University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
The University of Montana--Missoula
Missoula, MT 59812
406-243-2053
http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc
library.archives@umontana.edu
Mss 470
Riddick,
Merrill K., 1895-1988
Merrill K. Riddick Papers
1966-1988
0.25 linear feet
Merrill K. Riddick was a resident of
Phillipsburg, Montana, and a candidate for Montana governor, U. S. Senate, and
U. S. President. This collection contains correspondence including both letters
and postcards; publications by Merrill K. Riddick of the
Journal of Applied Human Ecology; a short biography
about Merrill K. Riddick; papers from his political campaigns; newspaper
clippings; speeches; and photographs.
Materials are in
English
Biographical Note
Merrill K. Riddick was born on March 7, 1895 in Madison, Wisconsin. He
moved to eastern Montana at the age of 11. His father, Carl Riddick, served two
terms as a U.S. Congressman for the Eastern District of Montana in 1919 and
1921. At the age of 16 Merrill K. Riddick began traveling throughout the
Northwest and became interested in the emerging field of aviation. In 1917,
Riddick was a member of the first graduating class from the Army Air Force
Aeronautics School in San Diego, California. He was sent to Europe during World
War I to serve as an instructor and to fly reconnaissance.
After the war, Riddick was among the first airmail pilots. Riddick and
Charles A. Lindbergh barnstormed together and flew in the Harry Perkins Air
Circus. While barnstorming Riddick met and married (on the same day) his wife,
Helen May Williams, from West Virginia. They had three children. In 1928,
Riddick was an instructor at the first aviation preparatory school in
Rochester, New York, where he instructed future president Franklin D.
Roosevelt. Riddick re-joined the Air Force during World War II and served as a
technical instructor.
Riddick moved back to Montana after the war but continued traveling.
After his wife's death in 1949, Riddick became involved in politics. He was a
resident of Granite County during his political campaigns, which were centered
around natural resource management and campaign finance reform. He wrote and
published the
Journal of Applied Human Ecology, which focused on his
plans for resource development. He ran for Montana governor in 1968, U.S.
Congress in 1972, and was a presidential candidate in 1976, 1980, and 1984, but
never won an election. Riddick ran for his self-created political party, the
Magneto-hydrodynamics-Puritan Epic-Prohibition Party, and would not accept
campaign contributions. Riddick campaigned across the nation, traveling only by
passenger bus. After his presidential campaigns Riddick moved to Annapolis,
Maryland, and lived with his sister, Ruth. Riddick died on March 9, 1988, in
Annapolis.
This collection contains correspondence including both letters and
postcards, 1975-1980; publications by Merrill K. Riddick of the
Journal of Applied Human Ecology,1966-1973; a short
biography about Merrill K. Riddick, 1976; papers from his gubernatorial
campaign of 1968 and U.S. senate campaign of 1972 and copies of statement of
candidacy for presidential campaign of 1980 and 1984; newspaper clippings,
1975-1988; a dedication speech for a bust of Charles A. Lindbergh, 1975; and
three photos, 1980.
The collection is divided into five series:
Series I: Correspondence, 4 folders, 1975-1980
Series II: Publications, 1 folder, 1966-1976
Series III: Campaign Papers, 1 folder, 1968-1981
Series IV: Clippings and Copies, 1 folder, 1975-1988
Series V: Photographs, 3 folders, 1980
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of
Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The
University of Montana--Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and
any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of
Montana.
[Name of document or photograph number], Merrill K. Riddick Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of
Montana--Missoula.
Gift of Marge Page, 1992
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2002, the
collection was reprocessed. The collection was reorganized in thematic groups
and re-described.
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.
Lindbergh,
Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974
Riddick,
Merrill K., 1895-1988--Biography
United
States. Congress. Senate--Elections, 1972
Magneto-hydrodynamics-Puritan Epic-Prohibition Party (U.S.)
Montana--Politics and government--20th century
United States--Politics and
government--1945-1989
Elections--Montana
Governors--Montana--Election
Natural
resources--Management--Periodicals
Political parties--United
States
Presidents--United
States--Election--1980
Presidents--United
States--Election--1984
Montana
Photographs
Civil
Procedure and Courts
Politicians--Montana
Presidential candidates--United States
Journal of applied human ecology
Series I
Correspondence
1975-1980
4 folders
This series includes letters from Merrill K. Riddick to Marge Page
of Phillipsburg, Montana, and one partial letter to Ms. Mary Ann Wallace. There
is also a
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Newsletter dated September
1977 as an attachment to a letter. There are multiple postcards from Merrill K.
Riddick to Marge Page tracking his travels during the 1976 and 1980
presidential campaign. There are two postcards that are not from Riddick but
are addressed to Marge Page and speak of Riddick.
This series is divided between letters and postcards, both
arranged chronologically.
1/1
General
1975-1980
1/2
Postcards
1975-1976
1/3
Postcards
1977
1/4
Postcards
1978-1979
Series II
Publications
1966-1976
1 folder
This series includes five copies of the
Journal of Applied Human Ecology. Two copies were
dated August 2, 1966; two copies are dated February 1970; and one copy is dated
May 1970; double copies contain hand written corrections or additional
information. Also included is a short biography of Riddick written in 1976.
1/5
Three volumes of the
Journal of Applied Human Ecology, Biography of
Merrill K. Riddick
Series III
Campaign Papers
1968-1981
1 folder
This series includes campaign papers Riddick used in 1968 and
1972. It also includes copies of Riddick's statement of candidacy for the 1980
and 1984 presidential elections.
1/6
Campaign papers, Gubernatorial
election
1968
1/6
Campaign papers, Pin and Card
circa 1970
1/6
Campaign papers, Jefferson Day Speech
circa 1970
1/6
Campaign papers, US senatorial
election
1972
1/6
Copy of Statement of Candidacy
application
1977
1/6
Receipt of Statement of Candidacy
1981
Series IV
Clippings
1975-1988
1 folder
This series contains remarks by Mr. Laurance S. Rockefeller at a
Charles Lindbergh bust dedication. It also includes newspaper clippings from
Montana, Annapolis, Maryland, and Washington D.C. A 1987 letter from Riddick's
sister, Ruth, to Marge Page accompanies an article. Five obituaries are
included in this series.
1/7
Speech presented at dedication of
Charles A. Lindbergh Bust
1975-1988
1/7
Five articles from Montana
newspapers
1975-1988
1/7
One article from an Annapolis, MD
newspaper
1975-1988
1/7
Letter from Riddick's sister to
Marge Page accompanies article
1975-1988
1/7
Five obituaries of Merrill K.
Riddick
1988
Series V
Photographs
1980
3 folders
This series includes three photographs with a letter to Marge
Page, March. Two photos are of Riddick, one in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and one in
Annapolis, Maryland, in front of Riddick's sister's house. One photo is of a
Fort Lauderdale residential street.
1/8
470(V)1
Riddick in front of boat in Fort
Lauderdale, FL
1980
1/9
470(V)2
Residential street in Fort
Lauderdale, FL
1980
1/10
470(V)3
Riddick in front of sister's
house, Annapolis, MD
1980