ANDREW J. VOLSTEAD AND FAMILY:
An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical
Society
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| Creator: |
Volstead, Andrew J.
(Andrew John), 1860-1947. |
| Title: | Andrew J. Volstead and
family papers. |
| Date: | 1868-1955 (bluk
1920-1922).. |
| Abstract: | Largely legislative and political materials
of Volstead, a Granite Falls (Yellow Medicine County, Minn.) lawyer and
Republican congressman (1903-1922), with some family and personal items. Most
materials concern the National Prohibition Act (1919) and its
consequences. |
| Quantity: | 3.0 cu. ft. (7
boxes). |
| Location: | P12: See Detailed Description section for
shelf locations. |
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Andrew John Volstead was born near Kenyon, Goodhue County, Minnesota
on October 31, 1860. He attended St. Olaf College and graduated from Decorah
Institute, Decorah, Iowa in 1881. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in
1884. He married Helen Mary Osler ("Nellie") Gilruth (1868-1918) on August 6,
1894 and in 1895 their only child Laura Ellen (Mrs. Carl Joys Lomen) was born.
He was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives from the
7th District of Minnesota and served from March 4, 1903 until March 3, 1923. He
was unsuccessful in his re-election to the 68th Congress.
This collection of papers is mainly related to his authorship of the
National Prohibition Act of 1919 (known as the Volstead Act) and his 1922
re-election campaign. The Volstead Act gave federal agents the power to
investigate and prosecute violations of the Eighteenth Amendment. It was
modified in 1933 to permit the sale of 3.2% beer and wine. He served on the
Judiciary Committee for the 66th and 67th Congresses. Volstead resumed the
practice of law after his defeat. He died January 20, 1947 and was buried in
the cemetery at Granite Falls, Minnesota.
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Much of the correspondence is dated 1920-1922 and concerns
Prohibition, the National Prohibition Act of 1919 (the Volstead Act), and
Volstead's 1922 re-election campaign. There are also copies of Volstead's
speeches on Prohibition.
Other topics in correspondence, speeches, or clippings are Volstead's
other campaigns; farming and farm legislation; cooperatives; a congressional
hearing on the competence of Judge Emory Speer of Georgia (1914-1916); the
treaty status of the Mdewakanton Dakota in Minnesota (1907); the Indian school
at Morris (Minn.); antitrust legislation; and construction of a post office at
Montevideo (Minn.).
Personal and family materials include information on Volstead's wife
Helen, a teacher; data on Volstead's mortgages and expenditures, including
letters (1911-1920) from Charles A. Lindbergh, Sr.; and invitations to social
and other functions in Washington, D.C.
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| Materials within each section are arranged chronologically. |
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| This collection is indexed under the following
headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers
desiring materials about related topics should search the catalog using these
headings. |
| Topics: |
| | Agricultural laws and legislation --
United States. |
| | Agriculture, Cooperative -- United
States. |
| | Antitrust law -- United States. |
| | Drainage -- United States. |
| | Elections. |
| | Loyalty -- United States. |
| | Mdewakanton Indians --
Minnesota. |
| | Post office buildings -- Minnesota --
Montevideo. |
| | Prohibition -- United States. |
| | Sedition -- United States. |
| | World War, 1914-1918. |
| Persons: |
| | Bjornson, Gunnar B.,
1852-1957. |
| | Bouvier, John Vernou,
1865-1948. |
| | Bryan, William
Jennings, 1860-1925. |
| | Christianson, Theodore,
1883-1948. |
| | Clapp, Moses E.
(Moses Edwin), 1851-1929. |
| | Daugherty, H. M.
(Harry Micajah), 1860-1941. |
| | Kellogg, Frank B.
(Frank Billings), 1856-1937. |
| | Kvale, O. J. (Ole
Juulson), 1869-1929. |
| | Lindbergh, Charles A.
(Charles August), 1859-1924. |
| | Nelson, Knute,
1843-1923. |
| | Palmer, Alexander
Mitchell, 1872-1936. |
| | Speer, Emory,
1848-1918. |
| | Volstead, Helen Gilruth,
1868-1918. |
| | Wheeler, Wayne
Bidwell, 1869-1927. |
| | Williams, John Sharp,
1854-1932. |
| Organizations: |
| | Anti-saloon League of
America. |
| | Morris Industrial School
for Indians. |
| | Native Races and the
Liquor Traffic United Committee. |
| | Republican Party (U.S. :
1854- ). |
| | United States. Congress
-- Elections, 1922. |
| | United States. Congress.
House. |
| | Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. |
| Places: |
| | Minnesota -- Politics and
government. |
| | United States -- Politics and
government. |
| | Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and
customs. |
| Occupations: |
| | Legislators. |
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| Preferred Citation: |
| | [Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. Andrew J. Volstead Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. |
| | See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples |
| Accession Information: |
| | Accession number: 6263; 9916; 9938; 10,013; 10,091; 10,569;
11,370 |
| Processing Information: |
| | Processed by: Miranda Nighbor, August 2002 |
| | Catalog ID number: 09-00038524 |
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Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the
location and box numbers shown below.
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Correspondence and Related Papers
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| This series largely contains correspondence on Prohibition and the
Volstead Act. There are both opposing and supporting letters. There is also
correspondence relating to other areas of legislation including the Drainage
Act and the Capper-Volstead Bill. All the folders contain both letters received
and replies from Volstead. There are newspaper clippings attached to some of
the letters. Correspondence predating Volstead's election to congress tends to
be more personal and more diverse in character. Below is a brief outline of the
main topics found in each folder. It should be noted that it is not a
comprehensive list. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 1 |
Undated.
|
| | | This folder contains personal letters related to Volstead and
his responses. In this folder is a biographical sketch of Volstead by Ari
Hoogenboam from the Dictionary of American
Biography (1971). |
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1868-1914.
|
| | | This folder contains certificates that Volstead received
including his certificate of admission to the Minnesota Bar (1884) and his
certificate to practice law in the U.S. Circuit Court (1895). There are also
letters relating to Volstead's mortgages. Other papers relate to Voldsted's
wife, including certificates from elementary school and her birth record
(1868). |
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1915-1919.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to applications for
military and naval academies, building a post office in Montevideo, Minnesota,
Drainage laws, Native American issues, and mortgage matters. There are papers
related to the Senate Resolution (307): "Brewery and Liquor Interests and
German Propaganda Investigated." |
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January-June 1920.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to prohibition
including the Anti-Saloon League of America, temperance organizations, women
suffragist organizations, and physician's views. There are papers related to
the supplemental provision of the National Prohibition Act concerning medical
purposes for alcohol. |
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June-September 1920.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to campaign issues.
There are also papers related to court rulings including the Supreme Court
ruling in I.P. Flaten and Others vs. O.J. Kvale. |
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October 1920.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to campaign issues
including letters of congratulation after his re-election, and others offering
support or opposition to the Volstead Act. |
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November 1-7, 1920.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to campaign issues
including letters of congratulation on Volstead's re-election. |
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November 18-December 27, 1920.
|
| | | This folder continues the congratulatory correspondence. |
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January 1-April 15, 1921.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to physicians'
views, church views, and general citizens' views about prohibition. There are
also several death threat letters. There are papers related to a bill to
prohibit short selling of grain and other farm products (requested by the
farmers of Minnesota), the Capper-Volstead Bill, and a petition by the citizens
of the State of Wisconsin related to the Volstead Act. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 2 |
April 16-May 15, 1921.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to prohibition.
There are also papers related to the rehabilitation of disabled ex-servicemen
(H.F. No. 1038). |
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May 16-June 11, 1921.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to the views of
general citizens and both houses of Congress regarding repeal of and
amendements to the Volstead Act. |
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June 15-July 14, 1921.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to prohibition and
farming. There are papers related to an act to regulate interstate and foreign
commerce in livestock. (H.R. 6320) and a proposed bill to provide for the safe
storage of distilled spirits. |
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July 15-August 20, 1921.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to the various
parties' and general citizens' views about the repeal of the Volstead Act. |
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August 22-September 20, 1921.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to prohibition
including the views of churches, farmers, insurance companies, and other
organizations. Some of the material is not in English. |
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September 22-November 28, 1921.
|
| | | This folder continues correspondence related to prohibition from
varying viewpoints. |
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December 1921.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to Christmas and
Christmas blessings. There are papers related to life insurance companies and
the discounts received when a person does not consume alcohol. |
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January 1-February 10, 1922.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to the topic of
prohibition including the views of churches, farming groups, insurance
companies, and other organizations. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 3 |
May 22-June 20, 1922.
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| | | This folder contains correspondence praising the passage of the
Volstead Act from various organizations including churches, banks, florists,
insurance companies, women's organizations, temperance groups, farm
organizations, and others. There is an article from Prohibition Enforcement Bulletin no. 5. |
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February 11-March 20, 1922.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to the topics of
soliders' bonuses, the Capper-Volstead Bill, campaign issues, and the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. |
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March 21-May 20, 1922.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to campaign issues
and the state Republican convention at Willmar. Other topics include the post
office in Montevideo, Minnesota, anti-saloon/liquor organizations, and
physician views about prohibition. There are papers related to the manufacture
of nonintoxicating cider and nonintoxicating fruit juices exclusively for home
use. There is an article by Wheeler entitled "Facing the Facts of Prohibition."
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June 22-August 24, 1922.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to prohibition
including anti-saloon leagues and dairymen leagues. There are papers related to
a proposed bill to prevent ships that sell liquor on the high seas from
entering American ports (H.R. 12062). There are also papers related to the
Farmer's Co-Cooperative Association. |
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August 25-November 13, 1922.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to the sale of
intoxicating beverages on shipping vessels and to prohibition. There is a
22-page letter written by Benson Vaughn (Nov 13, 1922) against prohibition.
There are papers related to the Supreme Court ruling (Oct. 1922) in Cunard
Steamship Company, Ltd., et al. vs. Mellon. |
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November 14-December 30, 1922.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to Volstead's
re-election defeat including both regrets and celebrations. There are letters
written by Harvey Wood, a member of the Native Races Anti-Liquor Traffic
Committee from New York. |
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January-February 1923.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to the election
campaign. There are also letters by Harvey Wood. There is an article from the
Law Enforcement Bulletin (Jan. 10, 1923), no. 10.
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March 1923-August 1955.
|
| | | This folder contains correspondence related to the enforcement
of the Volstead Act; letters about Volstead's funeral service; a personal
statement by Volstead published November 19, 1923; and a letter addressed to
Volstead's daughter, Laura Ellen. There is also a certificate attesting to
Volstead's status as a delegate to the 17th International Congress Against
Alcholism (June 19, 1923). |
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Speeches
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| The series includes addresses delivered by Volstead at G.A.R.
meetings and other occasions. Most of the speeches are on various aspects of
prohibition, but there are additional topics including the Indian School at
Morris, Minnesota and anti-trust legislation. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 4 |
Undated.
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| | | This folder contains speeches related to a slide show about the
capital; political party conventions; a debate about allowing farm
organizations to be subject to the law against monopolies; defense of the
"drys"; burials of Civil War soliders; the 30th of May as a recognized holiday
to decorate the graves of Civil War soliders; the Morris Indian School; and a
campaign speech. |
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1904-1922.
|
| | | This folder contains speeches related to Canadian reciprocity;
anti-trust legislation; the Democratic record; agricultural appropriation bill;
Address of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge in honor of Theodore Roosevelt; Address of
A. J. Kvale (candidate for Congress); and various speeches about prohibition
issues. |
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Congressional Bills and Hearings
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| The series covers a wide variety of topics including
argricultural, naval, and prohibition issues. |
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January 1907-June 1919.
|
| | | This folder contains materials related to regulation of the
production and use of other alcoholic liquors; mining; Minnesota drainage laws;
pension reviews; donation of German cannons and field pieces to cities in
Minnesota; and enforcement of prohibition. |
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September 1919-December 1920.
|
| | | This folder contains materials related to brewing and liquor
interests; naval matters; pension reviews; agricultural topics; and punishment
of officiers of the United States courts for wrongfully converting money. |
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April-June 1921.
|
| | | This folder contains items related to the relief of Ole Thorpe
(homestead); donation of German cannons and field pieces to cities in
Minnesota; military expenses; Judge Emory Speer's ( Georgia) fitness for his
judicial position; cost figures for the Montevideo, Minnesota post office; a
supplement to the National Prohibition Act; and pension review. |
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July 1921-February 1923.
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| | | This folder contains material related to Native American rights;
pension reviews; naval matters; agricultural topics; employment; amendments to
the constitution; railroads; and Armistice Day. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 6 |
Hearing (paper-bound), October 28-31, 1919.
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| | | Collective Bargaining for Farmers. 66th Congress, Judiciary
Committee. House Resolution no. 7783. |
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Hearing (paper-bound), February 4, 1920.
|
| | | Sedition. 66th Congress. Judiciary Committee. Senate Resolution
3317. House Resolution 10605 and 12041. |
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Hearing (paper-bound), 1920.
|
| | | Charges against Department of Justice. 66th Congress. Rules
Committee. |
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Hearing (paper-bound), October 15, 1921.
|
| | | Agricultural Crisis. 67th Session. Joint Committee of
Agricultural Inquiry. |
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Invitations and Programs
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| The invitations and programs series contains many invitations
issued to members of the Volstead family. Most of them are to White House
dinners and receptions, presidential inaugurations, and diplomatic and social
functions in Washington. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 4 |
Undated and 1904-1907.
|
| | | This folder contains invitations and programs related to White
House functions, funerals, a marriage announcement, and to the inaugural ball
(March 4, 1905). |
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1908-1912.
|
| | | This folder contains invitations and programs related to the
inaugural ball (March 4, 1909) and presidential invitations/receptions, as well
as souvenir portraits from the inaugural ball. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 5 |
1913-1917.
|
| | | This folder contains invitations and programs related to White
House receptions, wedding announcements, and the itinerary of Governor Hammond
and party from St. Paul to San Francisco (July 14-28, 1915). |
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1918-1922.
|
| | | This folder contains invitations and programs related to White
House receptions, the memorial for Theodore Roosevelt, a photo of Miss L.
Volstead and her announcement of flying in a Curtiss Eagle (Nov. 10, 1919),
funeral, commencement at Penn College, Gettysburg, and an invitation to the
ceremonies commemorating the burial of an unknown solider (Nov. 11, 1921). |
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Newspaper Clippings
|
| The newspaper clippings relate mainly to Volstead's political
campaigns from 1906-1922. There are also clippings on prohibition, the Volstead
Act, and a few personal family items. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 5 |
Undated and 1904-1920. 6 folders
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| Location | Box |
| P12 | 6 |
1922-1947. 6 folders
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Volumes
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| The volumes are related to personal matters and re-election. |
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Volume 1: Scrapbook, 1920. 1 volume.
|
| | | A small scrapbook containing clippings on Volstead's 1920
campaign for congress. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 7 |
Volume 2: Volstead's Voting Record, 1919-1922.
1 volume.
|
| | | Bound volume containing Volstead's voting record for the 66th
and 67th congresses. |
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Volume 3: Financial Record, ca. 1914-1935. 1 volume.
|
| | | Ledger of mortgages (pp. 1-165) ca. 1914-1935 and list of
expenditures made by Volstead (pp. 175-217), ca. 1918-1920. |
| Location | Box |
| P12 | 6 |
Volume 4: Scrapbook, 1922. 1 volume.
|
| | | A scrapbook of newspaper clippings regarding Volstead's 1922
campaign. |
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