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Guide to the Basil Lee Whitener Papers, 1889-1968

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Descriptive Summary

Title
Basil Lee Whitener Papers, 1889-1968
Creator
Whitener, Basil Lee, 1915-
Extent
306 Boxes
ca. 297,300 Items
Repository
Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Language
English.
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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in the Whitener Papers have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information consult the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], The Basil Lee Whitener Papers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Whitener Papers were transferred from Belmont Abbey College in 1978.
Processing Information
Processed by: Sharon E. Knapp
Completed December 22, 1983
Encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
            

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Biographical Note

Biography

Committee Assignments

Commmittee on Veteran's Affairs(Jan. 3, 1957 - Jan. 16, 1958)

Committee on the District of Columbia(87th Congress, 1st Session, 1961 - 90th Congress, 2nd Session, 1968)

Subcommittees:

  • II Judiciary, Insurance, Public Utilities, and Various Other Proposed District Legislation
  • III Police, Firemen, Streets, Traffic, Crime, Courts, and Various other Proposed District Legislation
  • V Departmental Bills in General, which has general jurisdiction over legislation affecting the District of Columbia, Chairman
  • VI Rapid Transit, Chairman
  • Investigation Subcommittee, which was responsible for getting the proper information from certain District agencies as to whether the Acts of Congress passed on Capitol Hill are being properly administered.

    • Special Subcommittees:

  • Special Subcommittee on Metropolitan Police Department, Chairman
  • Special Subcommittee to Study Revenue Procedures in the District of Columbia, Chairman
  • Special Subcommittee on Traffic, Streets, and Highways, Chairman

    • Committee on the Judiciary (86th Congress, 1st Session, 1959 - 90th Congress, 2nd Session, 1968)

    Subcommittee:

  • IV Bankruptcy and Reorganization, which has general jurisdiction over judiciary bills as assigned by the Chairman and special jurisdiction over bankruptcy and reorganization Ranking Democratic Member
    • Special Subcommittee:
  • Special Subcommittee on State Taxation of Interstate Commerce, Appointed in 1961

    • In addition, Whitener served on several special committees investigating such matters as interstate taxation, the Chinese refugee problem, the International Police organization, and the International Court of Justice.

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    Collection Overview

    Basil Lee Whitener Papers primarily contain the office files of Congressman Whitener when he was the U. S. Representative for the Eleventh District (85th - 87th Congresses) and Tenth District (88th -90th Congresses) of North Carolina. Although the papers span the years 1889-1968, the bulk of the papers covers Whitener's years in office, 1957-1968. Some of the early files from the 81st through the 84th Congresses, are the papers of Woodrow Wilson Jones, Whitener's predecessor in office.
    luded in the papers are such Items as correspondence, printed material, invitations, speeches, clippings, financial papers, photographs, as well as legislative materials and drafts of bills. Much of this collection consists of correspondence between Whitener and his constituents, other Congressmen, and government officials.
    The papers are divided into the following series:
    • Political
    • Correspondence (General)
    • Correspondence (Legislative)
    • District of Columbia
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary Committee
    • Speeches
    • Subject
    • Case Files
    • Textile Imports
    • House of Representatives
    • Military and Veterans
    • Military Academy
    • Trips
    • Post Office
    • Grants
    • Invitations
    • General Information
    • Office Files
    • Office Information
    • Personal
    By far the largest category is the Correspondence (General), even though it was weeded extensively. The Correspondence (Legislative) Series is also rather large. Both of these series contain extensive correspondence with constituents. Other large series are the Personal Series, which pertains more directly to Whitener's private and unofficial affairs, and the Office Files Series, containing files which seem to have been in active use by Whitener's office staff at the time he left office.
    There are information and opinions in the collection on a variety of issues of national importance during the 1960s. Included are the Vietnam War, civil rights legislation, riots, crime legislation, gun control, foreign aid, Social Security, and the Taft-Hartley Act. Other subjects are the U. S. Congress and various bills and laws. There are a variety of letters from prominent persons, such as John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Sargent Shriver, Strom Thurmond, and Sam Ervin.
    The views of Whitener on many national and state issues are revealed within the collection. He supported legislation to combat crime and civil disobedience, a strong national defense, and exerting every effort to bring the Vietnamese Conflict to a successful conclusion. The Congressman was opposed to civil rights legislation, deficit spending, foreign aid spending, and the proliferation of domestic and social programs. Concerning North Carolina issues, Whitener wanted restrictions on textile imports in order to protect jobs, and supported the concept of a balanced economy in the state. As a member of the Committee on the District of Columbia, he authored bills to curb the crime rate in the District of Columbia and a bill to establish a modern rail rapid transit system in the District. In general, Whitener seemed to exhibit the views of conservative Southern Democrats.
    Specific subjects are noted in more detail in the inventory. There is some overlap of subjects among the series.

    Note on Processing and Arrangement

    The arrangement of the Whitener Papers has followed the system originally used by the Congressman's office as much as possible. The series were grouped by placing the more significant and larger series in the beginning. The Personal Series was placed at the end. Although the collection was usually left in the structure it had when it came to the library, many of the folders within the series were in various states of disorder. Rearrangement of the order of these folders was often necessary in order to create a logical organization, whether it be chronological, subject, or some other arrangement. Folder titles remain intact whenever possible, except when clarification was necessary.
    Although categories do indicate the contents, headings are not always inclusive. For example, there may be information on a Social Security bill in the Correspondence (Legislative) Series. However, information on the same bill may be located in other series, such as the House of Representatives or Judiciary. Such folders were retained in their original files.
    Weeding out of certain material was a necessary part of the cataloging process for the collection. Two series were discarded. They were: the File Cards Series, containing only names and addresses with no other notations; and the Appalachian State Graduates Series, including names and addresses of graduates in the Tenth Congressional District. Routine Items were eliminated from the collection, especially in the Correspondence (General) Series, Subject Series, Case Files Series, and Personal Series. Examples of such Items are individual Social Security claims, visa applications, routine correspondence, and duplicates In the Military and Veterans Series only the files for the letter "C" were retained, as well as a few small subject folders. The majority of the folders in the Military Academy Series was discarded because they were individual application materials and academic records of Whitener's appointees. The same procedures as above were followed for the routine Military and Veterans, and Military Academy files contained in the Office Files Series. For more specific information, see the individual descriptions of series in the inventory.
    Subject and autograph cards have been prepared for the card catalog, but they are very selective. Subject entries were made for series level topics, and for those of folder headings, if of sufficient importance. Whenever a subject entry was made, other references in other categories are possible because it was not feasible to specifically cite all references to a topic. Autograph cards were made only for outstanding correspondents, especially those in the Correspondence (General) Series.

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    Subject Headings

    These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
    • Civil rights--United States.
    • Gun control--United States.
    • Legislators--United States--Records.
    • North Carolina--Politics and government.
    • Social security--Law and legislation--United States.
    • United States--Foreign relations--Law and legislation.
    • United States--Politics and government--20th century.
    • Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975.
    • Ervin, Sam J. (Sam Jones), 1896-1985.
    • Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963.
    • Kennedy, Robert F., 1925-1968.
    • Shriver, Sargent, 1915-
    • Thurmond, Strom, 1902-
    List of Series in Collection
    Political Series, 1956-1966
    Correspondence (General) Series, 1956-1968
    Correspondence (Legislative) Series, 1956-1968
    District of Columbia Series, 1961-1968
    Judiciary Series, 1950-1966,primarily 1957-1966
    Judiciary Committee Series, 1961-1968
    Speeches Series, 1954-1968,primarily 1957-1968
    Subject Series, 1953-1968,primarily 1961-1968
    Case File Series, 1950-1962,primarily 1957-1960
    Textile Imports Series, 1955-1968
    House of Representatives Series, 1963-1968and undated,primarily 1965-1968
    Military and Veterans Series, 1945-1968
    Military Academy Series, 1958-1968
    Trips Series, 1944-1968,primarily 1959-1968
    Post Office Series, 1944-1968,primarily 1950-1968
    Grants Series, 1966-1968
    Invitations Series, 1956-1968
    General Information Series, 1950-1964and undated
    Office Files Series, 1951-1968,primarily 1962-1968
    Office Information Series, 1956-1968
    Personal Series, 1889-1968and undated,primarily 1957-1968
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    Detailed Description of Collection

    Political Series, 1956-1966

    This series primarily concerns Whitener's first bid for Congress in 1956. He decided to run for Congress in January of that year when Woodrow W. Jones declined to run for re-election as the representative of the Eleventh Congressional District. Included is information on the campaign and two primaries, as well as on the election. The primaries were held on May 26(Whitener/Gardner/Wells) and June 23 (Whitener/Gardner). In addition to the 1956 campaign material, there are precinct committee lists for 1960 and 1962, and material pertaining to the 1966 campaign.
    Box 1
       Folders 3-6
    Congressional File, 1956, Jan. - Apr.
    Concerns Whitener's candidacy for Congress and plans for the campaign
       Folder 7
    Congressional Campaign Correspondence, 1956, Apr. - Juneand undated
    Box 2
       Folders 1-3
    Correspondence - "BLW for Congress," 1956, Mar. - Juneand undated
       Folders 4-5
    Congressional Campaign - Post-Campaign Correspondence, 1956, May - Oct.
    Includes congratulatory letter upon Whitener's election as well as thank you's for support in the campaign.
       Folder 6
    Congressional Correspondence, 1956, Jan. - Nov.
    Information in reference to Whitener's early duties as a Congressman and preparations for his new position.
    Box 3
       Folder 1
    Congressional Correspondence, 1956, Dec.and undated
    Same as above.
       Folders 2-3
    Congressional Campaign Lists, 1956, Mar.- 1958, Oct.and undated
    Also includes some correspondence.
       Folders 4-6
    Congressional Campaign Bills, 1956, Mar. - Aug.and undated
       Folder 7
    Precinct Committee Lists,1960and1962
       Folder 8
    Smyre Letter,1966
    Smyre was the Finance Chairman for the 1966Whitener campaign for re-election.

    Correspondence (General) Series, 1956-1968

    This series, the largest in the collection, runs from the 85th Congress, first session, 1957, through the 90th Congress, second session, 1968. Included is correspondence to and from Whitener's constituents. Some of the letters were written by his administrative assistant, Herbert M. Lineberger. The papers are organized by Congress and session, and then alphabetically within each session by name of correspondent. In some cases Whitener's office held material together about a certain person in the folder for the letter of the alphabet for his name, regardless of the correspondents involved. For example, there may be letters about Mr. Capps in the "C" folder, which were written by various persons. There are a few subject folders included in the alphabetical arrangement. Items within the folders are filed chronologically.
    In addition to constituent mail, Whitener corresponded with prominent persons. Representative people are Sam Ervin, Thad Eure, Orville Freeman, Luther Hodges, J. Edgar Hoover, Hubert Humphrey, Lyndon Johnson, B. Everett Jordan, John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Dan K. Moore, Admiral Hyman Rickover, Terry Sanford, Sargent Shriver, and Strom Thurmond. Several letters appear in this series for each of the above correspondents. Please consult the Autograph File of the card catalog for a detailed listing of these letters.
    A variety of topics appear throughout the series. Particularly in the late 1960s the themes of the Vietnam War, civil rights legislation, riots, crime legislation, gun control, and foreign aid appear often in constituent's letters. In 1968 some constituents were urging Whitener to run for governor of North Carolina. The papers go primarily through October, 1968.
    Extensive, although conservative, weeding was done in this series. The decision to weed was made because of the large proportion of routine material included. Approximately one-third of this series was discarded. The following is a list of the types of Items that were weeded out:
    • 1. Claims for individual Social Security benefits
    • 2. Passport and visa applications
    • 3. Individual immigration change of status requests
    • 4. Requests for prison paroles
    • 5. Routine congratulatory letters, except from prominent persons
    • 6. Routine job applications and resumes
    • 7. Correspondence concerning visits of school groups to Washington
    • 8. Expressions of sympathy
    • 9. Congratulations to new parents
    • 10. Welcome letters to new residents of Gastonia, N. C.
    • 11. Routine requests for government publications, flags, photographs, etc.
    • 12. Admissions of individual patients to hospitals and rehabilitation facilities
    • 13. Recalls and discharges from military service
    • 14. Individual income tax returns
    • 15. Tickets for athletic events
    • 16. Applications for individual Farmers Home Administration (FHA) loans
    • 17. Applications for enlistments and discharges from various branches of the military
    • 18. Duplicate copies of speeches, reports, memoranda, etc.

    85th Congress, 1st Session, 1957
    Box 4
       Folders 1-7
    A - G
    Box 5
       Folders 1-8
    H - P
    Box 6
       Folders 1-2
    R - S
       Folder 3
    Speech at Dallas High School
       Folders 4-7
    T - Z

    85th Congress, 2nd Session, 1958
    Box 7
       Folders 1-6
    A - D
    Box 8
       Folders 1-7
    E - L
    Box 9
       Folders 1-6
    Mc - R
    Box 10
       Folders 1-6
    S - Z

    86th Congress, 1st Session, 1959
    Box 11
       Folders 1-6
    A - D
    Box 12
       Folders 1-8
    E - Mc
    Box 13
       Folders 1-7
    M - V
    Box 14
       Folders 1-3
    W - Z
       Folders 4-7
    Letters Whitener wrote from his district office in Gastonia, N. C., and letters his administrative assistant wrote from the Washington office in his absence.

    86th Congress, 2nd Session, 1960
    Box 15
       Folders 1-6
    A - C
    Box 16
       Folders 1-8
    D - H (1960, Jan. - June)
    Box 17
       Folders 1-7
    H (1960, July- Dec.) - M
    Box 18
       Folders 1-6
    N - S
    Box 19
       Folders 1-5
    T - Z
    Box 20
       Folders 1-7
    Primarily letters Whitener wrote from his district office in Gastonia, N. C.

    87th Congress, 1st Session, 1961
    Box 21
       Folders 1-6
    A - C
    Box 22
       Folders 1-6
    D - H (1961, Jan. - Apr.)
    Box 23
       Folders 1-7
    H (1961, May - Dec.)- L (1961, Jan. - May)
    Box 24
       Folders 1-7
    L (1961, June - Dec.)- Q
    Box 25
       Folders 1-4
    R - S
       Folder 5
    Supreme Court (Admission of Attorneys, June 12, 1961)
       Folders 6-7
    T
    Box 26
       Folders 1-4
    U - Z
       Folders 5-9
    Primarily letters Whitener wrote from his district office in Gastonia, N.C., and letters his administrative assistant wrote from the Washington office in his absence.

    87th Congress, 2nd Session, 1962
    Box 27
       Folders 1-7
    A - C (1962, Jan. - Mar.)
    Box 28
       Folders 1-7
    C (1962, Apr. - Dec.)- F
    Box 29
       Folders 1-7
    G - J
    Box 30
       Folders 1-6
    K - M (1962, Jan. - July)
    Box 31
       Folders 1-8
    M (1962, Aug. - Dec.)- R
    Box 32
       Folders 1-7
    S - Z

    88th Congress, 1st Session, 1963
    Box 33
       Folders 1-7
    A - C (1963, Jan. - June)
    Box 34
       Folders 1-7
    C (1963, July - Dec.)- F
    Box 35
       Folders 1-8
    G - K and Knight, Douglas (Dinner)
    Box 36
       Folders 1-7
    L - N
    Box 37
       Folders 1-8
    O - S (1963, Jan. - Apr.)

    88th Congress, 1st Session, 1963
    Box 38
       Folders 1-2
    S (1963, May- Dec.)
       Folder 3
    Supreme Court - Admission of Attorneys
       Folders 4-5
    T - V
    Box 39
       Folders 1-3
    W - Z

    88th Congress, 2nd Session, 1964
    Box 40
       Folders 1-7
    A - C (1964, Jan. - Sept.)
    Box 41
       Folders 1-8
    C (1964, Oct. - Dec.)- G
    Box 42
       Folders 1-7
    H - K
    Box 43
       Folders 1-2
    L
       Folder 3
    Lowell, N.C. (1964-1967)
    Correspondence and other papers concerning the application by the town of Lowell, N.C., for a federal grant in the amount of $246,548 to be used in the construction of a waste treatment plant.
       Folders 4-8
    Mc - N
    Box 44
       Folders 1-7
    O - S (1964, Jan. - May)
    Box 45
       Folders 1-8
    S (1964, June- Dec.) - Z

    89th Congress, 1st Session, 1965
    Box 46
       Folders 1-6
    A - B
    Box 47
       Folders 1-5
    C - E
    Box 48
       Folders 1-6
    F - H (1965, Jan. - May)
    Box 49
       Folders 1-7
    H (1965, June- Dec.) - L
    Box 50
       Folders 1-7
    Mc - Q
    Box 51
       Folders 1-7
    R - T
    Box 52
       Folders 1-5
    V - Z

    89th Congress, 2nd Session, 1966
    Box 53
       Folders 1-5
    A - B
       Folder 6
    Brown, Eugene R.: P.A.C.E., Inc. (Plan Assuring College Education in North Carolina)
    Box 54
       Folders 1-6
    C - D (1966, Jan. - Aug.)
    Box 55
       Folders 1-6
    D (1966, Sept. - Dec.)- G
    Box 56
       Folders 1-7
    H - J
    Box 57
       Folders 1-5
    K - M (1966, Jan. - Apr.)
    Box 58
       Folders 1-6
    M (1966, May- Dec.) - P
    Box 59
       Folders 1-6
    Q - S (1966, Jan. - Aug.)
    Box 60
       Folders 1-5
    S (1966, Sept. - Dec.)- V
    Box 61
       Folders 1-3
    W
       Folder 4
    Wright, M. A.
    Concerns an expression of interest in the improvement of Highway 105 in the Linville Falls area.
       Folder 5
    X - Z
       Folders 6-7
    Primarily copies of letters written by Whitener from his Gastonia office, Oct. - Dec.,1966

    90th Congress, 1st Session, 1967
    Box 62
       Folders 1-5
    A - B (1967, Jan. - July)
    Box 63
       Folders 1-6
    B (1967, Aug. - Dec.)- C
    Box 64
       Folders 1-6
    D - G (1967, Jan. - Apr.)
    Box 65
       Folders 1-6
    G (1967, May - Dec.)- H (1967, Jan. - Sept.)
    Box 66
       Folders 1-6
    H (1967, Oct. - Dec.)- L
    Box 67
       Folders 1-6
    Mc - N
    Box 68
       Folders 1-7
    O - R
    Box 69
       Folders 1-6
    S - T
    Box 70
       Folders 1-6
    U - Z

    90th Congress, 2nd Session, 1968
    Box 71
       Folders 1-3
    A - B
       Folder 4
    Boiling Springs, N.C.: Pollution Abatement Project (Folder includes supporting documents dating back to1961)
       Folders 5-6
    C (1968, Jan. - June)
    Box 72
       Folders 1-4
    C (1968, July- Dec.) - D
       Folder 5
    Dixon, Jeane, Luncheon
    Papers concerning a luncheon benefit for Holy Angels Nurseryin Gastonia, N.C. Mrs. Dixon was the honored guest at the affair on October 13,1968,and also spoke at a meeting that evening.
       Folders 6-8
    E - F
    Box 73
       Folder 1
    G
       Folders 2-3
    Grants
    Announcements and correspondence concerning federal grants to colleges, cities, and counties in Whitener's district for various projects.
       Folders 4-6
    H (1968, Jan. - Aug.)
    Box 74
       Folders 1-7
    H (1968, Sept. - Oct.)- L
    Box 75
       Folders 1-6
    Mc - O
    Box 76
       Folders 1-7
    P - S (1968, Apr. - May)
    Box 77
       Folders 1-4
    S (1968, June- Aug.) - T
       Folder 5
    Telegrams
    Many of the telegrams relate to announcements of federal grants to various North Carolina cities and counties for such projects as water and sewer facilities, recreation, urban planning assistance, and college improvements. Whitener often mailed the telegram to the news media as well as to the party involved.
    Box 78
       Folders 1-6
    U - Z
       Oversize Folder 1
     Picture Cabinet:  Includes Items filed chronologically which have been pulled from throughout this category. A note has been made on each folder from which oversize Items were removed. Items such as printed material, newspaper clippings, a map, petition, and broadsides comprise this section.

    Correspondence (Legislative) Series, 1956-1968

    Like the Correspondence (General) Series, this series begins with the 85th Congress, first Session, 1957, and ends with the 90th Congress, second Session, 1968. Included is correspondence to and from Whitener's constituents that centers on legislation being considered in the House of Representatives. Some of the letters were written by his administrative assistant, Herbert M. Lineberger. The papers are organized by Congress and session, and then alphabetically within each session by name of correspondent. Items within the folders are filed chronologically. There are a few subject folders included in the alphabetical arrangement on such topics as the Taft-Hartley Act, Civil Rights Act of 1964,Social Security, the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962, etc. A variety of topics appear throughout the series. Examples of topics that surface in constituent's letters are the Landrum-Griffin Act (labor reform bill), veterans' legislation, foreign aid bill, prayer in schools, etc.

    85th Congress, 1st and 2nd Sessions, 1957-1958
    Box 79
       Folders 1-5
    A - C
    Box 80
       Folders 1-4
    D - G
       Folder 5
    GI Housing and Loan Funds (H.R. 9744)
       Folders 6-10
    H - K
    Box 81
       Folders 1-9
    L - R
    Box 82
       Folders 1-5
    Radio, Daytime Broadcasting Stations; Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act; Republican County Organizations; Roxy Theatre
       Folders 6-7
    S
       Folders 8-9
    School Integration; Shelby Recruitment Program
    Box 83
       Folders 1-6
    Smathers Bill (S. 3778); Social Security; Soil Bank Program; Strackbein, O. R. (The Nation-Wide Committee on Import-Export Policy); Stroupe, Mrs. C. B., Jr.
       Folder 7
    T
       Folders 8-10
    Tariff; Television, Pay; Textile Imports (Wool)
       Folders 11-12
    U - V
    Box 84
       Folder 1
    W
       Folders 2-3
    Patterson, Jessie L. McCourtie; Wilkins, W. Y., Jr.
       Folder 4
    X - Z

    86th Congress, 1st Session, 1959
    Box 85
       Folders 1-5
    A - C
       Folder 6
    Cotton
       Folders 7-9
    D - F
    Box 86
       Folders 1-5
    Foreign Aid-Rutherford County; Foreign Aid-Shelby, N.C.
       Folder 6
    G
    Box 87
       Folders 1-5
    H - L
       Folders 6-8
    Labor Reform Legislation
    Box 88
       Folders 1-4
    Labor Reform Legislation
       Folders 5-8
    Mc, N - P
    Box 89
       Folders 1-2
    R - S
       Folders 3-4
    Senate Labor Bill (S. 1555)
       Folders 5-8
    T. U. W - Z

    86th Congress, 2nd Session, 1960
    Box 90
       Folder 1
    A
       Folder 2
    Asheville Air Service
       Folders 3-6
    B - C
       Folders 7-10
    Catholic Dictionary; Civil War Centennial; Clarkson, Francis; Cotton
       Folders 11-12
    D - E
    Box 91
       Folders 1-11
    F - O
    Box 92
       Folders 1-10
    P - Z

    87th Congress, 1st Session, 1961
    Box 93
       Folders 1-8
    A - F
       Folder 9
    Far East Trip
       Folder 10
    G
    Box 94
       Folders 1-8
    H - M
       Folder 9
    Minimum Wage
       Folder 10
    N
    Box 95
       Folders 1-4
    O - R
       Folders 5-6
    Rules Committee
       Folders 7-8
    S
    Box 96
       Folder 1
    T
       Folders 2-4
    Truck Tax
       Folders 5-9
    U - Z

    87th Congress, 2nd Session,1962
    Box 97
       Folders 1-4
    A - C
       Folder 5
    College Academic Facilities Act of1962(H.R. 8900)
       Folders 6-8
    D - F
    Box 98
       Folder 1
    Food and Agricultural Act of1962(H.R. 11222)
       Folders 2-9
    G - Mc
    Box 99
       Folders 1-2
    M
       Folders 3-5
    Medical Care Legislation
    Box 100
       Folder 1
    Minimum Freight Rate Bills
       Folders 2-6
    N - R
       Folder 7
    Revenue Act of1962(H.R. 10650)
    Box 101
       Folders 1-4
    S - U
       Folder 5
    Unemployment Compensation Amendments Bill (H.R. 7640)
       Folders 6-8
    V - Z

    88th Congress, 1st Session, 1963
    Box 102
       Folders 1-7
    A - E
    Box 103
       Folders 1-12
    F - O
    Box 104
       Folders 1-10
    P - Z

    88th Congress, 2nd Session, 1964
    Box 105
       Folders 1-5
    A - C
       Folder 6
    Civil Rights Bill
       Folders 7-10
    D - G
    Box 106
       Folders 1-11
    H - O
    Box 107
       Folder 1
    P
       Folders 2-6
    Prayer
    Box 108
       Folders 1-8
    Q - Z

    89th Congress, 1st Session,1965
    Box 109
       Folders 1-7
    A - E
    Box 110
       Folder 1
    Eldercare, Herlong-Curtis Bill (H.R. 3727)
       Folders 2-7
    F - J

    89th Congress, 1st Session, 1965
    Box 111
       Folders 1-10
    K - N. P - R
    Box 112
       Folders 1-3
    S - T
       Folders 4-6
    Taft-Hartley Act (1965, Jan. 12 - June 7)
    Box 113
       Folders 1-2
    Taft-Hartley Act (1965, June 8 - July 26)
       Folders 3-5
    U - Z

    89th Congress, 2nd Session, 1966
    Box 114
       Folders 1-6
    A - D
    Box 115
       Folders 1-8
    E - J
    Box 116
       Folders 1-8
    K - P
    Box 117
       Folders 1-9
    Q - Z

    90th Congress, 1st Session, 1967
    Box 118
       Folders 1-7
    A - E
    Box 119
       Folders 1-7
    F - J
    Box 120
       Folders 1-3
    K - L
       Folder 4
    Legislation,1967
       Folders 5-9
    M - O
    Box 121
       Folders 1-2
    P
       Folder 3
    Powell, Adam Clayton
       Folders 4-7
    Q - S (1967, Jan. - Apr.)
    Box 122
       Folders 1-8
    S (1967, May- Dec.) - Z

    90th Congress, 2nd Session, 1968
    Box 123
       Folders 1-7
    A - E
    Box 124
       Folders 1-6
    F - J
       Folder 7
    Johnson, Lyndon Baines (State of the Union Message)
       Folders 8-9
    K - L
    Box 125
       Folders 1-9
    Mc - R
    Box 126
       Folders 1-4
    S - T
    Box 127
       Folders 1-2
    Textiles and Apparel
       Folders 3-7
    U - Z
       Oversize Folder 1
     Picture Cabinet:  Includes printed material, such as "Status of Major Bills - First Session," Extension of Remarks of Whitener on October 13, 1966from the Congressional Record and information on appropriations bills. '

    District of Columbia Series, 1961-1968

    Contains correspondence and other papers about matters in the District of Columbia. This important series reflects Whitener's work as a member of the House Committee on the District of Columbia, 1961-1968, as well as a member of certain subcommittees. See the page in this inventory which describes his committee assignments for further information concerning his specific subcommittee assignments. The two major files in this series are Legislative Bills and Subject Files for Legislation, etc.

    Legislative Bills
    Included are bills, primarily introduced by Whitener, which concern such issues in the District of Columbia as police, courts, crime, traffic, schools, etc. Sometimes only a draft or copy of the bill is enclosed, but other folders additionally contain reports and supplemental information. The papers, which are arranged by Congress and session, and by specific bill (H.R.) number, run from the 88th Congress, First Session, 1963, to the 90th Congress, Second Session, 1968. A comprehensive listing of the title and number of each bill in this category is filed in folder one of the first box of the Legislative Bills Files. Some subject entries have been made for important content, such as crime, but not for most bill names.
    Box 128
       Folders 2-11
    88th Congress, 1st Session, 1963
       Folder 12
    88th Congress, 2nd Session, 1964
       Folders 13-19
    89th Congress, 1st Session, 1965
    Box 129
       Folders 1-6
    89th Congress, 2nd Session, 1966
       Folders 7-13
    90th Congress, 1st Session, 1967
       Folders 14-17
    90th Congress, 2nd Session, 1968

    Subject Files for Legislation, Etc.
    There are three major areas covered in this file:
    • I. District Committee
    • II. District of Columbia. Including material about fiscal affairs, highways, home rule, housing, schools, etc. in the District of Columbia.
    • III. Rapid Transit
    Concerns legislative proposals for a rapid transit system in Washington, D. C., and surrounding areas. Related folders included are the National Capital Transportation Act, Transit Program for the National Capital Region, and Japanese Railways. Whitener was chairman of Subcommittee VI on Rapid Transit.
    Box 129
       Folders 18-20
    District Committee, 1961-1962
    Box 130
       Folders 1-6
    District Committee, 1963-1965
    Box 131
       Folder 1
    District Committee,1966and undated
    District Committee:
       Folders 2-3
    Special Subcommittee on Traffic, Streets, and Highways, 1962, May - Oct.and undated
       Folders 4-5
    Subcommittee on Rapid Transit, 1963, June - Dec.and undated
    District of Columbia:
    Box 132
       Folder 1
    Certified Public Accountants, 1963-1965
       Folder 2
    Fiscal Affairs, 1962-1965and undated
       Folder 3
    Highways, 1964-1965
       Folder 4
    Home Rule, 1962-1965
       Folder 5
    Housing, 1963-1965and undated
       Folder 6
    Schools, 1963-1965and undated
    Box 133
       Folder 1
    District Revenue Bill,1963and undated
       Folder 2
    Glover-Archbold Parkway Bill (S. 2436),1962and undated
       Folders 3-4
    Japanese National Railways, 1963-1964
    Box 134
       Folder 1
    National Capital Transportation Act of1965(H.R. 4822), 1965, Jan. - June
       Folders 2-5
    Rapid Transit, 1963-1965,June
    Folders contain information relative to proposals for a rapid transit system in Washington, D. C., and surrounding areas.
    Box 135
       Folders 1-2
    Rapid Transit, 1965, Julyand undated
       Folder 3
    Transit Program for the National Capital Region (H.R. 8929),1963and undated
       Folders 4-5
    Miscellany, 1960-1965and undated

    Judiciary Series, 1950-1966,primarily 1957-1966

    This series concerns legislation and other material loosely related to the work of the House Committee on the Judiciary. Whitener was a member of the Judiciary Committee from 1959 to 1968. See the page earlier in this inventory which describes his committee assignments for further information concerning his specific subcommittee assignments. The Judiciary Series and Judiciary Committee Series have been kept separate because they were organized this way in Whitener's office. The Judiciary Committee Series contains folders for the work of this committee and certain sub-committees. The Judiciary Series is larger and more general in nature. The two major files in this series are Legislative Bills, the largest section, and Subject Files for Legislation, etc.

    Legislative Bills
    In this section, which forms a major part of the Judiciary Series, are numerous folders for various House of Representatives bills, as well as for a few House Joint Resolutions, House Concurrent Resolutions, and Senate Bills. Whitener introduced about two-thirds of the bills represented in this section. The folders usually contain a copy of the bill, and often printed reports, correspondence, and other background information. There was no apparent order to the bills. Therefore, they were arranged by Congress and session, and by specific bill (H.R.) number, and run from the 85th Congress, 1st Session, 1957 to the 89th Congress, 2nd session, 1966. A comprehensive listing of the title and number of each bill in this category is filed in folder one of the first box of the Legislative Bills files. Some subject entries have been made for important content, such as civil rights, but not for most bill names.
    Box 136
       Folder 1A-8
    85th Congress, 1st Session, 1957
       Folders 9-14
    85th Congress, 2nd Session, 1958
    86th Congress, 1st Session, 1959:
       Folders 15-23
    H.J. Res. 134 - H.R. 2238
    Box 137
       Folders 1-27
    H.R. 2239 - H.R. 5921
    Box 138
       Folders 1-7
    H.R. 6159 - H.R. 8715
       Folders 8-13
    86th Congress, 2nd Session, 1960
    87th Congress, 1st Session, 1961:
    Box 138
       Folders 14-22
    H. Con. Res. 77 - H.R. 3692
    Box 139
       Folders 1-8
    H.R. 4472 - S. 167
       Folders 9-14
    87th Congress, 2nd Session, 1962
    88th Congress, 1st Session, 1963:
    Box 139
       Folders 15-16
    H.J. Res. 714
    Box 140
       Folders 1-11
    H.R. 3439 - H.R. 7152
    88th Congress, 2nd Session, 1964:
       Folders 12-15
    H.R. 10380 - H.R. 11377
    Box 141
       Folders 1-2
    H.R. 11809 - H.R. 11927
       Folder 3
    89th Congress, 1st Session, 1965
       Folders 4-6
    89th Congress, 2nd Session, 1966
       Folder 7
    Bills introduced by Whitener during the 85th Congress, 1st Session,1957,through the 87th Congress, 2nd Session,1962

    Subject Files for Legislation, Etc.
    Included are three boxes of material on such topics as civil rights, the courts, and the trial in 1964 of James R. Hoffa. The subjects are in an alphabetical arrangement.
    Box 142
       Folders 1-2
    Courts, 1957-1960
       Folders 3-6
    Civil Rights, 1950-1963
    Box 143
       Folder 1
    Debate File, 1959-1960
    Miscellaneous information gathered by Whitener concerning court cases, elections, voting, etc.
       Folder 2
    Habeas Corpus, 1955-1959
       Folders 3-6
    Hoffa, James R. Trial,1964and undated
    Four folders concerning the U.S. vs. Hoffa trial in 1964 conducted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Southern Division, in Chattanooga. Included is some correspondence, and copies of letters to Emanuel Celler, Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary; many affidavits; and other material relating to the court case.
    Box 143
       Folder 7
    Interstate Commerce. Taxation, 1959
       Folder 8
    Judgeships. North Carolina, 1958, Feb.- 1961, Feb.
    Box 144
       Folder 1
    Judgeships. North Carolina, 1961, Mar. - Aug.and undated
       Folder 2
    National Service Life Insurance, 1961-1963(?)
       Folder 3
    Port of New York Authority, 1960
       Folder 4
    Prayer in Public Schools, 1961-1962
       Folder 5
    Reapportionment of State Legislatures, 1963-1964
       Folder 6
    The Star-Spangled Banner, 1954-1961
       Folder 7
    Yarmolinsky, Adam, 1963
    Concerns charges against Yarmolinsky, special assistant to Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. The basic charge was that he admitted to World War II Army security investigators that he had attended meetings of the Young Communist League.

    Judiciary Committee Series, 1961-1968

    In this series are papers which primarily concern Whitener's duties as a member of the House Committee on the Judiciary. He was a member of this committee from 1959 to 1968. See the page in this inventory which describes his committee assignments for further information concerning his specific subcommittee assignments. Some files relating specifically to the work of the Judiciary Committee, and the subcommittee on which he served, are contained in this series. The Judiciary Committee Series and Judiciary Series have been kept separate because they were organized this way in Whitener's office. The Judiciary Series is larger and more general in nature than this series. The two major files in this series are Legislative Bills and Subject Files for Legislation, Etc.

    Legislative Bills
    Folders for several House of Representatives bills as well as House Joint Resolution 714, to allow Bible reading and prayer in the public schools, are included in this section. Whitener sponsored many of these bills. The folders usually contain a copy of the bill, and often printed reports, correspondence, and other background information. There was no apparent order to the bills, which fall in the 88th Congress, 1st Session, 1963 ; 89th Congress, 1st Session, 1965 ; and 90th Congress, 1st Session, 1967. Therefore the bills were arranged by Congress and session and by specific bill (H.R.) number. A comprehensive listing of the title and number of each bill in this category is filed in folder one of the first box of the Legislative Bills files. Some Subject entries have been made for important content but not for most bill names.
    Box 145
       Folders 2-9
    88th Congress, 1st Session, 1963
    89th Congress, 1st Session, 1965:
    Box 145A
       Folder 1-2 and vol.
    H.R. 5505 - H.R. 6400 (1965, Mar.)
    Box 146
       Folders 1-2
    H.R. 6400 (1965, Apr. - Juneand undated)
    90th Congress, 1st Session, 1967
       Folders 3-6
    H.R. 2158
    Box 147
       Folders 1-3
    H.R. 2160 - H.R. 2516

    Subject Files for Legislation, Etc.
    This section contains folders for the Judiciary Committee and Whitener's subcommittee assignments, especially for the Special Subcommittee on State Taxation of Interstate Commerce which covers several folders. A small amount of material pertains to Subcommittee IV. Other important topics are civil rights, East-West trade, and textiles. The subjects are in an alphabetical arrangement.
       Folder 4
    Becker Amendment, 1964
       Folders 5-6
    Civil Rights, 1966-1967and undated
    East-West Trade
    Includes much printed material, such as pamphlets, government documents, bulletins, and leaflets concerning foreign trade, exports, foreign affairs, etc.
       Folder 7
    Papers, 1961-1966
    Box 148
       Folders 1-4
    Papers, 1967-1968and undated
       Folder 5
    Integration of Mississippi Schools,1967and undated
    Box 149
       Folders 1-3
    Judiciary Committee, 1961-1968and undated
    Judiciary Committee - Special Subcommittee on State Taxation of Interstate Commerce
       Folders 4-5
    Papers, 1961, Feb.- 1962, June
    Box 150
       Folders 1-2
    Papers, 1962, July- 1965, May
       Folder 3
    Subcommittee IV, with general jurisdiction over judiciary bills as assigned; special jurisdiction over bankruptcy and reorganization, 1962-1965
       Folder 4
    Jury Selection,1966
    Primarily copies of letters of Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr., who was Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights, concerning jury selection procedures.
       Folders 5-6
    Textiles, 1966-1967and undated
    Concerns U.S. textile imports and trade.

    Speeches Series, 1954-1968,primarily 1957-1968

    Includes, in addition to the text of many of Whitener's speeches, remarks of Whitener in Congress, as printed in the Congressional Record. Other unorganized material has been divided into two additional categories: Correspondence; and speech material, printed material, and miscellany.

    Speeches
    Contains the text of Whitener's speeches, usually in a typed format, but there are some rough drafts and outlines of talks. Whitener delivered these speeches at such functions as post office dedications, meetings of organizations such as the North Carolina Association of Letter Carriers, family reunions, and church services and meetings. Many duplicates were discarded from this section.
    Box 151
       Folders 1-7
    Speeches, 1955-1962
    Box 152
       Folders 1-6
    Speeches, 1963-1966
    Box 153
       Folders 1-6
    Speeches, 1967-1968and undated
    Remarks of Whitener in Congress
    Primarily clippings from the Congressional Record - House of remarks by Whitener. The folders are organized by Congress and session.
    Box 154
       Folders 1-8
    85th Congress, 1st Session,1957- 88th Congress, 2nd Session,1964
    Box 155
       Folders 1-5
    89th Congress, 1st Session,1965- 90th Congress, 2nd Session,1968

    Correspondence
    Box 156
       Folders 1-2
    Papers, 1960-1968

    Speech Material, Printed Material, and Miscellany
    Includes a wide variety of typed, mimeographed, and printed material, such as newsletters and other publications, reports by various private organizations and state and federal agencies, newspaper clippings, news releases, editorial reprints, and campaign material. There are some remarks in the Congressional Record by persons other than Whitener. Much of this section seems to consist of background material for Whitener's speeches.
    Box 156
       Folders 3-4
    Speech material, 1954-1961
    Box 157
       Folders 1-4
    Speech material, 1962-1968

    Subject Series, 1953-1968,primarily 1961-1968

    These files were in rough alphabetical order so this arrangement was retained with some minor refinements of folder titles and order. Some Items such as routine individual social security claims, visa applications, routine correspondence, and duplicates were discarded.
    Box 158
       Folder 1
    Agriculture Census, 1964
       Folder 2
    Agriculture Department Trip,1963and undated
       Folder 3
    American Corn Millers Federation, 1965-1966and undated
       Folder 4
    Appalachian Corridor Highway,1965and undated
       Folder 5
    Avery County Airport, 1961-1964and undated
       Folder 6
    Ball, George, 1963
       Folder 7
    Beech Mountain Development Corporation,1963and undated
       Folders 8-9
    Belmont Abbey College, 1953-1965and undated
       Folder 10
    Blue Ridge Parkway Fees, 1963-1968and undated
       Folder 11
    Broad River, 1964
    Box 159
       Folder 1
    Calendars, 1968
       Folder 2
    Celatron, Inc., 1963
       Folder 3
    Census, 1965-1966and undated
       Folder 4
    Census. Gaston County, 1965-1966and undated
       Folder 5
    Cherry Blossom Festival, 1965
       Folder 6
    Civil Rights, 1965-1966
       Folder 7
    Copper, 1959; 1966
    Democratic Committee Material
       Folders 8-10
    1962-1967
    Box 160
       Folder 1
    1968 and undated
       Folder 2
    Democratic Executive Committee (N.C.), 1963-1967and undated
       Folder 3
    Democratic National Convention, 1964
       Folder 4
    Duke Power Company, 1962-1968and undated
       Folder 5
    Economic Opportunity,1964and undated
       Folder 6
    Elementary and Secondary Education Act,1967and undated
       Folder 7
    Federal City Council, 1965
       Folder 8
    Federal Communications Commission,1964and undated
       Folder 9
    Foreign Aid, 1963-1964
    Box 161
       Folder 1
    Gardner-Webb College, 1964-1965and undated
       Folder 2
    Gaston Electrical Contractors, 1964-1965and undated
       Folder 3
    Gelormini, Yvette Dosia Angele, 1961-1963and undated
       Folder 4
    Guillermo, 1963-1965and undated
    Box 161
       Folder 5
    Hickory, North Carolina, 1966-1967
       Folder 6
    Housing and Home Finance Agency, 1961-1964and undated
       Folder 7
    Immigration, 1965-1966
       Folder 8
    Johnson, Lyndon B., Messages, 1965-1966
       Folder 9
    Johnson, Lyndon B., Correspondence,1964Concerning Photographs of Johnson
       Folder 10
    Kennedy, John F., Photograph, undated
       Folder 11
    Rings Mountain 185th Anniversary,1965
       Folder 12
    Labor Department, 1962-1963and undated
       Folder 13
    Medicare, 1965-1966
       Folder 14
    Middle East, 1967
       Folder 15
    Morrison, Ethel Hudson, 1961-1965
    Box 162
       Folder 1
    National Guard (Spindale and Forest City Consolidation),1959
       Folder 2
    Office of Economic Opportunity,1966and undated
       Folder 3
    Oteen Veterans Administration Hospital,1967and undated
       Folder 4
    Pfeiffer College,1966and undated
       Folder 5
    Poverty Bills, 1964-1965and undated
       Folder 6
    Public Works and Economic Development Act, 1966
       Folder 7
    Rhododendron Festival, 1963
    Small Business Administration
       Folder 8
    Papers, 1961-1962
    Box 163
       Folders 1-2
    Papers, 1963-1965and undated
       Folder 3
    Smith, Young, Jr., 1965
       Folder 4
    Social Security, 1965-1966
       Folder 5
    Southern Railway,1966and undated
       Folder 6
    Spruce Pine, North Carolina, 1963-1966and undated
       Folder 7
    State Department. General Information, 1962-1966and undated
       Folder 8
    State Department. Passport Office, 1963-1964
    Box 164
       Folder 1
    Talon, Inc., 1964-1965
       Folder 2
    Tax Information, 1963-1964Primarily concerns reduction of federal taxes.
       Folders 3-4
    Tobacco, 1961-1967and undated
       Folder 5
    U.S. Cabinet Officers, 1963
       Folder 6
    Veterans, 1963
       Folder 7
    Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act, 1966
    Box 165
       Folder 1
    WAMY Community Action, Inc.,1967and undated
       Folder 2
    Walnut Exports, 1961-1965
       Folder 3
    Ward, Truman, 1963-1966and undated
       Folder 4
    Wong Wa Ngen, 1961-1966

    Case File Series, 1950-1962,primarily 1957-1960

    Although this series is very similar to the Subject Series in that it contains folders on miscellaneous topics, the two series were evidently separate in Whitener's office. There was no consistent order to the folders, so they have been arranged alphabetically, similarly to the Subject Series. Some folder title revisions were necessary. A particularly large section of this series is the three boxes of material from the National Federation of Independent Business containing ballots by businessmen on various issues. Some routine Items such as individual Veterans Administration and social security claims, as well as passport applications were discarded.
    Box 166
       Folder 1
    Agricultural Act (of1958), 1958
       Folder 2
    Agriculture, 1956-1958
       Folder 3
    Air Force Facility in Melvin Hill, N.C.,1958
       Folder 4
    Area Redevelopment Act (S. 3683), 1958
       Folder 5
    Belmont Abbey College, 1956-1960
       Folder 6
    Blue Ridge Parkway, 1958
       Folder 7
    Celo, N.C., 1957
       Folder 8
    Census of1960, 1958-1960
       Folder 9
    Cherry, Robert Gregg, 1957
    Clippings concerning the death of Cherry, a former Governor of North Carolina.
       Folder 10
    Cleveland County, N.C., Election,1958
       Folder 11
    Corps of Engineers, 1957
       Folders 12-13
    Cotton (Long Staple), 1958-1959
    Box 167
       Folder 1
    Cotton Acreage and Transfer Bill (H.R. 7740), 1959
       Folder 2
    Cotton Acreage in Cleveland County, N.C., 1956-1957
       Folder 3
    Cotton Acreage in Rutherford County, N.C., 1957
       Folder 4
    Dalton, Arnold K., 1958-1959
       Folder 5
    Democratic Congressional Dinner,1960
       Folder 6
    Democratic County Organizations,1958
       Folder 7
    Dorn Bill (H.R. 11250), 1958
       Folder 8
    Duke Power Company, 1958-1960
       Folder 9
    Duke University Ambassadors, 1958
       Folder 10
    Elections,1958Consists of clippings.
       Folder 11
    Ervin, Ray E., 1960
       Folder 12
    Excise Tax on Telephone Services, 1959
       Folder 13
    Fair Trade Bill (H.R. 1253), 1959
       Folder 14
    Federal Aid Highway Act of1959(H.R. 8678)1959
    Box 168
       Folder 1
    Federal Crop Insurance, 1953-1959
       Folder 2
    Federal Housing Administration, 1957-1958
       Folder 3
    Fiber Industries, Inc., 1959
       Folder 4
    Fish and Wildlife Service, 1957
       Folder 5
    Foreign Aid, 1960-1962
       Folder 6
    Caston County, N.C. Election,1958
       Folder 7
    Hannah Harrison School, 1959
       Folder 8
    Housing and Home Finance Agency, 1957-1958
       Folder 9
    Immigration, 1952-1957
       Folder 10
    Jontza, Guido, 1956-1959
       Folder 11
    Kissing Incident, 1959
       Folder 12
    Loyalty Oath (National Defense Education Act), 1960
       Folder 13
    Luncheon in Forest City, N.C.,1959
       Folder 14
    McDowell County, N.C. Election,1958
       Folder 15
    Madison County, N.C. Election,1958
       Folder 16
    Maleic Hydrazide (MH-30), 1960-1961
       Folder 17
    Medical Society of the State of North Carolina, 1959
       Folder 18
    Mica, 1958
       Folder 19
    Minimum Wage, 1959
       Folder 20
    Municipal Elections, 1959
    Copies of congratulatory letters from Whitener to North Carolina mayors, city council