Nonpartisan League Collection

Collection

Identifier: Mss 51

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This Nonpartisan League collection has been assembled by the Institute staff over a long period. It is by no means comprehensive, but is rather a collection of what has become available to the Institute from a wide number of sources. The Correspondence Series contains twelve letters including from A.C. Townley, L.D. Griffith, Alfred Knutson, Leon Durocher, and A.E. Brine. Many letters are reminiscences about the League written in the 1950's to Institute staff member Leonard Sackett. The Bylaws file contains the 1921 bylaws of the North Dakota Branch, and the 1954-1956 constitution and bylaws. The Publications Series contains various both pro and anti-league items. Consult the contents listings for specific items. The Subject files contain a variety of material related to the League from 1917 to the 1950s. All container listing entries are self-explanatory.

Dates

1917-1964.

Creator

North Dakota Nonpartisan League. (Organization)

Access

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

Copyrights

The copyright is not held by the Institute for Regional Studies.

History

The Nonpartisan League was founded in North Dakota by A.C. Townley in 1915 at the height of the Progressive movement in the Northwest. Among its aim was to initiate state-owned mills, grain elevators, bank, and hail insurance company in order to protect the farmers from grain speculators and other business interests. In 1916, the league won the governor's seat by electing Lynn J. Frazier and controlled the state legislature in 1919 when it was able to enact it entire program. Troubles with its programs, leadership defections and Independent Voters Association attacks weakened the League and by 1921, it began to fall apart. After 1932 it became a political machine, and in 1956 it affiliated with the Democratic Party.