C Schwabe, Max (1905-1983), Papers, 1927-1971 4019.8 linear feet and 1 scrapbook This collection is available at The State Historical Society of Missouri. If you would like more information, please contact us at shsresearch@umsystem.edu. INTRODUCTION The papers were created by Max Schwabe, who served the Second Congressional District of Missouri in the United States House of Representatives from 1943 to 1948. The collection includes political files, newspaper clippings, published materials, photographs, and a scrapbook that outlines Schwabe s political career. DONOR INFORMATION Schwabe s daughter, Maxine Lusk, donated the papers to the State Historical Society of Missouri on March 31, 2000 (Accession No. 5930). BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Max Schwabe was born in Columbia, Missouri on December 6, 1905. A lifelong resident of Boone County, Schwabe began his career as an insurance salesman and farmer. Interested in political trends, Schwabe earned his bachelor s degree in political science from the University of Missouri in 1942. He believed the time was right for a Republican to win Missouri s predominately Democratic Second Congressional District and filed as a candidate in the 1942 election. Schwabe won by 566 votes, and became the first Republican to represent the district since 1920. Schwabe served in Congress from 1943 to 1948, and was a member of the Education and Labor Committee (1943-1948), Flood Control Committee (1943-1948), and Accounts Committee (1945-1948). When his half-brother, George Blaine Schwabe (R-OK) was elected to Congress in 1944, they became the first brothers to serve in the House of Representatives since 1851. Wary of large bureaucracies, Schwabe was against much of President Franklin Roosevelt s New Deal legislation including the Office of Price Administration (OPA), farm subsidies, and nationalized healthcare. While in Congress, Schwabe proposed an amendment to the Constitution to change the procedures for the ratification of treaties in 1945. He also helped draft the Hartley Bill, the House s version of what would become the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947. Schwabe ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 1948, 1950, and 1952. After his congressional career, Schwabe served as the Missouri State Director in the Farmers Home Administration, part of the U. S. Department of Agriculture from 1953 to 1961. He died on July 31, 1983. SCOPE AND CONTENT The Max Schwabe papers consist of political files, a scrapbook, newspaper clippings, published materials, and photographs which primarily document Schwabe s time as Congressmen during the 1940s. The bulk of the collection dates from 1938 to 1950. The papers are arranged into four series: Political Files, Scrapbook, Published Materials, and Photographs.
C4019 Schwabe, Max (1905-1983), Papers, 1927-1971 page 2 The Political Files series is arranged alphabetically and consists of requests for government materials from constituents, form letters, Schwabe s 1943 Certificate of Election, district voter charts, invitations to Republican and White House functions, census bureau forms, a guest register, and Missouri Republican committee assignments. The series gives insight into Schwabe s views, how he prepared for campaigns, and interacted with his constituents. The Scrapbook series contains one volume of clippings from various newspapers in Schwabe s district. The scrapbook contains information on Schwabe s Congressional career, ideology, and stance on a large range of national issues important to the state of Missouri. The Published Materials series is arranged alphabetically and consists of a yearbook, government manual, and a magazine. The series provides information on how Schwabe was perceived nationally, as well as the views of his daughter, June Schwabe. The Congressional Club is mentioned in an oral history interview the Truman Presidential Library did with Max s wife, Georgia May Schwabe, concerning her husband s political career. The Photographs series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The photographs are almost all black and white, and show Schwabe at different functions, visiting with constituents, and with his family.
C4019 Schwabe, Max (1905-1983), Papers, 1927-1971 page 3 FOLDER LIST Political Files Series f. 1 Campaign, 1946 f. 2 Census Bureau, c.1943 f. 3 Certificate of Election, 1943 f. 4 Congressional Record Mailing List Requests, December, 1942-1947 f. 5 Congressional Record Mailing List Requests, 1947-1948 f. 6 Correspondence and Invitations, 1943-1948 f. 7 County Chairmen, 1945-1948 f. 8-9 District Voter Charts, c.1947-1948 f. 10 Governor John Bricker, 1944 f. 11 Guest Register, 1943-1948 f. 12 Missouri Republican State, County and Congressional Committees, 1946-1948 f. 13 Newspaper Clippings, 1944-1948 f. 14 Requests for Baby Books (Doctors), 1946-1948 f. 15 Requests for Congressional Directories, 1945-1948 Scrapbook Series f. 16 Scrapbook, 1927-1950 Published Materials Series f. 17 The Congressional Club Yearbook, 1947 f. 18 Essentials of Missouri Government, 1953-1954 f. 19 Life Magazine, 13 September 1943 Photographs Series f. 20 Life Magazine, 1943 f. 21 Political Sign, November 1952 f. 22 Political / Social Events, 1938-1947 f. 23 Portraits of Max Schwabe, c.1942-1948 f. 24 Quizspiration, 21 June 1947 f. 25 Schwabe Family, 1944, 1971 f. 26 Schwabe Farm, unknown f. 27 Schwabe with Constituents, 1940s INDEX TERMS Addresses and essays 20 y American Agricultural Editors Association 22 y American Mining Congress, 1947 22 y
C4019 Schwabe, Max (1905-1983), Papers, 1927-1971 page 4 Automobiles--Touring, 1943 20 y Bangham, Walter N. 22 y Benson, R. C. 22 y Boats and boating 20 y Books--Correspondence 14 Bradshaw, William L. (1896-1964) 4 Brandt, E. G. 4 Brandt, John 4 Bricker, John (1893-1986) 6, 10 Briggs, Frank A. 22 y Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Missouri State Legislative Board Campaign literature, 1946 1 Certificate--Election, 1943--U.S. House of Representatives 3 Chambers, Max 22 y Chambers, Mrs. Max 22 y Claus, H. F. 22 y Collins, John M. 22 y Communist Party--United States 1 Congress of Industrial Organizations, Political Action Committee 16 Congressional Club--Yearbooks, 1947 17 Congressional Record--Correspondence 4, 5 Davis, John C. 22 y Dawes, Holmes G. (1888- ) 4 Deering, Ferdie (1910-1993) 22 y Dewey, Thomas E. (1902-1971) 6, 16 Dinners and dining 22 y Dinsford, W. L. 22 y Domestic animals 20, 26 y Dunk, Milton R. 22 y Eaton, David W. 4 Election, 1944--U.S. House of Representatives 16 Election, 1946--U.S. House of Representatives 16 Election, 1947-1948--Missouri 8, 9, 16 Election, 1948--U.S. House of Representatives 16 Farm life--missouri 26 y Farm life--missouri 16 Farm tenancy, 1943 20 y 4
C4019 Schwabe, Max (1905-1983), Papers, 1927-1971 page 5 Farm tenancy, 1943 16 Federal aid to education 16 Floods--Control 4, 16 Food supply, 1940s 16 Gehrean, James Edward (1883- ) 4 Griffis, C. O. 4 Grinnell, Milon (1896-1984) 22 y Hall, A. James 22 y Hall, Herbert W. 22 y Harman, Kenyon G. (1888-1975) 4 "Harvester Farm," Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, Illinois, 1940s 22 Hervey, Cameron 22 y Hunt, Bernard C. 4 International Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL, 1940s 16 International Harvester Company, Chicago, Illinois 22 y Invitation cards 6 Jenks, F. W. 22 y Klinefelter, Howard Emanuel (1902-1956) 4 Lassetter, W. C. 22 y Leach, Corl A. (1882-1972) 22 y Lloyd, Robert 4 Lohr, Lenox (1891-1968) 22 y Lusk, Mary K. 25 y Lusk, Maxine Schwabe 25 y Lusk, Sally 25 y Lusk, Ted 25 y McMunn, Earl W. (1910-1993) 22 y Military service, Compulsory, 1940s 16 Missouri Farm Bureau Federation 4 Missouri Republican Party, County Chairmen--Political activity, 1945-1948 7 Missouri Republican Party, State, County and Congressional Committees-- Political activity Missouri State Legislative Board, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Missouri, Tuscumbia, 1943 20 y Moser, L. G. 22 y Neel, L. R. 22 y Nelson, Will L., Jr. 1 12 4 y
C4019 Schwabe, Max (1905-1983), Papers, 1927-1971 page 6 Nelson, William L. (1875-1946) 16 New Deal, Opposition to 1, 4, 5, 16 Ninabuck, W. L. (1889-1967) 22 y Peckels, Michael F. (1900-1980) 22 y Periodicals, 1943 19 Political conventions, Missouri 13 Politicians--Ohio 6, 10 Politics and government 16 Postal service 20 y Public opinion polls, Missouri, 1946 1 Radio programs 24 y Reber, Norman F. (1909-1998) 22 y Reconstruction (1939-1951) 16 Republican National Committee 1 Republican National Convention, 1948 6 Republican Party 1, 12, 16 Ridgeway, Major George 13 Riley, Russell L. 4 Runnells, D. L. 22 y Salter, J. T. 6 y Salter, J. T. 6 Sampier, Jack (1919-1979) 22 y Sanders, Paul 22 y Schnatmeier, Omar (1908-1993) 4 Schwabe, George B. (1886-1952) 13, 16 Schwabe, George B. (1886-1952) 25 y Schwabe, Georgia May (1906-1995) 25 y Schwabe, Georgia May (1906-1995) 6 Schwabe, June 18 Schwabe, June 25 y Schwabe, Max (1905-1983) 6, 20, 22-27 y Schwabe, Max (1905-1983) 1, 3-6, 13-16, 19 Scrapbooks 16 Sheppard, C. W. 4 Signs and signboards, 1952 21 y Soderstrom, E. A. 4 Strohm, John 22 y Subsidies, 1940s 16
C4019 Schwabe, Max (1905-1983), Papers, 1927-1971 page 7 Summers, J. S. 14 Sunflower Agency, Kansas City, 1927 16 Swan, M. F. 22 y U.S. Office of Price Administration 1, 16 von Rothkirch, Ed 4 Wetenhall, J. Huber (1901-1987) 22 y Wickham, Jack (1907-1990) 20 y Williams, J. C. 4 Williamson, John Sam 4