Charles Fleming Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 219

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Charles Fleming Papers have been organized into two series: the Daily Activity Report and Newspaper Clippings. The Daily Activity Report Series span the years 1987 to 1992, and cover the inner-workings of the North Dakota Governor’s office for those years. These reports (usually 2-3 pages in length) were compiled by Fleming from information submitted by each staff person and were circulated only among office personnel. They were used to inform the Governor and his staff of activities that occurred the previous day and plans for the future. The report was to be on the Governor’s desk at 9:00 a.m. and was the first thing he read each day. Charles Fleming said Governor Sinner “often wrote comments on them and sent them back to the person who wrote it.” It was used by him to determine what things needed to get on his schedule, and with whom he needed to meet. This series is ordered chronological by month. Missing from this series is January to November 1989. The Newspaper Clippings Series covers press releases and other newspaper articles for the years 1987 to 1992. They were clipped from newspapers all over the state of North Dakota and then photocopied. They cover important events concerning North Dakota politics and government for this time period. These clippings are organized chronologically by month, but not necessarily by day. There is no index or contents listing available.

Dates

1987-1992

Creator

Fleming, Charles, 1945- (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute owns the copyrights.

Biography

Charles Frank Fleming was born on October 11, 1945 in Grafton, North Dakota. He grew up in Hamilton, North Dakota, and attended Hamilton High School, graduating in 1963. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from North Dakota State University in 1967. While at North Dakota State University, he was involved in the Sigma Nu Fraternity, ROTC, and the Young Democrats Club in which he served as North Dakota’s president from 1966-1967.

On July 7, 1967, Lt. Charles Fleming entered the U. S. Army and was sent to Southeastern Signal School, at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. On January 5, 1968 he reported to Ft. Dix, New Jersey. He was assigned to the Signal Battalion 360 in Bremerhaven, Germany, where he was a recipient of the army commendation medal. After the army, Charles went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company of Fargo from 1969 to 1970. He began farming in partnership with his brother Dwight near Hamilton, North Dakota in 1970, and operated the farm for eleven years. Charles was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives from District No. 11, in 1970. At the time of his election he was the youngest member of the North Dakota legislature. From 1977 to 1979, he served as the caucus chairman of the Democratic NPL party. He served as the Chief Clerk of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly in 1983. He was campaign manager for Governor George Sinner in 1984, and then served as the Governor’s Chief of Staff from 1984-1992. In 1993, Charles Fleming founded Carlisle Cereal Company. It was named after Carlisle Township, Pembina County, where his grandfather and great grandfather homesteaded in 1880. His company markets a corn flakes cereal called Hometown Stars, which honors local organizations by placing their photo on the box. Charles Fleming married Arliss Faye Halldorson on June 24, 1972. They have two children, Rochelle Faye and Scott.