Orvin Benorie Fjare was born on a ranch in the Melville area near Big Timber, Sweet Grass County, Montana on April 16, 1918. He attended the local schools and Sweet Grass County High School. He became part owner of the clothing store where he worked before enlisting as a private in the U.S. Army in 1940. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant of Artillery in 1942, received his air force wings in 1944, and was discharged as a captain in 1946 after service in the South Pacific. Fjare became active in Junior Chamber of Commerce, served on the Board of Trustees of the Big Timber Schools 1951-1954, and was a member of the Montana Public Welfare Commission 1952 - 1954. He was elected as a Republican to the 84th Congress (January 3, 1955 - January 3, 1956 and was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1956. He was a member of the State House of Representatives in 1959 and was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1960. He engaged in the life insurance business and was advertising director of the Montana State Highway Department, 1962-1969. In 1970, he became director of the Montana Federal Housing Administration.
The Fjare Collection contains 7.5 linear feet of office files from Mr. Fjare's Washington congressional office in 1954-1956. Includes much correspondence with Republican Party leaders at both state and national levels. Also included are case file responses and correspondence between Fjare and his constituents. Issues discussed include farm legislation, national defense installations in Montana, Yellowtail and Hungry Horse dams, Charles M. Russel Memorials, proposed highway projects, and additions to the national forests. Office bills and records are also included. Original order has been preserved. Two photographs of Fjare are included along with political scrapbooks are copied on microfilm.
Series 1 Campaign and Republican Party Correspondence, 1954-1957
Series 2 Private Organizations Correspondence, 1954-1956
Series 3 Speeches, Releases, Legislation, and Related Papers, 1954-1956
Series 4 Case File Responses, 1955-1956
Series 5 Washington Office Papers, 1955-1956
Series 6 Independent Federal Agencies Correspondence, 1955-1956
Series 7 National Defense Correspondence, 1955-1957
Series 8 Miscellaneous Montana Papers
Series 9 Federal Department Agencies Correspondence, 1955-1957
Series 10 Legislative Files, 1955-1957
Series 11 Photographs and microfilm
This collection is open for research.
Congressional papers created or collected by U.S. Congressman Orvin B. Fjare were donated to Special Collections by Mr. Fjare in August, 1971. A 16mm sound motion picture film of Fjare campaign material was donated by Jon Fjare of Helena, Montana on July 12, 2018.
This collection was processed 2009 May 19
Includes correspondence involving Fjare's supporters, The Fjare For Congress Club officers, Montana Republican National Sec. Gladys Knowles, Wally Spangelo, Fjare's Office Manager, Montana Federation of Women's Republican Clubs, Montana Republican mailing lists, Montana Republican Central Committee, Montana Young Republicans, and the National Republican Committee. Much subject matter involves Fjare's congressional campaigns, while some involves Republican Party affairs, speaking engagements, and political matters.
This series contains blue copies of case work responses from Fjare's office during his term in the House of Representatives. The initial incoming correspondence from Fjare's constituents is not included. This correspondence is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the recipient. Recipients are primarily Montana constituents of Rep. Fjare and issues discussed cover a wide array of subject matter. A general idea of subject matter may be found typed in the upper right-hand heading of each letter. Files are organized alphabetically by first letter of the last name of the addressee. Correspondence within a particular letter file are not arranged alphabetically, however.
Includes inter-office phone bills, telegraph account forms, postage records, expense vouchers, correspondence and receipts for office furnishings. Also included are office letters such as requests by constituents to be placed on the mailing list for the Congressional Record.
Includes general correspondence between Fjare's Congressional office and numerous independent federal agencies (agencies not under a cabinet department). Papers pertaining to U.S. Department agencies are organized as Series 9 (this is done to maintain the original order of Fjare's office files). Much of this correspondence is initiated by Representative Fjare on behalf of constituents. Both correspondence between Fjare's office and the agencies and between Fjare and his constituents are included. Agencies included herein include the Federal Communications Commission, the General Accounting Office, the National Labor Relations Board, and others.
Includes correspondence between the Fjare office, constituents, and defense agencies about defense efforts in Montana and nationwide. Matters discussed include a possible Air Force fighter base at Miles City, possible radar stations site near Jordan, Lewistown, and elsewhere, Glasgow air base housing shortages, discharges of Montana servicemen, efforts to bring Montana Air Reserve Center to Billings, Enlistment rank concerns, disbanding of Veterinary Corps, inquiries about purchasing surplus army equipment, reserve training in Billings, personnel transfers for Army officers, Army Corps of Engineer projects, nominations, complaints, Concerns about a guided missile range near Glasgow, Jaycee Air Fair in Billings, and other matters.
Contains papers and correspondence pertaining to Fjare's operations and activities inside Montana. These files are kept in the original order and include correspondence regarding the Fjare for Congress Club, Charles M. Russell memorials, and proposed highway projects inside Montana. Much miscellaneous correspondence of a salutory nature is included, along with correspondence between Fjare and the Montana State legislature.
Contains papers and correspondence between Fjare, his constituents, and agencies of the executive cabinet. A wide range of subject matter is covered, including agriculture, soil conservation, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Yellowtail and Fort Peck Dams, unemployment, military matters, and other concerns. Most correspondence is between Fjare and his Montana constituency. Original order is maintained.
Contains papers and correspondence from constituents, interest groups, and government agencies regarding legislation being considered by the various committees and subcommittees of the U.S. House of Representatives. Correspondence includes requests to vote for or against bills or alter specific provisions of bills. Some correspondence is of an informative nature. These papers are organized alphabetically according to the separate committees of the House of Representatives.
Two photographs of Orvin Fjare taken during his political career and a microfilm copy of the congressman's scrapbooks.