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

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.

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.

Nature and the Environment
Politics and Government - Republican Party
Water

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.