Marion A. Zioncheck papers

Overview of the Collection

Creator

Zioncheck, Marion A. (Marion Anthony), 1901-1936

Title

Marion A. Zioncheck papers

Dates

1926-1936 (inclusive)

Quantity

1.91 cubic feet (5 boxes and 1 vertical file)

Collection Number

1308, 3169

Summary

Papers of a Democratic representative to the United States Congress from Seattle, Washington.

Repository

University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu

Access Restrictions

The papers are open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages

English

Sponsor

Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Biographical Note

Marion Anthony Zioncheck (1901-1936) was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat from Washington State in 1932, the year of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt landslide. Zioncheck served in the 73th and 74th Congresses from March 4, 1933, until his death on August 7, 1936. He represented the First Congressional District, which encompassed Seattle and Kitsap County and he served on the Naval Affairs Committee.

A Progressive Democrat and a supporter of the Roosevelt New Deal, Zioncheck was an avowed defender of the "forgotten man." He stated during his campaign that he would not represent the interests of banks, power companies, and chambers of commerce when they conflicted with the interests of the working man, the farmer, or the small businessman. His papers provide evidence that he attempted to fulfill his promise. He supported the Wagner-Connery Labor Bill and the Federal Communications Act, took an active interest in veterans' and farm legislation, and worked for the passage of the Widows and Orphans Bill, HR 9936.

Zioncheck committed suicide on August 7, 1936, by jumping from a window of his campaign office in Seattle. Prior to his death, Zioncheck underwent treatment for mental illness. He had also been the subject of public censure and extensive publicity for his conduct in the House of Representatives and his personal conduct outside of Congress. Reportedly, Zioncheck felt himself a personal failure in his frustrated attempts at political reform.

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Content Description

These papers document the political activities of Marion A. Zioncheck, Democratic representative to the United States Congress for the First Congressional District of Washington State, 1933-1936. The materials offer insight into several of the controversies that marked Zioncheck's political career, including his denunciation of J. Edgar Hoover in a speech given on the House floor in 1936, and factional disputes within the Washington State Democratic Party in the 1930s. The materials also describe Zioncheck's accomplishments in the House as a freshman Congressman.

The bulk of the collection consists of political and legislative correspondence from 1932 to 1936. Also included are campaign literature, speech drafts and related data, legislation, clippings, newsletters, reports, and other ephemera.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The creator's literary rights have not been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged into 3 accessions:

Accession 1308-001, Marion A. Zioncheck correspondence and clippings, 1936
Accession 3169-001, Marion A. Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936
Accession 3169-002, Marion A. Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Description: Accession No. 1308-001: Marion Zioncheck correspondence and clippings, 1936
.02 cubic feet (7 items)

Scope and Content: This accession contains clippings, negative photostats of the clippings, and one item of correspondence, 1936.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Gift of Judge E.E. Henry, December 23, 1969.
Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936

1.68 cubic feet (4 boxes)
Arrangement: Arranged in 5 series:
- Biographical information, 1936
- General correspondence, 1932-1936
- Campaign ephemera, 1932-1936
- Subject file on the American Liberty League, 1936
- Speeches and background data, 1933-1935
Scope and Content: The bulk of this accession is correspondence documenting Zioncheck's political activities in United States Congress and in the Washington State Democratic Party. Some highlights of this correspondence include letters Zioncheck received in response to his denunciation of J. Edgar Hoover in 1936, as well as letters documenting internal disputes within the Democratic organization in King and Kitsap counties between 1933 and 1936. In Kitsap County Zioncheck was drawn into a battle, ostensibly over postmaster appointments, between two factions of the party. He was denounced in a February 18, 1936, resolution of the Kitsap County Democratic Executive Committee for misconduct and for breaking faith with the committee.

The accession also includes files containing endorsements Zioncheck solicited from other members of Congress for campaign purposes, 1933-1934. These files contain numerous favorable recommendations of Zioncheck and descriptions of his achievements as a freshman congressman, including his service to the Consent Calendar and Private Calendar Committee. In this capacity he was required to read and report on every bill which appeared on the calendar. Several of his colleagues reported that he performed this duty with distinction.

In addition to these files, the accession contains ephemera, clippings, and drafts of speeches and writings, 1932-1936.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Relocated from the Warren G. Magnuson papers, December 1, 1980.

Processing Info: From a large number of folders originally labelled "Miscellaneous Speech Data," the correspondence was extracted and filed under the "Campaign" subseries of the "General correspondence" series. The remainder of this material comprises the "Speeches and background data" series.
- Description: Biographical information
  
  Dates: 1936
  
  Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Accession 3169-001
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936
- General correspondence
  - Legislation
    - Description: Alaska Highway Bill (H.R. 6538)
      
      Dates: 1934-1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2-4, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Legislation
    - Description: Federal Communications Act (S.B. 3954)
      
      Dates: 1934-1936, undated
      
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5-7, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Legislation
    - Description: Wagner-Connery Labor Bill (S.B. 1958)
      
      Dates: 1933-1935, undated
      
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8-20, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Legislation
  - Miscellaneous
    - Description: A - Z
      
      Dates: 1934-1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Miscellaneous
    - Description: American Civil Liberties Union
      
      Dates: 1935-1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 1/22, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Miscellaneous
    - Description: Communism
      
      Dates: 1933-1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 2/1, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Miscellaneous
    - Description: G-Men
      
      Dates: 1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 2/2, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Miscellaneous
    - Description: New Deal endorsers
      
      Dates: 1934-1935
      
      Container: Box/Folder 2/3-6, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Miscellaneous
  - Case files
    - Description: Chris Di Julio indictment
      
      Dates: 1935
      
      Container: Box/Folder 2/7, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Case files
    - Description: United States War Department
      
      Dates: 1934
      
      Container: Box/Folder 2/8, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Case files
  - Political appointments
    - Description: United States district and circuit court attorneys, federal marshal, and deputy marshals
      
      Dates: 1932-1934
      
      Container: Box/Folder 2/9-16, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Political appointments
    - Description: Cabinet and assistants
      
      Dates: 1933-1934
      
      Container: Box/Folder 2/17-18, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Political appointments
    - Description: Postmasters and postal carriers
      
      Dates: 1935, 1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 2/19, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Political appointments
  - Democratic Party, King and Kitsap Counties, 1933-1936
    - Description: General correspondence
      
      Dates: 1933-1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 2/20-23, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Democratic Party, King and Kitsap Counties, 1933-1936
    - Description: Resolutions
      
      Dates: 1933-1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 3/1, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Democratic Party, King and Kitsap Counties, 1933-1936
    - Description: Petitions
      
      Dates: 1933-1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 3/2, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Democratic Party, King and Kitsap Counties, 1933-1936
    - Description: Lists
      
      Dates: 1933-1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 3/3-4, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Democratic Party, King and Kitsap Counties, 1933-1936
    - Description: Ephemera and clippings
      
      Dates: 1933-1936
      
      Container: Box/Folder 3/5-6, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Democratic Party, King and Kitsap Counties, 1933-1936
  - Congressional elections, 1934-1936
    
    Container: Box/Folder 3/7-8, Accession 3169-001
    
    2 folders
    - Description: Third political party
      
      Dates: 1935
      
      Container: Box/Folder 3/9, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Congressional elections, 1934-1936
    - Campaign
      - Description: Solicited endorsements from members of Congress
        
        Dates: 1934
        
        Container: Box/Folder 3/10-14, Accession 3169-001
        
        Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Congressional elections, 1934-1936 / Campaign
      - Description: Constituent letters of support
        
        Dates: 1933-1936
        
        Container: Box/Folder 3/15, Accession 3169-001
        
        Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Congressional elections, 1934-1936 / Campaign
      - Description: Questionnaires
        
        Dates: 1934
        
        Container: Box/Folder 3/16, Accession 3169-001
        
        Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Congressional elections, 1934-1936 / Campaign
  - Personal, 1932-1935
    - Description: General correspondence
      
      Dates: 1932-1935
      
      Container: Box/Folder 3/17-22, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Personal, 1932-1935
    - Description: Trips
      
      Dates: 1932-1935
      
      Container: Box/Folder 3/23, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Personal, 1932-1935
    - Description: Ephemera
      
      Dates: 1932-1935
      
      Container: Box/Folder 3/24, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence / Personal, 1932-1935
  - Description: Invitations
    
    Dates: 1934-1936
    
    Container: Box/Folder 3/25, 4/1-7, Accession 3169-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / General correspondence
- Description: Campaign ephemera
  
  Dates: 1932-1936
  
  Container: Box/Folder 4/8, Accession 3169-001
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936
- Description: Subject file - American Liberty League
  
  Dates: 1936
  
  Container: Box/Folder 4/9, Accession 3169-001
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936
- Speeches and background data
  - Speeches and writings
    - Description: Drafts
      
      Dates: undated
      
      Container: Box/Folder 4/10, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / Speeches and background data / Speeches and writings
    - Description: Excerpts from solicited endorsements
      
      Dates: undated
      
      Container: Box/Folder 4/11, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / Speeches and background data / Speeches and writings
    - Description: Speeches of others
      
      Dates: 1933-1934
      
      Container: Box/Folder 4/12, Accession 3169-001
      
      Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / Speeches and background data / Speeches and writings
  - Description: Legislation
    
    Dates: 1933-1934
    
    Container: Box/Folder 4/13, Accession 3169-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / Speeches and background data
  - Description: Clippings
    
    Dates: 1933-1934
    
    Container: Box/Folder 4/14, Accession 3169-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / Speeches and background data
  - Description: Ephemera
    
    Dates: 1933-1935
    
    Container: Box/Folder 4/15-16, Accession 3169-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936 / Speeches and background data
Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)

.21 cubic feet (1 box)

Arrangement: Arranged by type of document.

Scope and Content: This accession contains correspondence regarding the proposed Alaska Highway, annual reports, newsletters and bulletins, ephemera, and other miscellany, 1926-1936.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Relocated from the Warren G. Magnuson papers, date unknown.
- Description: General correspondence
  
  Dates: 1933-1936
  
  Container: Box/Folder 1/1-2, Accession 3169-002
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)
- Description: Annual report
  
  Dates: 1934
  
  Container: Box/Folder 1/3, Accession 3169-002
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)
- Description: Newsletters and bulletins
  
  Dates: 1934-1935
  
  Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Accession 3169-002
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)
- Description: Ephemera
  
  Dates: 1926-1934
  
  Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Accession 3169-002
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)
- Description: List
  
  Dates: 1933
  
  Container: Box/Folder 1/6, Accession 3169-002
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)
- Description: Itinerary
  
  Dates: undated
  
  Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Accession 3169-002
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)
- Description: Miscellaneous
  
  Dates: undated
  
  Container: Box/Folder 1/8, Accession 3169-002
  
  Location: Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Legislation--United States
Legislators--United States--Archives
Political parties--Washington (State)
Politicians--Washington (State)--Archives
Suicide victims--Washington (State)--Archives

Personal Names

Zioncheck, Marion A. (Marion Anthony), 1901-1936--Archives

Corporate Names

Democratic Party (King County, Wash.)
Democratic Party (Kitsap County, Wash.)

Geographical Names

King County (Wash.)--Politics and government--20th century
Kitsap County (Wash.)--Politics and government--20th century
Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government--20th century
United States--Politics and government--20th century
Washington (State)--Politics and government--1889-1950

Form or Genre Terms

Campaign literature
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Newsletters
Speeches, addresses, etc
case files
correspondence
ephemera
legislative records
reports

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Marion A. Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936

Table of Contents

Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Content Description

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Detailed Description of the Collection

Accession No. 3169-001: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1932-1936

General correspondence

Legislation

Miscellaneous

Case files

Political appointments

Democratic Party, King and Kitsap Counties, 1933-1936

Congressional elections, 1934-1936

Campaign

Personal, 1932-1935

Speeches and background data

Speeches and writings

Accession No. 3169-002: Marion Zioncheck papers, 1926-1936 (bulk 1933-1936)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Personal Names

Corporate Names

Geographical Names

Form or Genre Terms

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms