MZFCollection2095.xml Guide to the Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Papers 1940-1984 Billings (Harry L. and Gretchen) 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 2095, MtBC, us Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Papers 1940-1984 6.8 linear feet The Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Papers consist of correspondence, speeches, research notes, and printed publications pertaining to the Republican far right, especially the John Birch Society in Montana during the 1960s. These papers are the resource material that explain the positions taken by The People's Voice and also document the tie between the Billings and the Montana AFL-CIO. Since the Billings were involved in many political issues, they corresponded with many high ranking government officials. Collection materials are in English Biographical Note

Harry L. Billings was born in Somers, Montana, in 1913 where his father worked in the lumber mill. His mother was a homesteader and early day schoolteacher in the Hot Springs area where he was raised. He was a graduate of Thompson Falls High School and earned a degree in journalism from the University of Montana in 1933. His wife, Gretchen Garber Billings was a native of Whitefish whose grandparents homesteaded in the Plains area in the mid-1880s. The Billings jointly edited the farmer-labor owned newspaper The People's Voice in Helena from 1946 to 1969, resigning after a lengthy dispute with organized labor over support of the Vietnam War. Billings opposed American involvement in Korea and Vietnam. During the sales tax fight of 1971, Harry coordinated the successful opposition to enactment of the proposed tax, and then spent two and one half years as Director of Education and Research for the Montana State AFL-CIO. He was also a member of the Montanan Bicentennial advisory council in the mid-1970s and in 1983 was awarded the University of Montana's distinguished alumni award. The Billings retired first to their home in Thompson Falls and then moved full-time to Apache Junction, Arizona, when Harry began suffering respiratory problems. He died on April 23, 1990.

The Billings papers contains correspondence, speeches, research notes, and printed publications pertaining to the Republican far right, especially the John Birch Society in Montana during the 1960s. These papers are the resource material that explain the positions taken by The People's Voice and also document the tie between the Billings and the Montana AFL-CIO. Since the Billings were involved in many political issues, they corresponded with many high ranking government officials, including John F. Kennedy, who wrote to the Billings after a trip to Montana in 1959, and Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey, and Jeanette Rankin, a personal friend of the Billings. They also worked closely with several Montana governors and senators. Included in the papers are letters written by Mike Mansfield, Lee Metcalf, John Melcher, James E. Murray, and Burton K. Wheeler as well as governors Sam C. Ford, John W. Bonner, Tom Judge, and Ted Schwinden. Billings also collected the papers of Colonel Jerome G. Locke who was appointed General Surveyor of Montana by President Taft. Included in the Billings papers is Locke's certificate of his appointed signed by Taft. The Billings papers have been topically divided into series.

Series 1 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence and Speeches, 1946-1984

Series 2 Labor Movement, 1944-1979

Series 3 Montana AFL-CIO, 1956-1984

Series 4 General Subject Files, 1940-1981

Series 5 Individuals, 1947-1984

Series 6 The Right Wing, 1948-1968

Series 7 Group Research, Incorporated, 1961-1967

Series 8 Photographs and Audio Recordings, 1948-1974

This collection is open for research.

Harry L. and Gretchen Billings donated their business and personal papers to Special Collections in the fall of 1982. A seperate donation of papers in 1984, originally accessioned as collection 2123, was combined with this collection during processing.

This collection was processed 2009 April 1

 Bonner, John W. (John Woodrow), 1902-1970-Correspondence Ford, Sam C. (Sam Clarence), 1882-1961-Correspondence Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978-Correspondence Judge, Thomas L. -Correspondence Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963-Correspondence Mansfield, Mike, 1903-2001-Correspondence Melcher, John, 1924--Correspondence Metcalf, Lee, 1911-1978-Correspondence Murray, James E. -Correspondence Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973-Correspondence Schwinden, Ted-Correspondence Wheeler, Burton K. (Burton Kendall), 1882-1975-Correspondence Billings, Gretchen Billings, Harry L., 1913-1990 Locke, Jerome G. (Jerome George), b. 1882 Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930 John Birch Society Montana State AFL-CIO Republican Party (Mont.) Group Research, Inc Helena (Mont.)-Newspapers Montana-Politics and government-20th century American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976-Montana Labor journalism-Montana-Helena Labor unions-Montana Labor unions-Political activity-Montana Press, Labor-Montana-Helena Right-wing extremists-Montana Sales tax-Montana Vietnam War, 1961-1975-Protest movements-Montana People's voice (Helena, Mont.) Newspaper editors-Montana-Helena Political activists-Montana-Helena Women newspaper editors-Montana-Helena Women political activists-Montana-Helena Civic Activism Women Montana Photographs Sound Recordings Series 1 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence and Speeches 1946-1984

Through their work with The People's Voice and the labor movement, the Billings corresponded with many people across the state. This series contains correspondence with labor leaders and people voicing their support or disagreement over various political issues. The bulk of the letters were written when the Billings were editors of The People's Voice. Most of letters are connected with the paper, but a few are personal letters to Harry and Gretchen. The Billings were also ardent spokespersons for labor and the Democratic party and were often asked to speak at various functions. This series also contains speeches and radio broadcasts the Billings made in conjunction with their position with the paper. The bulk of the letters in Series 1 is general and some personal correspondence. The only specific topics contained in this series are the Grain Terminal Association, the Hillman Award, and the Billings's retirement from The People's Voice. Correspondence relating to specific topics such as the labor movement, the AFL-CIO, and the right wing are found in Series 2-6.

 1/1 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1946-1948 1/2 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1950-1953 1/3 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1954-1955 1/4 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence February to April 1956 1/5 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence May to December 1956 1/6 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to March 1957 1/7 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence April to May 1957 1/8 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence June to December 1957 1/9 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to April 1958 1/10 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence May to August 1958 1/11 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence September to December 1958 1/12 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to May 1959 1/13 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence June to July 1959 1/14 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence August to December 1959 1/15 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to February 1960 1/16 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence March to April 1960 1/17 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence May to August 1960 1/18 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence September 1960 1/19 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence October 1960 1/20 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence November to December 1960 1/21 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to March 1961 1/22 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence April to July 1961 1/23 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence August to October 1961 1/24 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence November to December 1961 1/25 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to May 1962 1/26 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence June to July 1962 1/27 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence August to December 1962 1/28 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to July 1963 1/29 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence August to September 1963 1/30 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence October to December 1963 1/31 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to April 1964 1/32 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence May 1964 1/33 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence June to July 1964 1/34 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence September to December 1964 1/35 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1965 2/1 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to March 1965 2/2 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence April 1965 2/3 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence May to June 1965 2/4 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence July to December 1965 2/5 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to February 1966 2/6 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence March to July 1966 2/7 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence September to October 1966 2/8 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence November to December 1966 2/9 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to August 1967 2/10 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence September to December 1967 2/11 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence January to May 1968 2/12 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence June 1968 to 1969 2/13 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1972 2/14 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1973-1974 2/15 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1975 2/16 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1976 2/17 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1977-1981 2/18 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1982 2/19 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Correspondence 1983-1984 2/20 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Personal Correspondence 1968 to March 1969 2/21 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Personal Correspondence April to December 1969 2/22 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Personal Correspondence 1970-1972 2/23 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Personal Correspondence 1973-1976 2/24 Grain Terminal Association Correspondence 1957 to January 1960 2/25 Grain Terminal Association Correspondence February 1960 to 1961 2/26 Grain Terminal Association Correspondence 1962 to 1965 1970 2/27 Grain Terminal Association Correspondence 1960 1970 2/28 Hillman Award Correspondence November 1958 to March 1959 2/29 Hillman Award Correspondence April 1959 2/30 Hillman Award Correspondence May 1959 2/31 Hillman Award Correspondence June 1959 2/32 Hillman Award Correspondence July 1959 to 1961 1967 2/33 Hillman Award Clippings 1959 2/34 Correspondence about Harry L. and Gretchen Billings' Retirement 1968 2/35 Clippings about Harry L. and Gretchen Billings' Retirement 1968 3/1 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Radio Broadcasts January 1953 3/2 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Radio Broadcasts February to March 1953 3/3 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Radio Broadcasts 1957 3/4 Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Interviews 1975-1976 3/5 Dean Stone Night, Correspondence and Speech April 1976 3/6 Harry L. Billings Speeches 1960 3/7 Harry L. Billings Speeches 1962-1963 3/8 Harry L. Billings Speeches 1964 3/9 Harry L. Billings Speeches 1972 3/10 Harry L. Billings Speeches 1973 3/11 Harry L. Billings Speeches 1974 3/12 Harry L. Billings Speeches 1976-1978 3/13 Gretchen Billings Speeches, 1960 3/14 Gretchen Billings Speeches, circa 1960-1969 3/15 Gretchen Billings Speeches, 1964-1967 3/16 Gretchen Billings Speeches, circa 1964-1967 3/17 Gretchen Billings Speeches, 1969 3/18 Gretchen Billings Speeches, circa 1969-1970 3/19 Gretchen Billings Correspondence and Speeches 1959-1961 3/20 Gretchen Billings Correspondence and Speeches 1962-1963 3/21 Gretchen Billings Correspondence and Speeches 1964-1965 3/22 Gretchen Billings Correspondence and Clippings for Speeches 1964-1967 3/23 Gretchen Billings Correspondence with Women in Politics 1959-1972 3/24 Gretchen Billings Women in Politics Questionnaire and Panels 1973 3/25 Gretchen Billings Notes about Teaching Communism 1961-1963 Series 2 Labor Movement 1944-1979

One area of specific interest to the Billings was the labor movement in Montana. Both Harry and Gretchen were involved in the farmer-labor institute, appearing at various conferences and meetings. This series contains mainly clippings dealing with the labor movement in Montana. It also contains correspondence with various labor leaders and programs from the Farmer-Labor Institute conferences during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. (The last conference was held in 1972)

 4/1 American Labor History Pamphlets, Samuel Gompers 4/2 American Labor History Pamphlets, History of the Department of Labor 4/3 American Labor History Pamphlets, Labor 4/4 American Labor History Pamphlets, Unions 4/5 American Labor History Clippings 1961-1976 4/6 Montana Labor History Correspondence 1967 1973 4/7 Montana Labor History Correspondence 1974-1979 4/8 Montana Labor History Pamphlets 1973-1976 4/9 Montana Labor History Clippings 1944 1967 4/10 Montana Labor History Clippings 1968-1969 4/11 Montana Labor History Clippings 1972-1973 4/12 Montana Labor History Clippings 1974 4/13 Montana Labor History Clippings 1975-1977 4/14 Montana Labor History Clippings 1978-1979 4/15 Montana Labor History Clippings undated 4/16 Montana State Federation of Labor Golden Jubilee Year Book 1894-1944 4/17 Montana State Federation of Labor Convention 1951 4/18 Montana State Federation of Labor 1953-1955 4/19 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Correspondence 1956-1959 4/20 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Correspondence 1967-1970 4/21 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Correspondence 1972 4/22 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Conference Programs 1952-1972 4/23 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Conference Summaries and Addresses 1949-1970 4/24 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Articles, Notes, and Committee Members 1953-1972 4/25 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Finances and Receipts 1972 4/26 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings 1951-1958 4/27 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings 1961 4/28 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings 1962 4/29 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings 1963 4/30 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings 1965-1968 4/31 Montana Farmer-Labor Institute Clippings 1972 Series 3 Montana AFL-CIO 1956-1984

After retiring from The People's Voice, Harry and Gretchen remained vocal about labor issues in Montana. During the 1970s, Harry became the Director of Education and Research of the Montana State AFL-CIO. This series contains correspondence with AFL-CIO leaders, especially James Murray, AFL-CIO publications, including the COPE pamphlets from 1979 to 1982, statements made by Harry and other AFL-CIO leaders at various hearings, information about the internal fight within AFL-CIO in 1978, and clippings about various topics pertaining to the AFL-CIO. Box 7 in this series contains the Montana State AFL-CIO Year Books from 1957-1983 (broken run).

 5/1 Montana AFL-CIO Merger 1956 5/2 Montana AFL-CIO Correspondence 1962-1973 5/3 Montana AFL-CIO Correspondence 1974-1979 5/4 Montana AFL-CIO Correspondence 1980-1984 5/5 Montana AFL-CIO Budget 1971-1975 5/6 Montana AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education 1959 5/7 Montana AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education 1963 5/8 Montana AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Clippings 1962-1963 5/9 Montana AFL-CIO "COPE" Pamphlets 1979-1980 5/10 Montana AFL-CIO "COPE" Pamphlets 1981 5/11 Montana AFL-CIO "COPE" Pamphlets 1982 5/12 Montana AFL-CIO Environmental Legislation 1974 5/13 Montana AFL-CIO Hearings and Statements 1971-1973 5/14 Montana AFL-CIO Hearings and Statements 1974 5/15 Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight Correspondence 1978 5/16 Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight Executive Board Meeting Minutes December 12, 1977 5/17 Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight Executive Board Meeting Minutes February 25, 1978 5/18 Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight Executive Board Meeting Minutes May 6, 1978 5/19 Montana AFL-CIO Internal Fight Clippings 1977-1978 5/20 Montana AFL-CIO Legislative Reports 1974-1979 5/21 Montana AFL-CIO Legislative Support 1972-1974 5/22 Montana AFL-CIO Occupational and Safety and Health Bill 1973-1974 5/23 Montana AFL-CIO Pamphlets 6/1 Montana AFL-CIO The People's Voice Correspondence 1968 6/2 Montana AFL-CIO The People's Voice Clippings 1968 6/3 Montana AFL-CIO Statements and Publications 1964-1967 6/4 Montana AFL-CIO Statements and Publications 1972-1973 6/5 Montana AFL-CIO Statements and Publications 1974 6/6 Montana AFL-CIO Statements and Publications 1975-1978 1980-1981 6/7 Montana AFL-CIO Clippings 1957-1958 6/8 Montana AFL-CIO Clippings 1972-1979 6/9 Montana AFL-CIO Clippings 1980-1984 7/1 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1957 7/2 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1958 7/3 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1961-1962 7/4 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1966 7/5 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1967 7/6 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1968 7/7 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1969 7/8 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1970 7/9 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1971 7/10 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1972 7/11 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1973 7/12 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1974 7/13 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1975 7/14 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1976 7/15 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1977 7/16 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1978 7/17 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1979 7/18 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1980 7/19 Montana State AFL-CIO Year Book 1983 7/20 Montana State AFL-CIO Delegate Handbook 1971 7/21 Montana State AFL-CIO Delegate Handbook 1973 7/22 Montana State AFL-CIO Delegate Handbook 1974 Series 4 General Subject Files 1940-1981

The Billings were interested in a wide range of topics and issues. As editors of The People's Voice and during their retirement, they kept clippings, articles, and publications on various subjects, mainly dealing with labor and the right wing movement. This series contains subject headings arranged in alphabetical order of the various clippings and research Harry and Gretchen collected on topics such as the Democratic party, environmental concerns, gambling, land use, the legislature, Paradise Dam, poverty, taxation, and Young Americans for Freedom. Two main topics in this series are the Montana bicentennial and the fight against the proposed sales tax in 1971. As one of the main leaders in the opposition to the sales tax, Harry corresponded with many people across the state in order to defeat the tax. This series contains that correspondence and other materials used in the fight against the sales tax.

 8/1 ACM Strike 1967-1968 8/2 America's Future Background Information and Articles 8/3 America's Future Textbook Evaluation 8/4 Bicentennial Commission Correspondence 1973 8/5 Bicentennial Commission Correspondence 1974 8/6 Bicentennial Commission Correspondence 1975 8/7 Bicentennial Commission Correspondence 1976 8/8 Bicentennial Commission Project Descriptions 8/9 Bicentennial Commission Final Report to the Governor October 16, 1975 8/10 Bicentennial Commission "The Bicentennial Era: 1972-1976" Pamphlet 1972-1976 8/11 Bicentennial Commission Bicentennial State Park, Three Forks 8/12 Bicentennial Commission Clippings 1973-1975 9/1 Calendars: Goldwater; American Almanac 1964 1973

Calendars: Goldwater, 1964; American Almanac, 1973

 9/2 Church League of America 1961 9/3 Coal 1972-1974 9/4 Coal Tax Correspondence and Clippings 1972-1974 9/5 Coal Tax Resolutions 1972-1974 9/6 Colstrip-Montana Power Company Correspondence 1966 1977-1981 9/7 Colstrip-Montana Power Company Clippings 1972-1984 9/8 Communism Pamphlets and Clippings 1961-1962 9/9 Environmental and Legislative Concerns Legislative Reports, 1979; Clippings 1960 1964 1977 1979 9/10 Democratic Party Platforms; Police Committee 1972 1976 1981

Democratic Party Platforms, 1972, 1976; Police Committee, 1981

 9/11 Democratic Party Clippings 1964-1981 9/12 Frank Dryman Case 1961-1962 9/13 Educational Cooperative Publishing Company of Montana 1939 9/14 Election Reform 1974 9/15 Environmental and Legislative Concerns "The Capital Monitor" Newsletter 1979 9/16 Environmental and Legislative Concerns Legislative Reports; Clippings 1979 1969-1979

Environmental and Legislative Concerns Legislative Reports, 1979; Clippings, 1969-1979

 9/17 Free Press 1977-1979 9/18 Gambling 1977 9/19 Hellgate Herald July 1965 9/20 Hellgate Herald August 1965 9/21 Hellgate Herald September to October 1965 9/22 House Un-American Committee 1961 1967 9/23 KMON and KCAP Radio Stations 1961-1962 10/1 Land Use: SB625 1974 10/2 Legislative Reports 1973-1983 10/3 Legislative Reports Publications 1975-1983 10/4 Legislative Reports Clippings 1975 1981-1985 10/5 Legislature: Annual v. Biennial 1974 10/6 Lewistown Speech Correspondence and Publications 1961-1965 10/7 Lewistown Speech Clippings 1960-1965 10/8 The Missoulian Centennial Edition April 30, 1973 10/9 Montana Christian Conservative July 1961 to June 1962 10/10 Montana History Conference 1974 10/11 Montana History Conference 1975 10/12 Montana and National Press Progressive Opinion Montana Newspapers Daily Herald (Helena) August 1867 Free Press (Helena) May 1930 Great Falls News January 1933 Roundup Record-Tribune March 1933 The Scout (Terry) November 1932 Montana Standard (Butte) June 1932 The Western Progressive (Helena) April 1932 December 1932 March 1933 April 1933 10/13 Montana and National Press Progressive Opinion National Newspapers American Freedom (Kansas) October 1932 The Bugle Call (Missouri) July 1932 Daily Worker (New York) October 1931 New York Times January 1933 The Progressive (Wisconsin) April 1932 February 1933 Vinita Daily Journal (Oklahoma) February 1933 10/14 Nixon Support; League of Women Voters; Institute for American Democracy 1956 1967

Nixon Support, 1956; League of Women Voters; Institute for American Democracy, 1967

 10/15 Pamphlets "Looking Toward a Sound Fiscal Policy"; "The Needle's Eye"; "Tax Facts and Figures"; "The NRAG Papers" 10/16 Paradise Dam Testimonies and Legal Papers 1958-1959 10/17 Paradise Dam Publications 1958-1959 10/18 Paradise Dam Clippings 1958-1959 10/19 The People's Voice Investigation by David Rankin for National Farmers Union Service Corporation 10/20 The People's Voice Correspondence 1940-1945 10/21 The People's Voice Correspondence 1947-1948 10/22 The People's Voice Correspondence 1951-1953 1965 10/23 The People's Voice Clippings 1949 1960-1966 11/1 The People's Voice February to June 1963 11/2 The People's Voice July 1963 to April 1964 11/3 Plains Nuclear Power Plant Correspondence and Publications 1965-1968 11/4 Plains Nuclear Power Plant Clippings 1967-1969 11/5 Poverty 1965 11/6 Proposed Northern Tier Pipeline 1978-1980 11/7 Sales Tax Correspondence May 10-12, 1971 11/8 Sales Tax Correspondence May 13-21, 1971 11/9 Sales Tax Correspondence May 26-31, 1971 11/10 Sales Tax Correspondence June 1-7, 1971 11/11 Sales Tax Correspondence June 8-30, 1971 11/12 Sales Tax Correspondence July 1-13, 1971 11/13 Sales Tax Correspondence July 14-31, 1971 11/14 Sales Tax Correspondence August 1971 11/15 Sales Tax Correspondence September 1971 11/16 Sales Tax Correspondence October 1-12, 1971 11/17 Sales Tax Correspondence October 13-21, 1971 11/18 Sales Tax Correspondence October 22-31, 1971 11/19 Sales Tax Correspondence November 1971 11/20 Sales Tax Correspondence December 1971 11/21 Sales Tax Correspondence 1972 1981 11/22 Sales Tax Donations and Publications 1971 11/23 Sales Tax Clippings 1955 1971 11/24 Slot Machines 1948-1949 11/25 Social Security 1981-1982 11/26 Taxation Clippings 1971-1977 11/27 Thunder on the Right Correspondence and Publications 1954-1961 11/28 Thunder on the Right Clippings 1949 1953-1963 12/1 United States Congress Roll Call Votes 1963 12/2 Up with People 1967 12/3 The Vigilant Citizen (Sidney); The Western Voice June 1961 to January 1962 September 1961

The Vigilant Citizen (Sidney) June 1961 to January 1962; The Western Voice September 1961

 12/4 Voting Record Pamphlets 1957-1961 12/5 Voting Record Pamphlets 1963-1969 12/6 Voting Record 1948-1983 12/7 "Wheeling" Contracts 1951-1952 12/8 Young Americans for Freedom Correspondence 1959-1963 12/9 Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters November 1961 to March 1962 12/10 Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters April to October 1962 12/11 Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters December 1962 to May 1963 12/12 Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters May to December 1963 12/13 Young Americans for Freedom Newsletters January 1964 to February 1965 12/14 Young Americans for Freedom Clippings 1961-1965 Series 5 Individuals 1947-1984

Like the subject headings, the Billings gathered information on several individuals in Montana. This series contains correspondence and clippings about major personalities in Montana. Billings also collected the papers of Colonel Jerome G. Locke which includes his correspondence. Of special interest in this series are letters written by national government officials such as John F. Kennedy, Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey, and Jeanette Rankin. Letters written by Montana leaders such as Mike Mansfield, Lee Metcalf, John Melcher, Burton K. Wheeler, and James E. Murray as well as from several Montana governors are also included in this series.

 12/15 Governor Tim Babcock Young Americans for Freedom and United States Day in Montana 1963-1965 12/16 Governor Tim Babcock Clippings 1962-1966 13/1 Governor John W. Bonner Letters May 1951 13/2 Dorothy Bradley Correspondence 1977-1983 13/3 Frank Church; Orvin Fjare 13/4 Joseph M. Dixon, Clippings about his death 1975 13/5 Dorothy Floerchinger Correspondence; Speech 1972 1962

Dorothy Floerchinger Correspondence, 1972; Speech 1962

 13/6 Governor Sam C. Ford Letter July 7, 1947 13/7 Edmund L. Freeman Correspondence and Clippings 1960 1974-1977 13/8 Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey Letter April 1, 1965 13/9 John Jarussi Correspondence and Clippings 1962 13/10 Governor Tom Judge Letters 1973-1974 1977 13/11 Governor Tom Judge Clippings 1965-1975 13/12 John F. Kennedy Letter March 15, 1959 13/13 Colonel Jerome G. Locke Biographical notes by Harry L. Billings; Correspondence 1947-1949 13/14 Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence January to June 1950 13/15 Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence July to December 1950 13/16 Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence January to March 1951 13/17 Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence April to June 1951 13/18 Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence July to September 1951 13/19 Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence October to November 1951 13/20 Colonel Jerome G. Locke Correspondence 1952-1954 13/21 Colonel Jerome G. Locke Pamphlets, "A Sign of the Times"; "Conclusions" 13/22 Senator Mike Mansfield Letters 1950 1959 1963 1969 13/23 Lowndes Maury, Correspondence about 1974-1981 13/24 Senator John Melcher Letters 1969-1983 13/25 Senator John Melcher Clippings 1976-1979 13/26 Perry Melton; Mel Hoy 1947 1978 1983 13/27 Senator Lee Metcalf Letters 1958-1972 13/28 Senator James E. Murray Letters 1959-1960 13/29 Thomas Payne: "Interest Groups in Montana" 1984 13/30 Governor Ted Schwinden Letters 1981-1982 13/31 Ernest Salvas Correspondence and Clippings 1955 1963-1966 13/32 Jeannette Rankin Letters May 1973 13/33 Jeannette Rankin Clippings and Articles 1972-1980 13/34 Sharon Van Quill: Paper on Dan Smoot 13/35 Dan Whetstone Correspondence and Clippings 1946-1964 13/36 Senator Burton K. Wheeler Letter June 19, 1956 13/37 Senator Burton K. Wheeler: "Meet the Press" transcript December 31, 1945 13/38 Anita Wilford Correspondence 1967-1968 13/39 Anita Wilford: "The People's Voice: Crusader for More Rigid Control of the Montana Power Company" Series 6 The Right Wing 1948-1968

Of particular interest to the Billings and a large portion of their research dealt with the Right Wing, especially the John Birch Society. This series contains correspondence about the right wing and research material about their activities. All of Box 15 contains clippings about the radical right.

 14/1 Right Wing Correspondence; "Smear" groups 1948-1950

Right Wing Correspondence, 1948-1950; "Smear" groups

 14/2 Right Wing Correspondence 1962 14/3 Right Wing Correspondence 1963 14/4 Right Wing Correspondence 1964 14/5 Right Wing Correspondence 1965 14/6 Right Wing Articles and Publications 1962 14/7 Right Wing Articles and Publications 1963 14/8 Right Wing Articles and Publications 1964 14/9 Right Wing Articles and Publications 1965 14/10 Right Wing Articles and Publications 1966 14/11 Right Wing Against Organized Labor 1966 14/12 Right Wing, American Legion 1947-1952 14/13 ight Wing John Birch Society 1959 to April 1961 14/14 ight Wing John Birch Society May 1961 to 1963 14/15 Right Wing Notes about Montana Power, Cattlemen Association, Attack on Dr. Borden at MSU in Missoula 1964 14/16 Right Wing Sidney Anti-Communist Movement Correspondence 1959-1966 14/17 Right Wing Sidney Anti-Communist Movement Clippings 1948-1964 14/18 Right Wing Background Material Clippings 15/1 Right Wing Clippings 1950 1960 15/2 Right Wing Clippings (The People's Voice response) 1961 1963

Right Wing Clippings, 1961 (The People's Voice response, 1963)

 15/3 Right Wing Clippings (used again) 1961 1964

Right Wing Clippings, 1961 (used again in 1964)

 15/4 Right Wing Clippings January to April 1961 15/5 Right Wing Clippings May to December 1961 15/6 Right Wing Clippings January to February 1962 15/7 Right Wing Clippings March to December 1962 15/8 Right Wing Clippings 1963 15/9 Right Wing Clippings 1964 15/10 Right Wing Clippings 1965 15/11 Right Wing Clippings 1966 15/12 Right Wing Clippings 1967-1968 Series 7 Group Research, Incorporated 1961-1967

This series contains the directory compiled by Group Research, Incorporated. The directory was designed to provide journalists, organization leaders, public officials, and others with reference information on radical groups and individuals. It is divided into four sections: Organizations, Individuals, Publications, and Special Reports.

 16/1 Group Research Directory Information, Organizations List 16/2 Group Research Organizations, A to American Good Government 16/3 Group Research Organizations, American Opinion to Association 16/4 Group Research Organizations, B to Commission 16/5 Group Research Organizations, Committee to D 16/6 Group Research Organizations, F 16/7 Group Research Organizations, H-I 16/8 Group Research Organizations, John Birch Society 16/9 Group Research Organizations, John Birch Society Clippings 1961-1965 16/10 Group Research Organizations, L 16/11 Group Research Organizations, M-N 16/12 Group Research Organizations, O-Y 16/13 Group Research Individuals, Index 16/14 Group Research Individuals, A-C 16/15 Group Research Individuals, D-G 16/16 Group Research Individuals, H-J 16/17 Group Research Individuals, K-M 16/18 Group Research Individuals, N-P 16/19 Group Research Individuals, R-S 16/20 Group Research Individuals, T-Z 17/1 Group Research Publications, Bibliography to G 17/2 Group Research Publications, H-L 17/3 Group Research Publications, M-W 17/4 Group Research Special Reports, #1-6 17/5 Group Research Special Reports, #7-11 17/6 Group Research Special Reports, #12-13 17/7 Group Research Special Reports, #16-17, 19 17/8 Group Research Reports 1962 17/9 Group Research Reports 1963 17/10 Group Research Reports 1964-1965 17/11 Group Research Reports 1966 17/12 Group Research Reports 1967-1968 Series 8 Photographs and Audio Recordings 1948-1974

This series contains photographs and audio recording collected by the Billings. The bulk of the photographs were printed in The People's Voice, but the people and events are unidentified here. Most of the audio recordings are speeches Harry and Gretchen made in conjunction with The People's Voice and speeches made by Henry A. Wallace during his presidential candidacy in 1948.

 18/1 Photographs, #1-10 #1-2 unidentified charter presentation #3-4 unidentified conference #5-10 unidentified people 18/2 Photographs, #11-20 #11-17 unidentified people #18-20 Gretchen Billings 18/3 Photographs, #21-29 #21 Gordon Twedt and Gretchen Billings #22 James Umber, Joyce Hrovda, Joe Crosswhite in front of Montana AFL-CIO building #23 Friends of Jerome G. Locke #24 oil well circa 1925 #25 aerial view of city #26 billboard to impeach Earl Warren #27 close-up of billboard to impeach Earl Warren #28 Farmer's Union Insurance road sign with communist hammer and sickle spray painted on it, outside of Sidney, Montana #29 Farmer's Union Insurance road sign with communist hammer and sickle spray painted on it, outside of Sidney, Montana 18/4 Audio Recordings, Legislative Broadcast, Gretchen Billings January 26, 1957 February 10, 1957 18/5 Audio Recordings, Final Legislative Broadcast, Gretchen Billings March 2-3, 1957 18/6 Audio Recordings, Legislative Broadcast, Gretchen Billings undated 18/7 Audio Recordings, The People's Voice Comment; Comments Concerning The People's Voice, R. E. Davis 18/8 Audio Recordings, Mort Borden, MSC March 1963

(2 tapes)

 18/9 Audio Recordings, Lyman Brewster; John F. Kennedy: Highlights of Speeches 19/1 Audio Recordings, Montana Looks to the Future: Indians of Montana, Sister Providencia; Plains December 28, 1963 19/2 Audio Recordings, Harry L. and Gretchen Billings: Interview with Steve Kelly November 18-19, 1974

(tapes 1-3)

 19/3 Audio Recordings, Harry L. and Gretchen Billings: Interview with Steve Kelly November 18-19, 1974

(tapes 4-6)

 19/4 Audio Recordings, KMON and KCAP Radio 1961-1962 19/5-6 Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Speeches 1948 19/7 Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention, 1-2 19/8 Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention, 3-4 19/9 Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention, 5-6 19/10 Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention, 7-8 19/11 Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention, 9-10 19/12 Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention, 11-12 19/13 Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention, 13-14 19/14 Audio Recordings, Henry A. Wallace Convention, 15-20 Oversized

This folder contains information from series 5, certificates of Jerome G. Locke, including his appointed certificated signed by President Taft. It also contains a map out of series 4 of the Columbia River Basin.