Burton K. Wheeler Family Papers

Burton K. Wheeler Family Papers, 1924-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Colman, Elizabeth Wheeler, 1911-
Title: Burton K. Wheeler Family Papers
Dates: 1924-1989
19241989
Quantity: .7 linear feet
Collection Number: Collection 2213, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary: The Burton K. Wheeler Family Papers consist of papers and correspondence of Elizabeth Colman pertaining to the writing of her book Mrs. Wheeler Goes To Washington, papers pertaining to the life of Burton K. Wheeler, as well as photographs of Burton K. Wheeler and his family.
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

Elizabeth Wheeler Colman was born in Butte, Montana, on April 17, 1911, the second child of Lulu and Burton K. Wheeler. She attended grammar school in Butte and Washington, D.C., then graduated from Western High School in Washington. She obtained her B.A. in history and M.A. in political science from George Washington University. She and her husband, Edwin Woodruff Colman, have been married for over fifty years and have had four children. She has served on boards and committees concerning political, civic, educational, and community affairs. In 1989 she wrote Mrs. Wheeler Goes To Washington, dealing with the life of her mother, Lulu Wheeler, wife of U.S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler. The book was published by Falcon Press Publishing Co, Helena, Montana.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection has been arranged in 3 series, based on subjects. Series 1 consists of papers and correspondence of Elizabeth Colman pertaining to the writing of her book Mrs. Wheeler Goes To Washington. Much is hand-written. Series 2 consists of papers pertaining to the life of Burton K. Wheeler. This series has been separated into 4 subseries: papers pertaining to B.K. Wheeler's U.S. Senate campaigns; Wheeler's isolationist and wartime activities; Wheeler's later life; and two large scrapbooks created by Elizabeth Wheeler Colman during the early 1940s containing some of her personal memorabilia and numerous clippings pertaining to her father. Series 3 consists of photographs of Burton K. Wheeler and his family. The 1990 donation materials, which are mainly originals, have been intermingled with the 1994 materials, which are primarily photocopies.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1 Mrs. Wheeler Goes To Washington, 1974-1989

Series 2 Burton K. Wheeler biographical materials, 1924-1975

Subseries 1 - U.S. Senate Campaigns, 1940; 1946

Subseries 2 - Isolationism and wartime activities

Subseries 3 - Elizabeth Coleman scrapbooks

Subseries 4 - General biographical materials

Series 3 Photographs, posters, and cartoons, circa 1924-1970s

Acquisition Information

Papers, correspondence, and photographs pertaining to the Burton K. Wheeler family were donated to MSU Special Collections by Elizabeth Wheeler Colman in 1990 and 1994.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 May 22

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Mrs. Wheeler Goes To Washington , 1974-1989Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1

Photos, papers, and correspondence collected by Elizabeth Wheeler Colman while preparing her manuscript for Mrs. Wheeler Goes To Washington. Includes letters from her editor and correspondence from family friends. Much is handwritten. Does not include original manuscript.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Mrs. Wheeler Goes To Washington

Series 2: Burton K. Wheeler biographical materials, 1924-1975Return to Top

Wide variety of materials concerning the life of Burton K. Wheeler. Includes papers and correspondence pertaining to his political campaigns for U.S. Senate and other offices. Contains endorsements, correspondence, press statements, and newspaper articles about his political positions. Also includes legislation introduced by Senator Wheeler.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Subseries 1: U.S. Senate campaigns Campaign literature, endorsements, and news articles.	1940; 1946
Box/Folder
1/2	Senatorial campaign literature	1940
1/3	Senatorial campaign literature	1946
1/4	Wheat bonus statement	1946
1/5	Prospectus of Plot to Destroy America, by Kin.
1/6	Letter about B. K. Wheeler's record	1946
1/7	"The Railroad Man's Friend" labor support article.
1/8	Endorsements	1946
	Subseries 2: Isolationism and wartime activities Papers pertaining to the America First Committee, wartime legislation introduced by Wheeler, and news clippings.	1939-1945
Box/Folder
1/9	America First Committee papers
1/10	America First Committee papers, Chicago releases.
1/11	Legislation introduced by Wheeler	1945-1946
1/12	Various magazine articles about WWII.
1/13	Various clippings concerning isolationism, etc.
	Subseries 3: Coleman Scrapbooks Scrapbook created by Elizabeth Wheeler Colman in early 1940s. Contains mainly national newspaper clippings about Burton. K. Wheeler, as well as some of Elizabeth's personal memorabilia.	1940-1941
Box/Folder
2/4	Elizabeth Wheeler Colman
	Subseries 4: General biographical material Papers and articles pertaining to Burton. K. Wheeler's life and career other than his Senate campaigns and wartime activities. Some news articles written in Wheeler's later, post-political years.	1924-1975
Box/Folder
1/14	Lengthy Chicago Tribune article about Pearl Harbor.
1/15	Papers concerning Wheeler's campaign for Vice President	1924
1/16	Address by Prof. Richard Ruetten on Wheeler's life	1975
1/17	"The Silver Question" magazine article.
1/18	Article about Wheeler's court fight	1937
1/19	Numerous clippings on Wheeler's life.

Series 3: Photographs, posters, and cartoons, 1924-1975Return to Top

Illustrations of Burton K. Wheeler and family, political posters, and cartoons. #s 1-24 are photographs. Photographers generally unknown although #1 was taken by Harris and Ewing and #15 and 16 were taken by H.D. Walter. #s 25-29 are campaign posters. #30-33 are original cartoons. Cartoons include Joseph Parrish's "The Indictment of Statesmanship" (published in Chicago Tribune 1941) Gene Elderman's "The Rough Rider", Cliff Berman's "You can't scare me..." (1948) and a Wheeler cartoon narrative by R. Faulkner.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/20	Photographs #1-10
	#1: Wheeler and Lafollette 5" × 7" (Original print in Box 2.)
	#2: Woman in formal dress, possibly Lulu 3" × 8"
	#3: Small photo, Wheeler on U.S.S. Chicago with R. Admiral Rowcliff	1940
	#4: Wheeler 4" × 8"
	#5: Wheeler at desk 5" × 7"
	#6: Small dbl-mounted Wheeler reading
	#7: Wheeler with Lulu on walkway
	#8: Wheeler smoking
	#9: Wheeler on telephone
	#10: Wheeler talking to man and woman 8" × 10"
1/21	Photographs #11-24.
	#11: Wheeler, wife, and daughter 8" × 10"
	#12: Wheeler with daughter
	#13: Burton and Lulu
	#14: Wheeler, Lulu, and daughter	1940
	#15: Wheeler sitting at couch with Lulu and daughter
	#16: Wheeler reading invitation
	#17: Wheeler reading invitation
	#18: On horseback with Lulu and Elizabeth	1941
	#19: Wheeler at dinner table in tux, in later years (two of this same image)
	#20: Same setting as #19, different pose
	#21: Same setting as #19, reaching (two identical)
	#22: Same setting as #19, different pose
	#23: Dinner table, Wheeler, several others	1949
	#24: Newspaper illustration from Washington Herald, Wheelers family	1928
2/1	Wheeler and Lafollette
2/2	Wheeler Campaign posters #25-29
	#25: Wheeler for U.S. Senate	1922
	#26: Wheeler for U.S. Senate	1928
	#27: Wheeler for U.S. Senate	1934
	#28: Wheeler for U.S. Senate	1940
	#29: Wheeler for Vice President - Progressive Party	1924
2/3	Cartoons #30-33
	#30: "The Indictment of Statesmanship"
	#31: "The Rough Rider"
	#32: "You can't scare me..."
	#33: Campaign narrative cartoon
2/4	Scrapbook from Series 2, Subseries 3

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Legislators' spouses-United States
Legislators-United States
Political campaigns-United States

Personal Names

Wheeler, Burton K. (Burton Kendall), 1882-1975
Wheeler, Elizabeth Wheeler, 1911--Mrs. Wheeler Goes to Washington
Wheeler, Lulu White, 1883-1962

Corporate Names

United States-Congress-Senate

Family Names

Wheeler family
Wheeler, Burton K. (Burton Kendall), 1882-1975-Family

Geographical Names

Montana-Politics and government-20th century
United States-Politics and government-1901-1953

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