November 1971 |
11/20 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
December 1971 |
11/21 | Sales Tax Correspondence |
1972; 1981 |
11/22 | Sales Tax Donations and Publications |
1971 |
11/23 | Sales Tax Clippings |
1955; 1971 |
11/24 | Slot Machines |
1948-1949 |
11/25 | Social Security |
1981-1982 |
11/26 | Taxation Clippings |
1971-1977 |
11/27 | Thunder on the Right Correspondence and
Publications |
1954-1961 |
11/28 | Thunder on the Right Clippings |
1949; 1953-1963 |
12/1 | United States Congress Roll Call Votes |
1963 |
12/2 | Up with People |
1967 |
12/3 | The Vigilant Citizen (Sidney); The Western
Voice
The Vigilant Citizen (Sidney) June 1961 to January 1962; The Western Voice September
1961
|
June 1961 to January 1962; September 1961 |
12/4 | Voting Record Pamphlets |
1957-1961 |
12/5 | Voting Record Pamphlets |
1963-1969 |
12/6 | Voting Record |
1948-1983 |
12/7 | "Wheeling" Contracts |
1951-1952 |
12/8 | Young Americans for Freedom Correspondence |
1959-1963 |
12/9 | Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters |
November 1961 to March 1962 |
12/10 | Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters |
April to October 1962 |
12/11 | Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters |
December 1962 to May 1963 |
12/12 | Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters |
May to December 1963 |
12/13 | Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters |
January 1964 to February 1965 |
12/14 | Young Americans for Freedom Clippings |
1961-1965 |
Series 5: Individuals, 1947-1984Return to Top
Like the subject headings, the Billings gathered information on several individuals in Montana. This series contains correspondence and clippings about major personalities in Montana. Billings also collected the papers of Colonel Jerome G. Locke which includes his correspondence. Of special interest in this series are letters written by national government officials such as John F. Kennedy, Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey, and Jeanette Rankin. Letters written by Montana leaders such as Mike Mansfield, Lee Metcalf, John Melcher, Burton K. Wheeler, and James E. Murray as well as from several Montana governors are also included in this series.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
12/15 | Governor Tim Babcock Young Americans for Freedom and
United States Day in Montana |
1963-1965 |
12/16 | Governor Tim Babcock Clippings |
1962-1966 |
13/1 | Governor John W. Bonner Letters |
May 1951 |
13/2 | Dorothy Bradley Correspondence |
1977-1983 |
13/3 | Frank Church; Orvin Fjare |
|
13/4 | Joseph M. Dixon, Clippings about his death |
1975 |
13/5 | Dorothy Floerchinger Correspondence;
Speech
Dorothy Floerchinger Correspondence, 1972; Speech 1962
|
1972; 1962 |
13/6 | Governor Sam C. Ford Letter |
July 7, 1947 |
13/7 | Edmund L. Freeman Correspondence and
Clippings |
1960; 1974-1977 |
13/8 | Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey Letter |
April 1, 1965 |
13/9 | John Jarussi Correspondence and Clippings |
1962 |
13/10 | Governor Tom Judge Letters |
1973-1974; 1977 |
13/11 | Governor Tom Judge Clippings |
1965-1975 |
13/12 | John F. Kennedy Letter |
March 15, 1959 |
13/13 | Colonel Jerome G. Locke Biographical notes by Harry L.
Billings; Correspondence |
1947-1949 |
13/14 | Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence |
January to June 1950 |
13/15 | Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence |
July to December 1950 |
13/16 | Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence |
January to March 1951 |
13/17 | Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence |
April to June 1951 |
13/18 | Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence |
July to September 1951 |
13/19 | Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence |
October to November 1951 |
13/20 | Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence |
1952-1954 |
13/21 | Colonel Jerome G. Locke Pamphlets, "A Sign of the
Times"; "Conclusions" |
|
13/22 | Senator Mike Mansfield Letters |
1950; 1959; 1963; 1969 |
13/23 | Lowndes Maury, Correspondence about |
1974-1981 |
13/24 | Senator John Melcher Letters |
1969-1983 |
13/25 | Senator John Melcher Clippings |
1976-1979 |
13/26 | Perry Melton; Mel Hoy |
1947; 1978; 1983 |
13/27 | Senator Lee Metcalf Letters |
1958-1972 |
13/28 | Senator James E. Murray Letters |
1959-1960 |
13/29 | Thomas Payne: "Interest Groups in Montana" |
1984 |
13/30 | Governor Ted Schwinden Letters |
1981-1982 |
13/31 | Ernest Salvas Correspondence and Clippings |
1955; 1963-1966 |
13/32 | Jeannette Rankin Letters |
May 1973 |
13/33 | Jeannette Rankin Clippings and Articles |
1972-1980 |
13/34 | Sharon Van Quill: Paper on Dan Smoot |
|
13/35 | Dan Whetstone Correspondence and Clippings |
1946-1964 |
13/36 | Senator Burton K. Wheeler Letter |
June 19, 1956 |
13/37 | Senator Burton K. Wheeler: "Meet the Press"
transcript |
December 31, 1945 |
13/38 | Anita Wilford Correspondence |
1967-1968 |
13/39 | Anita Wilford: "The People's
Voice: Crusader for More Rigid Control of the Montana Power
Company" |
Series 6: The Right Wing, 1948-1968Return to Top
Of particular interest to the Billings and a large portion of their research dealt with the Right Wing, especially the John Birch Society. This series contains correspondence about the right wing and research material about their activities. All of Box 15 contains clippings about the radical right.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
14/1 | Right Wing Correspondence; "Smear" groups
Right Wing Correspondence, 1948-1950; "Smear" groups
|
1948-1950 |
14/2 | Right Wing Correspondence |
1962 |
14/3 | Right Wing Correspondence |
1963 |
14/4 | Right Wing Correspondence |
1964 |
14/5 | Right Wing Correspondence |
1965 |
14/6 | Right Wing Articles and Publications |
1962 |
14/7 | Right Wing Articles and Publications |
1963 |
14/8 | Right Wing Articles and Publications |
1964 |
14/9 | Right Wing Articles and Publications |
1965 |
14/10 | Right Wing Articles and Publications |
1966 |
14/11 | Right Wing Against Organized Labor |
1966 |
14/12 | Right Wing, American Legion |
1947-1952 |
14/13 | ight Wing John Birch Society |
1959 to April 1961 |
14/14 | ight Wing John Birch Society |
May 1961 to 1963 |
14/15 | Right Wing Notes about Montana Power, Cattlemen
Association, Attack on Dr. Borden at MSU in Missoula |
1964 |
14/16 | Right Wing Sidney Anti-Communist Movement
Correspondence |
1959-1966 |
14/17 | Right Wing Sidney Anti-Communist Movement
Clippings |
1948-1964 |
14/18 | Right Wing Background Material Clippings |
|
15/1 | Right Wing Clippings |
1950; 1960 |
15/2 | Right Wing Clippings (The
People's Voice response)
Right Wing Clippings, 1961 (The People's Voice
response, 1963)
|
1961; 1963 |
15/3 | Right Wing Clippings (used again)
Right Wing Clippings, 1961 (used again in 1964)
|
1961; 1964 |
15/4 | Right Wing Clippings |
January to April 1961 |
15/5 | Right Wing Clippings |
May to December 1961 |
15/6 | Right Wing Clippings |
January to February 1962 |
15/7 | Right Wing Clippings |
March to December 1962 |
15/8 | Right Wing Clippings |
1963 |
15/9 | Right Wing Clippings |
1964 |
15/10 | Right Wing Clippings |
1965 |
15/11 | Right Wing Clippings |
1966 |
15/12 | Right Wing Clippings |
1967-1968 |
Series 7: Group Research, Incorporated, 1961-1967Return to Top
This series contains the directory compiled by Group Research, Incorporated. The directory was designed to provide journalists, organization leaders, public officials, and others with reference information on radical groups and individuals. It is divided into four sections: Organizations, Individuals, Publications, and Special Reports.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
16/1 | Group Research Directory Information, Organizations
List |
|
16/2 | Group Research Organizations, A to American Good
Government |
|
16/3 | Group Research Organizations, American Opinion to
Association |
|
16/4 | Group Research Organizations, B to
Commission |
|
16/5 | Group Research Organizations, Committee to
D |
|
16/6 | Group Research Organizations, F |
|
16/7 | Group Research Organizations, H-I |
|
16/8 | Group Research Organizations, John Birch
Society |
|
16/9 | Group Research Organizations, John Birch Society
Clippings |
1961-1965 |
16/10 | Group Research Organizations, L |
|
16/11 | Group Research Organizations, M-N |
|
16/12 | Group Research Organizations, O-Y |
|
16/13 | Group Research Individuals, Index |
|
16/14 | Group Research Individuals, A-C |
|
16/15 | Group Research Individuals, D-G |
|
16/16 | Group Research Individuals, H-J |
|
16/17 | Group Research Individuals, K-M |
|
16/18 | Group Research Individuals, N-P |
|
16/19 | Group Research Individuals, R-S |
|
16/20 | Group Research Individuals, T-Z |
|
17/1 | Group Research Publications, Bibliography to
G |
|
17/2 | Group Research Publications, H-L |
|
17/3 | Group Research Publications, M-W |
|
17/4 | Group Research Special Reports, #1-6 |
|
17/5 | Group Research Special Reports, #7-11 |
|
17/6 | Group Research Special Reports, #12-13 |
|
17/7 | Group Research Special Reports, #16-17, 19 |
|
17/8 | Group Research Reports |
1962 |
17/9 | Group Research Reports |
1963 |
17/10 | Group Research Reports |
1964-1965 |
17/11 | Group Research Reports |
1966 |
17/12 | Group Research Reports |
1967-1968 |
Series 8: Photographs and Audio Recordings, 1948-1974Return to Top
This series contains photographs and audio recording collected by the Billings. The bulk of the photographs were printed in The People's Voice, but the people and events are unidentified here. Most of the audio recordings are speeches Harry and Gretchen made in conjunction with The People's Voice and speeches made by Henry A. Wallace during his presidential candidacy in 1948.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
18/1 | Photographs, #1-10 |
|
#1-2 unidentified charter presentation |
||
#3-4 unidentified conference |
||
#5-10 unidentified people |
||
18/2 | Photographs, #11-20 |
|
#11-17 unidentified people |
||
#18-20 Gretchen Billings |
||
18/3 | Photographs, #21-29 |
|
#21 Gordon Twedt and Gretchen Billings |
||
#22 James Umber, Joyce Hrovda, Joe Crosswhite in
front of Montana AFL-CIO building |
||
#23 Friends of Jerome G. Locke |
||
#24 oil well |
circa 1925 | |
#25 aerial view of city |
||
#26 billboard to impeach Earl Warren |
||
#27 close-up of billboard to impeach Earl
Warren |
||
#28 Farmer's Union Insurance road sign with
communist hammer and sickle spray painted on it, outside of Sidney,
Montana |
||
#29 Farmer's Union Insurance road sign with
communist hammer and sickle spray painted on it, outside of Sidney,
Montana |
||
18/4 | Audio Recordings, Legislative Broadcast, Gretchen
Billings |
January 26, 1957; February 10, 1957 |
18/5 | Audio Recordings, Final Legislative Broadcast,
Gretchen Billings |
March 2-3, 1957 |
18/6 | Audio Recordings, Legislative Broadcast, Gretchen
Billings |
undated |
18/7 | Audio Recordings, The People's
Voice Comment; Comments Concerning The People's
Voice, R. E. Davis |
|
18/8 | Audio Recordings, Mort Borden, MSC
(2 tapes)
|
March 1963 |
18/9 | Audio Recordings, Lyman Brewster; John F. Kennedy:
Highlights of Speeches |
|
19/1 | Audio Recordings, Montana Looks to the Future: Indians
of Montana, Sister Providencia; Plains |
December 28, 1963 |
19/2 | Audio Recordings, Harry L. and Gretchen Billings:
Interview with Steve Kelly
(tapes 1-3)
|
November 18-19, 1974 |
19/3 | Audio Recordings, Harry L. and Gretchen Billings:
Interview with Steve Kelly
(tapes 4-6)
|
November 18-19, 1974 |
19/4 | Audio Recordings, KMON and KCAP Radio |
1961-1962 |
19/5-6 | Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace
Speeches |
1948 |
19/7 | Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention,
1-2 |
|
19/8 | Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention,
3-4 |
|
19/9 | Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention,
5-6 |
|
19/10 | Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention,
7-8 |
|
19/11 | Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention,
9-10 |
|
19/12 | Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention,
11-12 |
|
19/13 | Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention,
13-14 |
|
19/14 | Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention,
15-20 |
|
Folder | ||
Oversized |
This folder contains information from series 5, certificates of Jerome G. Locke,
including his appointed certificated signed by President Taft. It also contains a map
out of series 4 of the Columbia River Basin.
|
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976-Montana
- Labor journalism-Montana-Helena
- Labor unions-Montana
- Labor unions-Political activity-Montana
- Newspaper editors-Montana-Helena
- People's voice (Helena, Mont.)
- Political activists-Montana-Helena
- Press, Labor-Montana-Helena
- Right-wing extremists-Montana
- Sales tax-Montana
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975-Protest movements-Montana
- Women newspaper editors-Montana-Helena
- Women political activists-Montana-Helena
Personal Names
- Bonner, John W. (John Woodrow), 1902-1970-Correspondence
- Ford, Sam C. (Sam Clarence), 1882-1961-Correspondence
- Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978-Correspondence
- Judge, Thomas L. -Correspondence
- Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963-Correspondence
- Mansfield, Mike, 1903-2001-Correspondence
- Melcher, John, 1924--Correspondence
- Metcalf, Lee, 1911-1978-Correspondence
- Murray, James E. -Correspondence
- Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973-Correspondence
- Schwinden, Ted-Correspondence
- Wheeler, Burton K. (Burton Kendall), 1882-1975-Correspondence
Corporate Names
- John Birch Society
- Montana State AFL-CIO
- Republican Party (Mont.)
Geographical Names
- Helena (Mont.)-Newspapers
- Montana-Politics and government-20th century
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Billings, Gretchen (creator)
- Billings, Harry L., 1913-1990 (creator)
- Locke, Jerome G. (Jerome George), b. 1882 (creator)
- Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930 (creator)
Corporate Names
- Group Research, Inc (creator)