Wayne Owens papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 0108
Scope and Contents
The Wayne Owens papers (1950-2010) document his campaigns, his years in the United States House of Representatives, and his interest in the Middle East peace process.
The filing system of the collection has been retained, for the most part, as it was created. Boxes 1-3 include personal records of Wayne Owens. Of particular interest is the "Diary of A Candidate," an account of Owens's walking campaign for congressman. There is material on a film project "The New Congressman" with which Owens was involved. The rest of the papers in these boxes are personal schedules, mailing lists, campaign items, speeches, and statements.
The legislation Owens sponsored or co-sponsored in the Ninety-Third Congress is contained in Box 4. The records are separated into bills, resolutions, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions and filed numerically.
Boxes 5-13 contain the correspondence Owens sent to his constituents. Included are a few letters received by Owens. The boxes are arranged chronologically starting with January 1973 and ending with December 1974. Within the boxes the folders are arranged alphabetically according to the name of the constituent.
Consolidated correspondence, letters from constituents, and replies from Owens are in Boxes 14-44. These boxes are arranged alphabetically according to topic and sub-topic, with general correspondence filed first. Within the topics, the correspondence is arranged chronologically. The last of the material is of Senator Frank E. Moss of Utah, a Democrat who served in Congress the same time as Owens. Moss's stand on issues, his bills, speeches, and correspondence are in this portion.
The records concerned with the United States House of Representatives Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs are in boxes 45-52. Numerous environmental items are included. The folders contain correspondence to and from Owens as well as general source material. The records are arranged alphabetically according to subject, beginning with Air Pollution and ending with Zion Park Wilderness. Energy was a major concern of the Ninety-Third Congress, and a great deal of information on that subject, both on the national and local scene, is included in the material.
Boxes 53-69 are United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary records. Wayne Owens was a member of the Impeachment Inquiry Committee of President Richard M. Nixon and on the committee investigating Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller, vice presidential nominees.
The Impeachment Inquiry Committee records (Boxes 53-61) consist of evidence summaries, staff reports, testimonies, proceedings, transcripts of taped conversations, articles of impeachment, etc. Included is some correspondence from constituents. Boxes 62-64 contain articles on Watergate or the impeachment of President Nixon. The xeroxed articles came from newspapers, magazines, journals, etc., published in the United States and some foreign countries. The folders are arranged alphabetically according to the title of the publication and the articles filed chronologically within the folder, except the articles published in Utah newspapers the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. These are filed at the end along with several law review articles.
Box 65 contains the Gerald R. Ford vice presidential nomination material, and Boxes 66-69 the Rockefeller vice presidential nomination records. There is a large amount of information on the background and finances of Rockefeller.
Boxes 70-81 contain general source material covering a wide range of national and local topics. The material is arranged alphabetically according to topic.
Addenda to the collection were processed as they came in, and retain folder titles where possible. Material is arranged in rough chronological order, with subject files alphabetical.
The filing system of the collection has been retained, for the most part, as it was created. Boxes 1-3 include personal records of Wayne Owens. Of particular interest is the "Diary of A Candidate," an account of Owens's walking campaign for congressman. There is material on a film project "The New Congressman" with which Owens was involved. The rest of the papers in these boxes are personal schedules, mailing lists, campaign items, speeches, and statements.
The legislation Owens sponsored or co-sponsored in the Ninety-Third Congress is contained in Box 4. The records are separated into bills, resolutions, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions and filed numerically.
Boxes 5-13 contain the correspondence Owens sent to his constituents. Included are a few letters received by Owens. The boxes are arranged chronologically starting with January 1973 and ending with December 1974. Within the boxes the folders are arranged alphabetically according to the name of the constituent.
Consolidated correspondence, letters from constituents, and replies from Owens are in Boxes 14-44. These boxes are arranged alphabetically according to topic and sub-topic, with general correspondence filed first. Within the topics, the correspondence is arranged chronologically. The last of the material is of Senator Frank E. Moss of Utah, a Democrat who served in Congress the same time as Owens. Moss's stand on issues, his bills, speeches, and correspondence are in this portion.
The records concerned with the United States House of Representatives Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs are in boxes 45-52. Numerous environmental items are included. The folders contain correspondence to and from Owens as well as general source material. The records are arranged alphabetically according to subject, beginning with Air Pollution and ending with Zion Park Wilderness. Energy was a major concern of the Ninety-Third Congress, and a great deal of information on that subject, both on the national and local scene, is included in the material.
Boxes 53-69 are United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary records. Wayne Owens was a member of the Impeachment Inquiry Committee of President Richard M. Nixon and on the committee investigating Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller, vice presidential nominees.
The Impeachment Inquiry Committee records (Boxes 53-61) consist of evidence summaries, staff reports, testimonies, proceedings, transcripts of taped conversations, articles of impeachment, etc. Included is some correspondence from constituents. Boxes 62-64 contain articles on Watergate or the impeachment of President Nixon. The xeroxed articles came from newspapers, magazines, journals, etc., published in the United States and some foreign countries. The folders are arranged alphabetically according to the title of the publication and the articles filed chronologically within the folder, except the articles published in Utah newspapers the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. These are filed at the end along with several law review articles.
Box 65 contains the Gerald R. Ford vice presidential nomination material, and Boxes 66-69 the Rockefeller vice presidential nomination records. There is a large amount of information on the background and finances of Rockefeller.
Boxes 70-81 contain general source material covering a wide range of national and local topics. The material is arranged alphabetically according to topic.
Addenda to the collection were processed as they came in, and retain folder titles where possible. Material is arranged in rough chronological order, with subject files alphabetical.
Dates
- 1950-2010
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hours advance notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Wayne Owens papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Permission to publish material from the Wayne Owens papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Biographical Sketch
Douglas Wayne Owens (1937-2002) was born in Panguitch, Utah. He received his education in the Utah public schools and attended the University of Utah, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in 1961 and from the Law School, J. D. in 1964. From 1957 to 1960 he served a mission to France for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Marlene Wessel in 1961, and the couple raised five children. An active Democrat, Wayne Owens was a field representative for Utah United States Senator Frank E. Moss from 1965 to 1968; Rocky Mountain States coordinator, Robert F. Kennedy for President, 1968; administrative assistant to United States Senate Majority Whip Senator Edward Kennedy, 1969-1970; and administrative assistant to Senator Frank E. Moss, 1971-1972. Owens practiced law in Salt Lake City from 1965 to 1968 and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Utah's Second Congressional District and served from 1972-1974. His most signigicant service at this time was as a member of the Committee on the Judiciary which heard the evidence on whether to impeach President Richard M. Nixon. Owens joined the majority of the committee when he voted for impeachment. Wayne Owens was unsuccessful in his bid for the United States Senate in 1974, but was elected to the House again in 1986 and served until 1992. Throughout his career, Owens was an advocate for the environment and for the downwinders, persons who had been exposed to radiation during the Nevada atomic testing in the 1950s. Owens suffered a fatal heart attack in December 2002, while in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Extent
118.75 Linear Feet (229 Boxes)
Abstract
The Wayne Owens papers (1950-2010) contain correspondence, reports, subject files, office files, financial documents, speeches, notebooks, news clippings, articles, campaign files, and memorabilia associated with the political life of Owens, a member of the United States House of Representatives for Utah's second congressional district.
Arrangement
The original donation is arranged in five series: 1) Personal Material, 2) Legislation, 93rd Congress, 3) Correspondence, 4) U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, and 5) U. S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary. The addenda to the collection each constitute a series: 6) 1993 Addendum, 7) 2000 Addendum, 8) 2011 Addendum, 9) 2013 Addendum, and 10) 2017 addendum.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Boxes 1-80 were donated by Wayne Owens in 1975 (33 linear feet).
Boxes 81-89 were donated circa 1993 (4 linear feet).
Box 90 was transferred from Gifts and Exchanges in 2000 (.25 linear foot).
Boxes 91-138 and map case material were donated by Doug Owens in 2011 (27 linear feet).
Boxes 139-154 were donated by Doug Owens in 2013 (15.25 linear feet).
Boxes 81-89 were donated circa 1993 (4 linear feet).
Box 90 was transferred from Gifts and Exchanges in 2000 (.25 linear foot).
Boxes 91-138 and map case material were donated by Doug Owens in 2011 (27 linear feet).
Boxes 139-154 were donated by Doug Owens in 2013 (15.25 linear feet).
Separated Materials
Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0108).
Audio-visual materials were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (A0034).
Audio-visual materials were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (A0034).
Processing Information
Processed by Brian Winterowd in 1976.
Processed by Michael Bills, Ryan Hutchings, and Karen Carver in 2011, by Matthew Weathered in 2013, and by Julia Huddlestons, Sean Taylor, Hannah Waddel in 2017, and Kristina Barksdale in 2020.
Processed by Michael Bills, Ryan Hutchings, and Karen Carver in 2011, by Matthew Weathered in 2013, and by Julia Huddlestons, Sean Taylor, Hannah Waddel in 2017, and Kristina Barksdale in 2020.
- Energy conservation
- Environmental policy
- Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006
- Legislators -- United States -- Records and correspondence
- Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
- Owens, Wayne, 1937-2002
- Political Campaigns
- Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), 1908-1979
- United States -- Politics and government -- 1969-1974 -- Sources
- Watergate Affair, 1972-1974 -- Sources
- Title
- Inventory of the Wayne Owens papers, 1950-2010
- Author
- Finding aid created by Brian Winterowd.
- Date
- 1976 (last modified: 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2020)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu