Fort Mandan State Historic Site is temporarily closed for maintenance until further notice.
Title: Harry E. Polk Papers
Dates: 1948-1972
Collection Number: 10131
Quantity: 14 feet
Abstract: Includes personal correspondence and files dealing with Williston Band Day, the Williston Herald, the North Dakota Press Association, the American Legion, records of the National Reclamation Association, records of Harry E. Polk, Inc., photographs, and printed materials.
Provenance: The Harry E. Polk Papers were donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota by his wife Mrs. Harry E. Polk and their son Leslie D. Polk in August 1974.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnotes and bibliographic references.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Harry E. Polk was born on a farm near Thornton, Indiana June 15, 1887. He attended high school in Illinois and studied Journalism at the University of Missouri, earned a two year teaching certificate at Valley City (ND) Normal School, and graduated in 1917 from the University of North Dakota. In August 1919 he was married to Phyllis Stuart in Minnewaukan, ND. They had three children: J. Stuart Polk (publisher of the Plentywood (MT) Herald), Leslie D. Polk of Eau Claire, WI, and Donna Eileen (Mrs. Jimmie Wilson) of Trout Creek, MT, and 14 grandchildren.
Harry E. Polk enlisted in the Army during World War I, directed the Army Band at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, IA, and was discharged in 1919.
He was Superintendent of Schools in Willow City, Bowbells, and Williston, ND; managed a weekly Nonpartisan League newspaper in Minnewaukan, ND; and was editor and later owner of the Williston Daily Herald. Polk served as chairman of the ND Press Association for 18 years, and edited Since 1887 Days, in celebration of Williston’s 75th Anniversary. Polk was inducted into the North Dakota Press Hall of Fame in 1974. Polk also served as state commander of the American Legion.
Polk was Director of the Upper Missouri Band and helped initiate Williston Band Day. Polk was a member of the Hoover Commission. For 16 years he was ND state director of the National Reclamation Association. He served as President of the National Reclamation Association from 1947-1951 and worked for years on irrigation, land use, and reclamation issues. He was deeply involved in the controversial Garrison Dam project.
Henry E. Polk died in Williston, ND on November 6, 1971.
Sources: Williston Daily Herald Nov. 6, 1971, and a letter from Leslie D. Polk to the Superintendent of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, June 19, 1974.
BOX/FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1. Avalon Beach-Lake Shore Realty Co. 1957-1968
2. Boys State Awards 1960-1969
3. Dakota Salt 1959-1970
4. Correspondence-F 1940-1972
5. Correspondence-Mc 1959-1962
6. Correspondence-Gov. John Moses 1941-1944
7. Correspondence-NEA Legislative Committee 1955
8. Correspondence-Passport 1946-1957
9. Correspondence-Plentywood Herald 1932-1966
10. Correspondence-Sonny, J. Stuart
11. Correspondence-Eileen, Jim 1949
12. Biographical Information 1923-1961
13. Correspondence-Leslie D. Polk 1953, 1965
14. Correspondence-P-W Building 1958-1971
15. Awards 1957-1961
16. Band Festival 1960
17. Band Day 1959
18. Baker House-City 1951-1956
19. Budgets – Williston Herald 1955-1956
20. Congratulatory Letters 1942-1965
21. Farmers Press 1953
22. Herald News Building 1940-1969
23. Locomotive 1958
24. maps
25. Plentywood Building 1942-1965
26. Statistics: Bottineau, Burke, Divide, McKenzie, Mountrail, Renville, Ward, Williams Counties
27. Vacation Spots 1956-1958
28. World War I, Dept. of North Dakota Veterans newsletter 1959
29. Wage & Salary Survey1958
Box 2:
1. Election 1948
2. Patriotic Talks1943-1966
3. Poems
4. Photographs
5. Programs
6. Programs
7. Publicity Pamphlets
8. Souvenirs
9. Song Books
10. Songs
11. Legion Talks by H.E.P.
12. Talk Material-Newspaper
13. Talk Notes
14. Talk Material-Newspaper
15. American Legion Installation
16. Wolf Point Deal
17. Financial Receipts
18. California Newspaper Articles
19. Yak Dak! Juvenile Comic Strip
20. Newspaper-Arizona Star
21. Possible Story, Research Ideas
22. American Legion, Dept. of ND, General Report
23. American Legion, Dept. of ND, Annual Convention 1939
24. Mason Shoes Catalogue
Box 3:
1. American Legion: Manual of Ceremonies 1959
2. American Legion
3. American Legion handbook, pamphlets, bulletins 1942-1943
4. Newspaper samples
5. Legion convention-correspondence 1941
6. ND Legislative bills
7. The Quill November,
8. Newspapers-examples from across US
9. Legion talks by others 1947-1963
10. Public Service Magazine 1953-1961
11. Talks by HEP 1952-1956
12. R.E.A. 1956
Box 4:
1. Talks given by others 1941-1959
2. Tributes 1942-1951
3. Talk materials 1937-1957
4. Bids for printing 1934-1963
5. Re: Position with Interior Department 1952-1953
6. general 1937,1953
7. C. H. Press drive photos 1961
8. Correspondence--sale 1953-1957
9. general 1948-1949
10. Sale of newspaper 1959-1962
11. Correspondence with William Hagen 1948-1957
12. Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch 1954-1955
13. Talks--Reclamation 1954-1955
14. Legislative Committee-NDPA 1944-1955
15. NDPA--Service Bulletin 1958-1963
16. Montana Press Association 1957-1965
17. Corporation Income Tax Returns 1947-1960
Box 5:
1. Plentywood Herald Audit Report 1958-1962
2. North Dakota Press Bulletin 1948-1965
3. College Hill Development Assoc., conveyance papers 1953-1954
4. College Hill Development, lots & purchases 1954-1963
5. Highland Homes 1952-1961
6. Airline Case 1959-1960
7. Harry Polk, Inc., correspondence 1952-1972
8. Harry Polk, Inc., Homecroft lots 1953-1964
9. Fifth Avenue Homes 1954-1955
10. Harry Polk, Inc. annual reports 1954-1972
11. Harry Polk, Inc., Sunnyslope Rental Statements 1955-1962
12. Harry Polk, Inc., Sunnyslope Plans, Plats, Contracts 1952-1961
13. Harry Polk, Inc., financial statements 1952-1959
14. Harry Polk, Inc., ledger pages 1956-1965
15. Harry Polk, Inc., Corporation Income Tax Returns 1953-1972
16. Correspondence with Senator William Langer 1943-1959
17. Correspondence with Joseph Jackson 1951-1964
18. Assets 1959, 196
Box 6:
1. Correspondence with Ela, Christianson, & Ela 1952-1958
2. Correspondence -Hoover Commission 1951-1959
3. Citizens Committee for the Hoover Report 1956-1958
4. Administration 1954
5. Notes on Procedure, Minutes 1953-1955
6. Office Memorandums 1953-1955
7. Information Bulletins 1955-1958
8. Miscellaneous 1953-1955
9. Code of the City of Williston; map 1957
10. Pamphlets--laws 1933-1960
11. Newspaper publishers and editors 1952
12. Other newspapers--samples 1952
13. Wages and salaries 1937, 194
14. Advertising, costs 1941
15. Subscription Rates--other papers
16. Newspaper clippings -other papers 1937-1940
Box 7:
1. Company Income Tax Returns 1934-1946
2. Plentywood Herald Income Tax Returns 1937-1963
3. Interior Dept. Appropriations 1952-1953
4. Hearings-Missouri Valley Authority 1945
5. State Legislation, Water Commission; Bureau of Reclamation 1943-1949
6. Public Laws, Congress 1944-1948
7. Hearings: Interior & Insular Affairs 1957
8. Small Reclamation Projects 1948-1956
9. Regina Airline Case 1958-1960
10. National Reclamation Association: Resolutions 1943-1954
11. ND Reclamation Association: Resolutions, dams 1943-1947
12. National Reclamation Association: Legislative Committee 1952-1954
13. Reclamation Talks #1 1947-1949
14. Reclamation Talks #2 1948-1952
15. Talk Notes & Materials --Reclamation 1958
16. Talk Notes & Materials-- Reclamation 1948-1959
17. Talks-Reclamation 1941-1959
18. Reclamation Talks by others 1942-1962
19. TVA 1946-1951
20. National Reclamation Association Convention 1960
21. Western Water News 1956
Box 8:
1. Task Force Report on Water Resources & Power June 1955
2. Golden Anniversary Edition 1949
3. World Series Baseball clippings 1959
4. Urban Renewal booklets 1961
5. Photos, booklets
6. Preferred and Common Stock Certificates Williston Herald 1924-1928
7. Rotary Club 1962-1964
8. Photo, booklets 1941, 194
9. Convention Badges
Box 9:
1. Correspondence A
2. Correspondence, Robert S. Allen Matter 1950
3. Correspondence B
4. Correspondence, Harry W. Bashore 1943-1951
5. Correspondence, Oscar Berg, Minot 1958-1962
6. Correspondence, Earl T. Bower, Norland, WY 1948-1955
7. Correspondence, Governor Norman Brunsdale 1952-1953
8. Correspondence, Herbert L. Buck, Billings 1948-1957
9. Correspondence, Buford-Trenton project 1939, 194
10. Correspondence, Usher L. Burdick 1949-1954
11. Correspondence C
12. Correspondence, Representative Francis Case 1944-1950
13. Correspondence D
14. Correspondence, Marshall Dana 1948-1962
16. Correspondence E
15. Correspondence, Russ Dushinske 1960-1962
17. Correspondence F
18. Correspondence, James J. Flannery 1954-1956
19. Correspondence, Fred J. Fredrickson 1955-1963
20. Correspondence, Fort Peck Power 1938, 195
21. Correspondence G
22. Correspondence, Leo Gardner 1957-1958
23. Correspondence H
24. Correspondence, Harold Hagen, Stevensville, MT 1958-1959
25. Correspondence, John W. Haw, St. Paul, MN 1948-1950
26. Correspondence, John W. Haw, St. Paul, MN 1950-1960
27. Correspondence, Milo W. Hoisveen 1955-1964
28. Correspondence, Ernie House, Ainsworth, NE 1956-1959
29. Correspondence, Stanley Howard, Bozeman, MT 1959
30. Correspondence J
31. Correspondence, Guy C. Jackson, Anahuac, TX 1953-1959
32. Correspondence, Rep. Ben F. Jensen 1947-1951
33. Correspondence, Bruce Johnson 1945-1960
34. Correspondence K
35. Correspondence L
36. Correspondence, Raymond F. Lund 1957-1961
37. Correspondence, Herbert W. Lyons 1954-1956
38. Correspondence M
39. Correspondence, Leslie A. Miller, Cheyenne, WY 1953-1961
40. Correspondence, J. H. "Hub" Moeur, Phoenix, AZ 1948-1962
41. Correspondence, L. C. Mueller 1958-1960
42. Correspondence N
43. Correspondence, NRA Convention 1964
44. Correspondence, National Reclamation Assoc. Directories 1954, 1958
45. Correspondence, National Reclamation Assoc., Legislative Committee 1958-1960
46. Correspondence, NRA Printing of Proceedings 1952, 1955
47. Correspondence, National Water Resources Institute 1958
48. Correspondence, Daniel B. Noble, Portland, OR 1948-1962
49. Correspondence, ND Water Users Association 1962
50. Correspondence, O
51. Correspondence, Joseph C. O'Mahoney, Cheyenne, WY
52. Correspondence, P
53. Correspondence, C. Petrus Peterson, Lincoln NE 1950-1961
54. Correspondence, R 1946-1960
55. Correspondence, S 1942-1960
56. Correspondence, Robert Sayer, Bend, OR
57. Correspondence, Secretary-Manager Resignation & New Appointment 1949
58. Correspondence, N. V. Sharp, Filer, ID 1948-1952
59. Correspondence, W. G. Sloan, La Mesa, CA 1944-1959
60. Correspondence, Alfred M. Smith, Carson City, NV 1948-1950
61. Correspondence, Bert L. Smith, San Francisco, CA 1948-1961
62. Correspondence, State Water Commission 1959
63. Correspondence, Clifford Stone, CO 1949
64. Correspondence, Straus Conference
65. Correspondence, J. E. Sturrock, Austin, TX 1950-1955
66. Correspondence, Art Svendbym, Lemmon, SD 1950-1960
67. Correspondence, T 1951-1953
68. Correspondence, NRA Treasurer's Report 1949
69. Correspondence, U 1953
70. Correspondence, US Chamber of Commerce 1955-1956
71. Correspondence, V 1948
72. Correspondence, W 1948-1963
73. Correspondence, E. R. Wells, Prosser, WA
74. Correspondence, William E. Welsh, Washington, DC
75. Correspondence, William E. Welsh, Washington, DC
76. Correspondence, Y 1957
77. Correspondence, Wyoming University 1966
78. Correspondence, Senator Milton Young 1946-1954
Box 10:
1. Arizona: An Adventure in Irrigation 1949
2. Appropriations Bill, U.S. Department of the Interior 1952
3. Acreage Limitation – Reclamation Law 1958
4. Buford-Trenton Project 1939-1951
5. Bulletins & Memos 1937, 1944
6. Bills Introduced in Congress 1956, 1959
7. Billings, Montana, NRA Convention 1961
8. California 1952, n.d.
9. Clippings from newspapers
10. Colorado
11. Columbia Basin
12. Congressional Quarterly
13. Constitutions, NRA & others
14. Constitutions, NDRA & others
15. Compacts
16. Columbia Valley Authority
17. Crop Report
18. Diversion
19. Expense Statements
20. "Garrison Dam Special"
21. Garrison Dam-Testimony at House Comm. Hearing June 7, 1956
22. Garrison Dam 1, Reports & Bills, Newspaper clippings
23. Garrison Dam 2, Correspondence & testimony
24. Garrison Dam 3, General
25. Garrison Diversion
26. Grand Coulee Dam
27. Irrigation
28. Pamphlets-Dept. of Interior
29. Legislative Digests
30. Maps
31. "Missouri-Souris"
32. Muddy Creek Basin
33. Missouri River Basin
34. Missouri River Development Meetings 1943
35. Missouri Valley Authority Bulletins
Box 11:
1. Montana
2. Mississippi Valley Assoc.; Pick-Sloan Plan
3. Nebraska
4. NRA Committees
5. NRA Bulletins 1945-1947
6. NRA Pamphlets
7. NRA "President Matters"
8. NRA Secretary-Manager letters
9. ND Reclamation Association
10. NDRA Newsletter
11. ND
12. ND. Water Users Bulletin
13. Oklahoma
14. "Pelton decision"
15. "platforms"
16. Programs
17. Power (general)
18. Pamphlets (misc.)
19. Reclamation News
20. Reclamation News
21. Reclamation Era (publication)
22. Reclamation Week
23. Red River Basin
24. "Reports"
25. Resolutions, State of ND
26. State Water Comm. Bulletins
27. Testimony Statements
28. Testimony-NRA Witnesses
29. Texas
30. Tennessee Valley Authority
31. Water Rights
32. "Watershed Congress"
33. Wesley Seale Dam (from George Schmidt)
34. Yellowstone project
Box 12:
1. NRA Newsletter, Legislative Digest 1954-1955
2. Proceedings, 1st Annual Convention NDRA September 1941
3. Proceedings, 2nd Annual Convention NDRA October, 1942
4. Proceedings, 8th Annual Convention NRA November 1939
5. Proceedings, 9th Annual Convention, NRA September 1940
6. Proceedings, 10th Annual Convention, NRA October 1941
7. Proceedings, 15th Annual Meeting, NRA October 1946
8. Proceedings, 16th Annual Meeting, NRA October 1947
9. Proceedings, 17th Annual Meeting, NRA November 1948
10. Proceedings, 18th Annual Meeting, NRA November 1949
11. Proceedings, 19th Annual Meeting, NRA November 1950
12. Proceedings, 20th Annual Meeting, NRA October 1951
13. Proceedings, National Reclamation Association 1942-1945
14. Proceedings, 21st Annual Meeting, NRA November 1952
15. Proceedings, 22nd Annual Meeting, NRA October 1953
16. Proceedings, 23rd Annual Meeting, NRA November 1954
17. Proceedings, 24th Annual Meeting, NRA October 1955
18. Proceedings, Silver Anniversary Meeting, NRA November 1956
19. Resolutions & Report of Water Policy Comm., NRA November 1956
20. Proceedings, 26th Annual Meeting, NRA November 1957
21. Resolutions & Report of Water Policy Comm., NRA November 1957
22. Proceedings, 27th Annual Meeting, NRA November 1958
23. Proceedings, 28th Annual Meeting, NRA October 1959
24. Proceedings, 29th Annual Meeting, NRA November 1960
25. Proceedings, 30th Annual Meeting, NRA October 1961
26. Resolutions , NRA October 1961
27. Resolutions, NRA; Bills in US House & Senate 1959-1961
28. Resolutions, NRA October 1962
29. Proceedings, 31st Annual Meeting, NRA October 1962
30. Resolutions, National Reclamation Assoc. October 1963
31. Proceedings, 32nd Annual Meeting, NRA October 1963
32. Resolutions, National Reclamation Assoc. November 1964
33. Proceedings, 33rd Annual Meeting, NRA November 1964
34. Proceedings, National Water Resources Institute March 1958
35. Proceedings, 34th Annual Convention, Assoc. of Western State Engineers August 1965
36. A Summary Report of Water Resources Activities by Western States October 1961
37. Land of Opportunity, ND Industrial Locations Facts;
38. ND Industrial Location Facts 1958
39. ND Ground Water Studies, #36 1961
40. Handbook of Facts about ND Agriculture June, 195
41. ND State Water Conservation Commission Thirteenth Biennial Report 1960-1962
42. Development of Irrigation, Municipal Water Supplies, Electric Power, Flood Control in ND 1948
43. Climate & Weather in ND 1952
44. Climate and Weather in ND 1946
45. ND Water Laws and supplements 1945, 194
46. Water Resources: Hearing in US Senate October 1959
47. Garrison District, Corps of Engineers-Public Use of Garrison Reservoir Area February 1955
48. ND Water Resource Development Projects 1955
49. Development and Control of the Missouri River 1947
50. Putting the Missouri to Work 1945
Box 13:
1. The Leadership of Sam Rayburn 1961
2. Irrigation & Reclamation: Subcommittee Hearings 1947
3. Task Force Report on Water Resources and Power Vol. 2 1955
4. Task Force Report on Water Resources and Power, Vol. 3 1955
5. Civil Functions, Dept. of the Army Appropriations, Subcommittee Hearings 1954
6. Missouri Basin Water Problems, Joint Subcommittee Hearings 1957
7. Missouri River Basin, Letter from Secretary of War 1944
8. Missouri River Basin, Committee Hearings on Rivers & Harbors 1944
9. Federal Power Marketing Problems, Interior & Insular Affairs Committee Hearing 1959
10. Control & Use of the Water Resources of the Missouri River Basin 1944
11. Control & Use of the Water Resources of the Missouri River Basin, Subcommittee Hearings 1944
12. Garrison Diversion Unit, Subcommittee Hearings 1961
13. Federal Water Rights Legislation 1960
14. Upper Missouri Basin Water Rights 1960
15. Federal-State Water Rights, Committee on Interior & Insular Affairs Hearings 1961
16. Hells Canyon Dam, Subcommittee Hearings 1952
17. 23rd Republican National Convention 1944
18. War Dept. Civil Functions, Appropriation Bill, Subcommittee Hearings 1947
19. Hearings--MVA Bill S555, Sale of Power HR 5124, HR4805 Part 2 Pool Level 1945-1946
20. Task Force Report on Natural Resources Appendix L 1949
21. Task Force Report on Water Resources & Power, Vol. 1 1955
22. Interior Department Appropriations, Subcommittee Hearings 1952
23. Flood Control Omnibus Bill, Subcommittee Hearings 1956
24. Civil Functions, Dept. of Army Appropriations Bill, Subcommittee Hearings 1950
25. Interior Department Appropriations Bill, Subcommittee Hearings 1947
26. First Deficiency Appropriation Bill, Subcommittee Hearings 1946
27. Interior Department Appropriations, Subcommittee Hearings 1952
28. Flood Control, Subcommittee Hearings 1944
29. Legislative Summary & Progress Report on NRA Resolutions 1961
30. Legislative Data 1958
31. Legislative Data 1959
32. Legislative Data 1960
33. Legislative Committee Data 1961
Box 14:
1. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1960
2. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1961
3. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1961
4. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1962
5. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1963
6. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1964
7. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1964
8. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1964
9. Progress: Missouri River Basin, Annual Report 1964
10. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1965
11. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1965
12. Progress: Missouri River Basin 1965
13. Progress: Missouri River Basin, Annual Report 1965
14. Missouri River Basin: Conservation, Control & Use of Water Resources 1944
15. Water Resources & Related Land Resources Development 1962
16. Missouri River Basin, Conservation, Control & Use of Water Resources 1944
17. Reclamation--A National Investment
18. Crop Report & Related Data: Federal Reclamation Projects 1960
19. Statistical Appendix to Crop Report 1960
20. National Reclamation Assoc: What it Means to the West
21. Water is Wet--and Everything
22. Irrigation: A National Asset 1945
23. Nebraska Irrigation Statistics 1945-1948
24. Irrigation Farming 1942
25. Landownership Survey on Federal Reclamation Projects 1946
26. Principles of a Sound National Water Policy 1951
27. Reclamation Pays, Address by Wayne Aspinall
28. The Future Development of the Missouri River Valley 1944
29. Ten Rivers in America's Future, Vol. 2 1950
30. 1st Annual Convention, ND Reclamation Assoc 1941
31. Gilbert F. Nelson, biography 1952
32. Overall View and Progress Report
33. Water for ND
34. Reclamation News 1951
35. 5th Annual Meeting of SD Reclamation Assoc. 1942
36. Reclamation Means $$ to You (2 copies)
37. Prairie Dogs vs. Prosperity 1955
38. National Reclamation Assoc. Bulletin 1949
39. Missouri Valley Authority Editorial Comment 1949
40. Putting the Missouri to Work 1945
41. Statement of Harry E. Pollock before Flood Control Subcommittee
42. Irrigation in Western ND (3 copies)
43. Water for Tomorrow: Garrison Diversion Unit
44. Constitution of the ND Reclamation Assoc (2 Copies) 1941
45. Irrigation: A National Asset
46. Proceedings of the 30th Annual Meeting, NRA (2 copies) 1961
47. The Urban Planning Assistance Program 1961
48. ND Ground Water Studies # 36 1961
49. Vending Machine information (Vendo Company) 1961
Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions
Hours:
State Museum and Store: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
We are closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
State Archives: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F, except state holidays; 2nd Sat. of each month, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Appointments are recommended. To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 701.328.2091 or archives@nd.gov.
State Historical Society offices: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F, except state holidays.
Contact Us:
phone: 701.328.2666
email: history@nd.gov
Social Media:
See all social media accounts
