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Burton K. Wheeler Papers, 1922-1975

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wheeler, Burton K. (Burton Kendall), 1882-1975
Title
Burton K. Wheeler Papers
Dates
1922-1975
Quantity
7 linear feet
Collection Number
Collection 2207, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The Burton K. Wheeler Papers consist of correspondence, memoranda, memorabilia, clippings, speeches, subject files, photographs, and other materials pertaining to Wheeler's personal and political life. There are few senatorial papers from Burton's long tenure in office because he appears to have disposed of them after the 1946 election. What remains are primarily materials which are retrospective in nature, including drafts of Wheeler's autobiography, "Yankee from the West," letters and memoranda pertaining to the same, and correspondence from researchers, political associates, and family members.
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
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Biographical Note

Burton Kendall Wheeler was born in Hudson, Massachusetts on February 27, 1882 and moved to Montana shortly after his graduation from law school in 1905. He began his law career in Butte, serving as U.S. Attorney for Montana from 1913 to 1918 prior to his election to the U.S. Senate in 1922. In 1924, he ran unsuccessfully for vice-president on the Progressive Party presidential ticket. Wheeler is remembered as one of the most powerful senators in Washington D.C. in the 1930s. Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Committee and of the Indian Affairs Committee, he personally influenced such key New Deal legislation as the Public Utilities Holding Company Act of 1935 and the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (the Wheeler-Howard Act). In 1937, he successfully led the opposition to President Roosevelt's attempt to pack the Supreme Court with justices of his own political persuasion. Throughout his years in the Senate, Wheeler consistently opposed war. He supported neutrality legislation in the 1930s, spoke out against peacetime conscription in 1940, fought against the Lend-Lease aid to Britain in 1941, and took an active role in the "America First" movement. After the United States decided to enter World War II, however, Wheeler gave his full support to the effort. He was defeated for reelection in 1946 and practiced law in Washington D.C. until his death in 1975.

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Content Description

The papers consist of correspondence, memoranda, memorabilia, clippings, speeches, subject files, photographs, and other materials pertaining to Wheeler's personal and political life. There are few senatorial papers from Burton's long tenure in office because he appears to have disposed of them after the 1946 election. What remains are primarily materials which are retrospective in nature, including drafts of Wheeler's autobiography, "Yankee from the West," letters and memoranda pertaining to the same, and correspondence from researchers, political associates, and family members. Subject files include materials pertaining to Wheeler's 1923-25 court battle against a Justice Department indictment; rural telephone legislation; the 1924 presidential campaign; anti-war and conscription items; and general topical notes kept on 5 × 8 and 3 × 5 inch cards.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Series 1 Autobiographical materials, 1958-1972

Series 2 Biographical materials, 1922-1974

Series 3 Family papers, 1942-1975

Series 4 Political campaign papers 1946

Series 5 General correspondence, 1939-1974

Series 6 Business and financial papers, 1930-1975

Series 7 Topical files, 1924-1974

Series 8 Scrapbook material and memorabilia, circa 1930s-1970s

Series 9 Photographs and audio-visual materials, circa 1880s-1975

Acquisition Information

Political and personal papers created or collected by Burton K. Wheeler were donated to MSU libraries in January 1990, by Charlotte and Edward K. Wheeler.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 May 22

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Kim Allen Scott, 2009
November 22, 2017

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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