Title: Alvin M. Bentley papers Creator: Bentley, Alvin M. (Alvin Morell), 1918-1969 Dates: 1935-1969 (Majority of material found within 1950-1968) Extent: 104 linear feet, 5 oversize volumes, 1.36 GB (online) Location: Portions of the collection located offsite; two days notice required for retrieval. Abstract:
Republican congressman form Michigan's Eighth District, 1952-1960, candidate for U.S. Senate, 1960; member U.S. Foreign Service, 1942-1950, delegate to 1962 state constitutional convention; University of Michigan regent and philanthropist. Papers include diaries, correspondence photographs and other material his political career and other varied interests.
Call number: 85746 Aa 2 Language: The materials are in English. Repository: Bentley Historical Library
1150 Beal Ave. Ann Arbor, MI
48109-2113 Phone:
734-764-3482 Fax:
734-936-1333 e-mail:
bentley.ref@umich.edu Home Page: http://www.bentley.umich.edu/
Finding aid prepared by: Thomas E. Powers
Access and Use
Acquisition Information:
The collection was donated in a number of accessions between 1996 and 1981 by Alvin M. Bentley, his wife, and members of the Bentley family. Donor no. 4322
Access Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Digitized audio files are currently available only in the Bentley Historical Library reading room on designated Bentley Library computers.
To protect fragile audiovisual recordings (such as audio cassettes, film reels, and VHS
tapes), the Bentley Historical Library has a policy of converting them to digital
formats by a professional vendor whenever a researcher requests access. For more
information, please see: http://bentley.umich.edu/research/duplication/.
Copyright:
Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.
Alternate Format:
Digitization: The Library has undertaken the digitization of a number of sound recordings within this collection. The resulting audio files are available for playback only in the Bentley Library Reading Room. Links to item images and additional information are available within this finding aid. Original sound recordings are only available for staff use.
Preferred Citation:
item, folder title, box no., Alvin M. Bentley Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
Arrangement
Summary Contents List
Congressional Files, 1952-1960
Boxes 1-38
Senatorial Campaign, 1960
Boxes 39-43
Constitutional Convention, 1961-1963
Boxes 44-50
Congressional Campaign, 1962
Boxes 51-56
Citizens Committee on Higher Education, 1963-1965
Boxes 57-64
State Board of Education Campaign, 1964
Box 65
Michigan Freedom from Hunger Council, 1965
Box 65
Michigan-British Honduras (Belize) Partners of the Alliance, 1966-1969
Boxes 66-69
University of Michigan Board of Regents, 1966-1969
Boxes 69-75
Other Bentley Activities, 1960s
Boxes 75-79
Invitations, 1960s
Boxes 79-80
Speeches, 1960s
Box 80
Foreign Service Files
Box 81
Personal Correspondence, 1939-1969
Boxes 81-83
Personal Files
Box 84
Scrapbooks and Clippings, 1935-1969
Boxes 84-93
Diaries and journals, 1933-1969
Boxes 94-95
Miscellaneous (mainly materials in 1981 and later)
Boxes 96-102
Audio-Visual Materials
Boxes 103-104
Biography
Alvin M. Bentley, III, the only child of Alvin M. Bentley, Jr., and Helen Webb Bentley, was born in Portland, Maine August 30, 1918, three months before his father died while serving in France during World War I. Although fatherless, Bentley was not penniless for he was an heir to a family fortune which originated with his grandfather who founded the Owosso Manufacturing Company (later a division of Mitchell-Bentley Corporation) and was an early investor in the General Motors Corporation.
Bentley spent most of his youth outside of Michigan but returned to the state to attend the University of Michigan, the alma mater of his parents. He eventually established legal residence in the state on his twenty-first birthday and received a B.A. degree in 1940. In that same year he married Arvilla Peterson. They had three children, Alvin IV, Helen, and Michael and were divorced in October, 1951. The former Mrs. Bentley died in February, 1959.
At the outbreak of World War II, Bentley enrolled in the Turner Diplomatic School in Washington, D.C. and after a two-year program joined the diplomatic service in the State Department. As a member of the United States Foreign Service, he served in Mexico (1942-1944), Columbia (1945-1946), Hungary (1947-1949), and Italy (1949-1950). Finding himself at odds with the foreign policy of the Truman administration, Bentley resigned form the State Department in 1950 and returned to his home town, Owosso.
Writing articles for the Owosso Argus-Press and delivering speeches on his impressions and interpretations of America's foreign policy and governmental priorities, Bentley established himself well in the Eighth Congressional District which included Shiawassee, Saginaw, Ionia, Gratiot, Montcalm and Clinton Counties. In 1950 he became a delegate to the Republican State Convention, and was a delegate to succeeding conventions until 1954. On January 3, 1952, he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives. His opponent in the primary was Fred L. Crawford, an eighteen year Congressional veteran, whom he defeated after a vigorous campaign, by over 12,000 votes. He overwhelmingly defeated his Democratic opponent, Clarence Smazel, in the November election. Four days after the election, Bentley married for a second time. His wife was the former Arvella Ann Duescher. They had two children, Clark and Ann.
Assuming his Congressional duties in 1953, Bentley was the only freshman congressman appointed in that year to the Foreign Affairs Committee, serving on its Europe and State Department subcommittees. Being re-elected to his Congressional seat in 1954, 1956, and 1958 allowed him to rise in Committee seniority eventually becoming its ninth ranking Republican and leading party member in the State Department subcommittee. Bentley's Congressional career was marked by close adherence to the Republican Party position, especially in the area of national defense, agriculture, and foreign trade. He supported the Landrum-Griffin Bill and Congressional investigations of organized labor, while adhering also to the concepts of a balanced national budget and a program of debt reduction, a review of the size and administration of the Federal Aid Program, and the investigative program of the Un-American Conference in Bad Godesburng and also traveled through East Germany.
On March 1, 1954, while on the floor of the House of Representatives, Bentley was one of five Congressmen wounded by gunfire from the visitors gallery. The attackers were Puerto Ricans protesting American policy toward their homeland. By far the most seriously wounded, Bentley eventually recovered and returned to his Congressional duties nearly two months later.
In 1960, Bentley relinquished his Congressional seat to run for the Republican Senatorial nomination which he won in the primary election by over 200,000 votes. In the final election he faced the incumbent Democrat, Patrick V. McNamara. Bentley's prime target in his campaign was the eastern European groups in the Detroit area from which he hoped to gain enough votes to lessen the traditional Democratic margin in that city. McNamara was victorious in the end, however, by just over 120,000 votes out of nearly 3.2 million cast state wide.
In 1961, Bentley established the Alvin M. Bentley Foundation to support educational, scientific and charitable projects. In this same charitable vein he contributed money in 1967, to The University of Michigan to support an endowed chair in the Department of History honoring the memory of his parents.
Bentley was not out of public life long. In 1961, he was elected a delegate to the Michigan Constitutional Convention by the Fifteenth Senatorial District, becoming the Chairman of the Educational Committee which produced a report that has generally been considered one of the best of its kind in the country. The Executive Branch Committee of which he was a member drew up plans for the executive reorganization of state government as well as formulating plans for a State Civil Rights Commission.
As a result of changes in Michigan's population as revealed in the 1960 census, the state was required to redesign its Congressional districts. Until this was done, an interim plan was put forth in 1962, which established an at-large Congressional seat. Bentley announced his candidacy for this new position and faced only token opposition in the Republican primary. In the final election, however, he lost by a narrow margin to the Democrat, Neil Staebler. Despite this second political setback, there were other ways in which Bentley served the state.
In 1963, Governor George Romney appointed him to the Citizen's Committee on Higher Education of which Bentley was chairman, presented recommendations concerning state support for public colleges and universities. As a result of this report, these educational institutions received in 1965, the largest percentage increase in state support in Michigan's history.
The creation of the Michigan State Board of Education was a direct result of the work of Bentley's Education Committee of the Constitutional Convention. In 1964, Bentley sought a seat on this Board in the General Election, but in this endeavor, his last political race, he went down to defeat in the Democratic landslide of that year.
Bentley's life-long concern with humanitarian programs and efforts led him into two such organizations in the mid-1960's. One was the Michigan Freedom from Hunger Council of which he was Chairman of the Board. This Council was set up to gather, interpret, and disseminate information about hunger problems in the world, especially in the Western Hemisphere. It would then use this information to organize, assist, and coordinate activities, and specifically mobilize people with certain skills and knowledge to work on a special problem and to try to discover a means by which to alleviate it. Bentley also chaired the Michigan branch of the Partners of the Alliance. This organization was begun nationally in 1964, to act as a channel through which civic clubs, unions, business and professional groups, school and individuals could work directly with groups, villages, or areas in Latin America to improve the way of life in that particular area. It was hoped that the Partners of the Alliance would create a positive relationship, on a direct person-to-person level, between the United States and Latin America. The objective was not charity but rather a response to specific needs in order to meet some productive goal. The key concept of the Alliance then was the promotion of self-help programs. The State of Michigan took British Honduras (Belize) as its partner.
In 1966, Governor George Romney chose Bentley to fill the vacancy on the University of Michigan Board of Regents created by the resignation of Eugene Power. At the time Bentley was involved with the University in two other areas. In late 1965, Bentley had been appointed Chairman of the major gifts committee of the University's $55 million fund raising program commemorating its Sesquicentennial. Also, after his Congressional career was over in 1961, he had returned to the University as a graduate student in History. Maintaining offices in Washington, Bentley commuted by air to Ann Arbor to attend classes. He received a M.A. degree in 1963, and at the time of his Regental appointment was pursuing a doctorate.
In the early part of his Regental years Bentley was stricken by a disease affecting the central nervous system. Despite extensive surgery and rehabilitation the affliction forced Bentley to somewhat limit his activities. However regardless of physical limitations he insisted on resuming and carrying on his Regental duties. His health, however, continued to decline and while on vacation in Arizona he died on April 10, 1969 at the age of 50. He was survived by his widow, Arvella, five children and five grandchildren, and his mother.
Throughout his life, Bentley was involved in a wide variety of philanthropic and charitable organizations and endeavors. A listing of these reveals the breadth of his interest. He was associated with the Civil Rights Commission, Society for Mental Health, International Council of Christian Leadership, National Conference on Citizenship, Project HOPE, and American Good Government Society. On the educational level, besides his years as University of Michigan Regent, he also was a trustee of Cleary College, Detroit Institute of Technology, Nazareth College, and Northwood Institute. There were numerous state organizations which he actively supported and in which he participated. These include the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Council on Economic Education, Michigan Higher Education Facilities Committee, Professional Club of Michigan, and the Great Lakes Development Project. He was also a Trustee of the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University, a member of the University of Michigan Clements Library Associates and a Trustee and President of the Historical Society of Michigan. Bentley actively participated in civic affairs in his own community of Owosso, holding offices in the local chapters of the American Red Cross, YMCA, the board of Memorial Hospital, the Citizens Advisory Board of Owosso College, a study group for the implementation of a technical-vocational training program, and the Owosso Traffic Safety Committee.
Throughout his career he was deeply involved on the behalf of minority and ethnic groups holding memberships in the American Friends of the Captive Nations, Polish National Alliance, and the NAACP. Bentley's business associations included a directorship of the Owosso Savings Bank, the vice-presidency of the Mitchell-Bentley Corporation, and the Lake Huron Broadcasting Company. Bentley's organizational memberships included the National Exchange Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks, Masons (33rd degree), Shrine Club, Moose, Eagles, Optimist, and Sons of the American Revolution. Other memberships were in the Detroit Club, Detroit Athletic Club, Owosso City Club, Owosso Country Club, and the Saginaw Club.
In the Fall of 1971, Arvella D. Bentley donated $600,000 to the Michigan Historical Collections which allowed it to build a new quarters for its holdings. This new building named in honor of Alvin Bentley stands as a fitting memorial to a good friend of history and of The University of Michigan.
Collection Scope and Content Note
The Alvin M. Bentley collection includes correspondence, speeches, subject files, and other materials relating to his political career and public service activities. Included are his files while serving as a member of Congress and as a delegate to Michigan's Constitutional Convention in 1961-1962, his campaign files from his race for the U.S. Senate in 1960 and his bid to be elected Congressman-at-large in 1962. Other series in the collection relate to his interest in issues of education, particularly higher education, as reflected in his service on the Citizen's Committee on Higher Education, his campaign for the State Board of Education and his tenure as a member of the University of Michigan Board of Regents. Of value in documenting the various phases of Bentley's career are series of diaries and journals, scrapbooks and clipping files, and photographs.
Subject Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the finding aid database and catalog of The Bentley Historical Library/University of Michigan. Researchers desiring additional information about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.
Education -- Michigan.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1946-1960.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1961-1970.
Owosso (Mich.)
United States -- Politics and government -- 1945-1989.
Universities and colleges -- Michigan.
Polish Americans.
Hungarian Americans.
Saginaw River (Mich.)
Air raid shelters.
Floods -- Michigan -- Saginaw River Valley.
Politics and government -- 1946-1960.
Politics and government -- 1961-1970.
Political elections -- 1952.
Political elections -- 1958.
Political elections -- 1960.
Political elections -- 1962.
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1963-1969.
Motion pictures.
Photographs.
Sound recordings.
Bentley, Alvin M. (Alvin Morell), 1918-1969.
Michigan. Citizens Committee on Higher Education.
Michigan. Constitutional Convention (1961-1962)
Republican Party (Mich.)
United States. Congress -- Elections, 1960.
United States. Congress -- Elections, 1962.
United States. Congress. House.
University of Michigan. Board of Regents.
Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006.
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994.
Brenneman, Hugh W.
Miles, Tom.
Rogers, Lindbergh.
Schuler, Win.
Marshall, William.
Contents List
Request materials for use in the Bentley Library
Container / Location
Title
Congressional files 1952-1960 [series]
Congressional Files (38 linear ft.; 1952-1960) consists of correspondence with constituents, other concerned citizens, and his colleagues in the House. This series is arranged into four subseries: Yearly Files, Speeches, Post Office Patronage Files, and Miscellaneous. The Yearly Files subseries, maintained each year from 1952 to 1960 by Bentley and his staff, consists of chronologically arranged correspondence, and an alphabetically arranged topical file on matters of legislation, politics, foreign affairs, and other issues of the day.
Yearly Files [subseries]
1952
Correspondence
Box 1
January-May 1952
Box 1
June-July 1952
Box 1
August 1952
(2 folders)
Box 1
September-October 1952
Box 1
November 1952
(4 folders)
Box 1
December 1952
(2 folders)
Topical file 1952
Box 1
Eisenhower Inauguration
Box 1
Post Office Appointments
(2 folders)
Box 1
Taxes
1953
Correspondence
Box 1
January 1953
(2 folders)
Box 1
February 1953
(3 folders)
Box 1
March 1953
(3 folders)
Box 1
April 1953
(3 folders)
Box 1
May 1953
(3 folders)
Box 1
June 1953
(3 folders)
Box 1
July 1953
(3 folders)
Box 1
August 1953
(2 folders)
Box 1
September 1953
Box 1
October 1953
Box 1
November 1953
(3 folders)
Box 1
December 1953
(3 folders)
Topical file 1953
Box 2
Agriculture
(6 folders)
Box 2
Armed Services Committee
Box 2
Banking and Currency
Box 2
Bills and Resolutions
Box 2
Bricker Amendment (re: treaties)
Box 2
Communism
Box 2
Council of Free Czechoslovakia & the Slovak League of America
(2 folders)
Box 2
Fluoridation
Box 2
Foreign Aid and Foreign Affairs Commission
Box 2
Immigration
Box 2
Liquor Advertising
Box 2
McCarthy, Joseph
Box 2
Patronage
Box 2
Pensions
Box 2
Postal Employees
(2 folders)
Box 2
Postmasterships
(8 folders)
Box 2
Rosenberg Case and William O. Douglas
Box 2
St. Lawrence Seaway
Box 2
Small Business Administration
Box 2
Social Security
(2 folders)
Box 2
Taft-Hartley Act
Box 2
Tariff
(2 folders)
Box 2
Taxes
(4 folders)
Box 2
Tidelands Oil
Box 2
Miscellaneous
(4 folders)
1954
Correspondence
Box 3
January 1954
(2 folders)
Box 3
February 1954
Box 3
March 1954
Box 3
April 1954
Box 3
May 1954
Box 3
June 1954
(2 folders)
Box 3
July 1954
Box 3
August 1954
Box 3
September 1954
Box 3
October 1954
Box 3
November 1954
Box 3
December 1954
Topical file 1954
Box 3
Agriculture
(4 folders)
Box 3
Alcohol
Box 3
Banking and Currency
Box 3
Bricker Amendment (re: treaties)
Box 3
Chicano Farm Labor
Box 3
Committee on Communist Aggression
(2 folders)
Box 3
Communism
Box 3
Congressional District (8th, Michigan) Advisory Committee
Box 3
Eastern European Ethnic Groups
(4 folders)
Box 3
Eisenhower Administration
Box 3
Fluoridation
Box 3
Foreign Affairs Committee
Box 3
Foreign Service Pensions
Box 3
Hiss, Alger-pension
Box 3
Hungary
(2 folders)
Box 3
Income Taxes
(2 folders)
Box 3
Indo-China
(2 folders)
Box 4
Interstate and Foreign Commerce Commission
Box 4
McCarthy, Joseph
Box 4
Peoples Republic of China
Box 4
Post Office
(4 folders)
Box 4
Postal Pay
(9 folders)
Box 4
Puerto Rico
Box 4
Puerto Rico Trip of Congressman and Mrs. Bentley
Box 4
Railroad Labor Act
Box 4
Railroad Retirement Legislation
Box 4
Saginaw River Flood Control Project
(3 folders)
Box 4
Saginaw V.A. Hospital Investigation
Box 4
St. Lawrence Seaway
Box 4
Small Business Administration
Box 4
Social Security
(3 folders)
Box 4
Taft-Hartley Act
Box 4
Tariff
Box 4
Taxes
(2 folders)
Box 4
United Nations
Box 4
Veterans pensions
(2 folders)
Box 4
Vocational Education
Box 4
World Council of Churches
(4 folders)
Box 4
Miscellaneous
(3 folders)
Box 5
Correspondence concerning March, 1954 shooting on floor of the House of Representatives
Box 5
Michigan
Box 5
Puerto Rico
Box 6
Family
Box 6
General (other states)
Box 6
Visitors and Callers lists
Box 6
Get-Well Cards
1955
Correspondence
Box 7
January-December 1955
(20 folders)
Topical file 1955
Box 7
Agriculture
(8 folders)
Box 7
Air Force
(3 folders)
Box 7
Appropriations Committee
(2 folders)
Box 7
Armed Services Committee
Box 7
Banking and Currency
Box 7
Bentley for Governor
Box 7
Bricker Amendment (re: Treaties)
Box 7
Civil Aeronautics Administration
Box 7
Civil Defense
Box 8
Communism
(2 folders)
Box 8
Communist Aggression Committee
(3 folders)
Box 8
Defense, Department of
Box 8
Eastern Europe
(2 folders)
Box 8
Education and Labor Committee
Box 8
Federal Communication Commission
(2 folders)
Box 8
Federal Credit Unions
Box 8
Foreign Affairs Committee-general
(2 folders)
Box 8
Foreign Affairs Committee-Foreign Aid
Box 8
Foreign Affairs Committee-Study Mission to Europe
Box 8
Foreign Service Pensions
Box 8
Grayling Airfield Leases
Box 8
Health, Education and Welfare, Department of
(2 folders)
Notebook containing information on bill to amend United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948
Box 38
Notebook containing Bentley's Congressional voting record, topically and alphabetically arranged
Senatorial Campaign 1960 [series]
Senatorial Campaign (5 linear ft., 1958-1960) consists of two subseries. There is a topical file containing correspondence, clippings, and printed material on subjects pertaining to the issues and mechanics of the 1960 election. This file was maintained by the Bentley office. The other subseries draws together the remaining campaign files. Here have been brought together correspondence with campaign workers, press releases, clippings, and itineraries.
Alphabetical File [subseries]
(correspondence, clippings, printed materials and miscellaneous)
Box 39
"A"
Box 39
Advertising-Radio, TV, Newspapers
(2 folders)
Box 39
Applications-general
Box 39
Applications-Professional
(2 folders)
Box 39
"B"
Box 39
Bagwell for Governor-Itinerary
Box 39
Bentley Owosso Office Correspondence
Box 39
Bentley Washington Office Correspondence
Box 39
Bentley Biographical Sketch (short form)
Box 39
Bentley Biographical Sketch (long form)
Box 39
Bentley Thank-You Notes (outgoing)
Box 39
Bentley Thank-You Notes (incoming)
Box 39
"C"
(3 folders)
Box 39
Campaign Advertising
Box 39
Campaign Data-samples
Box 39
Campaign literature, letters, give-away items
Box 39
Campaign literature-general
Box 39
Campaign staff and staff meetings
Box 39
Cannevan, John P
Box 39
Caruso, Dick
Box 39
Caswell, William
Box 39
Congratulatory
Box 39
Crank File
Box 39
"D"
Box 39
Degnan, Dan D
Box 39
Denison, Spencer
Box 39
Des Jardin, Norman
Box 39
Directories
Box 39
Doctors' Mailing List
Box 39
"E"
Box 39
Election Qualifications
Box 39
Elligan, Leon
Box 39
Employment applications
Box 39
Endorsements
Box 39
Ethnic Groups
Box 39
Events during election year
Box 39
"F"
Box 39
"G"
Box 39
Glynn, James
Box 39
"H"
Box 39
Hotel-Motel Facilities
Box 39
Hungarian Group
Box 39
"I"
Box 39
Itineraries-general
Box 39
"J"
Box 40
Joseph, Thomas, B
(6 folders)
Box 40
"K"
Box 40
"L"
Box 40
Labor: CIO-COPE (Campaign literature & miscellaneous)
Box 40
"Mc"
Box 40
McNamara, Patrick
(4 folders)
Box 40
"M"
Box 40
Miscellaneous
(5 folders)
Box 40
"N"
Box 40
Negro Group
Box 40
"O"
Box 40
Opinions regarding Senatorial Campaign
Box 40
Organizational Meetings
(2 folders)
Box 40
Owosso Republican Women
Box 40
"P"
Box 40
Polish Group
Box 40
Polish Committee-Walter Wosoca
Box 40
Press Kit
Box 40
Promotional Material
Box 40
Promotional material-Promotion for Ticket splitting
Box 40
"R"
Box 40
Reference Letters
Box 40
Reid, Bill
Box 40
Republican Congressional Committee-Newsletter
Box 40
Republican National Committee
Box 40
Republican Nominees
Box 41
Republican State Central Committee
(2 folders)
Box 41
Republican State Convention, 1958-Delegates
Box 41
Republican State Committee-volunteers
Box 41
Republican Women
Box 41
Requests for Literature-miscellaneous
Box 41
"S"
Box 41
Sample Campaign Letters
Box 41
Statutes regarding elections
Box 41
"T"
Box 41
Telegrams, received
Box 41
Telegrams, sent
Television
Box 41
Program (questions and answers) November 7, 1960
Box 41
Primary Election costs
Box 41
Proposed budget
Box 41
Proposed spots
Box 41
Spots (July 5-August 1)
Thomas, Leigh
Box 41
General
Box 41
Personal memoranda
Box 41
Thank-You notes from People Invited to meeting June 4, 1960
Box 41
Thank You letters sent
Box 41
Travis, Noble
Box 41
"U"
Box 41
United States Government
Box 41
"V"
Volunteer Workers
Box 41
General
Box 41
Republican Party
Box 41
"W"
Box 41
Washington Office
Box 41
"XYZ"
Box 41
Young, Arthur & Co.
Box 41
Young Republicans
Miscellaneous campaign files [subseries]
Box 41
Campaign Workers, A-Z
(24 folders)
Campaign Workers by County
Box 41
Alcona-Arenac
Box 41
Baraga-Branch
Box 41
Calhoun-Clare
Box 41
Clinton-Crawford
Box 41
Delta-Gratiot
Box 41
Hillsdale-Ingham
Box 41
Ionia-Jackson
Box 41
Kalamazoo
Box 41
Kalkaska-Kent
Box 41
Keweenaw-Luce
Box 41
Mackinac-Macomb
Box 41
Manistee-Midland
Box 41
Missaukee-Newaygo
Box 41
Oakland
Box 41
Oakland meeting July 29, 1960
Box 41
Oceana-Ottawa
Box 41
Presque Isle-Saginaw
Box 42
Sanilac-Shiawassee
Box 42
St. Clair-Washtenaw
Box 42
Wayne-Wexford
Box 42
County list of Bentley for Senate committee members and supporters
Box 42
Wayne County congressional districts-officers and board members
Box 42
Political contacts, thirteenth through eighteenth congressional districts
Box 42
Detroit Metropolitan Bentley for Senate committee
Correspondence related to campaign
Box 42
January-November 1960
(13 folders)
Box 42
Speeches, campaign
(2 folders)
Box 42
Speeches-background materials
Box 42
Progress Reports of Bentley for Senate Committee
Press Releases
Box 42
April-October
(10 folders)
Box 42
Unreleased
Box 42
Media contacts-lists of Michigan newspapers and television & radio stations
Itineraries
Box 42
April-May
Box 42
June (invitations)
Box 42
June
Box 42
July (invitations)
Box 42
July
Box 42
August
Box 42
September
(2 folders)
Box 42
October
(3 folders)
Box 43
Correspondence
Box 43
Mrs. Bentley (October)
Box 43
Campaign Appearances
Petitions for Senate Race, include materials concerning:
Box 43
Filing
Box 43
County-by-county status
Box 43
Correspondence (outgoing)
Box 43
Correspondence (incoming)
Box 43
List of persons circulating petitions
Box 43
Wayne county (one envelope) 1960
Box 43
Election Polls
Box 43
Election Analysis-Michigan Campaigns 1950-1958
Box 43
Post-primary election analyses
Box 43
Unofficial tally of votes McNamara-Bentley, Swainson-Bagwell, Kennedy-Nixon, Hamtramck vote November 8, 1960
Box 43
Official Canvass of votes and post-election evaluations
Box 43
Election returns, Genesee & Lapeer counties
Box 43
Post election correspondence, in state
(4 folders)
Box 43
Post election correspondence, out state
Clippings
Box 43
Bagwell, Paul
Box 43
Kennedy, John
Box 43
McNamara, Patrick
Box 43
Nixon, Richard
Box 43
Romney, George
Box 43
Staebler, Neil
Box 43
Summerfield, Arthur
Box 43
Vandenberg, Arthur
Box 43
Announcement
Box 43
Anti-Catholic campaign
Box 43
Bentley-Leonard-McNamara
Box 43
Bentley, campaign expenses
Box 43
Bentley, campaign positions
Box 43
Bentley, personal
Box 43
Bentley, endorsements
Box 43
Bentley, speaking engagements
Box 43
Democrats
Box 43
Greeks
Box 43
Labor
Box 43
McCarthy, Joseph & Bentley
Box 43
Michigan politics
Box 43
National Republican Convention
Box 43
Negroes
Box 43
Poles
Box 43
Political advertising
Box 43
Shiawassee (Owosso) candidates
Box 43
General
Constitutional Convention 1961-1963 [series]
Constitutional Convention (7 linear ft.; 1961-1963) consists of correspondence and papers created and collected while Bentley served as a delegate to the convention.
Correspondence [subseries]
Box 44
January-December 1961
(26 folders)
Box 44
January-August 1962
(19 folders)
Box 44
November 13, 1961-May 11, 1962
(1 volume)
(outgoing)
Box 45
1963
Box 45
Re education issues discussed at the Constitutional Convention, A-Z
Committee Files [subseries]
Box 45
Committee on Administration
Box 45
Committee on Education
(4 folders)
Box 45
Committee on Emerging Problems
Box 45
Committee on Executive Branch
(6 folders)
Box 45
Committee on Finance & Taxation
(2 folders)
Box 45
Committee on Judicial Branch
Box 45
Committee on Legislative Organization
Box 46
Committee on Legislative Organization (cont.)
Box 46
Committee on Legislative Powers
Box 46
Committee on Local Government
(3 folders)
Box 46
Committee on Miscellaneous Provision and Schedules
Box 46
Committee on Public Information
Box 46
Committee on Rights, Suffrage & Elections
Box 46
Committee on Rules & Regulations
(3 folders)
Box 46
Committee on Style & Drafting
Various [subseries]
Box 46
Con-Con Issues
Box 46
Courts
Box 46
Highways
Box 46
Taxation
Box 46
Miscellaneous
Box 46
Papers on Con-Con related topics
(4 folders)
Box 46
Papers concerning George Romney's role in Con-Con
Box 46
Con-Con candidates and delegates-profiles
Box 46
Papers related to Bentley's Con-Con campaign & election
(2 folders)
Box 46
Bentley's Con-Con speeches & itinerary
Box 46
Citizen's Research Council of Michigan-Council Comments December 1961-May 1962
Box 46
Citizen's Research Council of Michigan-Miscellanea
Box 46
Citizen's Research Council of Michigan-Publications on Con-Con
Box 46
Coordinating Committee for Con-Con
Box 46
Gongwer (Lansing, Mich.) News Service, Inc. Reports October 1961
Box 46
League of Women Voters (Michigan) Press Releases on Con-Con October 1961-January 1962, January-March 1963
Box 47
Michigan Con-Con Weekly Reports December 1961-March 1963
Box 47
Michigan Council of State College Presidents-Bulletins 1962
Public Information Committee (Con-Con) Weekly Delegates Reports November 1961-April 1962
Box 47
Public Information Committee (Con-Con)--Delegates' Column December 1961-May 1962
Box 47
Reading lists of materials on constitutional revision
Box 47
Republican Con-Con Educational committee
Box 47
Select Committee to Place Constitution on Public Ballot
Clippings
Box 47
Administration
Box 47
Declaration of Rights, Suffrage & Election
Box 47
Education
(2 folders)
Box 47
Executive Branch
(2 folders)
Box 47
Finance & Taxation
(2 folders)
Box 47
General Miscellaneous
(2 folders)
Box 47
Judicial Branch
(2 folders)
Box 47
Legislative Organization
(2 folders)
Box 47
Legislative Powers
Box 47
Local Government
Box 47
Miscellaneous provisions & Schedules
(2 folders)
Box 47
Public Information
Box 47
Rules & Resolutions
(2 folders)
Box 47
Style & Drafting
Notebooks and published materials on Con-Con & related topics
(also includes additional newspaper clippings)
Box 48
Notebooks and published materials on Con-Con & related topics
Box 49
Notebooks and published materials on Con-Con & related topics
(continued)
Box 50
Notebooks and published materials on Con-Con & related topics
(continued)
Congressional Campaign 1962 [series]
Congressional Campaign (6 linear ft.; 1962) documents Bentley's campaign in the special congressman-at-large election of 1962. The series includes correspondence, press releases, staff and county coordinator files, speeches, topical files on the running of the campaign, and issues files.
Correspondence [subseries]
Box 51
May-November 1962
(11 folders)
Box 51
With George Romney concerning gubernatorial appointments 1962-1963
Bentley for Congress County Coordinators [subseries]
Box 52
General information
(2 folders)
Box 52
Alcona-Alger
Box 52
Allegan-Arenac
Box 53
Baraga-Bay
Box 53
Benzie-Branch
Box 53
Calhoun-Cass
Box 53
Charlevoix-Chippewaw
Box 53
Clare-Emmet
Box 53
Genesee-Grand Traverse
Box 53
Gratiot-Gogebic
Box 53
Hillsdale-Huron
Box 53
Ingham
Box 53
Ionia-Isabella
Box 53
Jackson-Kalkaska
Box 53
Kent-Keweenaw
Box 53
Lake-Luce
Box 53
Machinac-Mason
Box 53
Mecosta-Missaukee
Box 53
Monroe-Montorency
Box 53
Muskegon-Newaygo
Box 53
Oakland-Ottawa
Box 53
Presque Isle-Saginaw
Box 53
St. Clair-Shiawassee
Box 53
Tuscola-Wexford
Campaign Appearances/Itineraries and Speeches [subseries]
Box 53
Correspondence January-November 1962
(10 folders)
Correspondence on campaign appearances
Box 53
January-August 1962
(6 folders)
Box 53
September 1-19, 1962
Box 53
September 20-30, 1962
Box 53
October 1-5, 1962
Box 54
October 6-10, 1962
Box 54
October 11-12, 1962
Box 54
October 13-16, 1962
Box 54
October 17-21, 1962
Box 54
October 22-24, 1962
Box 54
October 25-28, 1962
Box 54
October 29-31, 1962
Box 54
November 1962
Box 54
Regrets on campaign appearances January-November 1962
(4 folders)
Box 54
Speeches
(3 folders)
Box 54
Speech reference and background materials-general topics
(5 folders)
Box 54
Speech reference and background materials-medicare
(5 folders)
Box 55
Speech reference and background materials-medicare (cont.)
(2 folders)
General campaign materials [subseries]
Box 55
Advertising (radio-television)
Box 55
Bumper stickers & cards
Box 55
Fair appearances
Box 55
Finance Luncheons
Box 55
Form letters
Box 55
Michigan Newspapers
Box 55
Miscellaneous
Box 55
Other candidates
Petitions
Box 55
List of circulators
(2 folders)
Box 55
Postage, receipts, etc.
Box 55
Statistics
(2 folders)
Box 55
Special thank-you letters
Box 55
Republican State Central Committee
(3 folders)
Box 55
Romney for Governor campaign-general information
(2 folders)
Box 55
Romney for Governor campaign-correspondence
Box 55
Romney for Governor campaign-schedules
Box 55
Staebler campaign
Box 55
Neil Staebler: Profile of the boss
Box 56
Supplies
(2 folders)
Votemaker questionnaires
Box 56
Circulators
Box 56
Correspondence
Box 56
Distribution
Box 56
Returns
Box 56
Worksheet reports
Miscellaneous [subseries]
Box 56
Vote Returns
Box 56
Primary Election
Box 56
Final Election
(3 folders)
Box 56
Michigan Republican State Convention Press book
Booklets on campaign issues
Box 56
Minimum wage
Box 56
Tax Reform
Box 56
Economy
Box 56
Desired Job Level
Box 56
Federal Aid to Education
Box 56
A Fact Book for Republican Campaigners 1962
Box 56
How to Win Votes & Influence People
Box 56
Congressional Quarterly Election Report (1962)
Box 56
Michigan State Chamber of Commerce-A Roster of Nominees
Box 56
Notebook of clippings on Bentley vs. Staebler
Box 56
Two Notebooks of clippings on other candidates
Box 56
Clippings-general
(2 folders)
Box 56
Scrapbook (unbound)-Women Volunteers for Bentley (Signe Karlstrom)
Citizens Committee on Higher Education 1963-1965 [series]
Citizens Committee on Higher Education (8 linear ft.; 1963-1965) includes meeting files, working files of the committee and its subcommittees, reference and background information, and clippings on educational matters.
Correspondence
Box 57
Executive Committee
Box 57
Committee
(2 folders)
Box 57
Study Committee I,II,IV
(2 folders)
Box 57
Study Committee III
(4 folders)
Box 57
General
(8 folders)
Box 57
With George Romney
Box 57
Background file
(2 folders)
Box 57
Reports of meetings (executive committee and full committee)
Box 57
Governor's Education Budget
(3 folders)
Regional meeting
Box 57
Dearborn May 5, 1965 and Detroit, May 11, 1965 1965
Box 57
Kalamazoo May 19, 1965
Box 57
Flint May 20, 1965
Box 57
Grand Rapids May 24, 1965
Box 57
Traverse City May 26, 1965
Box 57
Marquette, June 1, 1965
Box 57
Ann Arbor December 4, 1965
Box 57
Memoranda
Box 57
Correspondence, Citizens Research Council of Michigan
Box 57
Reference materials, Citizens Research Council of Michigan
(2 folders)
Box 58
Bentley speeches
(3 folders)
Box 58
Bentley appearances and invitations
Box 58
Final Committee report
Reference materials
Box 58
General
Box 58
Subcommittee 1-A
Box 58
Subcommittee 1-B
Box 58
Subcommittee 1-C
Box 58
Subcommittee II
(3 folders)
Box 58
Subcommittee III
(3 folders)
Box 58
Subcommittee IV
Study Committee on Sault Ste. Marie branch of Michigan Technological College:
Box 58
Committee correspondence
Box 58
General
Box 58
Minutes of Meetings
Box 58
Final Report
Box 58
Reference materials
(2 folders)
Box 58
Clippings
Box 58
Printed materials
Reference and Background materials for Higher Education Comm.
Box 59
Staff Consultants (Kenneth Morse, Harold Taylor & Harold Smith) files
(3 folders)
Box 59
Universities and Colleges
(4 folders)
Box 59
Community Colleges
Box 59
Private Colleges
Box 59
General information
(4 folders)
Box 59
Michigan Association of Colleges and Universities
Box 59
Michigan Council of Community College Administrators
Box 59
Michigan Council on Economic Education
(2 folders)
Box 59
Michigan Coordinating Council
Box 59
Michigan Council of State College Presidents
Box 59
Saginaw Valley
(2 folders)
Box 59
Flint
(3 folders)
Box 60
Federal Commission on Higher Education
Box 60
Printed materials on state, private & public colleges
Film strip and program on Higher Education Committee
Box 61
Clippings on Educational Matters
Administration & Faculty
Box 61
College Administration
Box 61
Faculty
Box 61
Teachers-Organization and Standards including licensing
(5 folders)
