Jon G. Lindgren Fargo Mayoral Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 273

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These mayoral papers of Jon Lindgren reflect some of the most controversial issues of Lindgren’s political career. The papers have been organized into six series: Abortion, Gay and lesbian awareness week, Leonard Peltier, Twelfth Avenue North bridge project, Cassette tape, and Subject files. The Abortion Series consists of documents and correspondence relating to the Women’s Health Organization of Fargo and related controversy concerning the clinic during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some of the documents include information about picketing and ordinances and other related legislation concerning the clinic and those protesting it. There is a transcription of a tape recording made of protesters outside of the clinic, documentation of police reports made by employees of the clinic, and press releases and newspaper articles regarding the clinic and the protesters. The Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week Series consists of official proclamations made by Mayor Lindgren recognizing the gay and lesbian community of Fargo. Much of the material in the series consists of correspondence regarding the gay and lesbian community and the official recognition of homosexual people. Other documents in the series include information about the Community Task Force for Human Rights, pamphlets, newspaper articles, and resource materials. The Leonard Peltier Series consists of documents relating Peltier’s story and his side of the events that led to the deaths of two FBI officials in South Dakota and his own subsequent incarceration for those deaths. The Peltier series includes handwritten correspondence from Peltier to Lindgren, who was a supporter of the movement to free Leonard Peltier. The series includes legal documents regarding the state of Peltier’s case and some related newsletters and newspaper articles. There is also a file consisting of material and pamphlets featuring paintings made by Peltier while he was in prison. The Twelfth Avenue North Bridge Project Series consists of documentation of the controversy over whether or not a bridge connecting 12th Avenue North in Fargo with 15th Avenue North in Moorhead would be built. Proponents of the bridge believed it was necessary to facilitate better traffic flow between the two cities and to help relieve traffic congestion downtown while opponents objected to the possible repercussions of directing an increased flow of traffic through a residential neighborhood. Documents in the series include minutes of Fargo City Commission meetings regarding various bridge projects, legal papers stemming from lawsuits and counter-lawsuits regarding the bridge project, as well as an agreement regarding the financing, ownership, and management of the bridge. There is a great deal of correspondence and a number of newspaper articles regarding the project. The series also includes some maps of the proposed bridge site and a report made on bridge feasibility. The Cassette Tape Series consists of two tapes. The first tape is a KFGO radio tape recording of a debate between Jon Lindgren and Herschel Lashkowitz on February 18th, 1982 over a proposed change in city government from the commission form to an eleven-member council. Lindgren spoke for seventeen minutes defending the city commission style already in use and raising some issues and potential problems of switching to the eleven-member council form. Lashkowitz then spoke for twenty-six minutes stressing the need for change and pointing out the merits of utilizing an eleven-member council.

The second tape in this series is of a satirical song, “12th Avenue North Bridge Song,” which was written and performed by the Plain People in 1988. The melody for most of the song is set to “Yesterday” by the Beatles with the conclusion of the song to the melody of “Bridge over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkle. The subject files include a letter from the Plain People regarding the tape and a transcript of the lyrics. The Subject Files Series includes general correspondence, a number of newspaper articles related to Lindgren’s term as mayor, the lyrics of the “12th Avenue Bridge Song,” some political cartoons related to local officials, election materials, honors given to Lindgren, and some publications featuring the mayor. The series also includes some published and unpublished articles written by Lindgren regarding road usage and some documents from two briefings Lindgren attending at the White House regarding natural gas and tax reform respectively.

Dates

1976-1994

Creator

Lindgren, Jon G. (John Gilmore), 1938- (Person)

Access

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

Copyrights

The Institute owns the copyrights.

Biography

Jon G. Lindgren received a B.S. in 1960 from Iowa State University, and an M.A. and Ph.D., both from the University of Missouri. He began teaching at North Dakota State University in 1968 in the Economics Department, rising to the rank of associate professor before retiring in 2001. He was elected mayor of Fargo, North Dakota in 1978 and served until 1994.