ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

FRED G. AANDAHL PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #51

DATES: 1928-1960

SIZE: 12.5 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Fred G. Aandahl Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection on July 1, 1968 by the Aandahl Family.

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Fred George Aandahl was born April 9, 1897, in Svea Township, near Litchville, North Dakota. He was the son of Soren "Sam" J. and Mamie C. (Lawry) Aandahl. Sam Aandahl came to Dakota Territory in 1881 with his parents, J.S. and Martine. The family was originally from Aandalsnes, Norway. Mamie Lawry arrived in Dakota Territory in 1879, and was of English descent. Sam and Mamie were married on March 28, 1896. Sam served in the North Dakota legislature in 1903, and was also a member of the North Dakota State Railroad Commission. Sam Aandahl died in 1922, preceding the death of Mamie in 1923.

Fred G. Aandahl attended elementary schools in Valley City and rural Svea, before attending Litchville High School for three years. He received the final year of his high school education from the Model High School at the University of North Dakota, graduating in 1917.

He attended the University of North Dakota, graduating in 1921 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Liberal Arts. His major was law, with history and economics being his minor. While at UND, Aandahl was active in Delta Sigma Rho, an honorary society for oratory, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a Greek social fraternity.

Following graduation, Aandahl farmed the family homestead following the death of his farmer. He also served as principal at the Svea Consolidated School from 1922-24, before becoming Superintendent of Schools in Litchville in 1924. In 1927, he retired from his career in education to focus his energies on the administration of the family farm. He married Luella Brekke, a teacher from the Litchville Elementary School, on June 28, 1926 in Forman, North Dakota. The couple had three daughters: Louise, Margaret and Marilyn.

Fred Aandahl won a seat in the North Dakota Senate in 1930, returning in 1938 and 1940. In the State Senate, Aandahl served on the Appropriations Committee and was known for his strong support of education. From 1933-35, he was a member of the Barnes County Agricultural Adjustment Administration. He served on the state level of this entity from 1935-38.

Aandahl was a leading member of the Republican Organizing Committee (ROC). The ROC was created to unite all Republicans opposed to William Langer and the Nonpartisan League. Aandahl delivered the keynote address at its first convention, held in Bismarck in March 1944. Besides Aandahl, the other founding members included Rilie Morgan of Grafton, Milton Young of Berlin, and Joseph Bridston of Grand Forks. With the strong backing of the ROC, Aandahl won the Republican nomination for Governor in the June primary. In the November election, he defeated three-term Attorney General Alvin Strutz.

One of Aandahl's first major decisions in office was to appoint a replacement for the recently deceased John Moses to the United States Senate. On 12 March 1945, Aandahl named Milton Young as the replacement. Aandahl was Governor of North Dakota from 1945 to 1950, before being elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1950. He served one term in the House, before deciding to seek the Republican nomination for the U.S Senate seat held by William Langer. Langer used considerable Democratic and NPL support to defeat Aandahl.

Upon the recommendation of U.S. Senator Robert Taft of Ohio, Aandahl was named Assistant Secretary of the Interior, by President Dwight Eisenhower in February 1953. He served the Eisenhower administration in this capacity until 1961. When the Kennedy Administration took office in January 1961, Aandahl retired to his Litchville farm. He died on April 7, 1966 in Fargo, and is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Valley City, North Dakota.

Sources:
Current Biography. v19, no8: September 1958, pp3-4.
"Fred Aandahl" in Barnes County History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing, 1976.
Robinson, Elwyn. History of North Dakota. Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 1966.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Fred G. Aandahl Papers consist of three series, as follows:

Series I: Newspaper Clippings, 1935-1960
The clippings in this series date from 1935-1960, and are arranged chronologically. The clippings reflect not only the life and political career of Aandahl, but also general happenings throughout the state of North Dakota.
Box 1, Folder 1 - Box 3, Folder 7

Series II: General Files
This series consists of a variety of material. Included are Aandahl’s chronological files from his time with the Department of the Interior. These files primarily correspondence with politicians in Congress, dating from 1954-1961, and are arranged chronologically by month and year. The file for 1953 was filed under "Correspondence," and is arranged alphabetically.

General files on North Dakota, the Department of the Interior, and politics, as well as invitations accepted and regretted, statements made by Aandahl before Congressional Committees, and general correspondence are also included in the series.

The series is generally arranged alphabetically by folder title, although there are some folders which were not arranged alphabetically.
Box 3, Folder 8 - Box 7, Folder 4 and Box 8, Folder 8 - Box 8, Folder 19

Series III: Speeches
Copies of speeches and addresses given by Aandahl are arranged by year beginning in 1951 with Aandahl's term in the United States House of Representatives, and ending in 1960, at the end of Aandahl's service for the Department of the Interior. These speeches are housed in Box 7. Additional speeches from Aandahl's years as North Dakota Governor are included in Box 8, and are bound together in seven separate volumes, with a table of contents for each volume.
Box 7, Folder 5- Box 8, Folder 7

Series IV: Miscellaneous
This series consists of miscellaneous material, including government reports and other publications.
Box 9 - Box 10, Folder 9

Twenty photographs were separated and added to the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

  1. Newspaper Clippings: 1935 - 1943.
  2. Newspaper Clippings: 1943 - 1944.
  3. Newspaper Clippings: 1945.
  4. Newspaper Clippings: 1945 (Missouri Valley Authority) - 1946.
  5. Newspaper Clippings: 1946 (Garrison Pool Level) - 1947.
  6. Newspaper Clippings: 1947.
  7. Newspaper Clippings: 1948.
  8. Newspaper Clippings: 1948.
  9. Newspaper Clippings: 1948.
  10. Newspaper Clippings: 1949.
  11. Newspaper Clippings: 1949.
  12. Newspaper Clippings: 1950.
  13. Newspaper Clippings: 1950.
  14. Newspaper Clippings: 1950.
  15. Newspaper Clippings: 1951.
  16. Newspaper Clippings: 1951.
  17. Newspaper Clippings: 1951.
  18. Newspaper Clippings: Jan. - Apr. 1952.

Box 2
Folder

  1. Newspaper Clippings: Jan. - Apr. 1952.
  2. Newspaper Clippings: Jan. - Apr. 1952.
  3. Newspaper Clippings: May - June 1952.
  4. Newspaper Clippings: May - June 1952.
  5. Newspaper Clippings: May - June 1952.
  6. Newspaper Clippings: June - Dec. 1952.
  7. Newspaper Clippings: June - Dec. 1952.
  8. Newspaper Clippings: June - Dec. 1952.
  9. Newspaper Clippings: 1953.
  10. Newspaper Clippings: 1953.
  11. Newspaper Clippings: 1953.
  12. Newspaper Clippings: Jan. - May 1954.
  13. Newspaper Clippings: Jan. - May 1954.
  14. Newspaper Clippings: Jan. - May 1954.
  15. Newspaper Clippings: May - Dec. 1954.
  16. Newspaper Clippings: May - Dec. 1954.
  17. Newspaper Clippings: 1955.
  18. Newspaper Clippings: 1955.

Box 3
Folder

  1. Newspaper Clippings: 1956.
  2. Newspaper Clippings: 1956.
  3. Newspaper Clippings: 1956.
  4. Newspaper Clippings: 1957.
  5. Newspaper Clippings: 1957.
  6. Newspaper Clippings: 1958-1960.
  7. Newspaper Clippings: 1958-1960.

SERIES II: General Files

  1. Congressional Record Excerpts: 1951-1953.
  2. Aandahl's Bills: 1951-1952.
  3. Appointments: 1953.
  4. Appropriations: 1951-1952.
  5. Chronological File: Jan.- Feb. 1954.
  6. Chronological File: March 1954.
  7. Chronological File: Apr. - June 1954.
  8. Chronological File: July - Sept. 1954.
  9. Chronological File: Oct. - Dec. 1954.
  10. Chronological File: Jan. - Mar. 1955.
  11. Chronological File: Apr. - June 1955.
  12. Chronological File: July - Dec. 1955.

Box 4
Folder

  1. Chronological File: Jan. - June 1956.
  2. Chronological File: July - Dec. 1956.
  3. Chronological File: Jan. - June 1957.
  4. Chronological File: July 1957 - Feb. 1958
  5. Chronological File: Mar. - Dec. 1958.
  6. Chronological File: Jan. - May 1959.
  7. Chronological File: June - Dec. 1959
  8. Chronological File: Jan. - July 1960
  9. Chronological File: Aug. - Dec. 1960; Jan. 1961
  10. Committee Hearings: 1951-1952
  11. Congressional committees (statements to): 1955.
  12. Congressional committees (statements to): 1956.
  13. Congressional committees (statements to): 1957-1958.
  14. Congressional committees (statements to): 1958.
  15. Congressional committees (statements to): 1959-1960.
  16. Congratulatory Letters: 1953.
  17. Congratulatory Letters: 1953.
  18. Correspondence, A - C: 1953.
  19. Correspondence, D- H: 1953

Box 5
Folder

  1. Correspondence, I - Mc: 1953.
  2. Correspondence, N - S: 1953.
  3. Correspondence, T - Z: 1953.
  4. General Correspondence: 1953—1957.
  5. General Correspondence: 1953—1957.
  6. General Correspondence: 1953—1957.
  7. General Correspondence: 1953—1957.
  8. General Correspondence: 1953—1957.
  9. General Correspondence: 1958—1961.
  10. General Correspondence: 1958—1961.
  11. Form Letters: 1951—1953.
  12. International Relations: 1951—1953.
  13. Invitations Accepted: 1953.
  14. Invitations Accepted: 1953.
  15. Invitations Accepted: 1954.
  16. Invitations Accepted: 1954.
  17. Invitations Accepted: 1955—1956.
  18. Invitations Accepted: 1956.
  19. Invitations Accepted: 1957.
  20. Invitations Accepted: 1957.

Box 6
Folder

  1. Invitations Accepted: 1958.
  2. Invitations Accepted: 1958.
  3. Invitations Accepted: 1959.
  4. Invitations Accepted: 1959.
  5. Invitations Regretted: 1953.
  6. Invitations Regretted: 1954-1961.
  7. Invitations Regretted: 1954-1961.
  8. Legislation (General): 1951-1953.
  9. Legislation (General): 1951-1953.
  10. Legislation (General): 1951-1953.
  11. North Dakota (General): 1951-1953.
  12. North. Dakota (General): 1951-1953.
  13. North Dakota (General): 1953-1957.
  14. North Dakota (General): 1953-1957.
  15. North Dakota (General): 1953-1957.
  16. North Dakota (General): 1958-1961.
  17. Other Mineral Rights: 1951-1953.
  18. Personal: 1951 - 1953.

Box 7
Folder

  1. Politics (General): 1951-1953.
  2. Politics (General): 1951-1953.
  3. Politics (General): 1951-1953.
  4. Politics (General): 1951-1953.

SERIES III: Speeches

  1. Speeches: 1951.
  2. Speeches: 1952.
  3. Speeches: 1953-1954.
  4. Speeches: 1955.
  5. Speeches: 1956.
  6. Speeches: 1956.
  7. Speeches: 1956.
  8. Speeches: 1957.
  9. Speeches: 1957.
  10. Speeches: 1957.
  11. Speeches: 1958.
  12. Speeches: 1958.
  13. Speeches: 1959.
  14. Speeches: 1959.
  15. Speeches: 1960.
  16. Speeches: 1960.

Box 8
Folder

  1. Speeches: 1944-1946.
    First Keynote Address. March 1944.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. May 1944.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. June 1944.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. June 26, 1944
    Radio Address. September 27, 1944.
    General Election Radio Address. October 30, 1944.
    General Election Address. November 1, 1944.
    Radio Address. November 6, 1944.
    General Election Radio Address. November 6, 1944.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. February 13, 1946.
    The R.O.C. Convention. 1946.
    R.O.C. Radio Address, Jamestown. May 21, 1946.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. May 22, 1946.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. June 7, 1946.
    75% Tax Base Measure Radio Address. June 19, 1946.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. June 21, 1946.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. June 24, 1946.
    1946 Primary Campaign Address. June 24, 1946.
    Radio Address. June 24, 1946.
    R.O.C. Radio Broadcast. November 1, 1946.
  2. Speeches: 1945.
    North Dakota Victory Garden Proclamation. April 17, 1945.
    Broadcast on Salvage. April 27, 1945.
    V. J. Day Radio Address. August 14, 1945.
    National War Fund Address. September 27, 1945.
    Victory Loan Drive Address. October 27, 1945.
    Armistice Day Address, Jamestown. November 12, 1945.
  3. Speeches 1945-1950.
    Missouri River Development. September 1945.
    Garrison Dam Statement Before House Subcommittee. Jan. 17, 1946.
    Missouri River Basin Development, House Subcommittee May 26, 1947.
    Missouri River Basin Development (N.D.A.C.). February 17, 1948.
    Water Development Projects in North Dakota. July 6, 1948.
    Water Development in North Dakota, Bowbells. October 22, 1948.
    Trend in the Missouri Basin, Minot. April 27-29, 1950.
    Importance of Missouri Basin Program to North Dakota. Oct. 6, 1950.
    The Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee. December 1, 1950.
  4. Speeches 1945-1950
    Memorial Address at John Moses Funeral. March 7, 1945.
    Memorial Resolution for Kenneth W. Simons. April 1948.
    Memorial Address at George F. Shafer Funeral. Aug. 16, 1948.
    Radio Address W.D.A.Y. 25th Anniversary. May 22, 1947.
    Dedication of K.N.O.X., Grand Forks. September 15, 1947.
    Dedication of K.F.G.O., Fargo. January 3, 1948.
    Transcription for K.B.M.W., Wahpeton-Breckenridge. Aug. 27, 1948.
    Transcription for K.G.C.X., Williston. November 19, 1948.
    Congratulation to Bismarck. June 4, 1947.
    Congratulations to K.F.Y.R., Bismarck. April 28, 1949.
    Dedication Address, St. George's Episcopal Church, Sept. 10, 1949.
    Dedication Address, Soldiers Home. June 7, 1950.
  5. Speeches 1946-1948
    Better Roads Address. September 11, 1946.
    Radio Address - Better Roads Bill. October 26, 1946.
    Highway Problem. March 13, 1948
    The North Dakota Road Program. October 28, 1948.
  6. Speeches 1946-1950
    Queen for a Day Program at Minot. May 24, 1946. Acceptance of National Guard Colors, Bismarck. Nov. 11, 1946.
    Welcome “The Man on the Street”— W.D.A.Y. February 3, 1947.
    Assessed Property Valuations Address, Jamestown. March 1, 1947. Remarks at Farm Bureau Convention , Bismarck. Nov. 18, 1947.
    Thrift Week Program - W.D.A.Y. February 9, 1948.
    The Governor's Most Important Duty. February 27, 1948.
    Address at Bond Sales Dinner. April 19, 1949.
    Hospital Address, Mohall, North Dakota. August 21, 1949.
    Address at Northwest Shippers Advisory Board, Minot. Nov. 3, 1949.
    Rural Life Sunday. May 7, 1950.
  7. Speeches: 1946-1950.
    R.O.C. Radio Broadcast. November 4, 1946.
    Remarks at Jamestown R.O.C. Meeting. October 13, 1947.
    Address at R.O.C. Rally at Devils Lake. February 20, 1948.
    Keynote Address - R.O.C. Convention. March 22, 1948.
    R.O.C. Opening Rally Remarks, Minot. June 1, 1948.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. June 4, 1948.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. June 18, 1948.
    R.O.C. Radio Address. June 28, 1948.
    G.O.P. Address. October 7, 1948.
    “The Issue Before the People on November 2nd”. Oct. 19, 1948.
    Republican Thinking. October 27, 1948.
    Three Election Address. November 1, 1948.
    Talk Given at Political Rally at LaMoure. December 15, 1949.
    1950 Political Issues. May 24, 1950.
    Remarks at R.O.C. Opening Rally at Rugby. June 2, 1950.
    National Questions. June 14, 1950.
    Closing Campaign Remarks. June 26, 1950.
    Republican Campaign. October 3, 1950.
    Republican Address. October 20, 1950.
    Republican Address. November 1, 1950.
    Republican Address. November 6, 1950.

SERIES II: General Files

  1. Messages to Legislature: 1945-1951.
  2. Senatorial Correspondence: 1939-1941.
  3. U.S. Department of Interior (General): 1953
  4. U.S. Department of Interior (General): 1953.
  5. U.S. Department of Interior (General): 1954-1955.
  6. U.S. Department of Interior (General): 1956.
  7. U.S. Department of Interior (General): 1957-1961.
  8. U.S. Department of Interior (Informational Service): 1953-1956.
  9. U.S. Department of Interior (Informational Service): 1957.
  10. U.S. Department of Interior (Informational Service): 1958.
  11. U.S. Department of Interior (Informational Service): 1959-1960.
  12. Washington Report: 1951-1953.

SERIES IV: Miscellaneous

Box 9
Miscellaneous publications regarding Fred G. Aandahl. Transcripts of hearings before Congress.

Box 10
Folder

  1. North Dakota Highways.
  2. Republican Party, 1956-62.
  3. Department of the Interior Power Policy.
  4. Garrison Diversion Project, 1959-61.
  5. Missouri Basin Power.
  6. Information on the Interior Department, 1959-61.
  7. Garrison Diversion Conservancy District, 1960-61.
  8. Garrison Diversion Unit. 1957-1961.
  9. Federal Budgetary Materials. 1961.
    Carl H. Wilken, Key to Sound Prosperity, 1950.
    U.S. Department of Labor, Manpower. Challenge of the 1960s.

Loose Roll 1: Group picture of faculty and students, University of North Dakota, Ca. 1920s.

SEPARATIONS RECORD

Twenty photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

OGL#51-1 Fred G. Aandahl presenting Certificate of Appointment to the United States Senate to Milton Young, March 12, 1945.
OGL#51-2 Same as photograph 51-1
OGL#51-3 Untitled photograph
OGL#51-4 Senator Gerald P. Nye, Senator William Borah, Senator Lynn Fraser, Fargo, North Dakota, 1928.
OGL#51-5 North Dakota State Senate, 1931.
OGL#51-6 North Dakota State Senate, 1939.
OGL#51-7 North Dakota State Senate, 1941.
OGL#51-8 North Dakota State Senate, 1945.
OGL#51-9 North Dakota State Senate, 1947.
OGL#51-10 North Dakota State Senate, 1949.
OGL#51-11 North Dakota State Senate, 1931.
OGL#51-12 Portrait of Fred G. Aandahl, undated.
OGL#51-13 Untitled, March 27, 1953.
OGL#51-14 Untitled, March 27, 1953.
OGL#51-15 American Power Conference, March 26, 1953.
OGL#51-16 American Power Conference, March 26, 1953.
OGL#51-17 Untitled, February 10, 1953.
OGL#51-18 Untitled, February 10, 1953.
OGL#51-19 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Photo, April 28, 1953.
OGL#51-20 Eastern Carolina Electric Membership Corp., May 26, 1954.

 Original Donation  First Addition: 1958-1966
 Second Addition: 1917-1996  Third addition: 1953-1961

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