Title: Governors C. Norman Brunsdale and John E. Davis
Dates: 1945-1960
Record Series: 30178
Quantity: 4 feet
Abstract: The C. Norman Brunsdale and John E. Davis papers consist of correspondence, notes, newspaper clippings, memoranda, minutes, reports, agenda, programs, applications, schedules, budgets, telegrams, constituent correspondence, resolutions, legal opinions, contracts, speeches, legislative bills, and a few documents dating from Governor Fred C. Aandahl's administration. The files generally relate to administration, appointments and resignations of state officials, water development, agriculture, legislation, national affairs, and public functions. Extensive information is available on the Garrison Dam Project, labor relations, the Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee, and the State Water Conservation Commission.
Provenance: The North Dakota State Archives acquired this record series through a one-time transfer from the Governor's office. This inventory was prepared by David Gray in February 1983.
Copyright: Public records are not subject to copyright restrictions, although record series may contain copyrighted material. Consideration of such copyrights isthe responsibility of the author and publisher.
Access: These records are available for public inspection under provision of the North Dakota Century Code, 55-02.1-08.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the record group, series name and number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: Publications that were removed from the files were transferred to the Library. A list of those publications appears at the end of the inventory. Oversize drawings of the Garrison Dam and Reservoir town sites, the Missouri River Basin, and a North Dakota Aeronautical chart were removed from the files and transferred to the map collection. A poster from the American-Korean Foundation was transferred to the poster collection.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
C. Norman Brunsdale
Governor (1951-1956)
Clarence Norman Brunsdale was born on July 9, 1891, in Sherbrooke, North Dakota, and was raised in Portland, North Dakota. After completing studies at the Bruflat Academy in Portland, Brunsdale attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and graduated summa cum laude in 1913 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Brunsdale returned to Portland to work his family's extensive farm holdings in Traill and Steele counties and to teach a business course at the Bruflat Academy. In 1924, Brunsdale married Carrie Lajord, a native of Minneapolis, and settled in Mayville. They later had two daughters.
Elected as a Republican state senator from Traill County in 1926 and 1930, Brunsdale was defeated for re-election in 1934. After assuming the presidency of the Portland Bank in 1940, Brunsdale was again elected to the state senate in 1942 and 1946, and served as the Republican Organizing Committee floor leader in the 1945 session. Brunsdale was elected Governor of North Dakota in 1950, 1952, and 1954. While in the Governor’s office, Brunsdale showed special interest and support for water development, agriculture, education, and the mentally ill.
From November 19, 1959 to August 7, 1960 Brunsdale served as an United States Senator following the death of Senator William Langer. Brunsdale retired from public life in the early 1960s and remained active in agriculture until his death in Mayville on January 27, 1978.
Sources: Fargo Forum, 26 March 1950, p. 12; Fargo Forum, 27 January 1978, p. 1;
Portland Republican, 16 November 1950, p. 1.
John E. Davis
Governor (1957-1960)
John E. Davis was born on April 18, 1913, in Goodrich, North Dakota and graduated from Bismarck High School in 1931. Graduating from the University of North Dakota in 1935 with a degree in business administration, Davis accepted a management position with the First National Bank of McClusky. Davis married Pauline Huntley of Kindred, North Dakota in 1938. They later had three children. Serving as an U.S. Army battalion commander during World War II, Davis was decorated four times for wounds and meritorious service. Retiring from active military duty as a Lieutenant Colonel, Davis returned home and was elected mayor of McClusky in 1946. An active Legionnaire, Davis was elected Commander of the North Dakota Department of the American Legion in 1947. In 1952, Davis was elected as a Republican state senator and elected Governor of North Dakota in 1956 and 1958. Always interested in international affairs, Davis toured the U.S.S.R. with nine U.S. Governors in 1959.
Davis was defeated in a bid for a seat in the United States Senate in 1960 and 1964. In 1966 Davis served as the National Commander of the American Legion. From 1969 to 1976 Davis served as Director of the Civil Defense Preparedness Agency in Washington, D.C.
Retiring from an active political life in the late 1970s, Davis manages his ranching and banking interests and serves as a director of the Provident Life Insurance Company.
Source: Bismarck Tribune, 1 September 1966, p. 1; Bismarck Tribune, 25 July 1977, p. 23.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Abstractors Board of Examiners, 1951; 1953-1955
2 Board of Accountancy, 1952; 1954-1956
3 Adjutant General, 1953-1955
4 Board of Administration, 1955-1961
5 Aeronautics, 1958-1960
6 White House Conference on Aging, 1958-1960
7 White House Conference on Aging, 1959-1960
8 Agriculture, 1957-1960
9 Agriculture-Emergencies, 1958-1960
10 Commissioner of Agriculture and labor, 1956-1957; 1959
11 American-Korean Foundation, 1953-1954
12 American-Korean Foundation-Fund Drive, 1953
13 Board of Armory Supervisors, 1947; 1950; 1957
14 Athletic Commission, 1951; 1953-1954; 1956
15 Attorney General, 1951; 1953-1956; 1960
16 State Auditor, 1958-1960
17 State Banking Board, 1951; 1953-1954
18 School for the Blind, 1952
19 Board of Registration in Chiropody, 1950-1956
20 Board of Chiropractic Examiners, 1957-1958
21 Coat of Arms Committee, 1955-1956
22 Civil Defense, 1958-1960
23 Civil War Centennial Commission, 1958-1960
24 Council of State Governments, 1958-1960
25 State Credit Union Board, 1953
26 Crippled Children’s Commission, 1953-1955
27 North Dakota Society for Crippled Children and Adults, 1956
28 Board of Dental Examiners, 1954-1956
29 White House Conference on Education, 1954-1956
30 North Dakota Electric Power Committee, 1951-1955
31 State Electrical Board, 1955-1957
32 Employment of the Physically Handicapped, 1953-1956
33 Garrison, North Dakota 50th Anniversary Celebration, 1955
34 Garrison Dam 1950-1953
35 Garrison Dam 1954
Box 2:
1 Garrison Dam 1955
2 Garrison Dam 1955-1956
3 Garrison Dam Pool level Controversy, 1955
4 Garrison Dam Pool level Controversy, 1955
5 Garrison Dam “Power on the line” Ceremony, 1955-1956
6 Governor's Conference 1958-1959
7 Governor's Conference 1960
8 Committee on Roads and Highway Safety, 1959-1960
9 Trip to Russia, 1959-1960
10 Health Council, 1953
11 State Hospital, 1951; 1958-1959
12 Industrial Development in North Dakota, 1953; 1955-1956
13 International Peace Garden, 1951; 1953-1956
14 Jamestown College, 1955-1956
15 Labor Disputes 1953-1955
16 Labor Disputes 1955-1956
17 Grand Forks Restaurant Workers, 1956-1957
18 Hotel, Restaurant and Bartenders Local 729 vs. New Sweet Shop Cafe, Bismarck, 1954
19 General Drivers Local 74 vs. Farmers Union Creamery, Minot, 1954
20 Fargo Bus Strike, 1953
21 Hotel, Restaurant and Bartenders Local 729 vs. Elbow Room Tavern, 1954
22 General Drivers Local 116 vs. Fargo Glass and Paint Company, 1954
23 Laundry Workers Local 341 vs. Minot Steam Laundry, 1954-1955
24 Hotel, Restaurant and Bartenders Local 729 vs. Taverns in Mandan, 1954
25 Hotel, Restaurant and Bartenders Local 729 vs. Liquor Dealers Association of Fargo, 1954-1955
26 Hotel, Restaurant and Bartenders Local 729 vs. Ray Hotel, Dickinson, 1954
27 Hotel, Restaurant and Bartenders Local 729 vs. Ray Hotel, Dickinson, 1954
28 International Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborers Union Local 443 vs. General Tire Service,
Bismarck, 1954
29 Messages to and from the Legislature, 1955
30 Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee 1951-1952
31Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee 1953-1954
Box 3:
1 Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee 1954-1955
2 Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee 1955
3 Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee 1956
4 Meeting File -December 1, 1950
5 Meeting File -February 9, 1951
6 Meeting File -May 7, 1952
7 Meeting File -June 25-26, 1953
8 Meeting File -September 29-30, 1953
9 Meeting File -December 3, 1953
10 Meeting File -June 24-25, 1954
11 Meeting File -July 21, 1954
12 Meeting File -September 8-9, 1954
13 Meeting File -October 28-29, 1954
14 Meeting File-December 7, 1954
15 Meeting File -April 21, 1955
16 Meeting File -June 22, 1955
17 Meeting File -November 2 1955
18 Meeting File -December 14, 1955
19 Meeting File -February 16, 1956
20 Meeting File -t'1arch 29, 1956
21 Meeting File -May 9, 1956
22 Meeting File -June 19, 1956
23 Meeting File -August 10, 1956
24 Meeting File -September 13, 1956
25 Meeting File -November 8, 1956
26 Missouri Basin Development Program, 1951
27 Six Year Program, 1953-1958
28 Soil Conservation Service, 1956
29 Missouri River Development 1951-1953
30 Missouri River Development 1953-1954
31 Missouri River Development 1955-1956
32 List of Petition Signers for the Missouri-Souris Project, n.d.
Box 4:
1 Missouri River States Committee, 1953-1956
2 National Guard Association of the United States, 1961
3 State Normal and Industrial College, 1956
4 Penitentiary, 1954; 1956
5 Committee on Personnel Policy, 1958-1959
6 President Eisenhower, 1954-1955
7 Presidential Electors, 1948; 1952; 1956
8 Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, 1951; 1953; 1955
9 Reclamation, 1954-1956
10 Safety Director Applications, 1953
11 St. Lawrence Seaway, 1953; 1955-1956
12 State School of Science, 1955
13 Selective Service System, 1950-1952
14 Seventh U.S. Cavalry Association, 1955-1956
15 Special Elections to Fill Legislative Vacancies, 1952; 1955-1956
16 Speeches 1952-1954
17 Speeches 1953-1957
18 Speeches 1954-1957
19 State Teachers College -Mayville, 1955
20 State Teachers College -Minot, 1953-1954
Box 5:
1 Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park, 1949-1950; 1954-1956
2 State Training School, 1954; 1956
3 Welfare Board Appointments, 1951; 1953; 1955
4 National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, 1956; 1958-1959
5 State Water Conservation Commission 1955-1956
6 State Water Conservation Commission 1956
7 Testimony, 1956
8 Meeting File-1arch 9, 1956
9 Meeting File-April 11, 1956
10 Meeting File-May 11, 1956
11 Meeting File-August 27, 1956
12 Meeting File-November 7, 1956
13 Yellowstone River Compact Commission, 1945-1951
14 Yellowstone River Compact Commission, 1952-1953
15 Yellowstone River Highway Bridge, 1951
PUBLICATIONS
Final Report of the Joint Federal-State Action Committee to the President of the United States and to the Chairman of the Governor's Conference, 1960; Garrison 50th Anniversary, 1905-1955, 1955; The Senior Years “North Dakotans Tell Their Story,” 1960; Report of Recommendatlons to the 1961 White House Conference on Aging, 1960; Thirty-Fifth Biennial Re ort of the State Auditor to the Governor of North Dakota, 1958; Report of the State Examiner, 1954.
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