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 6: Photographs
- These photographs were placed in the Oversize Photograph Cabinets.
- Photograph 1: Charles Ellery, 1912
- Photograph 2: Charles Ellery, 1912
- Photograph 3: Ruth Ellery, undated
- Photograph 4: Clinro (?) Ellery, 1885
- Photograph 5: Charles Ellery, undated
- Photograph 6: Parents of Charles Ellery, undated
- Photograph 7: Ruth Ellery, undated
- Photograph 8: Group of unidentified men, undated
- Photograph 9: Group of unidentified men, undated
- Photograph 10: Postcard of Williston Townsend Toolers, undated
- Photograph 11: Group of homes, undated
- Photograph 12: Office building, undated
- Photograph 13: Unidentified man, undated
- Photograph 14: Two men, undated
- Photograph 15: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 16: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 17: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 18: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 19: Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 20: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 21: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 22: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 23: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 24: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 25: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 26: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 27: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 28: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 29: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 30: Building of Williston Bridge, undated
- Photograph 31: Building of Fort Peck Dam, undated
- Photograph 32: Building of Fort Peck Dam, undated
- Photograph 33: Building of Fort Peck Dam, undated
- Photograph 34: Building of Fort Peck Dam, undated
- Photograph 35: Building of Fort Peck Dam, undated
- Photograph 36: Building of Fort Peck Dam, undated
- Photograph 37: Building of Fort Peck Dam, undated
- Photograph 38: Group of men in Williston, 1912
- Photograph 39: Andrew Omholt, undated
- Photograph 40: Kate and Frank O'Hare Family, 1920
- Photograph 41: Kate and Frank O'Hare Family, 1920
- Photograph 42: Aunt Midn (?), 1907
- Photograph 43: Williston Central School, undated
- Photograph 44: Dwight Todd, 1930
- Photograph 45: C. G. Ellery, undated
- Photograph 46: Tom Puffer (?), 1940
- Photograph 47: C. G. Ellery, undated
- Photograph 48: C. G. Ellery, undated
- Photograph 49: C. G. Ellery, undated
- Photograph 50: Man holding Jack Ellery (3 months old), 1928
- Photograph 51: Woman holding Jack Ellery, 1928
- Photograph 52: Man holding Jack Ellery (3 months old), 1928
- Photograph 1: Charles Ellery, 1912
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]