The Harold W. Clemens papers are organized in three series: Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, General Files, and Photographs. The papers relate exclusively to Clemens' activities as a legislator and, except for the 1963 legislative session, are fragmentary and incomplete.
The CORRESPONDENCE ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION consists of both incoming and outgoing letters relating to specific bills before the Legislature. It is arranged by year and thereunder by bill number. In the 1957 portion of this series only one bill, a proposal affecting sales of proprietary medicines, has more than a few pieces of correspondence. In the more extensive materials for 1963, substantial amounts of correspondence are found for several issues. Clemens received both favorable and opposing views on increasing teachers' retirement benefits (AB 74, 228) and permitting merchandise trading stamps (AB 45, 543). Most correspondents opposed measures to provide public transportation for private religious school students and to give tax advantages to their parents (AB 39, 528, 554). Medical care providers split over the merits of allowing Blue Cross coverage for nursing care and dental and drug expenses (AB 131), and the value of an interstate mental health compact (AB 167). Proposals dealing with environmental concerns also received mixed reactions. They included regulation of billboards (AB 234), use of phosphates in detergents (AB 63), protection of the Wolf River (AB 360, 442), and changes in zoning
laws (AB 83, 360). Groups representing women and minority groups favored fair housing (AB 367) and were opposed by realtors and other business groups. Law enforcement officials vehemently opposed a bill requiring them to give arrested suspects full explanation of their legal rights before questioning.
The GENERAL FILES consist of correspondence not related to specific bills before the Legislature, requests for information, annotated copies of bills, and reference materials on boating safety and daylight saving time.
The PHOTOGRAPHS include Clemens signing the General Obligation Bond of 1970 as well as two photographs of members of the State Assembly from 1957 to 1958 and 1959 to 1960.
