Frank Wenstrom Papers, 1936-1994

Frank Wenstrom Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: Frank Wenstrom Papers, 1936-1994

ID: OGLMC1369

Primary Creator: Wenstrom, Frank (1903-1997)

Extent: 8.75 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 08/06/1998. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Politics and Government - 1972 North Dakota Constitutional Convention, Politics and Government - Republican Party

Languages: English

Abstract

1903-1997; North Dakota State Senate, 1956-1959, 1967-1985 and Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota, 1963-64

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Frank Wenstrom Papers have been arranged into seven series.

Series 1: Republican Party, 1962-1986

Series 2: Legislative Research Committee

Series 3: Correspondence, 1958-1989

Series 4: North Dakota Water Issues

Series 5: Yellowstone, Missouri, Fort Union Confluence Commission/ND Historic Sites

Series 6: North Dakota Silver Haired Assembly, 1980-1988

Series 7: General Legislative Files

Series 8: Certificates and Awards

Series 9: North Dakota Constitutional Convention, 1972

Series 10: Photographs

Additional photographs can be found boxes 4 and 5 (Contents of Binders A through F).

Collection Historical Note

Frank Wenstrom was born in Dover ND on July 27, 1903 and grew up in Wells County. After graduating from Carrington High School, he spent several years farming. Wenstrom worked in the oil business in Carrington, beginning in 1933. In 1938, he married Esther Pickett and moved to Williston, where he continued his work in the oil business. In 1945, he became Secretary- Manager for the Williston Chamber of Commerce. From 1951-1960, Wenstrom worked as the Public Relations officer at the First National Bank of Williston. He won his first North Dakota State Senate race in 1956. He served on the Legislative Research Committee as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Constitutional Revision from 1957-1960. He was also a member of the North Dakota Yellowstone Fort Union Commission, formed to restore Forts Union and Buford from 1957-1964. From 1963-64 he served as Lieutenant Governor under North Dakota Governor William Guy. Wenstrom continued his work in the State Senate from 1967-1985. In 1971 he was appointed President of the North Dakota State Constitutional Convention. Wenstrom was a member of North Dakota Water Users Association and served on its Board of Directors in 1970-71. In the later years of his public service, he devoted much of his time to the Silver Haired Education Association, concentrating on issues concerning care of the elderly. Frank Wenstrom died in May 1997.

Subject/Index Terms

Politics and Government - 1972 North Dakota Constitutional Convention
Politics and Government - Republican Party

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Additional materials were donated by Dave Miedema, UND Alumni Association, on February 9, 2004 (2004-2671) and transferred from the Frank Wenstrom Library in Gamble Hall on August 1, 2012 (2012-3181).

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Dr. Theodore Pedeleski, UND Department of Political Science

Acquisition Method: Donation; 98-2220

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Frank Wenstrom Papers. OGLMC 1369, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in May 2015.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Republican Party, 1962-1986],
[Series 2: Legislative Research Committee],
[Series 3: Correspondence, 1958-1989],
[Series 4: North Dakota Water Issues],
[Series 5: Yellowstone, Missouri, Fort Union Confluence Commission/ND Historic Sites],
[Series 6: North Dakota Silver Haired Assembly, 1980-1988],
[Series 7: General Legislative Files],
[Series 8: Certificates and Awards],
[Series 9: North Dakota Constitutional Convention],
[Series 10: Photographs],
[All]

Series 10: Photographs

Box 4

Folder 23: Photographs

Photograph 13: Frank Wenstrom and Dr. Cartwright
Photograph 14: Group of women, including Esther Wenstrom
Photograph 15: Frank Wenstrom, Marge Trenbeath, and Grant Trenbeath
Photograph 16: Federation of Women's Clubs Day at the State Legislature, 1979
Photograph 17: Esther Wenstrom at Frank Wenstrom's Desk in the State Legislature
Photograph 18: Frank Wenstrom (portrait)
Photograph 19: Photograph of Frank and Esther Wenstrom with the Williston School Board, 1992

Box 5

Folder 8: Photographs

Photograph 1: "Colonel Frank Wenstrom Day," 6th Infantry, Fort Buford, June 15, 1969: Wenstrom is wearing a Civil War era uniform
Photograph 2: Wenstrom giving a speech behind a podium
Photograph 3: Wenstrom at his desk in the State Capitol
Photograph 4: Wenstrom at opening day of the 1963 North Dakota legislative session
Photograph 5: Wenstrom and Roger Maris
Photograph 6: Wenstrom seated behind a council dais
Photograph 7: Wenstrom and William Potter, Executive Vice President of the New York World's Fair, May 21, 1964
Photograph 8: Wenstrom and ND Governor William Guy at the ND Constitutional Convention, April 6, 1971
Photograph 9: Wenstrom presiding over the ND Constitutional Convention, April 6, 1971
Photograph 10: Wenstrom with a large fish taken from Black Bear Island Lake in Saskatchewan, July 1980
Photograph 11: Wenstrom speaking at the dedication of the Mon-Dak Bridge, September 3, 1985
Photograph 12: Wenstrom at his desk in the State Capitol

Box 6

Folder 1: Oversize Photographs

Item 1: Frank Wenstrom in the halls of the North Dakota State Capitol
Item 2: Frank and Esther Wenstrom (portrait)
Item 3: Wenstrom (portrait)
Item 4: Wenstrom speaking at a podium
Item 5: President Richard Nixon and Wenstrom shaking hands in the White House, February 23, 1971
Item 6: Wenstrom signing documents at his desk

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids