Burton K. Wheeler Family papers, 1924-1989
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Burton K. Wheeler Family papers
- Dates
- 1924-1989 (inclusive)19241989
- Quantity
- 0.7 linear feet
- Collection Number
- 2213, 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
- Collection materials are in English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
Biographical Note
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 Description
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.
Use of the Collection
Preferred Citation
[Creator Name], [Date of Creation], [Brief Description of Object], Folder [#], Box [#], [Collection Name], [Collection #], Montana State University (MSU) Library, Bozeman, MT
Administrative Information
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 Collection
- Description: Series 1: Mrs. Wheeler Goes To Washington
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.
Dates: 1974-1989Container: Box 1, Folder 1 Subseries 1: U.S. Senate campaigns, 1940, 1946
Campaign literature, endorsements, and news articles.
- Description: Senatorial campaign literatureDates: 1940Container: Box 1, Folder 2
- Description: Senatorial campaign literatureDates: 1946Container: Box 1, Folder 3
- Description: Wheat bonus statementDates: 1946Container: Box 1, Folder 4
- Description: Prospectus of Plot to Destroy America, by Kin.Container: Box 1, Folder 5
- Description: Letter about B. K. Wheeler's recordDates: 1946Container: Box 1, Folder 6
- Description: "The Railroad Man's Friend" labor support article.Container: Box 1, Folder 7
- Description: EndorsementsDates: 1946Container: Box 1, Folder 8
Subseries 2: Isolationism and wartime activities, 1939-1945
Papers pertaining to the America First Committee, wartime legislation introduced by Wheeler, and news clippings.
- Description: America First Committee papersContainer: Box 1, Folder 9
- Description: America First Committee papers, Chicago releasesContainer: Box 1, Folder 10
- Description: Legislation introduced by WheelerDates: 1945-1946Container: Box 1, Folder 11
- Description: Various magazine articles about WWIIContainer: Box 1, Folder 12
- Description: Various clippings concerning isolationism, etc.Container: Box 1, Folder 13
Subseries 3: Coleman Scrapbooks, 1940-1941
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.
- Description: Elizabeth Wheeler ColmanContainer: Box 2, Folder 4
Subseries 4: General biographical material, 1924-1975
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.
- Description: Lengthy Chicago Tribune article about Pearl HarborContainer: Box 1, Folder 14
- Description: Papers concerning Wheeler's campaign for Vice PresidentDates: 1924Container: Box 1, Folder 15
- Description: Address by Prof. Richard Ruetten on Wheeler's lifeDates: 1975Container: Box 1, Folder 16
- Description: "The Silver Question" magazine articleContainer: Box 1, Folder 17
- Description: Article about Wheeler's court fightDates: 1937Container: Box 1, Folder 18
- Description: Numerous clippings on Wheeler's lifeContainer: Box 1, Folder 19
Series 3: Photographs, posters, and cartoons, 1924-1975
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.
- Description: #1: Wheeler and Lafollette5" × 7"
(Original print in Box 2.)
Container: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 1 - Description: #2: Woman in formal dress, possibly Lulu3" × 8"Container: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 2
- Description: #3: Small photo, Wheeler on U.S.S. Chicago with R. Admiral RowcliffDates: 1940Container: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 3
- Description: #4: Wheeler4" × 8"Container: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 4
- Description: #5: Wheeler at desk5" × 7"Container: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 5
- Description: #6: Small dbl-mounted Wheeler readingContainer: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 6
- Description: #7: Wheeler with Lulu on walkwayContainer: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 7
- Description: #8: Wheeler smokingContainer: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 8
- Description: #9: Wheeler on telephoneContainer: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 9
- Description: #10: Wheeler talking to man and woman8" × 10"Container: Box 1, Folder 20, Photographic print 10
- Description: #11: Wheeler, wife, and daughter8" × 10"Container: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 11
- Description: #12: Wheeler with daughterContainer: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 12
- Description: #13: Burton and LuluContainer: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 13
- Description: #14: Wheeler, Lulu, and daughterDates: 1940Container: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 14
- Description: #15: Wheeler sitting at couch with Lulu and daughterContainer: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 15
- Description: #16: Wheeler reading invitationContainer: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 16
- Description: #17: Wheeler reading invitationContainer: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 17
- Description: #18: On horseback with Lulu and ElizabethDates: 1941Container: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 18
- Description: #19: Wheeler at dinner table in tux, in later yearsContainer: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 19
- Description: #20: Same setting as #19, different poseContainer: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 20
- Description: #21: Same setting as #19, reachingContainer: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 21
- Description: #22: Same setting as #19, different poseContainer: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 22
- Description: #23: Dinner table, Wheeler, several othersDates: 1949Container: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 23
- Description: #24: Newspaper illustration from Washington Herald, Wheelers familyDates: 1928Container: Box 1, Folder 21, Photographic print 24
- Description: Wheeler and LafolletteContainer: Box 2, Folder 1
- Description: #25: Wheeler for U.S. SenateDates: 1922Container: Box 2, Item 25
- Description: #26: Wheeler for U.S. SenateDates: 1928Container: Box 2, Item 26
- Description: 27: Wheeler for U.S. SenateDates: 1934Container: Folder os 1, Item 27
- Description: #28: Wheeler for U.S. SenateDates: 1940Container: Box 2, Item 28
- Description: 29: Wheeler for Vice President - Progressive PartyDates: 1924Container: Box 2, Item 29
- Description: #30: "The Indictment of Statesmanship"Container: Box 2, Folder 2, Item 30
- Description: #31: "The Rough Rider"Container: Box 2, Folder 2, Item 31
- Description: #32: "You can't scare me..."Container: Box 2, Folder 2, Item 32
- Description: #33: Campaign narrative cartoonContainer: Box 2, Folder 3, Item 33
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, Burton K. (Burton Kendall), 1882-1975--Family
- Wheeler, Elizabeth Wheeler, 1911--Mrs. Wheeler Goes to Washington
- Wheeler, Lulu White, 1883-1962
Corporate Names
- United States-Congress-Senate
Family Names
- Wheeler family
Geographical Names
- Montana
- Montana--Politics and government
- Montana--Politics and government--20th century
- United States--Politics and government--20 century
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
- Photographs
