Summary Information
Alvin E. O'Konski Papers
1943-1976
- O'Konski, Alvin E. (Alvin Edward), 1904-1987
Northland Mss P; PH Northland Mss P; Tape 1311A
8.8 c.f. (22 archives boxes), 1 tape recording, and 6 photographs
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center / Ashland Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Alvin E. O'Konski, a Republican congressman who represented Wisconsin's Tenth District (mainly Wisconsin's northernmost counties) from 1942 to 1972 and probably best known for his anti-communist activities. The papers also document his interest in post-war European affairs (particularly those connected with Poland), his stance against the Vietnam War, the 1961 call-up of the Wisconsin National Guard, and his contributions to the development of northern Wisconsin, such as improvements in public health services and rural electrification. The papers include correspondence, printed material, speeches, press releases, a tape recorded interview made after his retirement from politics, and a few official photographs.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-nort000p ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Alvin E. O'Konski, Republican congressman representing the Tenth District of Wisconsin, was born May 26, 1904, on a farm in Kewaunee County. O'Konski attended the local public schools, and then the University of Iowa. He received his bachelor's degree from State Teachers' College at Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1927, and later did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin.
After graduation, Mr. O'Konski taught in Omro, Oconto, and Pulaski, Wisconsin high schools; Oregon State College at Corvallis, 1929-1931; and the University of Detroit, 1936-1938. His undergraduate majors were history and political science, but his college teaching was in speech. A well-known public speaker, he campaigned on behalf of Wisconsin Republican candidates in 1938; published a newsletter about state politics in 1939; and in 1940 became editor and publisher of the Montreal River Miner, a weekly newspaper in Hurley, Wisconsin. In 1947, he sold the newspaper and established radio station WLIN in Merrill. (The station later moved to Wausau and changed its call letters to WOSA.)
Alvin O'Konski's congressional career began in 1942 when he was elected representative of Wisconsin's Tenth District (which included at various times Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Vilas, Burnette, Washburn, Sawyer, Price, Oneida, Lincoln, Taylor, Polk, Barron, Rusk, St. Croix, Dunn, Chippewa, and Eau Claire counties.) He served in Congress until defeated in November 1972 by David Obey. His 1957 attempt to win the Senate seat made vacant by the death of Joseph R. McCarthy had been unsuccessful.
Congressman O'Konski's political views were generally conservative. He is best known for his anti-communist activities. He was president of the World Bill of Rights Association, 1945; director of the World League to Stop Communism, 1947; and president of the Anti-Communist Association, 1950. He was voted the “most distinguished American for 1945” in balloting conducted by the Polish language newspaper Everybody's Daily for his work on behalf of small nations against communism and the Yalta agreement. Particularly interested in Poland and Polish issues, he received the “Polonia Restitvta” medal as the outstanding member of a committee investigating the Katyn Forest Massacre of 15,000 Allied officers in early World War II. Mr. O'Konski served on several congressional committees including Labor, Pensions, Veterans Affairs, and Armed Services.
Scope and Content Note
The Alvin E. O'Konski Papers were originally presented to Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin by Mr. O'Konski in 1973. Nancy Ehlers and Karen Baumann of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin processed the papers for Nicolet at that time. The collection returned permanently to the State Historical Society in 1997 when Nicolet College presented the papers upon the closing of their archives.
The Papers are organized into five series: (1) Correspondence, (2) Public Relations Materials, (3) Printed Material, (4) Tape Recorded Interview, and (5) Photographs.
The bulk of the Papers consists of CORRESPONDENCE, largely from the Tenth District, but also including letters from overseas and other parts of the U.S. The correspondence illustrates the varied activities of a congressman, particularly his relationship to his constituents, how he responded to their opinions and aided them. A large amount of the correspondence concerns legislation, European post-war politics, immigration matters, and business with government agencies (e.g., the Post Office, State Department, and Patent Office). Two main issues are the 1961 call-up of the Wisconsin National Guard's 32nd Division, and European post-war politics. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically in a subject file and within each folder chronologically.
The remainder of the collection is more varied. One box holds the PUBLIC RELATIONS MATERIAL which includes news releases and speeches, each filed chronologically. Most of the speeches were clipped from the Congressional Record, and occasionally, related correspondence is filed with them. One folder contains PRINTED MATERIAL which was preserved as representative of the types of material received with the papers. The majority of printed material originally received, such as books, pamphlets, and reports of congressional hearings, which had no direct involvement with O'Konski, was removed from the collection and sent to the Nicolet College library.
A TAPE RECORDED INTERVIEW (ca. forty-five minutes in length) with Mr. O'Konski made ca. 1976 includes biographical information as well as a discussion of his contributions to the development of northern Wisconsin and his role in significant legislation. He discusses his wife's contributions to his career; his role in federal legislation, including the G.I. Bill, improvements to Social Security, and bills affecting Native Americans, farmers, and forest industries; his role in tourism development (particularly Mt. Telemark in Sawyer Co.), improvement of rural telephone service, and improvement of medical facilities; his opinions on federal government's role in education; his stance against the Vietnam War; and finally, his disenchantment with politics and his deep concern for the future of the country.
The collection also includes PHOTOGRAPHS which include portraits of the Congressman both alone and with Mrs. O'Konski; a publicity photo of the O'Konskis with the Dionne Quintuplets; and images of Mr. O'Konski with presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and Johnson.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Nicolet College, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 1997. Accession Number: M97-158
Processed by Nancy Ehlers and Karen Baumann, 1973-1974, and Donna Sereda, 1997.
Container list
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Northland Mss P
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Series: Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Argentina, 1948
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Armed Forces Information, 1961-1962
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Bills
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78th Congress, 1943-1945
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Box
1
Folder
3
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H.R. 3011
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Box
1
Folder
4
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79th - 89th Congress Summary of Bills Passed, 1945-1966
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79th Congress - 1st Session, 1945-1946
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Box
1
Folder
5
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H. Con. Res. 10
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Box
1
Folder
6
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H. Con. Res. 10 - Clippings
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Box
1
Folder
7
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H. J. Res. 189 & Res. 124
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Box
1
Folder
8
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H.R. 2069 -5728
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79th Congress - 2nd Session, 1946-1947
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Box
1
Folder
9
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H. R. 6141 & Foreign Legion Bill
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80th Congress - 1st Session, 1947-1948
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Box
1
Folder
10
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H.R. 1625 - 2563
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80th Congress - 2nd Session, 1948-1949
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Box
1
Folder
11
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H.R. 2905 - 7037 & Immigration Cases
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81st Congress - 1st Session, 1949-1950
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Box
2
Folder
1
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H.R. 1406 - 3282 (Indian legislation)
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Box
2
Folder
2
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H.R. 5732 - 6126
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81st Congress - 2nd Session, 1950-1951
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Box
2
Folder
3
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H.R. 3125 - 7267
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Box
2
Folder
4
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H.R. 7474 & Support for Related Bills
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Box
2
Folder
5
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H.R. 7744 - 9044
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Box
2
Folder
6
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81st Congress - Miscellaneous Legislation
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82nd Congress - 1st Session, 1951-1952
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Box
2
Folder
7
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H.R. 1548-3125
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82nd Congress - 2nd Session, 1952-1953
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Box
2
Folder
8
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H.R. 401 - 8783
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Indian Legislation
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83rd Congress - 1st Session, 1953-1954
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Box
2
Folder
10
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H.R. 64 - 6564
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83rd Congress - 2nd Session, 1954-1955
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Box
2
Folder
11
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H.R. 7863 - 10265
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84th Congress - 1st Session, 1955-1956
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Box
3
Folder
1
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H.R. 158 - 5857
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84th Congress - 2nd Session, 1956-1957
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Box
3
Folder
2
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H.R. 501 - 9776
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85th Congress - 1st Session, 1957-1958
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Box
3
Folder
3
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H.R. 182 - 6137
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85th Congress - 2nd Session, 1958-1959
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Box
3
Folder
4
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H.R. 8958 - 12954
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Box
3
Folder
5
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85th Congress - Miscellaneous Correspondence
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86th Congress - 1st Session, 1959-1960
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Box
3
Folder
6
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H. J. Res. 235 - H.R. 8183
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Box
3
Folder
7
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H.R. 6137 - Petitions
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86th Congress - 2nd Session, 1960-1961
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Box
3
Folder
8
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H.R. 9508 - Kasabin Correspondence
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87th Congress - 1st Session, 1961-1962
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Box
4
Folder
1
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H. Con. Res. 155 - H.R. 5365
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Box
4
Folder
2
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H.R. 5543 - 8671
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87th Congress - 2nd Session, 1962-1963
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Box
4
Folder
3
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H.R. 10006 - 13010
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Box
4
Folder
4
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87th Congress - Miscellaneous Correspondence
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88th Congress - 1st Session, 1963-1964
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Box
4
Folder
5
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H.R. 466 - 3709
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Box
4
Folder
6
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H.R. 3710
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Box
4
Folder
7
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H.R. 3711 - 3758
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Box
5
Folder
1
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H.R. 4183 - 4184
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Box
5
Folder
2
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H.R. 4185 - 9298
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88th Congress - 2nd Session, 1964-1965
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Box
5
Folder
3
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H.R. 8954 - 12695
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Box
5
Folder
4
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88th Congress - Mobile Home Correspondence
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89th Congress - 1st Session, 1965-1966
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Box
5
Folder
5
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H. Res. 297 - H.R. 8251
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Box
5
Folder
6
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H.R. 8325
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Box
5
Folder
7
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H.R. 8575 - 10902
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89th Congress - 2nd Session, 1966-1967
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Box
6
Folder
1
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H. J. Res. 847 - H.R. 16505
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90th Congress - 1st Session, 1967-1968
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Box
6
Folder
2
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H. Con. Res. 404 - H.R. 3982
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Box
6
Folder
3
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H.R. 3983 - 6026
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Box
6
Folder
4
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H.R. 6027 - 7211
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Box
6
Folder
5
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H.R. 7212
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Box
6
Folder
6
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H.R. 8128 - 12281
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Box
7
Folder
1
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H.R. 14430 - 14242
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90th Congress - 2nd Session, 1968-1969
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Box
7
Folder
2
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H. Con. Res. 634 - H.R. 3813
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91st Congress - 1st Session, 1969-1970
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Box
7
Folder
3
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H. Res. 615 - H.R. 3813
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Box
7
Folder
4
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H.R. 3814 - 8966
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Box
7
Folder
5
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H.R. 9306 - 9941
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Box
7
Folder
6
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H.R. 10401 - 12712
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Box
8
Folder
1
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H.R. 12854 - 12856
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Box
8
Folder
2
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H.R. 13406 - 14191
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Box
8
Folder
3
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H.R. 14608 - 15401
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91st Congress - 2nd Session, 1970-1971
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Box
8
Folder
4
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H. Con. R. 626 - H.R. 16252
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Box
8
Folder
5
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H.R. 16339 - 19185
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92nd Congress - 1st Session, 1971-1972
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Box
8
Folder
6
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H. Res. 502 - H.R. 2184
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Box
8
Folder
7
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H.R. 2185 - 4617
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Box
9
Folder
1
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H.R. 4746 - 7191
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Box
9
Folder
2
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H.R. 7268 - 9742
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Box
9
Folder
3
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H.R. 9846 - 9915
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Box
9
Folder
4
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H.R. 9960 - 12931
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92nd Congress - 2nd Session, 1972-1973
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Box
9
Folder
5
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H. Con. Res. 620 - H.R. 14505
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Box
9
Folder
6
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H.R. 14551 - 17131
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|
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Bureau of Land Management
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Box
9
Folder
7
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1950-1955
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Box
9
Folder
8
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1956
|
|
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Box
10
Folder
1
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1957-1958
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Box
10
Folder
2
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1959
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|
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Box
10
Folder
3
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1960-1961
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Box
10
Folder
4
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1962-1963
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Box
10
Folder
5
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1964-1966
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Box
10
Folder
6
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Columbia Radio Broadcasting, 1946-1947
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European Post-War Politics
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Box
10
Folder
7
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Finland - Germany, 1944-1947
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Box
10
Folder
8
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Foreign Legion, U.S.A., 1945-1946
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Box
10
Folder
9
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Italy, 1945-1947
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Box
10
Folder
10
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Lithuania, 1945-1946
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Poland, 1941-1948; Correspondence from:
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Box
10
Folder
11
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Alabama - Arkansas
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Box
11
Folder
1
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California
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Box
11
Folder
2
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Colorado - Connecticut
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Box
11
Folder
3
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D.C. - Delaware
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Box
11
Folder
4
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Florida - Georgia
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Box
11
Folder
5
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Illinois
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Box
11
Folder
6
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Indiana - Kentucky
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Box
11
Folder
7
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Louisiana - Maryland
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Box
11
Folder
8
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Massachusetts - Michigan
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Box
11
Folder
9
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Minnesota - Nebraska
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Box
11
Folder
10
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New Jersey
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Box
11
Folder
11
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New York
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Box
11
Folder
12
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North Carolina - Oregon
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Box
12
Folder
1
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Pennsylvania
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Box
12
Folder
2
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Rhode Island - Vermont
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Box
12
Folder
3
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Virginia - West Virginia
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Box
12
Folder
4
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Wisconsin
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Box
12
Folder
5
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Wisconsin--O'Konski's District
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Correspondence from Polish Organizations
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Box
12
Folder
6
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1943-1944
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Box
12
Folder
7
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1945
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Box
12
Folder
8
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Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1945-1946
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Box
12
Folder
9
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Yugoslavia, 1941-1953 (early materials are clippings)
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Immigration
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Box
13
Folder
1
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Displaced Persons, 1946-1953
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Box
13
Folder
2
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Finland, 1950-1955
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Box
13
Folder
3
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General Information, 1947-1950
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Germany
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Box
13
Folder
4
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1947-1948
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Box
13
Folder
5
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1949
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Box
13
Folder
6
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1950
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Box
13
Folder
7
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1951
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Box
14
Folder
1
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1952
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Box
14
Folder
2
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1953
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|
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Box
14
Folder
3
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1954
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Box
14
Folder
4
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1955
|
|
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Box
14
Folder
5
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1956
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Italy
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Box
14
Folder
6
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1948
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Box
14
Folder
7
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1949-1950
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Box
14
Folder
8
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1951-1952
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Box
14
Folder
9
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1953-1954
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Box
14
Folder
10
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1955-1956
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Miscellaneous
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Box
14
Folder
11
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1948-1949
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Box
15
Folder
1
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1950
|
|
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Box
15
Folder
2
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1951
|
|
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Box
15
Folder
3
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1952
|
|
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Box
15
Folder
4
|
1953
|
|
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Box
15
Folder
5
|
1954
|
|
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Box
15
Folder
6
|
1955
|
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Box
16
Folder
1
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1956-1957
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Poland
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Box
16
Folder
2
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1945-1948
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Box
16
Folder
3
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1949
|
|
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Box
16
Folder
4
|
1950
|
|
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Box
16
Folder
5
|
1951
|
|
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Box
16
Folder
6
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1952
|
|
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Box
16
Folder
7
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1953
|
|
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Box
16
Folder
8
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1954-1955
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Box
16
Folder
9
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Korea - Post-War Correspondence, 1953-1954
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|
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Box
16
Folder
10
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Maritime Administration, 1957-1965
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Box
16
Folder
11
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Miscellaneous correspondence and clippings, 1946, 1959, n.d.
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Post Office
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Box
17
Folder
1
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1959, Sept. - Dec.
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Box
17
Folder
2
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1960, Jan. - May
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Box
17
Folder
3
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1960, June - Dec.
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Box
17
Folder
4
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1961-1964
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Box
17
Folder
5
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1965, Jan. - May
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Box
17
Folder
6
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1965, June - Dec.
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Box
17
Folder
7
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1966, Jan. - April
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Box
17
Folder
8
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1966, May - Oct.
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Box
18
Folder
1
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1966, Nov. - Dec.
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Public Health Service
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Box
18
Folder
2
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1956-1958
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Box
18
Folder
3
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1959
|
|
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Box
18
Folder
4
|
1960
|
|
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Box
18
Folder
5
|
1961
|
|
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Box
18
Folder
6
|
1962
|
|
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Box
18
Folder
7
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1963-1964
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Box
18
Folder
8
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1965
|
|
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Box
18
Folder
9
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1966
|
|
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Rural Electrification Administration
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Box
18
Folder
10
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1955-1958
|
|
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Box
18
Folder
11
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1959
|
|
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Box
19
Folder
1
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1960-1961
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Box
19
Folder
2
|
1962
|
|
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Box
19
Folder
3
|
1963-1964
|
|
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Box
19
Folder
4
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1965-1966
|
|
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State Department
|
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Box
19
Folder
5
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Foreign Service Information, 1947-1948
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|
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Miscellany
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Box
19
Folder
6
|
1949-1953
|
|
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Box
19
Folder
7
|
1954
|
|
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Box
19
Folder
8
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1955-1956
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|
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Passports
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Box
19
Folder
9
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1938-1949
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|
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Box
19
Folder
10
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1950
|
|
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Box
19
Folder
11
|
1951
|
|
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Box
20
Folder
1
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1952-1953
|
|
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Box
20
Folder
2
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1954-1955
|
|
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Box
20
Folder
3
|
1956
|
|
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Box
20
Folder
4
|
U.S. Weather Bureau, 1954
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Wisconsin 32nd Division Call-Up
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Box
20
Folder
5
|
Letters against O'Konski's Stand, 1961-1962
|
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Box
20
Folder
6-8
|
Letters for O'Konski's Stand, 1961-1962
|
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Discharges
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Box
21
Folder
1
|
1961, Nov. - 1962, Feb.
|
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Box
21
Folder
2
|
1962, March - April
|
|
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Box
21
Folder
3
|
General Information, 1961-1962
|
|
|
Box
21
Folder
4
|
Clippings, 1961-1962
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Series: Public Relations
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News Releases
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Box
21
Folder
5
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1944-1946
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Box
21
Folder
6
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1950-1956
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Box
21
Folder
7
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1957-1958
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Box
21
Folder
8
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1959-1971
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Speeches
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Box
22
Folder
1
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Speech Background Materials, 1943-1966
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Box
22
Folder
2
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1943
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Box
22
Folder
3
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1945-1946
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Box
22
Folder
4
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1946, continued
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Box
22
Folder
5
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1947
|
|
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Box
22
Folder
6
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1948-1949
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Box
22
Folder
7
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1950-1951
|
|
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Box
22
Folder
8
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1952-1953
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Box
22
Folder
9
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1954-1955
|
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Box
22
Folder
10
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1956-1957
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Box
22
Folder
11
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1958-1959
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Box
22
Folder
12
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1960-1961
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Box
22
Folder
13
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Series: Printed Material, 1945-1972
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Tape 1311A
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Series: Tape Recorded Interview, ca. 1976
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Series: Photographs, ca. 1943-1969
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Northland Mss P
Box
22
Folder
14
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Photocopies
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PH Northland Mss P
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Original Images
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Item
1
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[Mr. and Mrs. O'Konski and daughter(?) greeting the Dionne Quintuplets at the rear of a railroad car]
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Item
2
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[O'Konski with President Harry Truman and other officials]
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Item
3
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[O'Konski with President Dwight Eisenhower]
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Item
4
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[O'Konski with President Lyndon Johnson and others; altered photo]
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Item
5
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[Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. O'Konski]
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Item
6
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[Portrait of Mr. O'Konski]
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