MZFCollection1069.xml Guide to the Zales N. Ecton Papers 1947-1953 Ecton (Zales N.) Papers Kim Allen Scott, 2009 Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections P.O. Box 173320 Bozeman, MT 59717-3320 United States Phone (406) 994-4242 Fax (406) 994-2851 http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/ University Archivist spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Finding aid encoded by ArchProteus2012 Finding aid written in English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard) Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320 Bozeman, MT 59717-3320 United States Phone (406) 994-4242 Fax (406) 994-2851 http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/ University Archivist spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Collection 1069, MtBC, us Ecton, Zales N. (Zales Nelson), 1898-1961 Zales N. Ecton Papers 1947-1953 15 linear feet The Zales N. Ecton Papers contains information pertaining to Ecton's position as a U.S. Senator. In general, the collection covers political issues from 1947-1953 at a state and national level. The topics range from correspondence, reclamation, communism and socialism, agriculture and the Brannon plan, and political opposition. Collection materials are in English Biographical Note

Zales N. Ecton, born in Iowa April 1, 1898, moved to Montana at age nine. He received his public education in the local schools. After graduation, he attended Montana State College. When the country entered World War 1, Ecton volunteered for training in the Student Army Training Corps. After the war, Ecton completed his education at the University of Chicago Law School. Ecton entered politics in 1932, running for office as a State Representative from Gallatin County. He served in the Montana House of Representatives for four years and in the Montana Senate for ten years. From 1947-1953, Ecton was a U.S. Senator, the first Republican elected by popular vote in Montana. As a Senator, Ecton served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, the Committee on the United States Post Office and Civil Service, and the Committee on Public Lands. Ecton lost the 1952 election to Mike Mansfield. He returned to Montana and resided in Bozeman until his death in 1961.

The Ecton Collection contains information pertaining to Ecton's position as a U.S. Senator. Within this collection are eighteen series that follow closely to the original order put together by Ecton and his staff. The contents section and the series description of this finding aid provides a more thorough breakdown of each series. In general, the collection covers political issues at a state and national level. The topics range from correspondence, reclamation, communism and socialism, agriculture and the Brannon plan, and political opposition. There is also information dealing with other important governmental figures of the time: Senator Joseph McCarthy, General Douglas MacArthur, and others. The collection offers an overview of political history from 1947-1953.

Series 1 Correspondence, 1947-1953

Series 2 Office Personnel and Office Space, 1947-1952

Series 3 Invitations, 1947-1952

Series 4 Congressional Records, 1949-1952

Series 5 Federal Issues, 1948-1952

Series 6 Agriculture and Natural Resources,1948-1952

Series 7 Valley Authorities, 1947-1952

Series 8 Republican Party Material, 1947-1952

Series 9 Republican Party--Montana, 1948-1952

Series 10 Montana, 1948-1952

Series 11 Mike Mansfield, 1948-1952

Series 12 Native Americans, 1948-1952

Series 13 Communism and Socialism, 1948-1952

Series 14 Government Men, 1948-1952

Series 15 General Information, 1948-1952

Series 16 Scrap Collection, 1948-1952

Series 17 Photographs

Series 18 Scrapbook Collection

This collection is open for research.

Mrs. Zales Ecton, Sr. donated Senator Zales N. Ecton's political files, covering his term as a U.S. Senator (1947-1953), in the spring of 1969.

This collection was processed 2009 May 19

 MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964 McCarthy, Joseph, 1908-1957 United States-Congress-Senate Montana-Politics and government-20th century United States-Politics and government-1945-1953 Agriculture and state-United States Communism Reclamation of land-Government policy-United States Socialism Legislators-United States Agriculture Civic Activism Montana Photographs Scrapbooks Series 1 Correspondence 1947-1953

The correspondence was mainly between Senator Ecton, his office staff, and constituents in Montana. The topics ranged from reclamation, communism, atomic energy, and a host of other political concerns. Generally, Ecton responded to each letter, and the response and the original letter are within the same file. The order of this series is chronological and alphabetical within each corresponding year except 1953, where all correspondence is in one file. Also, the correspondence in 1947 does include some correspondence from 1946.

 1/1 A 1947 1/2 B 1947 1/3-4 C 1947 1/5 D, E 1947 1/6 F 1947 1/7-8 G 1947 1/9-10 H 1947 1/11-12 I 1947 1/13 J 1947 1/14 K 1947 1/15 L 1947 1/16-17 M 1947 1/18 N 1947 1/19 O 1947 1/20 P 1947 1/21 Q 1947 1/22-23 R 1947 1/24-26 S 1947 1/27 T 1947 1/28 V 1947 1/29-30 W 1947 1/31 Y, Z 1947 2/1 A 1948 2/2 B 1948 2/3 C 1948 2/4 D 1948 2/5 E 1948 2/6 F 1948 2/7-8 G 1948 2/9-11 H 1948 2/12 I 1948 2/13 J, K 1948 2/14 L 1948 2/15 M 1948 2/16 N 1948 2/17 O 1948 2/18 P 1948 2/19 R 1948 2/20-21 S 1948 2/22 T 1948 2/23 W 1948 2/24 Y, Z 1948 2/25 A 1949 2/26 B 1949 2/27 C 1949 2/28 D 1949 2/29 E 1949 2/30 F 1949 2/31 G 1949 2/32 H 1949 3/1 I 1949 3/2 J 1949 3/3 K 1949 3/4 L 1949 3/5 M 1949 3/6 N 1949 3/7 O 1949 3/8 P 1949 3/9 Q 1949 3/10 R 1949 3/11 S 1949 3/12 T 1949 3/13 U, V, W, X, Y, Z 1949 3/14 A 1950 3/15 B 1950 3/16 C 1950 3/17 D 1950 3/18 E 1950 3/19 F 1950 3/20 G 1950 3/21 H 1950 3/22 I 1950 3/23 J 1950 3/24 K 1950 3/25 L 1950 4/1 M 1950 4/2 N 1950 4/3 O 1950 4/4 P, Q 1950 4/5 R 1950 4/6 S 1950 4/7 T 1950 4/8 U, V, W 1950 4/9 X, Y, Z 1950 4/10 A 1951 4/11 B 1951 4/12 C 1951 4/13 D 1951 4/14 E 1951 4/15 F 1951 4/16 G 1951 4/17 H 1951 4/18 I 1951 4/19 J 1951 4/20 K 1951 5/1 L 1951 5/2-3 M 1951 5/4 N 1951 5/5 O 1951 5/6 P 1951 5/7 Q, R 1951 5/8 S 1951 5/9 T 1951 5/10 U, V 1951 5/11 W 1951 5/12 X, Y, Z 1951 5/13 A 1952 5/14-16 B 1952 6/1 C 1952 6/2 D 1952 6/3 E 1952 6/4 F 1952 6/5 G 1952 6/6-8 H 1952 6/9 I 1952 6/10 J 1952 6/11 K 1952 7/1 L 1952 7/2-3 M 1952 7/4 N 1952 7/5 O 1952 7/6 P 1952 7/7 Q 1952 7/8 R 1952 7/9-11 S 1952 7/12 T 1952 8/1 U, V 1952 8/2-4 W 1952 8/5 X, Y, Z 1952 8/6 All 1953 Series 2 Office Personnel and Office Space 1947-1952

This series covers details regarding Office Personnel and Office Space. Some of the correspondence includes individuals applying for a position on Ecton's staff. Other correspondence is between Ecton and staff members along with correspondence between staff members in Washington D.C. and staff members in Montana. The information encompassing Office Space generally follows the needs of setting up an office--renting and purchasing the necessary items for an office.

 8/7-8 Office Personnel 1947 8/9 Office Personnel 1948 8/10 Office Personnel 1949 8/11 Office Personnel 1950 8/12 Office Personnel 1951 8/13 Office Personnel 1952 8/14 Office Space 1947 8/15 Office Space 1948 8/16 Office Space 1949 8/17 Office Space 1950 8/18 Office Space 1951 8/19 Office Space 1952 Series 3 Invitations 1947-1952

This series includes invitations received by Senator Ecton during his term as a federal senator. His constituents in Montana often invited Ecton to attend a variety of functions. Serving in the capacity of a federal senator, Ecton also received many invitations centered around national interests. Those in charge of reclamation projects and military development occasionally asked Ecton to review the progress. Ecton also received an invitation to a dinner sponsored by Albert Einstein in an effort to clear the accusations of the un-American like conduct of Edward U. Condon.

 9/1-5 1947 9/6-15 1948 9/16-20 1949 10/1-2 1949 10/3-4 1950 10/5-6 1951 10/7-8 1952 Series 4 Congressional Records 1949-1952

This series is simply a collection of Congressional Records and covers a variety of issues brought before the congress between 1949 and 1952.

 11/1-2 1949 11/3-5 1950 11/6-9 1951 12/1-4 1951 12/5-8 1952 Series 5 Federal Issues 1948-1952

This series is a compilation of political issues, ranging from state affairs, national affairs, and international affairs. Some of the files are specific to Ecton's activities in Washington D.C., yet other files include a summary of the Hiss Trial, federal finances, and many other political concerns during Ecton's time in Washington D.C.

 13/1 Taft-Hartley Act 13/2 Reorganization Plans 1950-1952 13/3 Public Work Funds Granted 1947-1952 13/4 Projects 1947-1952 13/5 Civilian Nominations, Montana, since 1947 13/6 Republican Administration Assistants and Executive Secretaries Association 13/7 Related Bills 13/8 Patronage 13/9 Interior and Insular Affairs 13/10 Harvey Machine Company--John P. Saylor 13/11 The Hiss Trial--Mundt 13/12 MacArthur's Cleveland Address 13/13 Why Prices Are High--Sanborn-Ecton 13/14 Repeal of Oleomargine Taxes--Ecton 13/15 Government by Law, Not by Men--Ecton 13/16 Why Tax the Cost of Sickness--Ecton 13/17 The Great Question before Senate--Ecton 13/18 Ecton Activities 1947-1952 13/19 Congressional Speeches--Ecton 13/20 Ecton Bills (except Indian Bills), 80th, 81st, 82nd Congresses 13/21 Ecton Votes for Reduced Appropriations, 80th-82nd Congresses 13/22-23 Washington Office Cases--Ecton 14/1 Repeal of McCarran Internal Security Act 14/2 Funds--Treasury and Post Office Departments 14/3 Party Platforms 14/4 Veterans 14/5 Senator George D. Aiken 14/6 81st and 82nd Congresses 14/7 Federal Finance 14/8-9 Finance--Mainly Ecton 14/10 Federal Finance 15/1 Federal Finance 15/2-3 Foreign Affairs 15/4 Dr. Manfred Zapp--Germany 15/5-6 Foreign Policy 15/7 The Korean Crisis--Taft 15/8-10 News Bulletins 1951 15/11-13 News Bulletins 1952 Series 6 Agriculture and Natural Resources 1948-1952

This series contains some information regarding the Brannon Plan, and correspondence between Ecton and his constituents related to the Brannon Plan. Additional information discusses natural resources and the importance of natural resources for the future of the country

 16/1-4 Agriculture-Brannon Plan--Correspondence 16/5 Agriculture-Brannon Plan 16/6-8 Agriculture--General 16/9-11 Defense Mobilization and Price Control 16/12 StockPile Report--Nation's Resources 16/13 Resources for Freedom Series 7 Valley Authorities 1947-1952

This series mainly deals with Valley Authorities, including the Missouri Valley Authority and Columbia Valley Authority. Some files include correspondence concerning the Valley Authorities. Valley Authority bills and power utilities are also part of this series along with a statement from Harold Ickes and Floyd Dominy's resume.

 17/1 M.V.A. 1947 17/2-4 M.V.A. 1948 17/5-9 M.V.A. 1949 17/10 M.V.A. 1950 17/11 C.V.A. 1949 17/12 C.V.A. 1950 17/13 V.A.--Correspondence 1949 17/14 V.A.--Correspondence 1949 17/15 V.A.--Correspondence 1950 17/16 V.A. 1950-1951 18/1 V.A. Bills 18/2-4 V.A. General 18/5-6 V.A. Memorandums 18/7 Statement of Harold L. Ickes--C.V.A. 18/8 Bureau of Reclamation--Floyd E. Dominy 18/9-11 Power Utilities--Montana Power 18/12-14 Power Utilities Series 8 Republican Party Material 1947-1952

This series contains a variety of information dealing with the Republican Party mainly at a National level. Speech material and campaign issues are part of this series, including Ecton's "The Meaning of Things"--a collection of papers written by Ecton, explaining his perspective of the state of affairs. Part of this series also details Republican activity in certain committees, which generally deals with their opposition, the Democrats.

 19/1 Republican Convention 1947 19/2-17 Republican Campaign 1948 19/18 Republican Campaign 1949 19/19-20 Republican Campaign 1950 20/1 Republican Campaign 1951 20/2 Republican Campaign 1952 20/3 Republican Speech Material 1947-1948 20/4-5 Republican Speech Material 1949 20/6 Republican Speech Material 1950 20/7-8 Republican Speech Material 1951 21/1 Republican Propaganda 21/2 News Release 1948 21/3 News Release 1949 21/4 "The Meaning of Things"--Ecton 1950-1951 21/5 "The Meaning of Things"--Ecton 1952 21/6 Redbook Our Worst Congressmen--Ecton 21/7 Ecton Newspaper Clippings 21/8 Material for Ecton's Senator Pamphlet 21/9-12 Democratic Corruption 22/1-6 Minority Committee 22/7 Resolutions Committee 22/8 Republican Senatorial Committee 1949 22/9 Republican Senatorial Committee 1950 22/10 Appropriations Committee 22/11 Committee Assignments 1950 22/12 Committee Assignments 1951 22/13 Republican National Committee Series 9 Republican Party--Montana 1948-1952

This series generally deals with the Republican Party in Montana and the campaign efforts involving Senator Ecton. Some of the files include information concerning committee members in Montana and their work regarding Ecton's campaign. Other files contain speeches made in Montana during Ecton's visits along with his itinerary. There is also general information regarding advertising and broadcasting.

 23/1 Republican State Central Committee 23/2 Montana Republican Committee men and women 23/3 Republican County Chairmen, Committee men, and committee women 23/4 Campaign's Key Men 23/5 Tabulation--Selected Election Returns 23/6 Ecton--Sectional Organization 23/7 Speeches to Montanans--Happenings in Washington 23/8-9 Campaign Speeches--Montana 23/10-11 Ecton Speeches Montana and Others 24/1 Ecton for Senator Club 24/2-3 Campaign Letters and Wires 24/4-6 Ecton Campaign 24/7 Contributions 24/8 Campaign Contributions 25/1 Broadcasting--Montana 25/2-5 Advertising and Publicity 25/6-7 Itinerary 26/1 League of Women Voters 26/2 Address to Women's Republican Club at Butte 1951 26/3-4 People Requesting Favors from Ecton 26/5 Thank You Letters--Endorsements During Campaign 26/6-7 Co-operation Other Organizations 26/8 Plans and Staff Instructions 1952 26/9-10 Opposition Activities Series 10 Montana 1948-1952

This series mainly contains a list of individuals, performing various occupations in Montana, such as the sheepmen's' list, physicians' list, etc. Rules of Senate and House for Montana are also part of this series--1933, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941.

 27/1 Montana Labor Protest 27/2 Montana Events 27/3 Directory PMA Committeemen, Montana 1952 27/4 Ministers' List--Montana 27/5 VFW List--Montana 27/6 Postal Clerks' List--Montana 27/7 Librarians' List--Montana 27/8 Physicians' List--Montana 27/9 Lawyers' List and Some County Employees--Montana 27/10 Labor Unions' List 27/11 Government Employees--Montana 27/12 Sheepmen's' List--Montana 27/13 Civic Organizations 27/14 Bankers' List--Montana 27/15 American Legion List 27/16 Rules of Senate and House, Montana 1933 1935 1937 27/17 Rules of Senate and House, Montana 1939 1941 Series 11 Mike Mansfield

This series mainly contains Mansfield's voting records, remarks, and legislation through 1948-1952. Ecton collected this data in preparation for his campaign against Mansfield in the 1952 election. Mansfield defeated Ecton.

 28/1 Mike Mansfield--General 28/2 Mansfield--China 28/3 Mansfield's Voting Record--80th Congress, 1st session 28/4 Mansfield's Voting Record--80th Congress, 2nd session 28/5 Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--80th Congress, 1st Session 28/6 Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--80th Congress, 2nd Session 28/7 Mansfield's Voting Record--81st Congress, 1st session 28/8 Mansfield's Voting Record--81st Congress, 2nd session 28/9 Mansfield's Remarks--81st Congress, 1st Session 28/10 Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--81st Congress, 1st Session 28/11 Mansfield's Remarks--81st Congress, 2nd Session 28/12 Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--81st Congress, 2nd Session 28/13 Mansfield's Voting Record--82nd Congress, 1st session 28/14 Mansfield's Voting Record--82nd Congress, 2nd session 28/15 Mansfield's Remarks--82nd Congress, 1st Session 28/16 Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--82nd Congress, 1st Session 28/17 Mansfield's Remarks--82nd Congress, 2nd Session 28/18 Mansfield's Remarks and Legislation--82nd Congress, 2nd Session 29/1 Voting Record--Mansfield 29/2 Voting Record--82nd Congress, 1st Session 29/3 Voting Record--82nd Congress, 2nd Session 29/4 Voting Record--General Series 12 Native Americans

This series includes files pertaining to tubercular Indians and treatment at Galen Hospital. Also in this series are several Bill related to Indian affairs.

 29/5 Galen Hospital for Tubercular Indians 29/6 Indian Affairs 29/7 Indian Bills Series 13 Communism and Socialism

This series contains information pertaining to Communism and Socialism. The Republican Party maintained an anti-communism and anti-socialism and most of the information reflects this agenda.

 30/1 Moscow's Master Plan 30/2 U.S. News--Communist Threat 30/3 "True"--George John Dawson--War Surplus and Communist Customers 30/4 Saturday Evening Post--Hiss Case 30/5-8 Anti-Communism and Socialism 30/9 Minority Policy Committee 1952 Series 14 Government Men 1948-1952

This series includes files regarding Senator McCarthy, Senator Martin, Congressman D'Ewart, and General MacArthur. Each file is specific to the person and contains a variety of information based on their role in the government. For instance, the McCarthy files provide some biographical discussion but also pertain to McCarthy's involvement in the federal government.

 31/1-3 Senator McCarthy 31/4-6 Senator Martin 31/7-8 Congressman D'Ewart 31/9 General MacArthur Series 15 General Information 1948-1952

This series is a collection of general subject materials put together by Ecton and his staff. It ranges from newspaper clippings, speech material, congressional records, and more.

 32/1-7 General Information Series 16 Scrap Collection 1948-1952

This series is mainly newspaper clippings, covering a variety of topics. Some of the files are under specific names, but the content within the file is generally a newspaper clipping about the person, such as the Eisenhower file.

 33/1 Copper and Civilization 33/2 Miscellaneous 33/3 Democratic Views 33/4 81st Congress clippings 33/5 Clippings 33/6 Clippings 33/7 Dwight D. Eisenhower 33/8 Leif Erickson 33/9 Defense 33/10 Robert A. Taft 33/11 Bills 33/12 Henry J. Taylor 33/13 Harry S. Truman 33/14 James E. Murray 33/15 Gov. John Bonner 33/16 Bernard Baruch 33/17 Herbert Hoover Series 17 Photographs

This series includes several photographs of Ecton, members of congress, and other events during Ecton's service as a federal senator. The last file contains some information regarding some of the photographs.

 #1-9 34/1 #10-20 34/2 #21-31 34/3

Photograph #22 removed and placed in oversize folder (enlarged picture of Ecton).

 34/4 Letters Regarding Photographs Series 18 Scrapbook Collection

This series contains one binder with congressional records for the 1st session of the 81st Congress and eight scrapbooks pertaining to Ecton and his service as a federal senator. Generally, the scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings linked to Ecton or other governmental issues during his time as a senator.

 35 Binder 36 Scrapbook collection, 1-8