Dwight Todd Papers, 1884-1983
Collection Overview
Title: Dwight Todd Papers, 1884-1983
ID: OGLMC764
Primary Creator: Todd, Dwight (1877-1968)
Extent: 7.75 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 00/00/1982. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Agriculture, Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL), Politics and Government - Socialist Party
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Dwight I. Todd Papers date from 1890-1983 and have been divided into six series:
Series 1: Correspondence
Series 2: Records of Political Activities
Series 3: Publications
Series 4: James A. and Marien Smith Todd Papers
Series 5: Miscellaneous
Series 6: Photographs
Collection Historical Note
Dwight I. Todd was born December 19, 1877, at Burr Oak, Michigan, to James A. and Marien (Smith) Todd. He graduated from high school there in 1896. Todd held a variety of jobs including teaching, meat sales, and locating homesteaders in the Dakotas. In June 1903 Todd married Jessie V. Drake of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Shortly after, they moved to Bottineau, North Dakota. They relocated in the fall of 1905 to Barr Butte Township, near Jessie's brother Ed Drake. In the fall of 1908, they moved to Stony Creek, close to Williston. Dwight and Jessie Todd had four children: Almeda Mavourneen, Petra (Pete), Kenneth, and Norman (Bud). Jessie Todd died in Fargo in 1930 of undiagnosed cancer. Dwight Todd then moved back to Michigan until 1966, when he moved to Williston to live with his daughter, Mavourneen.
Todd became active in the Socialist Party partly in response to the influence of Jessie Todd's brother, Charles Drake, who worked on the 1908 national presidential campaign of Eugene V. Debs. Todd worked on party organization in Williams County for over ten years, but by the Depression he had become disillusioned with the Socialist Party and concentrated his efforts on farm-related concerns. Todd's involvement with the Farmers Union began with a desire to improve the economic conditions for the farmers through cooperative and mutual organizations which he strongly supported.
Intellectually, he embraced those political philosophies involving socialism, communism, and cooperative associations, but he did not accept the philosophy of public ownership of farm land. Todd was a voracious reader, and his personal library was said to be the largest in Williams County. Little of philosophical or political interest escaped Todd's rumination during his active lifetime.
Todd died in October 1968 at Williston at the age of 90. (See Wonder of Williams County, Vol. 2, page 1822-23).
Subject/Index Terms
Agriculture
Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL)
Politics and Government - Socialist Party
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Accruals: Additions were received from Mavourneen Todd Anderson in August 1984 (Acc.#84- 1318) and October 1986 (Acc. #86-1485)
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Mavourneen Todd Anderson, Williston, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc. #82-1000
Related Materials: OGLMC 1078, Mavourneen Todd Anderson Papers
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Dwight Todd Papers. OGLMC 764, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections. Chester Fritz Library. University of North Dakota.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in March 2013.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Correspondence, 1895-1970],
[Series 2: Political Activities, 1908-1970],
[Series 3: Publications],
[Series 4: James A. and Marien Smith Todd Materials],
[Series 5: Miscellaneous, 1911-1971],
[Series 6: Photographs],
[All]
- Series 4: James A. and Marien Smith Todd Materials
- This series consists of historical papers, correspondence, and materials related to temperance and suffrage. Marien Smith Todd became very involved in the temperance cause serving as superintendent of education for the Women's Christian Temperance Union for her county and district in Michigan. She wrote many articles, speeches and poems relating to temperance and carried on a correspondence with a fellow Michigan WCTU member for many years. The Todd family also actively supported the Women's Suffrage movement believing that liquor would not be banned until the women were allowed to voice their feelings through voting. His father, James A. Todd (1838-1926) was born in New York and moved to Michigan 1839. James served as a volunteer in the Civil War, was wounded, and received a medical discharge in 1863, marrying Marien Smith that same year. James and Marien Todd had four children- Raymond (1869-1962), Hubert (1872-1965), Dwight (1877-1968), and Marien (1880-1938).
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Historical Information: Todd Family and Burr Oak, M.
- Folder 2: School Papers and Records: Almeda, Hubert, and Raymond Todd
- Folder 3: Correspondence: Todd Family, 1884-1918
- Folder 4: Correspondence: M.S. and Almeda Todd to Mrs. EU Browne, 1899-1907
- Folder 5: Correspondence: Mrs. LU Browne to U.S. Todd
- Folder 6: Women Suffrage: Articles and Speeches
- Folder 7: News Clippings: Prohibit, WCTU
- Folder 8: WCTU: Brochures, Pamphlets, Programs, Songbook
- Folder 9: WCTU: Correspondence, Meetings
- Folder 10: Prohibition Writings: Poems, Circular Letters
- Folder 1: Historical Information: Todd Family and Burr Oak, M.
- Box 4
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Correspondence, 1895-1970],
[Series 2: Political Activities, 1908-1970],
[Series 3: Publications],
[Series 4: James A. and Marien Smith Todd Materials],
[Series 5: Miscellaneous, 1911-1971],
[Series 6: Photographs],
[All]