Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Cage 224
Holmes, Otis Halbert, 1902-1977
Otis Halbert Holmes Papers
1943-1958
8 Linear feet of shelf space
16 Boxes
These are the only extant congressional papers of
Representative Otis "Hal" Holmes. This is but a portion of the original Holmes
papers, most of which were destroyed by Representative Holmes.
Collection materials are in English
Otis Halbert (Hal) Holmes was born at Cresco, Iowa on February 22, 1902. He was
educated at Whitman College at Walla Walla, and Columbia University in 1928 to 1929,
then returned to Washington to become a member of the Central Washington State
College faculty, where he was employed until 1940. At that time, he became a wheat
and livestock rancher in the Ellensburg area. Holmes was elected to Congress in 1942
and served successively until his retirement in 1958. During his congressional
career he served on the Ways and Means, Irrigation and Reclamation, Public Lands,
Indian Affairs, and Pension committees.
Holmes is the grandson of Dudley Chase Haskell, Republican member of Congress from
Kansas from 1876 to 1883.
These are the only extant congressional papers of Representative Holmes. This is but
a portion of the original Holmes papers, most of which were destroyed by
Representative Holmes. There are five series, the titles of which largely describe
the contents. These series are 1: Post Office, 2: Irrigation and Power, 3: Bills, 4:
Schools, and 5: Veterans Administration Claims. Series 2-4 cover the period from
1954-1958, while series 1 and 5 cover Holmes' entire tenure as Congressman.
The arrangement is that of Holmes' subject-based filing system.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item description]
Otis Halbert Holmes Papers, 1943-1958 (Cage 224)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
The collection consists of the papers which Holmes passed to Catherine May Bedell in
1959 when she succeeded him as 4th District Representative.
This collection was acquired by the Washington State University Library from
Catherine May Bedell in 1971.
Some of Congressman Holmes' papers were incorporated into the files of his successor,
Catherine May, and may be found in the Catherine May Congressional Papers, 1959-1970
(Cage 304).
MASC holds papers of other previous representatives from the 4th Congressional District:
Knute Hill Papers, 1909-1963 (Cage 194)
Catherine May Congressional Papers, 1959-1970 (Cage 304)
>Mike McCormack Papers, 1959-1994 (Cage 690)
Sid Morrison Papers, 1980-1992 (Cage 781)
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
Holmes, Otis Halbert, 1902-1977 -- Archives
United States. Congress. House
United States -- Politics and government -- 1933-1953 -- Sources
United States -- Politics and government -- 1953-1961 -- Sources
Washington (State) -- Politics and government -- Sources
Legislators -- United States -- Archives
Politics and politicians
Washington (State)
Series 1: Post Office
1943-1958
1
Adrian - Coulee City
2
Dayton - Goodnoe Hills
3
Goose Prairie - Lowden
4
Lyle - Palouse
5
Pasco - Ritzville
6
Ronald - Tekoa
7
Thornton - Waitsburg
8
Walla Walla - Zillah
Series 2: Irrigation and Power
1954-1958
1954-1956
9
Bonneville, Chief Joseph, Columbia
Basin Plan, Columbia Basin Project, Columbia River, Connell and Mesa
Areas, Grand Coulee, Hells Canyon
10
Ice Harbor, John Day, Kennewick,
Kittitas District of Yakima Project, Klickitat Project, Mabton and
Satus 4, McNary, Priest Rapids, Quincy, Satus 3, Snake River, The
Dallas, Touchet River, Walla Walla River
11
Wapato, Yakima River
1957-1958
11
Bonneville, Chief Joseph, Columbia
Basin Plan, Columbia Basin Project, Columbia River, Esquatizel
Canyon, Grand Coulee
12
Ice Harbor, John Day, Kennewick,
Kittitas, Klickitat, Lower Monumental Dam, Mabton-Satus 4 Unit,
McNary, Palouse River (Colfax Flood Control Project), Priest Rapids,
Roza, Snake River, The Dallas, Touchet River (Dayton Irrigation and
Flood Control Project), Walla Walla River, Wapato, Yakima River,
Zintel Canyon.
Series 3: Bills
84th Congress
13
H. R. 8945 Kittitas Division, Yakima
Project
13
H. R. 9178 Amend Internal Revenue Code
for amortization of grain storage facilities.
13
H. R. 7483 For the Relief of Adel
Kamal
85th Congress
13
H. R. 1938 To increase certain
annuities, civil retired employees
13
H. R. 2549 Enlarge Whitman National
Monument
13
H. R. 5127 Authorize sale of wheat for
feeding purposes
13
H. R. 5128 Exempt wheat
production
13
H. R. 5410 Provide for aid, Control of
mosquitoes
13
H. R. 5474 For the relief of Grant
County School District, Warden
13
H. R. 5668 For the Relief of Quincy
School District #144
13
H. R. 6366 Kittitas Reclamation
District, Yakima Project
13
H. R. 7157 Boundary between Washington
and Oregon
13
H. R. 7395 Credit for rental payments,
Richland
13
H. R. 9078 To retain National Grange
Building
13
H. R. 7995 Sell McNary Dam land to
Port of Walla Walla
13
H. R. 2649 For the Relief of Jesse
Blake
Series 4: Schools
1954-1958
14
Benton City - Yakima
Series 5: Veterans Administration
Claims
1943-1958
15
A - K
16
L - Z