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 2: Legislative Research Committee

The Legislative Research Committee, renamed the Legislative Council in 1969, was formed in 1945. Its purpose was to prepare bills for consideration by the legislature, perform legislature directed studies and present the information found. Wenstrom was a member of this committee from 1957-60 and was Chairman of the Subcommittee on Constitutional Revision from 1965-66. This series includes correspondence between committee members, meeting minutes, reports containing background on proposed constitutional revisions. The LRC studied a wide range of subject matters such as taxation, education, and natural resources.

Box 1

Folder 14: Facts and Duties of the LRC, undated
Folder 15: Meeting Minutes, 1965-66
Folder 16: Notes for Discussion, 1965-66
Folder 17: Natural Resource Subcommittee, 1960-6
Folder 18: Article 54, 1963
Folder 19: Correspondence, 1963-66
Folder 20: Constitutional Revisions, Reports and Recommendations, undated Comparisons of 4 States, 1965
Folder 21: Constitutional Revision Proposals, undated
Folder 22: Constitutional Revision Outline and Analysis, 1966
Folder 23: Legislative Post Audit and Fiscal Review, 1962
Folder 24: LRC Newspaper Clippings, 1964, undated

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids