OVERVIEW
Minnesota Historical Society
Anderson, C. Elmer (Clyde
Elmer), 1912- .
C. Elmer Anderson
gubernatorial and mayoral papers.
1940-1987 (bulk
1951-1986).
The collection contains the personal papers
of C. Elmer Anderson, governor of Minnesota (1951-1955), mayor of Nisswa,
Minnesota (1960-1962), and mayor of Brainerd, Minnesota (1976-1986). It
includes speech transcriptions, personal and official correspondence,
photographs, campaign materials, certifications of his elections to office, and
citations and awards during his service in public office.
3.25 cu. ft. (3 boxes,
and 1 oversize folder, unboxed).
See Detailed Description section for box
locations.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
C. Elmer (Clyde Elmer) Anderson was born in Brainerd, Minnesota on
March 16, 1912, one of nine children born to Swedish immigrants Fred and Anna
Anderson. When his father died (Anderson was 14) he joined his siblings to work
in support of the family. His first job was delivering newspapers, while
helping out on the family farm near Brainerd. Though still working, he was able
to finish high school at age 16. He attended the University of Minnesota hoping
to become a doctor, but could not continue his studies because of financial
constraints.
While working for a magazine distribution company, Anderson took over
its management after the owner died. He subsequently purchased it and continued
to run it for 26 years. Anderson married Lillian Otterstad in 1937, and they
had 3 children.
Anderson's political career began in 1939, when he began serving two
terms as the lieutenant governor of Minnesota. He was defeated for a third term
in 1942, but was again elected to that post and served from 1945 to 1951. He
presided a record six terms as lieutenant governor under three different
governors. Anderson was appointed governor, himself, when Governor Luther W.
Youngdahl accepted an appointment to a federal judgeship in 1951. He was
elected again in 1952, but was defeated in a reelection bid in 1954.
Anderson was elected mayor of Nisswa, Minnesota in 1960 and served two
years in that post. He went on to serve as mayor of Brainerd, Minnesota from
1976 to 1986. After he was defeated in his bid for reelection in 1986, he
returned to private life, pursuing theatrical endeavors. He died on January 22,
1998 at the age of 85.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The collection contains speech transcriptions, personal and official
correspondence, newspaper clippings, political and campaign materials, signed
and unsigned photographs and portraits, complimentary membership cards,
constituent memorabilia, certifications, proclamations, and awards chiefly from
the time Anderson served as governor (1951-1954) and as mayor of Brainerd
(1976-1986). The collection provides an interesting glimpse into the personal
side of a state elected official.
There are numerous documents that record Anderson's correspondence
with and about Senator Hubert H. Humphrey ("HHH"), 1976-1986, as well as from
Governor Al Quie ("Q"), 1979-1984. Other correspondents throughout the
collection include Vice President Walter Mondale, San Francisco Mayor Dianne
Feinstein, Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich, and "D. E." (President Dwight
Eisenhower) who wrote a condolence message to Anderson upon his defeat as
governor in 1954. (Found in Correspondence section: Political Files.) Of added
interest is Anderson's invitation to the 50th Presidential Inaugural for
President Reagan in 1985, found in the Ephemera section.
ARRANGEMENT
These documents are organized into the following sections:
- Speeches, 1951-1986
- Correspondence and Related Papers, undated, 1940-1986
- Ephemera, undated, [194?], 1944-1987
OTHER FINDING AIDS
An inventory that provides additional information about this
collection is available in the repository; filed in ALPHA notebooks under the
heading: Anderson, C. Elmer.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here].
C. Elmer Anderson Gubernatorial and Mayoral Papers. Minnesota Historical
Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples
Accession Information:
Accession number: 15,911
Processing Information:
Processed by: Ann Mulfort, October 2004
Catalog ID number: 002958189
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Topics:
Executive departments --
Minnesota.
Political campaigns.
Persons:
Humphrey, Hubert H.
(Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978.
Quie, Albert H., 1923-
.
Organizations:
Minnesota. Fort Snelling
Sesquicentennial Committee.
Minnesota. Governor
(1951-1955 : Anderson) -- Correspondence.
Minnesota Racing
Commission.
Places:
Minnesota -- Politics and government --
1945-1980.
Minnesota -- Politics and government --
1951- .
Document Types:
Photographs.
Political art.
Speeches.
Occupations:
Governors.
Mayors.
RELATED MATERIALS
Minnesota. Governor (1951-1955 : Anderson). Records, 1952;
Minnesota. Governor (1951-1955 : Anderson). Records, 1953;
Minnesota. Governor (1951-1955 : Anderson). Records, 1954;
Minnesota. Governor (1951-1955 : Anderson). County correspondence,
1954;
Minnesota. Supreme Court. Scrapbooks, 1986, 1904, 1931-1957
[microform].
All are in the Minnesota State
Archives.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Speeches,
1951-1986
Included in this series are annotated speech transcriptions,
handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, scripts for radio broadcasts, and press
releases organized alphabetically by file titles.
Location
Box
149.J.20.5B
1
Advertising Club - Talk,
[195?], 1952.
AFL Honor Night,
1952.
Aging,
[195?].
Agriculture - Talks,
1951-1954.
American Legion,
[195?].
Mrs. Anderson,
[195?].
Awards,
1951-1954.
Blood Donors,
1952.
Bonds for Israel,
1951.
Book of Golden Deeds,
1952.
Brotherhood - Human Relations,
1954.
Business Development,
1952-1954.
Campaign,
1954.
Campaign Kickoff St. Paul,
August 6, 1952.
Christmas Greetings,
1951.
Churches,
1952-1954.
Commencement Address,
[195?].
Dedications,
1951-1953.
Duluth,
Feb. 1, 1952.
Education,
[195?], 1953.
Flood Control,
[195?].
Forestry,
[195?].
Freedom Shrine,
1952-1953.
Governor's Notes,
1953.
Greetings to Individuals and Introductions,
1951-1953.
Greetings to Organizations,
1951-1954.
4 folders.
Hennepin County,
1952.
Inaugural,
1953.
Inaugural Address,
Sept. 28, 1951.
Integrity,
1952.
Keep Minnesota Green,
1952.
Keynote Radio Talk,
Aug. 11, 1952.
Labor Day,
[195?].
Law Enforcement,
1953-1954.
Memorial,
1981-1986.
Memorial Day,
1952.
Mental Health,
1952-1954.
Minnesota's Program for Children & Youth,
[195?], 1952.
Miscellany,
1951-1954.
The Need for Christians in Government,
1952-1972.
North Mankato Flood Workers,
1952.
P.T.A.,
Oct. 24, 1951.
Penal Reform,
1953.
Physically Handicapped,
1953.
Proposed Talks,
1951-1962.
Radio Broadcast, April 19, 1952,
1952-1954.
Republicans,
1952-1954.
Rotary,
Oct. 16, 1951.
Safety Talks,
1952-1954.
Sauer Kraut Day,
1952.
"See" Elmer Supper,
Oct. 18, 1951.
State Employees,
1953-1954.
State Government Clinic,
1953.
Statements for Publication,
1951-1953.
Summertime in Minnesota,
1952.
Talks,
[195?] - [198?].
Talks [Handwritten],
undated, 1977-1985.
Talks - Material,
1952-1954.
Veterans,
[195?], 1953.
Your Business and Mine,
[195?], 1952.
Youth,
1952-1956.
Correspondence and Related Papers,
undated, 1940-1986
Included in these files are personal and official correspondence,
newspaper clippings, biographical information, photographs, programs,
memorials, wedding invitations, and telegrams. Because Anderson created a
separate filing system between subject files and alphabetical files, these
systems were maintained. Where there was no title or where the title of the
file was ineffective, the title was created or enhanced by the processor, as
indicated by brackets.
Location
Box
149.J.20.6F
2
Subject Files,
undated, 1940-1948, 1950-1967,
1969-1970, 1974-1986:
Accepts and Regrets,
1954.
[Appointment of Judge Glenn],
1954-1955.
Brainerd Campaign,
1974-1981.
[Charles A. Lindbergh Fund],
1985.
Congratulations,
1951-1952.
[Decision to Run],
undated, 1955-1958.
Friends of C. Elmer,
1952.
Fort Snelling Sesquicentennial,
1969-1970.
Anderson was chairman of the committee; file contains much
information on the committee work and celebration.
H H H [Hubert H. Humphrey],
1976-1986.
[Interview for Minnesota Historical Society],
1964-1967.
Letters - Telegrams,
1951-1952.
[Minnesota Racing Commission],
1984.
Nisswa,
1957-1964.
[Peace Letter to Krasnovishersk],
1983.
Anderson opposed sending a letter of peace to "sister" city in
Russia; newspaper clippings and constituent affirmations of his decision are
enclosed.
Personal Letters,
1952-1966.
Press Releases and Statements,
1950-1951.
Rental Property for Governor,
1952-1954.
XYZ,
1940-1948.
Location
Box
149.J.20.6F
2
Alphabetical Files,
1961-1986:
A,
1975-1983.
B,
1961-1986.
C,
1954-1986.
D,
1977-1985.
E,
1977-1986.
F,
1970-1986.
G,
1977-1986.
H,
1975-1986.
I-J,
1976-1986.
K-L,
1976-1986.
M,
1975-1986.
Mc,
[197?], 1984.
N,
1977, 1986.
O,
1977-1982.
P,
1977-1986.
Q,
1979-1984.
R,
1967-1986.
T,
1976-1985.
U,
1979-1986.
V,
1976-1986.
W - XYZ,
1975-1986.
Official Correspondence,
undated, 1950-1955, 1970-1986.
2 folders.
149.J.20.6F
2
Items contained in this file include correspondence in
Anderson's capacity as an elected official.
Personal Correspondence,
1943-1975.
149.J.20.6F
2
Includes 1943 letter to his brother, and Mrs. Anderson's
thank-you letters to people who sent greetings at the birth of their son.
Political Files,
1950-1981.
149.J.20.6F
2
Includes envelope containing biographical clippings Anderson
sent to John Riedl, Sr. with annotation: Story of My Life. Additional
biographical information enclosed. Also enclosed is an original White House
condolence letter signed by "D. E." regarding Anderson's defeat in 1954.
Ephemera,
undated, [194?], 1944-1987
Certifications, Proclamations, Citations, Awards,
1944-1987.
+289
Includes certifications of elections and various other items
received while in office.
142.G.14.6F-2
3
Miscellaneous,
1951-1954, 1984.
Location
Box
[Miscellaneous Personal Materials],
1953.
[Miscellaneous Political Materials],
1951-1954, 1984.
Includes an original Minneapolis
Star political cartoon signed by editorial cartoonist/artist Roy Justus,
as well as Anderson's 1952 delegate ticket to the Republican National
Convention in Chicago.
Photographs,
undated, [194?], 1947-1984.
2 folders.
142.G.14.6F-2
3
Includes personal and political photographs of Anderson and
others. Noteworthy are signed portraits of Luther W. Youngdahl and Martin A.
Nelson.