Archives West Finding Aid

The David S. King papers (1959-1966) are comprised of those materials that were used and collected by Congressman King during his three terms in the United States House of Representatives and during a two year interim period between terms. These materials, particularly those associated with the committees on which King served, provide the researcher with valuable information pertaining to such national issues as education and Vietnam, and more specific Utah matters as reclamation and water, national parks, mineral exploration, and industrial development.

The collection consists of written manuscript materials, photographs, tapes, records, and films. The written materials make up by far the most extensive portion of the collection, filling some 79 boxes with manuscript papers. These written materials consist of constituent and official correspondence, reports, newsletters, press releases, statements and testimony, pamphlets and publications, bills, committee hearings and reports, memorandums, graphs, charts, and maps. These types of materials appear consistently throughout the collection. Therefore, to prevent repetitiveness, in most cases specific descriptions of folder contents have been omitted. Where warranted however, brief statements summarizing folder content have been included. This applies to descriptions of specific subject matter of particular interest or importance and any materials pertaining to Utah affairs.

The collection consists of three major sections. They concern his terms in office and in-between. There is little material from King's first two terms in office or from the interim period between terms. Most of the material pertains to Congressman King's senatorial campaign against Wallace F. Bennett. Also included is correspondence and political files which have been arranged alphabetically by subject. King's third term, is by far the largest of the three sections. It represents a nearly complete compilation of his work in Congress during 1965-1966. These papers contain information on a wide variety of government and political subjects, with particular emphasis in the areas of Interior and Insular Affairs and Government Operations, the two committees on which King served. The original filing system used by the congressman's staff has been retained and the collection has been organized according to that system. A copy of this filing guide may be found in Bx 16 Fd 1. The third section has been further divided into ten segments:

Correspondence (Boxes 10-15)

This includes copies of outgoing correspondence written by King and is arranged alphabetically. Much of this correspondence appears elsewhere in the collection, its location being determined by its matter. Because of the alphabetical arrangement, the names of individuals have not been indexed.

Departments (Boxes 16-34)

The Departments are the largest segment and consist of materials associated with the various departments of government. This includes the State and Treasury Departments, Military Departments, Justice, the Post Office, Interior, Agriculture, Labor, and Health, Education and Welfare. Some subjects that have materials pertaining to Utah include defense establishments, Interior, the Bureau of Land Management, mining and education.

Independent Agencies (Boxes 35-39)

These smaller agencies include the Atomic Energy Commission, the Indian Claims Commission, and other agencies, commissions and boards.

Committees (Boxes 40-51)

The papers that emerge from committees consist of materials pertaining to legislation that is to be put before the Congress. Issues generating the most controversy and interest include common situs picketing, repeal of the Taft-Hartly Act (right to work), gun control, education bills and reclamation projects in Utah.

King (Boxes 52-64)

This section contains materials from those areas in which King was personally involved. These include bills he sponsored before the House, his work on the Committees of Government Operations and Interior and Insular Affairs, press releases, newsletters and speeches. Of particular interest are those items in government operations dealing with King's participation in the Vietnam Congressional Investigations which included a trip to South Vietnam. Materials in the Interior and Insular Affairs have a particular bearing on Utah as most of the papers deal with water and reclamation projects in Utah and the West.

Utah Affairs (Boxes 65-70)

Although materials pertaining to Utah may be found throughout the collection, this section contains items that deal specifically with Utah matters. It includes such subjects as the Governor's office, industrial development, education, water and various reclamation projects.

Office Files (Boxes 71-72)

This section contains those items associated with the logistics and technicalities of running a Congressman's office. Bills, receipts, subscriptions, orders for office equipment and instructions for office procedure comprise the bulk of this material. Also included are several folders, pertaining specifically to King's Utah office.

Political Files (Box 73)

This is an alphabetical arrangement by subject of various political matters such as the John Birch Society and the Democratic National Committee. This section also includes some materials on other politicians such as Frank E. Moss, Sherman P. Lloyd and Laurence Burton.

Courts and National Affairs (Boxes 74-77)

This section contains materials associated with the United States Supreme Court and circuit courts and subjects of national interest--labor, food and drugs, fuels, the elderly and urban renewal among others.

Reference Files (Boxes 78-79)

The reference files contain materials on subjects that for the most part have already appeared in the collection, but these items provide source material not found elsewhere. Draft bills, notes, recommendations, department policies, notes of meetings and conferences, publications and briefings are examples of these materials.