Marvin A. Evenson Papers (S5066)

1952-1970

Biographical Sketch

A native of Rutland, North Dakota, Marvin Evenson was involved in politics from his early 20s, both in both North Dakota and Minnesota. He served as a party organizer for the Democratic Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party in a number of capacities, including Finance Director and chairman for the 9th District of the DFL in Minnesota, and chairman of the DFL party in the 7th District (northwest Minnesota). As party chairman, Evenson coordinated party activities for many DFL candidates. 

Collection Description

Evenson’s papers consist largely of candidate files for numerous DFL candidates, including Orville Freeman, Hubert Humphrey, Lyndon Johnson, Coya Knutson, Eugene McCarthy, Adlai Stevenson, and local candidates. The files generally contain campaign materials for each candidate that was distributed within the 7th and 9th districts, together with news items about the candidates. Evenson also maintained files of news items and correspondence about some of the principal Republican Party opponents in various election campaigns; among the most prominent are Richard Nixon and Dwight Eisenhower. These materials are in some cases faded, but are generally in good condition. 

Inventory

Box 1

  • Agendas. 1962-69
  • Agriculture. 1952-62
  • Banquet Programs. 1952-68
  • Candidates
    • Anderson, Eugenie. 1953-58
    • Anderson, Wendy. 1969-70
    • Bergland, Bob. 1968
    • Benson, Ezra. 1955
    • Bjornson, Val. 1956
    • Borgen, Charles
    • Burrill, Bob. 1955
    • Coleman, Nicholas. 1969-70
    • Eisenhower, Dwight D. 1956
    • Evenson, Marvin
      • Correspondence. 1952-70
      • Financial. 1955-69
      • Newspaper Clippings. 1955-56
       
    • Farr, George. 1963
    • Freeman, Orville
      • Miscellaneous. 1952-69
      • Newspaper Clippings. 1952-60
       
    • Gerke, Gary. 1956-66
    • Graven, Dave. 1969-70
    • Hagen, Harold. 1956
    • Hanson, Arthur. 1954-56
    • Hemenway, Ray. 1954-55
    • Humphrey, Hubert
      • Correspondence. 1953-70
      • Miscellaneous. 1954-68
      • Muskie. 1964
      • Newsletters. 1968
      • Newspaper Clippings. 1954-60; 1965; 1968-79; undated
      • Platform and Campaign. 1968
      • Press Releases. 1954-68
      • Speeches. 1968-69
       
    • Johnson, Lyndon. 1966
    • Kefauver, Estes. 1955-56
    • Kennedy, J.F.
      • Miscellaneous. 1960
      • Newspaper Clippings. 1952-63
       
    • Knutson, Coya. 1954-1956
    • Langen, Odin. 1962-69
    • Lee, L.J. 1951-69 
     

 

Box 2

  • Candidates, continued
    • McCarthy, Eugene
      • Correspondence. 1967-68
      • Miscellaneous. 1964-68
      • Newspaper Clippings. 1968
       
    • McGovern, George. 1968
    • Miscellaneous Candidates. 1963-68
    • Nelson, Anchor. 1956
    • Nixon, Richard. 1955-68
    • Noblitt, Harding. 1959-69
    • Penderson, Richard. 1956; 1968-69
    • Rassmussen, Paul. 1954; 1962
    • Rensvold, Herman. 1956
    • Rolvaag, Karl. 1952-66
    • Scott, W. Kerr. 1952-69
    • Spannus, Warren R. 1968-70
    • Stevenson, Aldai. 1952-60
    • Thorney, Wells. 1955-57
    • Wichterman, Ben. 1962
     
  • Caucus. 1954-70
  • Constitution. 1954-68
  • Convention Programs. 1954-70
  • Correspondence. 1954-70
  • Democratic National Convention
    • Chicago. 1968
    • Los Angeles. 1960
     
  • Financial Information. 1952-69
  • Meeting Notices. 1952-69
  • Membership Committee and Delegate Lists. 1950-70
  • Minutes. 1950-69
  • Miscellaneous. 1950-68
  • Newsletters. 1954-70
  • Newspaper Articles. 1940-44; 1952-68; undated
  • Photographs

 

Box 3

  • Press Releases. 1952-69
  • Publications
    • Miscellaneous. 1968
    • A Political History. 1944-84
     
  • Reports. 1960-69
  • Voting. 1952-69
  • Miscellaneous Publications
    • Agri-Dynamics. 1970
    • Chicago. 1968
    • The Democratic Digest. 1993-96
    • The Democratic Fact Book. 1956
    • Democratic National Convention Chicago. 1968
    • Freedom Agenda. 1954-55
    • Freeman, Orville L.
      • Inaugural Address of Governor Orville L. Freeman. 1955; 1957
      • Interim Message. 1956; 1958; 1960
      • Minnesota Builds
       
    • Hearings Before the Special Committee to Investigate Campaign Expenditures. 1958
    • A History of the Democratic Party
    • Life. 1960; 1963; 1968; 1969
    • Look. 1952
    • Newsweek. 1960
    • Post. 1963
    • A Short History of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
    • Socialism: What’s in It for You
    • Time. 1968
    • The Truth About Socialism