Douglas H. Sillers Papers (S2678)

1957-1980 

Biographical Sketch

Douglas H. Sillers was born in Clavin, North Dakota on February 9, 1915. He was the second son of Archie and Mabel Tuthill Sillers. His two brothers were Kipling, born in 1913, and Colin, who was born in 1917. Douglas Sillers completed high school at Calvin, where his father farmed, and left home in 1933 to travel through the western states. From 1935 to 1939 he attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and graduated from there with a B.A. degree. He taught social studies at Menahga, Minnesota for a time and met Margret Baller, born February 14, 1916 in Moorhead. They were married on August 2, 1941. During this time Mr. Sillers was working for the Federal Land Bank at Washburn, North Dakota. From 1942-1945 Sillers served as an ensign and as a lieutenant (jg) in the U.S. Navy in England during World War II. In 1946 Douglas and Margret Sillers settled on the Baller farm near Moorhead. They had four children, Jean in 1943, Douglas Hal in 1947, Cynthia in 1949, and Heather in 1951. Mr. Sillers became a noted farmer in the area and was active in local politics. In 1962 Mr. Sillers was persuaded to run as an independent for the Minnesota House of Representatives. He won and would serve in the House until 1972. During this time he became part of the Independent-Republican Party. In 1972 Mr. Sillers ran for the Minnesota Senate and won. He served in that body until his reelection defeat in 1980. During his political life Mr. Sillers served on the Agriculture, Education, and Judiciary committees in both houses of the legislature. He also served on various boards and commissions that fostered interstate cooperation; such as the Upper Midwest Research and Development Council, and the State Planning Commission. After his 1980 campaign Mr. Sillers retired to his farm near Moorhead.

Collection Description

This collection covers the period when Mr. Sillers was farming full time in Clay County, Minnesota and the years 1962-1980 when he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate. The majority of this collection is organized alphabetically by subject. 

Inventory

Box 1

  • Abortion. 1973, 1977-80
  • Actions of the Minnesota Legislature. 1963
  • Adopted Adults, S.F. 2236. 1976
  • Adoptive Parents. 1979
  • Adult Farm Management. 1977
  • Age of Majority. 1973-74
  • Agriculture Standing Committee. 1963-64
  • Agriculture. 1971-72, 1975-76
  • Agriculture/Sugar, S.F. 676. 1977
  • Aid to Private Schools. 1975-76
  • Airport, S.F.1196. 1977
  • Allowing a School District to Transfer Funds, S.F. 1467. 1979
  • Allowing Government Subdivision, S.F. 1323. 1979
  • Amtrak. 1979
  • Appointments. 1974, 1979-80
  • Appropriating
    • Historical Interpretive Centers, S.F. 1718. 1980
    • Money for Department of Education, S.F. 1108. 1979
     
  • April Fund Raiser for Independent Republicans Caucus. 1975
  • Area Vocational Technical Institute. 1979-80
  • Assessors. 1977
  • Athletic Equality. 1979
  • Ban the Can Issue. 1973-78
  • Banking. 1977-80
  • Banks and Financial Institutions, S.F. 488. 1977
  • Bar Examination/Diploma Privilege. 1973
  • Barber Board. 1979
  • Barnesville, Minnesota. 1975-80
  • Bills - Authored by Sillers. 1973-76
    • Legal Services and Lawyers. 1975
     
  • Biography. 1978
  • Blue Cross-Blue Shield. 1973
  • Board of University Regents. 1977
  • Bonds. 1980
  • Boschvitz, Rudy. 1979
  • Boundary Waters Canoe Area. 1976, 1979
  • Breckenridge, Minnesota. 1975-80
  • Buffalo State Park. 1974, 1977, 1979
  • Building Codes. 1977-80
  • Campaign. 1977-1978, 1980
  • Campbell, Minnesota. 1979-80
  • Casmey, Howard. 1979
  • Certified Professional Secretary, S.F. 47. 1977-78
  • Chiropractors. 1975, 1978, 1980
  • Claims. 1973-74, 1976
  • Clay County, Minnesota. 1964-68, 1973-80
  • Collective Bargaining. 1974, 1977
  • Commerce and Economic Development. 1971-72, 1980
  • Concordia College Bus Issue. 1975
  • Conference Committee on S.F. 22 and H.F. 96. 1976
  • Conservation. 1963-67
  • Conservative
    • Caucus, 1973-75
    • Viewpoints and Speeches. 1967
    • Views Newsletters and Correspondence. 1963-64 
     

Box 2

  • Constituents Complaints. 1979-80
  • Cooperative Power Association. 1979
  • Coroner Bill. 1975
  • Corporate Farming
    • Bills. 1973
    • S.F. 833. 1975
     
  • Corrections Juvenile, S.F. 1370. 1977
  • Correspondence. 1962-63, 1969-78 
      

Box 3

  • Creating a New Category of Offense for Criminal Negligence, S.F. 2325. 1980
  • Crime. 1979-80
  • Criminal Negligence Bill. 1975
  • Day Care Centers. 1975
  • Department
    • Economic Security. 1977-78
    • Natural Resources, 1977-80
    • Public Safety. 1979
     
  • Deputy Registrar’s Bill. 1977
  • Determinate Sentencing Bill. 1977
  • Dilworth, Minnesota
    • Electrical Power. 1976
    • Miscellaneous. 1979-80
     
  • District of Columbia. 1980
  • Drinking Age. 1980
  • Drug Discounts. 1975
  • Durenberger, Dave. 1978-79
  • Education.
    • Commission of the States. 1979-80
    • Committee. 1977-78
    • Legislation. 1962-64
    • Miscellaneous. 1965-67, 1970-80
    • Statistics. 1962
     
  • Electrical Power Lines. 1977-80
  • Energy
    • Housing Committee. 1977-78
    • Miscellaneous. 1980
    • Research Materials. 1975
     
  • Environment. 1971-72, 1977
  • Equal Rights Amendment in Minnesota, 1972-74, 1977
  • Excluding
    • Child Support Payments from Income for Property Tax Refund, S.F. 486. 1979
    • Improvements in Buildings Tax, S.F. 2324
     
  • Exempting Private Pensions from Income Taxes, S.F. 1578. 1978
  • Expense Account Reimbursement. 1975-76
  • Expenses Incurred in Legislative Work. 1973-74
  • Family
    • Farm Security Bill. 1976
    • Planning. 1979
     
  • Farm
    • Equipment Sales Tax. 1973
    • Machinery, S.F. 1427. 1974
    • Security Program. 1979-80
     
  • Felton, Minnesota, School District 148. 1962-63
  • Fergus Falls State Hospital Closure. 1975
  • Finance. 1975
  • Fish Detector Devices. 1977
  • Flamant-Ulman, Inc. Moorhead. 1973
  • Foster Parents. 1978-79
  • Game Wardens. 1977
  • Garrison Diversion. 1977
  • Glyndon, Minnesota. 1978-80
  • Goodyear Farms Vacation. 1957
  • Government Operations. 1971-74
  • Governor’s Office. 1977-79
  • Grading of Barley, S.F. 2084. 1978
  • Grain Marketing. 1979
  • Gross Earnings Tax; Railroads. 1979
  • Gun Control. 1973-1978
  • Hawley, Minnesota. 1976-80
  • Health, 1975-1979
  • Health, Welfare, and Corrections, 1971-76
  • Helmet Law for Motorcycles. 1977
  • Hemophilia Bill,. 1977
  • Herbicide 2, 4, 5 T Issue. 1976 
      

Box 4

  • High
    • Potential Children. 1977
    • School Graduates, Congratulatory Letters. 1974
     
  • Higher Education Institutions. 1971
  • Highways. 1963-64
  • Hospital Licensure. 1979
  • Hudson Bay Company Historical Site. 1964-67
  • Hulsetter, Todd. 1975
  • Human Rights Act. 1977-78
  • Income Averaging Bill. 1976
  • Increase State Income Tax Deductions for Loss from out of State, S.F. 237, 238. 1979
  • Increasing Aid for Pre-Kindergarten Children, S.F. 1158. 1975
  • Independent
    • Republican Caucus
    • Ad Hoc Committee. 1973-74
    • Miscellaneous. 1977-78
    • School District 152, Moorhead, Minnesota
      • Miscellaneous. 1973, 1977-80
      • S.F. 235, 1979
      • S.F. 889, 1980
       
     
  • Indian Affairs Intertribal Board. 1977-80
  • Inheritance
    • Benefit to Surviving Spouse with Joint Tenancy, S.F. 86. 1979
    • Gift Tax S.F. 2093. 1976
    • Sex Discrimination S.F. 2092. 1976
    • Tax. 1975-76
     
  • Insurance Legislation. 1971
  • Interns. 1979-80
  • Interstate
    • Conference, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. 1977
    • Cooperation Commission. 1977-79
     
  • Irrigation Permits. 1977
  • Joint Powers Act. 1973
  • Judges Retirement, S.F. 688, 1038. 1977
  • Judicial
    • Committee. 1979
    • Planning Committee. 1978-80
     
  • Judiciary
    • Committee. 1973-1978
    • Legislation. 1971
     
  • Junior Colleges and Tech Schools. 1962-65
  • Juvenile Detention Center in Moorhead. 1977
  • Labor
    • Appropriating Money to Enforce Chapter 177. 1976
    • Miscellaneous. 1973
     
  • Labor and Commerce. 1973-76
  • Laetrile. 1977
  • Lake Agassiz Testing Lab. 1963
  • Lavin, William. 1975-76
  • League of Minnesota
    • Human Rights Commissions. 1972
    • Municipalities. 1976
     
  • Legal Assistance for Minnesota Sioux Committee, S.F. 1063. 1979
  • Legislative
    • Matters. 1975
    • News. 1973
    • Papers. 1968-71
    • Retirement Study Commission. 1971
     
  • Legislators’ Salary Raise. 1974
  • Length Limitations on Trucks and Trailers. 1967
  • Libraries. 1975-78
  • Licensing Late Fees. 1976
  • Lien Law. 1973
  • Liquor. 1977-79
  • Loans to Cities, S.F. 1156. 1975
  • Local Government
    • Miscellaneous. 1971-75
    • Providing Compensation for use of a Private Automobile, S.F. 2204. 1980
     
  • Majority Status. 1975-76
  • Marijuana Issue. 1975-76
  • Medical
    • Education
      • H.F. 1411. 1971
      • Miscellaneous. 1973
      • Subcommittee. 1970-72
       
    • Malpractice. 1975-76 
     

Box 5

  • Metro and Urban Affairs. 1971-72
  • Metro Stadium. 1979
  • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs, 1973-75
  • Midwest Conference of the Council of State Governments. 1979-80
  • Migrant
    • Labor, S.F. 2782 and 2783. 1974
    • Workers. 1975-76
     
  • Military Tax on Income. 1979
  • Minimum Wage. 1973
  • Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund-Public Employees Retirement Fund Merger. 1979
  • Minnesota
    • Daily. 1979
    • Department of Transporation. 1975-80
    • Experimental City Reports. 1969-73
    • Farm Bureau. 1960-63
    • Government Department. 1971-72
    • Historical Society. 1979
    • Migrant Council. 1973-74
    • North Dakota Interstate Cooperation. 1975-76
     
  • Miscellaneous. 1965-67, 1976-80
  • Moorhead
    • Art Building. 1976
    • Arts, S.F. 1019. 1977
    • Chamber of Commerce. 1973-76
    • Fireman's Relief Associations, S.F. 742. 1979
    • League of Women Voters. 1976
    • Miscellaneous. 1973-80
    • Police Chief Retirement Funding, S.F. 1760. 1980
    • Purchase of Highway Department Building. 1967
    • Sewage Systmes. 1965
    • State
      • College. 1962-75
      • University. 1975-80
       
     
  • Municipalities. 1963
  • Mutual Concern, State Cooperation. S.P. 1896. 1976
  • National Guard. 1978-79
  • Natural
    • Death Act. 1977
    • Resources. 1971-76
     
  • Nerrleton, John G. 1977-78

 

 Box 6

  • News Releases. 1972-77
  • Newspaper Clippings. 1973-81
  • No-Fault Insurance. 1973-74
  • North Dakota. 1978-79
  • Nuclear Waste. 1980-83
  • Nursing Home Legislation. 1977, 1980
  • Nursing Services, Financial Assistance. 1974
  • Open Dating of Merchandise. 1973
  • Otter Tail County, 1977-80
  • Penal Construction Appropriations. 1971
  • Pensions. 1977-79
  • Personal. 1961-80
  • Photographs. 1962, 1980
  • Police Training. 1977
  • Political
    • Activities. 1973-77
    • Campaign. 1976
    • Information and Views. 1965-67
     
  • Pollution Control Agency. 1977
  • Pooled Investment Bill. 1977-78
  • Post High School Education. 1975-76
  • Primary and Secondary Education. 1974-76
  • Probate
    • Judge Retirement. 1975
    • Reform. 1974
     
  • Products Liability. 1977-78
  • Professional Standards Board. 1977
  • Providing a Combined Service Annuity for Judges, S.F. 453. 1979
  • Providing for a Uniform Filing Fee for Conciliation Court, S.F. 1242. 1979
  • Public
    • Cooperative Telephone Bill. 1979
    • Employees Health and Life Insurance, S.F. 23. 1973
    • Employment Labor Relations Act. 1980
    • Radio. 1977
     
  • Railroads. 1975
  • Raising the Reimbursement Paid to GED Testing Centers, S.F. 1528. 1979
  • Reapportionment. 1971-172
  • Recalculation of Annuities for Teachers Retirement, S.F. 794. 1979
  • Reciprocity. 1965-66, 1974
  • Red River Valley Interpretive Center in Moorhead. 1977
  • Reducing Kindergarten through Third Grade Class Size. 1979
  • Regents. 1979
  • Region Four Development. 1975
  • Regionalism. 1973-74
  • Regulation Industries. 1971
  • Reorganization of Courts, S.F. 863. 1979
  • Retirement
    • Income. 1979
    • Minnesota State Retirement Service. 1973-75
    • Public Employees Retirement Association. 1973-74
    • Teachers’ Retirement Association. 1975-76
     
  • Rothsay, Minnesota. 1974-80
  • Sabin, Minnesota.  1978
  • Salary Bill. 1977
  • Sales Tax and Finance Committee. 1979
  • Sales Tax Exemption for Solar Energy Devices, S.F. 590.  1979
  • School
    • Finance Reform. 1976
    • Reorganization, S.F. 156. 1977
     
  • Select Tax and Finance Committee. 1979
  • Senate
    • Floor Bills 1574 and 2586. 1975
    • Independent Republican Caucus. 1973-74
     

 Box 7

  • Senatorial Research. 1977
  • Seventh District Republican Committee. 1974.
  • Sillers, Inc. 1978-79
  • Skeet Shooting Bill. 1979
  • Small Businesses. 1978-80
  • Special
    • Education. 1973
    • Elections. 1978
     
  • Speeches
    • Midwest Sociological Society. 1973
    • Miscellaneous. 1963, 1979-1980
     
  • Stadium Bill. 1976
  • State
    • Arts Council. 1975
    • College
      • Boards. 1963-66
      • Miscellaneous. 1975
       
    • Hospitals. 1977
     
  • Studded Tires Issue. 1973-74
  • Successor Bill. 1978
  • Sugar Beets. 1964-67, 1977-79
  • Sunday Closing Law. 1957
  • Taiwan Goodwill Mission. 1980
  • Tax
    • Committee. 1965-67
    • Exempt Mortgages. 1977-78
    • Incentive Bill. 1973
    • Legislation. 1973-76
    • Reciprocity. 1973
    • Study Commission. 1978-80
    • Tax Laws Committee. 1977-79
     
  • Taxation
    • Charts and Correspondence. 1957-64
    • Chemicals Applied to Agricultural Products. 1975
    • Department of Taxation Analysis of Minnesota Income Tax Returns. 1961
    • Levy Limiting. 1975
    • S.F. 2113. 1976
     
  • Taxes
    • Jointly Owned Property, S.F. 2095. 1976
    • Miscellaneous. 1971-74
     
  • Teachers
    • Extending Reinstatement Period, S.F. 1712. 1978
    • Retirement. 1963-67, 1977-80
     
  • Terminal Warehouse Inspection. 1967
  • Towns, Ninth Legislative District. 1973
  • Transportation. 1973-76
  • Tri-College University. 1979
  • Truck Weights. 1977-78
  • Twin Trailers, S.F. 342. 1973
  • Ulen, Minnesota. 1979-80
  • Unemployment Compensation. 1964-65, 1973
  • Unit Pricing. 1977
  • University of Minnesota. 1963, 1973-80
  • University Status for Mankato College. 1965
  • Upper Midwest Research and Development Council. 1971-72
  • Usury. 1975-76
  • Veteran Preference. 1975
  • Vocational Education
    • Miscellaneous.1973-76
    • Tuition. 1977
     
  • Welfare. 1963-67; 1975-80
  • West Central Regional Development Commission. 1980
  • Wilkin County. 1973-80
  • Winona State College Pay Raises. 1975
  • Workmen Compensation. 1975-79
  • Young Family Housing Act. 1979 
      

Box 8

  • Volumes 1-3 Year Books.1963, 1967, 1973