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Guide to the Paul G. Hatfield Papers, 1977-2000

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Hatfield, Paul G. (Paul Gerhart), 1920-2000
Title
Guide to the Paul G. Hatfield Papers
Dates
1977-2000 (inclusive)
Quantity
33.25 linear feet, (60 archival boxes and 2 oversize boxes)
Collection Number
Mss 077
Summary
This collection contains the papers Paul Hatfield generated and collected while serving in the U.S. Senate and as a Federal judge for the U.S. District Court in Montana. Materials include biographical records, correspondence, legislative and judicial documents, news releases, speeches, research materials, campaign memorabilia, memorials, and a copy of Hatfield's official Senate portrait.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

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.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

Paul Gerhart Hatfield was born April 29, 1928 in Great Falls, Montana. He graduated from Great Falls High School in 1947 and attended the College of Great Falls for pre-law training until 1950. In 1951, he entered the U.S. Army and served in the Signal Corps in Korea from 1952 to 1953. He attended the University of Montana--Missoula's Law School, and graduated in 1955.

He was associated with the law firms of Hoffman and Cure and Jardine, Stephenson, Blewett and Weaver from 1955 to 1958 and became partner in the law firm of Hatfield and Hatfield in 1959. That same year, he became Chief Deputy County Attorney in Cascade County, Montana, and served until 1960. He was then elected 8th Judicial District Judge, and served until 1976. In 1976, he was elected Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, and served in that position until 1978.

In 1978, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate to the Second Session of the 95th Congress, to complete the term of Senator Lee Metcalf, who died in office. In the Senate, he served on the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He was chairman of the Subcommittee on Penitentiaries and Corrections.

Following his time in Congress, Hatfield was appointed as judge to the U.S. District Court in Great Falls, Montana. He served in that position until his death.

Hatfield received the University of Great Falls' Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999. He was also active in both St. Joseph's and St. Ann's parishes in Great Falls.

Hatfield was married to Great Falls attorney Dorothy Ann Allen. They had three children: Kathleen Helen, Susan Ann, and Paul Allen. He died in July of 2000.

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Content Description

This collection contains the papers Paul Hatfield generated and collected while serving in the U.S. Senate and as a Federal judge. Materials include biographical records, correspondence, legislative and judicial documents, news releases, speeches, research materials, campaign memorabilia, memorials, and a copy of Hatfield's official Senate portrait. These materials document Paul Hatfield's efforts on behalf of constituents while in the U.S. Senate, his participation in Democratic Party strategy meetings, his commitment to procedural reforms within the Federal judiciary, and the recognition he gained among his peers for his long years of public service. Collection items lend insights into Hatfield's opinions regarding both broad and specific social, political, and judicial issues--chief among these were federal court procedural reforms in response to technological innovations and the explosion of federal court filings during the second half of the 20th Century.

This collection also contains correspondence, research materials, policy recommendations, and legislative drafts generated and collected by Opal Winebrenner. Ms. Winebrenner was a counselor and legislative aide to Senator Hatfield who focused on social issues, particularly aging, health, education, and women's issues.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright transferred to the University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Paul G. Hatfield Papers, Archives and Special Collections, The University of Montana—Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged first in two subgroups, then into ten series:

Subgroup 1: U.S. Senate

Series I: Correspondence

Series II: Bills and Resolutions

Series III: Press Releases and Speeches

Series IV: Opal Winebrenner

Series V: Democratic Study Group

Series VI: Senate and Campaign Memorabilia

Series VII: Photographs

Subgroup 2: U.S. District Court

Series VIII: Correspondence

Series IX: Projects

Series X: Personal

Custodial History

The congressional materials came directly from Hatfield's Senate office; the federal judge materials were prepared by Hatfield's longtime secretary for transfer to the Archives.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Paul G. Hatfield, 1979; gift of Paul A. Hatfield, 2001.

Processing Note

Hatfield's congressional papers were processed shortly after their arrival in 1979. One photograph was separated to the photograph collection. In 2004, after the arrival of the U.S. District Court papers, the collection was reprocessed. The arrangement of the congressional papers was largely retained, with the court papers added as a new subgroup. One folder of letters of recommendation was returned to the donor at his request.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Corrections--United States
  • Court administration--United States
  • Court administration--United States--Automation
  • Courts--United States
  • District courts--Montana--Great Falls
  • Education and state--United States
  • Medical policy--United States
  • Older people--Government policy--United States
  • Prisons--United States
  • Women in politics--United States

Corporate Names

  • United States. Congress. Senate
  • Democratic Party (U.S.)
  • United States. Congress. Senate--Officials and employees
  • United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services
  • United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Penitentiaries and Corrections
  • United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judlcnaficiary
  • University of Montana--Missoula--Alumni and alumnae

Geographical Names

  • Montana--Politics and government--20th century
  • United States--Armed Forces
  • United States--Military policy
  • United States--Politics and government--20th century

Occupations

  • Judges--Montana--Great Falls
  • Legislators--United States
  • Politicians--United States

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Winebrenner, Opal

Finding aid prepared by Dale Johnson
2006

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

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