James Francis O'Connor Papers, 1937-1945
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- O'Connor, James Francis, 1878-1945
- Title
- James Francis O'Connor Papers
- Dates
- 1937-194519371945
- Quantity
- 3 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Collection 1059, MtBC, us (collection)
- Summary
- The James Francis O'Connor Papers consists of papers and correspondence from O'Connor's Livingston office. Topics include: O'Connor's ranch properties in Park County, MT, the WPA, Farm Credit Administration, House Committee on Indian Affairs, the America First Committee, the Fort Peck Dam, Senator James E. Murray, and Senator Burton K. Wheeler. The collection also contains newspaper clippings pertaining to O'Connor, speeches both in Montana and in Congress, and photographs of O'Connor, family, and associates.
- Repository
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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
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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 Note
James Francis O'Connor was born May 7, 1878, near California Junction, Iowa. He attended public and normal schools in that state and graduated from the Nebraska Law School in 1904. He came to Montana in 1905 and practiced law in Livingston. He began his public career as a judge of the Sixth Judicial District and becoming a member of the Democratic Party. Later he was elected to the Montana House of Representatives and was elected Speaker in his first term. During much of his career he owned a ranch near White Sulphur Springs. In 1936 he was elected to the U.S. Congress from the Second District, representing eastern Montana, and was re-elected in 1938, 1940, 1942, and 1944. He served on several committees and was chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs. He died on January 13, 1945, while serving in Congress. His only son, Miles O'Connor, died the same year.
Content Description
The collection consists of 3 linear feet of papers and correspondence from O'Connor's Livingston office. The papers are arranged in topically labeled folders with a general effort to sort the material chronologically. Original folder titles have, for the most part, been retained. Series 1 contains papers pertaining to O'Connor's ranch properties in Park County, MT. Series 2 contains topical files concerning a wide variety of subject matter, including: the WPA, Farm Credit Administration, House Committee on Indian Affairs, the America First Committee, the Fort Peck Dam, Senator James E. Murray, and Senator Burton K. Wheeler. Newspaper clippings pertaining to O'Connor are arranged in Series 3 under broad subject headings. Series 4 contains a number of O'Connor's speeches both in Montana and in Congress arranged chronologically from 1937 to 1944. Series 5 contains 15 photographs of O'Connor, family, and associates.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
Series 1 Ranch Papers, 1931-1945
Series 2 Topical Files, 1937-1945
Series 3 Newspaper Clippings, 1942, undated
Series 4 Speeches, 1937-1944
Series 5 Photographs
Acquisition Information
Papers and correspondence from the office of U.S. Representative James Francis O'Connor of Montana were donated to Special Collections by Mrs. Geneva Lott of Livingston, Montana, the Congressman's only daughter, in 1970. The collection consists of office files kept in the Livingston office of Rep. O'Connor during his career in the U.S. House of Representatives. The office was managed by Miles O'Connor, the Congressman's son, who was also his law partner.
Processing Note
This collection was processed 2009 May 19
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Series 1: Ranch papers, 1931-1945
Handwritten and carbon copies of typed letters relating to O'Connor's ranch properties in Park County, Montana. Includes letters to his hired men during his terms in Washington D.C. regarding management of his ranches.
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Description: 2K Ranch, Elmer Dobson correspondenceDates: 1942-1943Container: Box/Folder 1/1
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Description: 2K Ranch, J. Kirchbaum correspondenceDates: 1931-1938Container: Box/Folder 1/2
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Description: 2K Ranch, Kirchbaum correspondenceDates: 1939-1940Container: Box/Folder 1/3
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Description: 2K Ranch, Kirchbaum correspondenceDates: 1941-1942Container: Box/Folder 1/4
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Description: 2K Ranch, Kirchbaum, correspondenceDates: 1943-1945Container: Box/Folder 1/5
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Series 2: Topical files, 1937-1945
Papers and correspondence pertaining to a wide range of topics and arranged chronologically by year (whenever possible). Folder titles are, for the most part, original and generally denote the issues which were of interest at different periods of O'Connor's stay in the House of Representatives including the WPA, Farm Credit Administration, the Democratic Party, Indian Affairs, the America First Committee, Senator James E. Murray and Senator Burton K. Wheeler. Folders in Box 5 have been taken out of the chronological sequence since their contents are not restricted to a single year.
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Description: Drought CrisisDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/6
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Description: WPAContainer: Box/Folder 1/7
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Description: WPA and the Drought CrisisDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/8
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Description: Henry A. WallaceDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/9
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Description: Franklin D. RooseveltDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/10
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Description: Farm Credit AdministrationDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/11
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Description: Farm Credit Administration, Special CasesDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/12
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Description: Farmer's UnionDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/13
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Description: Federal Land BankDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/14
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Description: Fort Peck DamDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/15
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Description: Home LoansDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/16
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Description: Labor UnionsDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/17
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 1/18
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Description: Department of AgricultureDates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 2/1
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Description: Appointments (Requests for)Dates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 2/2
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Description: Correspondence, RequestsDates: 1938Container: Box/Folder 2/3
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Description: Great Falls to Receive Federal Crop Ins.Dates: 1938Container: Box/Folder 2/4
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Description: Public DebtDates: 1938Container: Box/Folder 2/5
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1939Container: Box/Folder 2/6
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Description: Announcement of CandidacyDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/7
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Description: Campaign AppointmentsDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/8
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Description: Correspondence, Democratic Committee, etc.Dates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/9
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Description: Correspondence, Democratic PartyContainer: Box/Folder 2/10
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Description: Correspondence, IndividualsDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/11
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Description: Campaign Correspondence, AttorneysDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/12
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Description: Correspondence, Associations, AgenciesDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/13
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Description: Form LettersDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/14
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Description: Campaign AdvertisingDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/15
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Description: Indian Vote (Rober Yellowtail)Dates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/16
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Description: Lewistown Postmaster AffairDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 2/17
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Description: Labor UnionsDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 3/1
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Description: U.S. Cabinet, etc.Dates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 3/2
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Description: U.S. Congress, Lyndon B. Johnson, John W. McCormack, Sam RayburnDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 3/3
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Description: Thank You Letters, CampaignDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 3/4
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Description: Election ReturnsDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 3/5
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Description: CongratulationsDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 3/6
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1941Container: Box/Folder 3/7
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Description: Criticism of AdministrationDates: 1941Container: Box/Folder 3/8
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Description: Labor UnionsDates: 1941Container: Box/Folder 3/9
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Description: Announcement and FilingDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 3/10
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 3/11
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Description: Correspondence, generalDates: July-December 1942Container: Box/Folder 3/12
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Description: Form LettersDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 3/13
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Description: Democratic Committees (National)Dates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 3/14
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Description: Democratic Committees (State)Dates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 3/15
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Description: Democratic Workers (State)Dates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 3/16
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Description: Form Letters about campaign announcementDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 3/17
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Description: Correspondence about CandidacyDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/1
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Description: PostmastersDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/2
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Description: Correspondence from VIPs, Sam Rayburn, etc.Dates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/3
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Description: Government Officials, general correspondence and PapersDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/4
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Description: Campaign MaterialsDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/5
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Description: About F.F. Haynes, Campaign OpponentDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/6
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Description: James Murray, FDR, etc.Dates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/7
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Description: Campaign Correspondence, Clippings, Jerry O'ConnellDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/8
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Description: Indian VoteDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/9
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Description: Labor UnionsDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/10
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Description: Correspondence, CongratulationsDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/11
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Description: Bridger Times Condemns O'ConnorDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/12
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Description: Controversy over News StoriesDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/13
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Description: Murray, Sen. JamesDates: campaign of 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/14
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Description: Voting RecordDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/15
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Description: Columnists Drew Pearson and Robert Allen attack O'ConnorContainer: Box/Folder 4/16
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Description: Cut Bank Pioneer Press Endorsement of O'Connor, Criticism of MurrayContainer: Box/Folder 4/17
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Description: Letters of CongratulationDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/18
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Description: Thank You LettersDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/19
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Description: Election ReturnsDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 4/20
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Description: Certificates of ElectionContainer: Box/Folder 4/21
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1943Container: Box/Folder 4/22
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Description: Obituaries and MemorialsDates: 1945Container: Box/Folder 4/23
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Description: Unamerican Activities SmearDates: 1941-1942Container: Box/Folder 5/1
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Description: Unamerican Activities Smear, "People's Voice"Container: Box/Folder 5/2
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Description: Vocational EducationContainer: Box/Folder 5/3
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Description: Fraser, WillardContainer: Box/Folder 5/4
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Description: Haynes FritzDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 5/5
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Description: Melvin Hoiness GOP OpponentDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 5/6
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Description: Murray, Sen. James E.Container: Box/Folder 5/7
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Description: O'Connell, JerryDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 5/8
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Description: America First, Correspondence aboutContainer: Box/Folder 5/9
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Description: Crop LoansContainer: Box/Folder 5/10
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Description: FishContainer: Box/Folder 5/11
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Description: Forest ServiceContainer: Box/Folder 5/12
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Description: Ft. Harrison ReopeningsDates: 1937-1938Container: Box/Folder 5/13
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Description: Fort Peck DamDates: 1937-1938Container: Box/Folder 5/14
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Description: Ft. Peck Game ReserveContainer: Box/Folder 5/15
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Description: Freight Rates, all yearsContainer: Box/Folder 5/16
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Description: HousingContainer: Box/Folder 5/17
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Description: SugarContainer: Box/Folder 6/1
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Description: Supreme Court Packing IssueContainer: Box/Folder 6/2
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Description: Townsend PlanDates: 1937-1942Container: Box/Folder 6/3
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Description: Wheeler, Burton K., correspondenceContainer: Box/Folder 6/4
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Series 3: Newspaper clippings, 1942, undated
Newspaper clippings from the period of O'Connor's Congressional terms. Clippings are of both articles and editorials, and are taken from numerous state and national newspapers, including the Great Falls Tribune, the Miles City Star, the Livingston Enterprise, and many others. Topics covered include O'Connor's campaigns, isolationism during the pre-war period, the America First Committee, FDR, the Democratic Party, and others. Clippings are arranged loosely by topic. In some cases, an entire newspaper page is included, and the article of scrutiny is marked. Box 8 contains two scrapbooks of mounted clippings.
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Description: RooseveltDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 6/5
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Description: Social ProblemsDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 6/6
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Description: Labor and the WarDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 6/7
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Description: War EffortDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 6/8
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Description: MontanaDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 6/9
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Description: O'ConnorContainer: Box/Folder 6/10
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Description: O'ConnorContainer: Box/Folder 6/11
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Description: O'ConnorContainer: Box/Folder 6/12
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Description: Other DemocratsContainer: Box/Folder 6/13
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Description: RooseveltContainer: Box/Folder 6/14
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Description: War EffortContainer: Box/Folder 6/15
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Description: Political Issues-NationalContainer: Box/Folder 6/16
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Description: Political Issues-MontanaContainer: Box/Folder 7/1
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Description: Indian ProblemsContainer: Box/Folder 7/2
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Description: Lindbergh, Col. Charles A.Container: Box/Folder 7/3
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Description: Scrapbooks2 volumesContainer: Box 8
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Series 4: Speeches, 1937-1944
Speeches delivered by Rep. O'Connor and others between 1937-1944. Some speeches were delivered in the House of Representatives and printed in the Congressional Record. Others are photostatic copies or typed pages. Topics include foreign affairs, farm production, election matters, Lend-Lease and other legislation.
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Description: "Indians, Their Lands, Rights...Crow Indians of Montana" Congressional RecordDates: June 15, 1937Container: Box/Folder 7/4
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Description: "Necessity for General Farm Legislation", "Crop Ins." Congressional RecordDates: August 5, 1937; August 10, 1937Container: Box/Folder 7/5
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Description: "My Report..." (O'Connor's Activities in His 1st Session)Dates: August 16, 1937Container: Box/Folder 7/6
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Description: "Pending Farm Legislation" Speech on CBS RadioDates: December 20, 1937Container: Box/Folder 7/7
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Description: "General Welfare Act...", "Plight of the Farmer", Congressional RecordDates: May 25, 1938; May 31, 1938Container: Box/Folder 7/8
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Description: Speeches to MontanansDates: 1938Container: Box/Folder 7/9
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Description: "Our Duty to the Aged" Congressional RecordDates: May 31, 1939Container: Box/Folder 7/10
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Description: "Neutrality" Congressional RecordDates: October 31, 1939Container: Box/Folder 7/11
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Description: "My Fellow Democrats" Campaign Speeches in MontanaDates: 1940Container: Box/Folder 7/12
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Description: "Reciprocal Trade", "Reclamation", "Townsend Plan", Congressional RecordDates: February 26, 1940; March 5, 1940; May 6, 1940Container: Box/Folder 7/13
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Description: "Sugar Legislation", "National Farm Program", Congressional RecordDates: June 20, 1940; July 1, 1940Container: Box/Folder 7/14
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Description: "Manufacturers' Sales Tax", Congressional RecordDates: March 26, 1941Container: Box/Folder 7/15
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Description: "Lend-Lease Bill", Congressional RecordDates: February 17, 1941Container: Box/Folder 7/16
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Description: "Old-Age Pensions", Congressional RecordDates: February 18, 1941Container: Box/Folder 7/17
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Description: Indian AffairsDates: April 14, 1941Container: Box/Folder 7/18
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Description: "Extension of Sugar Act"Dates: December 1, 1941Container: Box/Folder 7/19
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Description: "Hon. Charles Leavy", "Sugar...Industrial Alcohol", "Purchasing Power", Congressional RecordDates: February 19, 1942; April 27, 1942; June 1, 1942Container: Box/Folder 7/20
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Description: "Nation's Part in War...", "Food Production...in War", Congressional RecordDates: June 25, 1942; September 22, 1942Container: Box/Folder 7/21
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Description: Campaign Speeches in Montana
Some by Miles O'Connor
Dates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 7/22 -
Description: Speeches in Progress, Fragments of SpeechesDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 7/23
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Description: "Report to Montana", Congressional RecordDates: September 18, 1944Container: Box/Folder 7/24
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Description: Speech to Montana Democratic Party
audiotape reel and CD
Dates: 1944Container: Box/Folder 7/25
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Series 5: Photographs
15 black and white photographs of Rep. O'Connor, his home and family, and associates. Size varies from 4" × 5" to 8" × 10". Six autographed photographs of portraits including Sam Rayburn, are included. (Photographs 1-8 have matching negatives included in the folder.)
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#1-15
Container: Box/Folder 7/26
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Description: #1: O'Connor with son Miles at ranch
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Description: #2: O'Connor with wife
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Description: #3: O'Connor's house in Livingston
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Description: #4: O'Connor's house in Livingston
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Description: #5: O'Connor with grandsons
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Description: #6: O'Connor and family
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Description: #7: O'Connor riding horse in Livingston parade
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Description: #8: O'Connor in Livingston parade
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Description: #9: Autographed Portrait of Sam Rayburn
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Description: #10: Group of Men at Office Table
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Description: #11: Autographed Portrait of E. E. Cox
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Description: #12: Autographed Portrait of J. Burrwood Daley
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Description: #13: Autographed Portrait [Raymand Genune?]
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Description: #14: Autographed Portrait [Paul Green?]
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Description: #15: Autographed Portrait [T. Leavy?]
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Dams-Montana
- Legislators-United States
- Ranchers-Montana-Park County
- Ranches-Montana-Park County
Personal Names
- Murray, James E.
- Wheeler, Burton K. (Burton Kendall), 1882-1975
Corporate Names
- America First Committee
- United States-Congress-House
- United States-Congress-House-Committee on Indian Affairs
- United States-Farm Credit Administration
- United States-Work Projects Administration
- United States-Works Progress Administration
Geographical Names
- Fort Peck Dam (Mont.)
- Montana-Politics and government-20th century
- United States-Politics and government-1933-1945
