Joseph B. Bridston Papers, 1937-1961

Joseph B. Bridston Papers

Overview

Abstract

Scope and Contents

Administrative Information

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Collection Overview

Title: Joseph B. Bridston Papers, 1937-1961

ID: OGLMC0053

Primary Creator: Bridston, Joseph B. (1896-1965)

Extent: 7.75 Linear Feet

Subjects: Politics and Government - Republican Organizing Committee (ROC), Politics and Government - Republican Party

Languages: English

Abstract

1896-1965; North Dakota State Senate, 1939-1956, and co-founder of the Republican Organizing Committee

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Joseph B. Bridston Papers consist primarily of political materials (1937-1961). Included is general correspondence, newspaper clippings, campaign material, texts of speeches, and general subject files.

Collection Historical Note

Joseph B. Bridston was born in Wahpeton, North Dakota in 1896. He was the son of Samuel and Borghild (Huss) Bridston. He was educated at a country school until through the eighth grade, before attending Lutheran Bible School in Wahpeton, Fergus Falls High School (Minnesota), and Central High School, Grand Forks, North Dakota. He later attended the State School of Science in Wahpeton, the University of North Dakota, and while in the U.S. Naval Reserve, the University of Washington.

Bridston taught for one year at Lewistown, Montana and returned to Grand Forks. He worked as a specialty salesman and entered the insurance business. He established the J.B. Bridston Co. in 1934 and organized First Federal Savings and Loan Association in 1938. Also greatly involved in politics, his political career included terms as a North Dakota State Senator (1939-1956), founder of the Republican Organizing Committee, and an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate (1946).

In Grand Forks, Bridston was a former president of the University of North Dakota Alumni Association, and helped with the mill levy for the Medical Center. He also served as president of the Grand Forks Community Chest, chairman of the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce Bridge and Airport Committee, and former director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Iowa.

On September 1, 1920, Bridston married Anna Pederson of Grand Forks. The couple had three children: Keith, Jo Anne, and Paul. Joseph B. Bridston died September 26, 1965 and is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Forks.

Source:

Grand Forks Herald: 27 September 1965

Subject/Index Terms

Politics and Government - Republican Organizing Committee (ROC)
Politics and Government - Republican Party

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Additional material was donated by Mrs. J. B. Bridston on June 25, 1977 (77-423).

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

Acquisition Method: Donation; the original acquisition records are unavailable

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Joseph B. Bridston Papers. OGLMC 53, 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 September 2014.

Other URL: http://library.und.edu/holdings.php?id=ODIN_ALEPH006830804

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[All]

Box 1

Folder 1: 1941 Legislative Session
Folder 2: Langer Hearings, 1941-1942
Folder 3: Political, 1939-40
Folder 4: General Correspondence, January 13, 1942 - March 30, 1942
Folder 5: General Correspondence, March 30, 1942 - May 15, 1942.
Folder 6: General Correspondence, May 15, 1942 - May 29, 1942.
Folder 7: General Correspondence, June 1, 1942 - June 30, 1942.
Folder 8: General Correspondence, July 1, 1942 - August 14, 1942.
Folder 9: General Correspondence, August 14, 1942 - October 9, 1942.
Folder 10: General Correspondence, October 9, 1942 - October 28, 1942.
Folder 11: General Correspondence, October 28, 1942 - November 11, 1942.
Folder 12: General Correspondence, November 12, 1942 - December 11, 1942.
Folder 13: General Correspondence, December 11, 1942 - December 30, 1942.
Folder 14: 1942 Miscellaneous.
Folder 15: General Correspondence, January 11, 1943 - March 16, 1943.
Folder 16: General Correspondence, March 16, 1943 - April 3, 1943.
Folder 17: General Correspondence, April 7, 1943 - May 1, 1943.
Folder 18: General Correspondence, May 3, 1943 - May 17, 1943
Folder 19: General Correspondence, May 17, 1943 - June 30, 1943.
Folder 20: General Correspondence, July 1, 1943 - August 13, 1943.
Folder 21: General Correspondence, August 13, 1943 - September 21, 1943.
Folder 22: General Correspondence, September 22, 1943 - October 31, 1943.

Box 2

Folder 1: General Correspondence, November 1, 1943 - November 30, 1943.
Folder 2: General Correspondence, December 3, 1943 - December 31, 1943.
Folder 3: General Correspondence, 1943 Miscellaneous.
Folder 4: General Correspondence, Jan. 3, 1944 - May 24, 1944.
Folder 5: General Correspondence, May 25, 1944 - September 29, 1944.
Folder 6: General Correspondence, October 2, 1944 - November 15, 1944.
Folder 7: General Correspondence, November 15, 1944 - December 30, 1944.
Folder 8: General Correspondence, 1944 Miscellaneous.
Folder 9: General Correspondence, January 7, 1950 - Miscellaneous, 1950.
Folder 10: General Correspondence, January 3, 1951 - February 9, 1951.
Folder 11: General Correspondence, February 9, 1951 - March 19, 1951
Folder 12: General Correspondence, March 20, 1951 - May 10, 1951.
Folder 13: General Correspondence, May 11, 1951 - September 29, 1951
Folder 14: General Correspondence, October 1, 1951 - December 28, 1951.
Folder 15: General Correspondence, Miscellaneous, 1951.
Folder 16: General Correspondence, January 2, 1952 - March 7, 1952.
Folder 17: General Correspondence, March 8, 1952 - April 3?, 1952.
Folder 18: General Correspondence, May 1, 1952 - May 31, 1952.
Folder 19: General Correspondence, June 2, 1952 - June 30, 1952.
Folder 20: General Correspondence, July 2, 1952 - September 30, 1952
Folder 21: General Correspondence, October 21, 1952 - December 31, 1952.
Folder 22: General Correspondence, 1952 Miscellaneous.
Folder 23: General Correspondence, January 6, 1953 - 1953 Miscellaneous.
Folder 24: General Correspondence, 1955 Miscellaneous.

Box 3

Folder 1: Chamber Bridge and Highway
Folder 2: Clippings - general and personal, 1945
Folder 3: Inkster Mail Route
Folder 4: Politics - January 1955
Folder 5: Politics - June, 1955
Folder 6: UND 4-year medical school
Folder 7: Miscellaneous papers

Box 4

Folder 1: Political and legislative material; pamphlets, flyers, and bills
Folder 2: Radio addresses, by various people.
Folder 3: Personal receipts; tax, real estate, personal, etc.
Folder 4: Correspondence (22 items); political and insurance , 1937-49.
Folder 5: Clippings; political and legislative.
Folder 6: Osteopathic pamphlets and bulletins (8 items).
Folder 7: William Langer vs. John Gray, Tax Commissioner - memo opinion, 1937-8.
Folder 8: North Dakota News (Bismarck), Sept. 5, 1940.
Folder 9: Clipping, editorial. "Langer Is Seated, Not Vindicated," March, 1942.
Folder 10: Harvey H. Springer, Money Grows on Trees (Englewood, Colo: Western Voice Publishers, 1943).
Folder 11: Radio talk, "Corrupt Political Machines," by Bridston, May 1945.
Folder 12: Radio-talk, "A Story of North Dakota," by Sen. William J. Braun, May 1945.
Folder 13: Correspondence, 1946.
Folder 14: Correspondence, 1946.
Folder 15: Correspondence, 1948.
Folder 16: Correspondence, 1949.
Folder 17: Correspondence, 1951
Folder 18: Correspondence, 1952.
Folder 19: Statement made by Bridston in the 1953 North Dakota legislature.
Folder 20: Correspondence, 1957.
Folder 21: Correspondence, 1959.
Folder 22: Correspondence, 1960.
Folder 23: Correspondence and papers, undated.

Box 5

Folder 1: 1938 general election.
Folder 2: Implement Dealers Mutual, confidential file.
Folder 3: R.O.C., Grand Forks County - Bills and bank account, 1942-48.
Folder 4: Interim Investigation Committee, 1944.
Folder 5: National politics, general, 1944.
Folder 6: State Fire and Tornado Fund, 1944.
Folder 7: Special session, 1944.
Folder 8: Senator Nye, 1944.
Folder 9: Senatorial appointment, 1945.
Folder 10: J. B. Bridston, personal policies, 1945
Folder 11: J. B. Bridston, personal, July-Sept., 1945.
Folder 12: Clippings, general and personal, and correspondence., 1945.
Folder 13: 1945 legislative session, pre-session, 1945.
Folder 14: Legislative session, 1945.
Folder 15: 1946 general election, advertising, Nov. 5, 1946.
Folder 16: Bridston campaign, advertising, 1946.
Folder 17: Bridston campaign, general, 1946.
Folder 18: R.O.C., state convention and senate endorsement, 1946.
Folder 19: 1947 legislature, 1946.
Folder 20: General election, 1946.
Folder 21: North Dakota politics, general, Jan - Jun., 1948.
Folder 22: Politics, March, 1949.
Folder 23: Politics, June, 1949.
Folder 24: Politics, November, 1949.
Folder 25: (William) Langer, 1940-48.
Folder 26: Legislative session, 1949.
Folder 27: County Republican Committee, 1948-49.
Folder 28: Speeches and speech notes, nonpolitical, 1949-51.
Folder 29: Politics, February, 1952.
Folder 30: Fred G. Aandahl, 1952.
Folder 31: Politics, June, 1952.
Folder 32: Communism, 1958-60.
Folder 33: Grand Forks Country Club, 1959-60.

Box 6

Folder 1: North Dakota Politics, Mar - Dec 1945
Folder 2: Personal Correspondence, Apr - June 1945
Folder 3: Petition Filed by Bridston Against the Seating of William Langer in the U.S. Senate, 1952
Folder 4: North Dakota Politics, 1950
Folder 5: Governor John Moses, Nov - Oct 1943
Folder 6: Campaign Pamphlets, 1942
Folder 7: Air Reserve Training Manual, Feb 25 1960
Folder 8: Personal Correspondence, Nov - Dec 1956
Folder 9: Personal Correspondence, July - Aug 1956
Folder 10: Personal Correspondence, May - June 1956
Folder 11: Personal Correspondence, March - Apr 1956
Folder 12: Personal Correspondence, Jan - Feb 1957
Folder 13: Personal Correspondence, March - Apr 1957
Folder 14: Personal Correspondence, May - June 1957
Folder 15: Personal Correspondence, July - Aug 1957
Folder 16: Personal Correspondence, Jan - Feb 1956
Folder 17: Anti-Communism Material, 1958
Folder 18: Personal Correspondence, Oct - Dec 1957
Folder 19: Press Release by Bridston, Dec 4 1957
Folder 20: June Primary, 1956
Folder 21: Republican Dinner, Feb 13 1956
Folder 22: North Dakota Politics, Jan 1956
Folder 23: Bridge Committee (Between Grand Forks and East Grand Forks) 1955
Folder 24: North Dakota Politics, May 1956
Folder 25: North Dakota Politics, Aug - Dec 1956
Folder 26: North Dakota Politics, Feb - Apr 1956
Folder 27: Anti-Communism Material, 1957
Folder 28: UND, 1953-1956
Folder 29: Republican Committee (Grand Forks County), 1958
Folder 30: Correspondence (Flood), 1950
Folder 31: Clippings, 1948
Folder 32: Personal Correspondence, Jan - Apr 1945
Folder 33: Correspondence (Fred Aandahl), 1945
Folder 34: Housing Committee, 1945
Folder 35: UND, 1948-1953
Folder 36: Interim Investigating Committee, 1945
Folder 37: North Dakota Politics, 1957
Folder 38: Reinsurance, 1957
Folder 39: Clippings (Letter to Editor), 1959
Folder 40: Campaign Material, 1946
Folder 41: The Leader, Bismarck North Dakota, Sept 22, Oct 20, 1955
Folder 42: Clippings, 1952-1955
Folder 43: Clippings, (Letter to Editor) 1950's
Folder 44: Postmaster Appointment (Reynolds), 1957
Folder 45: Postmaster Appointment (Emerado), 1958
Folder 46: UND Alumni Association, 1953-1954
Folder 47: Newspaper Clippings Regarding Senator Langer, 1957-1959
Folder 48: Great Northern Rail Road, 1955-1956
Folder 49: Speeches by Bridston, May 10-11 1961
Folder 50: Reinsurance, 1945
Folder 51: Speeches by Bridston, 1946, 1958
Folder 52: R.O.C. Messenger, June 1946
Folder 53: Campaign Material (Miscellaneous)
Folder 54: House Bill no. 681 and 682, 1957

Box 7

Folder 1: J. B. Bridston - Miscellaneous political material, 1946-1951
Folder 2: Correspondence - Carroll Day and KNOX Controversy, 1955-1956
Folder 3: Correspondence - Highway Controversy, 1955
Folder 4: Correspondence - 1955 Legislative Session, November 1954 - July 1935
Folder 5: Correspondence - Milton R. Young, 1954-1955
Folder 6: Correspondence - Political, 1946
Folder 7: Correspondence - Political (R.O.C.) , 1945
Folder 8: Correspondence - Milton R. Young, 1945
Folder 9: Correspondence - Milton R. Young, 1945
Folder 10: Correspondence - Political. 1944
Folder 11: Correspondence - Political. 1944
Folder 12: Correspondence - Political. 1944
Folder 13: Correspondence - Political. 1944
Folder 14: Correspondence - Political. 1944
Folder 15: Correspondence - Political. 1944
Folder 16: Correspondence - Political, 1943
Folder 17: Grand Forks Republican Committee - 1956 Campaign Finances and Expenses
Folder 18: Fire and Tornado Insurance Fund Controversy - Correspondence,1943-1944
Folder 19: Fire and Tornado Insurance Fund Controversy - Interim Legislative Committee materials, 1945
Folder 20: Fire and Tornado insurance Fund Controversy - Reports end related materials
Folder 21: Langer Political File - Correspondence, 1949-1956
Folder 22: Langer Political File - Miscellaneous Material. 1952-1953
Folder 23: Langer Political File - Correspondence, 1942-1946
Folder 24: Langer Political File - Miscellaneous Material, 1941-1946
Folder 25: 1955 Legislative Session - Bills, reports and related materials
Folder 26: Newspaper clippings - Oscar Erickson and Insurance Department controversy
Folder 27: Newspaper clippings - William Langer
Folder 28: Newspaper clippings - William Langer
Folder 29: Newspaper clippings - Missouri Valley Authority
Folder 30: Newspaper clippings - North Dakota Politics
Folder 31: Republican Organizing Committee - Miscellaneous material
Folder 32: Speeches - Joseph B. Bridston 1944-1955, 1961
Folder 33: Speeches - Political, 1944-1955
Folder 34: Speeches - R.O.C., 1944 and undated
Folder 35: Correspondence - Personal, 1954-1955
Folder 36: Correspondence - Personal, 1954-1955
Folder 37: Correspondence - Personal, 1954-1955
Folder 38: Correspondence - Personal, 1954-1955
Folder 39: Correspondence - Personal, 1954-1955
Folder 40: Correspondence - Personal, January-May, 1950
Folder 41: Correspondence - Personal, January-May, 1950
Folder 42: Grand Forks Country Club improvement, 1954
Folder 43: Miscellaneous Material
Folder 44: Small Business Administration - Correspondence and related materials, 1954- 1956
Folder 45: University of North Dakota Alumni Association - Correspondence and related materials, 1953
Folder 46: University of North Dakota Medical School - Correspondence, July 1951-1953
Folder 47: University of North Dakota Medical School - Correspondence, 1944, 1946, 1949, March-June 1951 and undated
Folder 48: University of North Dakota Medical School - Reports and Related Correspondence
Folder 49: University of North Dakota Medical School Survey, - Dr. Harold C. Loeth and Dr. Robert C. Lewis (Authors), July-August 1951

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
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