Title: R. J. Sailer Papers
Dates: 1937-1963
Collection Number: 11041
Quantity: .5 foot
Abstract: Consists of correspondence to and from R. J. Sailer, legislation, editorials, testimony and newspaper clippings relating to water development and irrigation projects, material of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), the Oliver-Mercer Electric Cooperative, Inc., Cass County Electric Cooperative, Inc., Missouri River Basin Project, Missouri River Development, Garrison Dam, Heart River Project, irrigation meetings across the state, National Reclamation Association, ND Political Action Committee, ND Reclamation Association, ND Resources Award, ND State Water Conservation Commission, newspaper clippings and publications. Sailer was involved in the establishment of the Oliver-Mercer Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired the R. J. Sailer Papers as a gift from Terry Diekman, Basin Electric Power Cooperative Archivist in October 2009. Emily Ergen prepared the inventory to the R. J. Sailer Papers in October 2009.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code or an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer:
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Reinhold Sailer was born April 26, 1902 in Mannhaven, North Dakota to Adam and Jacobina Sailer, who had come to North Dakota from Russia in 1886. Reinhold grew up in Stanton where he graduated from high school. He attended the University of Minnesota. He worked on submarginal land in western North Dakota and had banking and farm interests for 20 years in Mercer and Dunn counties.
He married Alma Rockne in October 1941. He served as Commissioner of Workman’s Compensation from 1951-1955. Mrs. Sailer died in 1965 and he moved to Bismarck that year. In January 1969 he married Elsie Haney in Sacramento, Calif. He was a member of the Hazen Masons.
Sailer received recognition for valuable service and research to the state’s Constitutional Convention and was active in the Bureau of Reclamation. He was instrumental in organizing the Oliver-Mercer Electric Cooperative and was honored at the co-op’s annual meeting in 1981.
Sailer died in Bismarck July 19, 1984.
BOX/FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Correspondence, R. J. Sailer, 1944-1962 [bulk 1944-1949]
2 Legislation: bills, testimony, news pieces, editorials, posters and publications (SEE also newspaper clippings), 1944-1963
3 Rural Electrification Administration (REA): notes, meeting minutes, deposits, notes, memoranda, procedures, manager application, leaflets, 1945-1950
4 Oliver-Mercer Electric Cooperative, Inc.: bylaws, correspondence, financial material, maps, 1945-1947
5 Cass County Electric Cooperative, Inc.: Articles of incorporation and bylaws, 1937
6 Missouri River Basin Project: draft proposals, maps, expenditure plan, publication, 1945-1954
7 Missouri River Development: maps, meeting agenda, speech (Governor Fred Aandahl), 1943-1946
8 Garrison Dam (and opposition [Fort Berthold Indian Defense Association]): map, mailing, pamphlet, 1944-1946
9 Heart River Project: Heart River News, mailings, leaflet, 1946
10 Irrigation meetings, 1946
11 National Reclamation Association, 1958
12 North Dakota Political Action Committee, 194-
13 North Dakota Reclamation Association: correspondence, program, poster, leaflet, resolutions,1945-1948, 1958
14 North Dakota Resources Board: correspondence, 1948-1949
15 North Dakota State water Conservation Commission: correspondence and publication, 1942-1953
16 Newspaper clippings and publications: 1944-1959
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