Grant Trenbeath Papers, 1897-1988
Collection Overview
Title: Grant Trenbeath Papers, 1897-1988
ID: OGLMC1186
Primary Creator: Trenbeath, Grant (1916-1989)
Extent: 1.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 04/20/1989. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Nature and the Environment, Politics and Government - Republican Party, Water
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Grant Trenbeath Papers date from 1897-1988. The material was received in an unorganized condition and has been reorganized into two series.
Series 1: Political Career/Water Resources in North Dakota
Series 2: Pembina County History
218 photographs were separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets.
Collection Historical Note
Grant Trenbeath was born in Neche, North Dakota, August 31, 1916, the son of William and Ona Trenbeath. He attended school in Neche and graduated from the North Dakota State School of Science, Wahpeton in 1937. He married Marjorie Elias of St. Thomas, North Dakota, October 20, 1939. They had five children, William, Gerald, Julie, Linda, and Jeannie. Trenbeath farmed near Neche. In 1946, Trenbeath was stricken with three types of Polio and was hospitalized in Grand Forks for nineteen months.
Following his release from the hospital, he was confined to a wheelchair, but continued to farm with the help of his family and specially adapted vehicles. Trenbeath ran for the North Dakota State Senate, as an Independent Republican, in 1957, defeating the endorsed Republican candidate in the primary and the Democratic candidate in the general election. He served in the State Senate from 1957 until his retirement in 1970. Trenbeath was an active member of the State Senate, especially in the areas of taxes and water resources. He served as Chairman, Pembina River Basin Association and his main goal was the construction of the Pembilier Dam near Walhalla, North Dakota. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finally cancelled this federal project after forty years of study. Even after his retirement, Trenbeath stayed active in water resource matters in the Pembina Basin. Trenbeath studied the history of Pembina County and became somewhat of a local historian.
Grant Trenbeath died in Mesa, Arizona, on January 27, 1989.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Accruals: Marjorie Trenbeath donated additional material on November 15, 1989 (Acc.89-1684).
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Marjorie Trenbeath, Cavalier, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc.89-1650
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Grant Trenbeath Papers. OGLMC 1186, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in May 2015.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Political Career and Water Resources],
[Series 2: Pembina County History],
[Photographs :],
[All]
- Series 1: Political Career and Water Resources
- The first series consists of material related to Trenbeath's political career and water resources in North Dakota. The series includes detailed information regarding the efforts to secure a flood control project for the Pembina River Basin of North Dakota and the Province of Manitoba, Canada. Trenbeath was involved at the local, state, and national level in the matter of water resources. Reports, charts, maps, and newspaper clippings give an in depth view of the efforts to control flooding and use the water resources of the Pembina River Basin. Flood control and water resource issues were the concern of both North Dakota and Manitoba, and material in the series shows both the cooperation and conflicts that arose over the issue. There is also a small section dealing with Marjorie Trenbeath and her role in Trenbeath's career in the State Senate.
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Correspondence: North Dakota water resources, 1970-1979.
- Folder 2: Correspondence: North Dakota water resources, 1981-1983.
- Folder 3: Correspondence: North Dakota water resources, 1984-1988, undated.
- Folder 4: Correspondence concerning Trenbeath's selection as North Dakota's Outstanding Handicapped Citizen of 1968.
- Folder 5: Correspondence concerning Trenbeath's decision not to run for re-election in 1970.
- Folder 6: Certificates of Appointment and Recognition.
- Folder 7: "History of Flooding in the Red River Valley, 1776-1970", author unknown.
- Folder 8: U.S. Geological Survey's information on water discharge from the Pembina River, 1903-1979.
- Folder 9: Boundary Waters Treaty, United States and Great Britain, 1908 and 1925. (copies)
- Folder 10: "The International Joint Commission as a Judicial Body," author unknown.
- Folder 11: A Review of Provincial Procedures and Plans for Flood Protection and Flood Fighting: Manitoba Water Commission, December 1974.
- Folder 12: Phase 1 General Design Memorandum and Draft Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Flood Control, Main Report, Pembina River, North Dakota: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, May 1983.
- Folder 13: Phase 1 General Design Memorandum and Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Flood Control, Main Report, Pembina River, North Dakota: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, September 1983.
- Folder 14: Report of the International Joint Commission, Canada and the United States, on the Cooperative Development of the Pembina Basin: October 1967.
- Folder 15: Report: "A Cultural Resources Assessment of the Pembilier Lake and Dam Flood Control Project", 1980.
- Folder 16: Reports: Pembina River Basin flood control, 1969 and 1971.
- Folder 17: Reports: Pembina River Basin flood control, 1974.
- Folder 18: Reports: Pembina River Basin flood control, 1975-1979.
- Folder 19: Reports: Pembina River Basin flood control, 1981-1988.
- Folder 20: Maps, transparencies, and sketches: Pembina River Basin.
- Folder 21: Maps: Pembina River Basin.
- Folder 22: Pembina River Basin Association stationary.
- Folder 23: Miscellaneous memorabilia.
- Folder 24: Newspaper clippings: 1897, 1904, 1913, 1938, 1949-1950, 1956-1958.
- Folder 25: Newspaper clippings, 1960-1967.
- Folder 26: Newspaper clippings, 1968-1969.
- Folder 27: Newspaper clippings, 1970-1976.
- Folder 28: Newspaper clippings, 1981-1988, undated.
- Folder 29: Newspaper clippings, Mrs. Grant Trenbeath, mostly undated.
- Folder 30: Mrs. Grant Trenbeath material.
- Folder 31: Tax Assessment: Pembina County assessments 1980s and related materials.
- Folder 1: Correspondence: North Dakota water resources, 1970-1979.
- Box 1
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Political Career and Water Resources],
[Series 2: Pembina County History],
[Photographs :],
[All]