Jack R Gage Papers, 1961-1962,

AHJ_ah00421 Inventory of the Jack R. Gage papers, 1892-1975 Gage (Jack Robert) papers Processed by Jamie J. Johnston The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.

American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/

2006

University of Wyoming

Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort August 2006 Finding aid is in English Jack R. Gage papers, 1892-1975 Collection number: 00421 University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. Publication date: 2006 Contact Information American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/ Date Processed October 1999

"©" 2006 University of Wyoming

Collection Summary Gage, Jack R. (Jack Robert), 1899-1970 Jack R. Gage papers 1892-1975 00421 7.57 cubic ft. (14 document boxes, 1 F24 box, and 1 other box) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Collection relates to Gage's positions in public office, mainly as governor, and includes subject files, correspondence, campaign materials, speeches, and photographs along with miscellaneous materials from J. J. Hickey's term in office. There are also some scrapbooks and other personal memorabilia, including correspondence with his book "Tensleep and No Rest." Biography of Jack R. Gage

Jack R. Gage was born on January 13, 1899, in McCook, Nebraska, to Will Vernon and LaVaughn Gage. His father was a physician for the railroad in Wyoming, and they were living in a boxcar at the time of Jack’s birth. To avoid giving birth in a boxcar his mother LaVaughn went home to Nebraska. The family settled in Worland, Wyoming, in 1905, where Jack Gage would grow up the only child of Will and LaVaughn. He graduated from Worland High School in 1918. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and served in Artillery during World War I. He was honorably discharged in 1919 and went on to complete his education at the University of Wyoming. He graduated in 1924 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Agriculture. While in College he met his wife Leona Switzer from Gillette, Wyoming. They were married September 29, 1922. They had two children, Jack R. Gage Jr., born in 1926, and Richard (Dick) C. Gage, born in 1928.

Jack R. Gage was a Vocational Agriculture teacher from 1924-1925 at the Cambell County High School in Gillette, Wyoming. From 1929-1934 he was a Geology and Biology teacher at Sheridan High School in Sheridan, Wyoming. In 1934 he quit teaching at Sheridan High School in order to run for Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He won the election and served a term of four years, but he failed to get reelected in 1938. There are claims that this position made him the first graduate of the University of Wyoming to hold a state office. In 1941 he was appointed Postmaster in Sheridan, Wyoming. He worked there for seventeen years until 1958. During this time he became involved in Rotary and was the District Governor from 1956-1957. He also wrote the historical novel “Tensleep and No Rest” and won the Crusade for Freedom award for a peace plan he had submitted. For three weeks in June of 1957 he went to Russia, and he would later give talks about his visit. In 1958 he resigned as the Sheridan Postmaster in order to run for Secretary of State on the Democratic ticket.

He won the election in 1958 and served as Wyoming Secretary of State until 1961. In 1960, after Wyoming Senator Keith Thomson died, Governor Joe Hickey was appointed to replace Thomson in the Senate. On January 2, 1961, Joe Hickey resigned as governor in order to take the new appointment. That same day Jack Gage became the Acting Governor of Wyoming until January 7, 1963, when his term expired. Jack Gage ran for Governor in 1962. He won in the primary, beating William “Scotty” Jack, but lost in the general election to Cliff Hansen. After 1963 Jack Gage became a well known speaker and was invited to speak at many functions. He also was a published author of historical novels and articles on Wyoming and the West, such as “ The Geography of Wyoming,” “Tensleep and No Rest,” and “ The Horse, The Buggy, The Doctor.” Jack Gage died of cancer on March 14, 1970, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, at the age of 71.

Scope and Content

The Jack R. Gage papers are comprised of materials relating to his service in public office and personal life. The majority of his papers deal with his work as Secretary of State and Governor of Wyoming. Most of his papers consist of correspondence and newspaper clippings that discuss the political issues Jack Gage had to deal with, such as appointments, legislation, and campaigning. There is also correspondence and notes about the speeches he gave while in public office as well as after. There are a few portraits of Governor Gage and some photographs taken of him at various functions while governor.

His personal papers contain mostly correspondence dealing with Rotary, his book “Tensleep and No Rest,” and letters from friends and acquaintances. There are newspaper clippings about Gage’s parents and his experiences at Worland High School. There is also school work that was done by his sons when they were young. There is little information about Jack Gage growing up in Worland, Wyoming, before high school.

Among Jack Gage’s papers are papers that belonged to Governor J. J. Hickey. When Jack Gage became acting governor after Hickey resigned there was correspondence left over from Hickey’s administration. The correspondence that dealt with the Census and the Bear River Compact is combined with Gage’s papers because the issues still had to be dealt with when Gage became Governor.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Related Materials

For another archival collection created by Jack R. Gage, see:

Jack R Gage Papers, 1961-1962, Wyoming State Archives, 2301 Central Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82002 Acquisition Information

The Jack R. Gage papers were donated to the American Heritage Center by Mr. & Mrs. Jack R. Gage between 1975-1977.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Jamie J. Johnston in October 1999.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Jack R. Gage papers, 1892-1975, Collection Number 00421, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Access Terms Wyoming. Governor (1961-1963 : Gage). Wyoming. Governor (1959-1961 : Hickey). Wyoming. Legislature. Politics, Practical--Wyoming. Wyoming--Politics and government. Photographs. Governors. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Gage, Jack R. (Jack Robert), 1899-1970. Tensleep and no rest. Politics, Government, and Law Laws and Legislation Political Campaigns Politics and Politicians Wyoming Container List Series I. Campaign Materials 1934-1962 0.88 cubic ft. (1 document box, 0.5 F24 box)

Arranged chronologically. This series includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and advertisements concerning Gage’s campaigns for public office.

1 1 1934 Campaign and Election 1934 16 1 1934-1962 Campaign Advertisements 1934-1962 1 2 William M. “Scotty” Jack and the Democratic Party in Wyoming 1938 1 3 1958 Campaign and Election 1958 1 4 1962 Campaign Advertising 1962 1 5-6 1962 Campaign Correspondence 1962 1 7 1962 Campaign Expenses 1962 1 8 1962 Campaign Memos 1962 1 9 1962 Campaign Miscellaneous 1962

Pamphlets, Press Releases, Newsletters

1 10 1962 Campaign Newspaper Clippings 1962 1 11 1962 Campaign Schedules 1962 1 12 1962 Candidacy Congratulations 1962 1 13 1962 Election Condolences 1962 1 14 1962 Primary Campaign Schedule 1962 1 15 1962 Primary Congratulations 1962 1 16-17 1962 Primary Correspondence 1962 1 18 1962 Radio and Television 1962 1 19 “A Study of Candidates and Issues in Wyoming,” 1962

(1962 Election)

Series II. Public Office Materials 1936-1966 4.49 cubic ft. (9 document boxes, 0.5 F24 box)

This material is divided into three sub-series.

Sub-series 1. General 1936-1960

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains correspondence, programs, and miscellaneous documents from when Gage was State Superintendent. There is also correspondence, newsletters, and retirement documents from when Gage was Postmaster.

2 1 Education - State Superintendent 1936-1938 2 2 Postmaster 1941-1958 16 2 Postmaster - Warning to Federal Employees by the United States Civil Service Commission 1956 2 3 Postmaster Retirement 1960 2 4 Reports from “Inside Russia” by Loraine and Gale McGee 1956-1957 2 5 Speaking Engagements 1938-1957 Sub-series 2. Secretary of State 1956-1962

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains correspondence, programs, legal documents, newspaper clippings, and notes to his speeches from when Gage was Secretary of State.

2 6 Appointments and Recommendations 1958-1960 2 7-8 Correspondence Miscellaneous 1959-1960 2 9 Governors Conference 1959 2 10 Inauguration 1959 2 11-12 International Underwriters Inc. 1959-1962 2 13 Labor 1958-1959 2 14 Legislative - Miscellaneous 1959-1960 2 15 Legislative Research Committee 1959 2 16 Lists - Addresses 1959-1960 2 17 Natural Resource Board 1959-1960 2 18 Newspaper Clippings 1959-1960 2 19 Oil Production 1959-1960 2 20 Political 1959-1960 2 21 Select Committee on Small Business 1959 2 22 Sheridan, Wyoming 1959-1960 2 23 Speaking Engagements 1958-1960 2 24 Speeches and Notes 1958-1960 2 25 “Study of Comparative Costs of Wyoming State Institutions,” 1959 3 1 Taxes 1959-1960 3 2 Tax Levies 1959 3 3 Thank You’s 1960 3 4 Wyoming Democratic State Central Committee 1959-1960 3 5 Wyoming State Hospital 1959-1960 3 6 Wyoming State Land Office 1956-1958 3 7 Young Democrats 1959-1960 Sub-series 3. Governor 1959-1966

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains correspondence, programs, newspaper clippings, newsletters, pamphlets, news releases, notes to his speeches, and legal documents from when Gage was Governor.

3 8 Aeronautics Board 1961 3 9-10 Applications and Recommendations for Federal Appointments 1961-1962 3 11 Appointments 1961 3 12 Appointments not Requiring Senate Confirmation 1961 3 13 Appointments Requiring Senate Confirmation 1961 3 14 Board of Agriculture 1961 3 15 Board of Health 1961-1962 3 16 Board of Medical Examiners 1961 3 17 Board of Pharmacy 1961 3 18 Bradford Brinton Museum 1961 3 19 Budget 1961-1963 3 20 Calendars - Schedules 1961-1962 3 21-22 Christmas Greetings 1961-1962 3 23 Civil Defense 1961 3 24 Clark, Ernest E. 1961 3 25 Collection Agency Board 1961 3 26 Congratulations 1960-1962 4 1-4 Crack Pot Correspondence 1961-1962 4 5 Democratic National Committee 1961-1962 4 6 Education 1961-1963 4 7 Employment Security Commission 1961-1962 4 8 Equalization Board 1961 4 9 Fremont County Democratic Central Committee 1961-1962 4 10-12 Gambling Pari-Mutual 1961 5 1 Gambling Pari-Mutual 1961 5 2-3 Game and Fish Board 1961 5 4 Governors’ Conference 1962 1962 5 5-6 Governors from other States 1961-1962 5 7 Governors Mansion 1961-1962 5 8-9 Governors Thank You’s 1961-1963 5 10 Honorary Appointments 1961-1962 5 11 Intergovernmental Relations 1962 5 12-13 Interstate Oil Compact Commission 1961 5 14 Interstate Oil Compact Commission (Denver Meeting) 1961-1962 5 15 Invitations 1962 5 16 Labor 1961-1962 6 1 Land Commission 1961-1962 6 2 Laramie County Democratic Central Committee 1961-1962 6 3 Linford, Velma 1960-1961 6 4 Liquor Commission 1961 6 5 Lists - Democrats 1961-1962 6 6 Lists of Clippings on Governor Gage Issues 1961-1962 6 7 Livestock and Sanitary Board 1961 6 8-9 Message to the Legislature 1960-1961 6 10 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1961-1962 6 11 Natrona County Democratic Central Committee 1961-1962 6 12 Natural Resource Board 1961-1963 6 13 Natural Resource Board - Wyoming Progress Reports 1961-1963 16 3 Newspaper - Bill Barlow’s Budget 75th Anniversary; The Douglas Budget 1961 6 14 Newspaper Clippings - Jack R. Gage 1961-1962 6 15 Newspaper Clippings - Miscellaneous 1960-1963 6 16-17 News Releases 1961-1962 6 18 Newsweek 1961 6 19 90% Resolution (S.898) 1961 6 20 Notes-Reprints 1962 7 1 O’Mahoney Portrait 1960-1961 7 2-3 One-Shot Antelope Hunt 1961-1962 7 4-6 Personnel Commission 1961-1962 7 7 Picture Requests 1961-1962 7 8 Political Miscellaneous 1961-1962 7 9 Publication - “Great Decisions 1961,” 1961 7 10 Real Estate Board 1961 7 11 Recipe Requests 1961-1962 7 12 Recommendations Miscellaneous 1961-1962 7 13 Rural Electrification Administration undated 7 14 Seattle Fair 1962 7 15 Sheridan, Wyoming 1961-1962 8 1-3 Speaking Engagements 1961-1966 8 4 Speech - “Buffalo in a Basket,” undated 8 5 Speech Correspondence 1961-1965 8 6-7 Speeches and Notes 1961-1962 1961-1962 8 8 Speeches and Notes 1963 1963 8 9 Speeches and Notes - Automobile undated 8 10 Speeches and Notes - 1869 Legislature undated 8 11 Speeches and Notes - 4th of July undated 8 12-14 Speeches and Notes - General undated 9 1 Speeches and Notes - History undated 9 2 Speeches and Notes - “The Horse, The Buggy, The Doctor,” undated 9 3-4 Speeches and Notes - Political undated 9 5 Speeches and Notes - Russia undated 9 6 State Board of Accountancy 1960-1961 9 7 State Board of Architects 1961 9 8 State Board of Barber Examiners 1961 9 9 State Board of Chiropractic Examiners 1961 9 10 State Board of Cosmetology 1961 9 11 State Board of Embalming 1961 9 12 State Board of Examining Engineers 1961 9 13 State Highway Commission 1960-1961 9 14 State Hospital 1961-1962 9 15 State Library, Archives, and Historical Board 1961-1962 9 16 Superintendent of Water 1961 9 17 Testimonial 1961-1962 9 18-19 Thank You’s to Governor 1961-1962 9 20 36th Wyoming State Legislature 1961 9 21 Travel Commission 1961 9 22 Utilities 1961-1963 9 23 University of Wyoming Board of Trustees 1961 9 24 Veterans Affairs Commission 1961 10 1 Wheatland Irrigation Project 1961 10 2 Wyoming - Statistics and notes on Wyoming population, climate, land classification, and industry 1959-1964 10 3 Wyoming County Democratic Central Committees 1961-1962 10 4-5 Wyoming Democratic State Central Committee 1961-1962 10 6 Wyoming Federation of Latin American Groups 1961 10 7 Wyoming Highway Department 1961-1963 10 8 Wyoming Mining Association 1961-1962 10 9 Wyoming National Guard 1961 10 10 Wyoming Tourism 1960-1963 10 11 Young Democrats 1961-1962 Series III. Personal Materials 1892-1975 0.90 cubic ft. (2 document boxes)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, 1918 yearbook, newsletters, children’s school work, and pamphlets regarding Rotary, Gage’s writings, and family life.

10 12 Gage, Dick 1948 10 13-15 Gage, Jack Jr. – School work undated 11 1 Gage, Jack 1917-1975 11 2 Gage, Jack – obituaries 1970 11 3 Gage, Jack - 1918 Worland High school Yearbook 1918 11 4 Gage, Will Vernon 1892-1919 11 5 Gage-Phelan, LaVaughn 1892-1960 11 6 Miscellaneous undated

Research notes and correspondence on the Declaration of Independence and Photography. Miscellaneous sayings and poetry.

11 7-8 Pamphlets - Wyoming History undated 11 9 Peace Plan 1948-1952 11 10-13 Personal Correspondence 1956-1961 12 1-3 Personal Correspondence 1962-1972 12 4 Rotary - Gunpowder and Buckskin 1955-1961 12 5 Rotary - Leeds, England - Student 1954-1957 12 6-8 Rotary - Miscellaneous Correspondence 1956-1964 12 9 Rotary - Newsletters “The Scandal Sheet,” 1959-1961 12 10-11 “Ten Sleep and No Rest” Correspondence 1957-1963 12 12 Young Men’s Literary Club 1961-1962 Series IV. Photographs 1934-1960s 0.22 cubic ft. (0.5 document box)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains photographs of Jack Gage and Stauffer Laboratories.

13 1 Jack R. Gage - Governor 1960s, undated

25 photos, 1 negative

13 2 Jack R. Gage Portraits 1960s 13 3 Miscellaneous Photographs 1934, 1962, undated

22 photos

13 4 Stauffer Laboratories 1960s, undated

16 photos

Series V. J. J. Hickey Papers 1957-1962 0.68 cubic ft. (1.5 document boxes)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets that belonged to Governor J.J. Hickey.

13 5 Bear River Compact 1957-1961 13 6-8 Census 1959-1962 13 9 Christmas Greetings 1959-1960 13 10 Confidential 1959-1960 13 11-12 Crack Pot Correspondence 1958-1961 13 13 Equalization Board 1960 13 14 Game and Fish Board 1960 14 1-4 Legislature Message Material 1960 14 5 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1959-1960 14 6 Newspaper Clippings 1959-1962 14 7 One-Shot Antelope Hunt 1959-1960 14 8-9 Personnel Commission 1959-1960 14 10 Recipe Requests 1959-1960 14 11 R.J. Keelan 1959 14 12 Wyoming - National Monument Brochures 1959

Devils Tower, Fort Laramie

Series VI. Scrapbooks 1934-1962 0.40 cubic ft. (1 other box)

This series contains two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings. One is dated 1934-1938 and the other is from 1960-1962.

15 1 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings 1934-1938 15 2 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings 1960-1962