Wallace F. Bennett papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 0290
Scope and Contents
The Wallace F. Bennett papers (1946-1978) concentrate on the period of time when Bennett served as United States Senator from Utah. The bulk of the collection dates from 1965 to 1972. The papers have been divided into five categories: business, family, legislative, personal, and political correspondence.
The business papers consist mostly of correspondence along with some financial statements. These items relate to the Senator's Salt Lake interests: Bennett Motor Company, Bennett's Glass and Paint, Bennett Leasing, as well as various investments made over the years.
The family correspondence is of two kinds. There are the "family letters" which kept his immediate family as well as some close associates in touch with his social, political and legislative activities. They contain his candid expressions about those activities and serve as his diary. A nearly complete set of this correspondence is located in boxes 41-46. In addition, there is other correspondence with individual family members that spans the years 1950-1974. Of this latter kind, those between the Senator and his brother, Richard, are the most useful for learning about family, business, and personal matters.
The legislative section of the collection is the least informative. It is primarily perfunctory correspondence and invitations. The latter items were sampled and only a small portion retained.
The personal correspondence consists of letters to friends, associates, and constituents. Among these are former Michigan Governor, George Romney; former Secretary of Agriculture and Mormon Church Apostle, Ezra Taft Benson; J. Willard Marriott; and Ernest L. Wilkinson.
The political correspondence is limited but in some cases revealing. There are interesting items about former Utah Governor, J. Bracken Lee and former Utah Congressman, Douglas Stringfellow, who had been forced off the Republican ticket in 1954.
The Senator wrote three books during this period. They are Faith and Freedom, 1950; Why I Am A Mormon, 1958; and John F. Bennett: Businessman--Benefactor, 1980. They are included in the collection providing useful background information about the Senator's beliefs, the Bennett family, his business interests and his life in Washington. In addition, Mrs. Bennett, the daughter of Heber J. Grant, former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote Glimpses of a Mormon Family in 1968. It is also a useful adjunct providing family information and indicating the highlights of their Washington life.
The business papers consist mostly of correspondence along with some financial statements. These items relate to the Senator's Salt Lake interests: Bennett Motor Company, Bennett's Glass and Paint, Bennett Leasing, as well as various investments made over the years.
The family correspondence is of two kinds. There are the "family letters" which kept his immediate family as well as some close associates in touch with his social, political and legislative activities. They contain his candid expressions about those activities and serve as his diary. A nearly complete set of this correspondence is located in boxes 41-46. In addition, there is other correspondence with individual family members that spans the years 1950-1974. Of this latter kind, those between the Senator and his brother, Richard, are the most useful for learning about family, business, and personal matters.
The legislative section of the collection is the least informative. It is primarily perfunctory correspondence and invitations. The latter items were sampled and only a small portion retained.
The personal correspondence consists of letters to friends, associates, and constituents. Among these are former Michigan Governor, George Romney; former Secretary of Agriculture and Mormon Church Apostle, Ezra Taft Benson; J. Willard Marriott; and Ernest L. Wilkinson.
The political correspondence is limited but in some cases revealing. There are interesting items about former Utah Governor, J. Bracken Lee and former Utah Congressman, Douglas Stringfellow, who had been forced off the Republican ticket in 1954.
The Senator wrote three books during this period. They are Faith and Freedom, 1950; Why I Am A Mormon, 1958; and John F. Bennett: Businessman--Benefactor, 1980. They are included in the collection providing useful background information about the Senator's beliefs, the Bennett family, his business interests and his life in Washington. In addition, Mrs. Bennett, the daughter of Heber J. Grant, former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote Glimpses of a Mormon Family in 1968. It is also a useful adjunct providing family information and indicating the highlights of their Washington life.
Dates
- 1946-1978
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced 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
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical Sketch
It was on November 13, 1898 that John Foster and Rosetta Elizabeth Wallace Bennett became parents of their first child, Wallace Foster Bennett. Wallace attended the Salt Lake public schools and the L.D.S. High School. He later attended the University of Utah. In 1918 he enlisted in the army and upon completion of his training, was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He did not see active duty as the war ended at about the time of his commission. He returned to Salt Lake and in 1919 completed his AB degree in English at the University of Utah.
Upon graduation he became the principal of the San Luis Stake Academy in Manassa Colorado which was operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He returned to Salt Lake in 1920 and began his career at Bennett's Glass and Paint, the family business.
In 1922 he married Frances Grant the youngest daughter of Mormon Church president Heber J. Grant. They became the parents of five children, Wallace Grant, David Wells, Robert Foster, Rosemary [Fletcher] and Frances [Jeppson].
In 1917 a formal trust document had been signed by John F. Bennett, W. J. Bennett, a brother, and Joseph C. Sharp, an associate, creating the Bennett Association with a lifetime of fifty years. W. J. Bennett became trustee of the Bennett Association in 1928. In 1938 Richard Bennett became the third trustee on the death of his father. This association was a holding company for the Bennett family assets. In 1928 his father's health began to deteriorate and he assumed more responsibility for the Bennett's business interests becoming secretary-Tresurer of Bennett's Glass and Paint. Upon his fathers death in 1938 he became president of Bennett's.
In 1939 he, along with his two brothers, Harold and Richard, and Homer C. "Pug" Warner, received a franchise from Ford Motor Co. to and establish a car dealership, Bennett Motor Co. In the meantime he continued to be active in his church following in his father's footstep and becoming treasurer of the General Board of the Deseret Sunday School Union. He was active in civic affairs. In 1940 he was elected president of the Salt Lake Rotary Club and in 1944 he was selected as the President of the Salt Lake Community Chest.
Over the years he had assumed leadership positions in business organizations. In 1935 he served as Vice President of the National Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association and in 1937 he became president of the National Glass Distributor's Association. In 1945 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers and elected President of this organization in 1949) the first time someone from a small business background had been chosen.
It was not surprising perhaps that in 1950 some of the leaders in Utah's Republican Party, in searching for the right candidate to unseat long time Democratic Senator Elbert Thomas, looked favorably upon Wallace Bennett's business, civic and church credentials and nominated him as the Republican candidate. He was successful in unseating Senator Thomas and went on to represent the people of Utah for the next twenty-four years.
This election to the senate caused a change in his business responsibilities and these were assumed for the most part by his brother, Richard. The Senator was listed as Chairman of the Board of both Bennett's Glass and Paint and Bennett Motor Co. He continued to act as a Trustee of the Bennett Association, the family holding company.
In 1962 he had a hard fought campaign against Congressman David King. He won and gradually as he had more seniority he had more responsibilities.
His assignments in the senate included the committees in Finance, Banking and Currency, joint committees on Atomic Energy and Defense Production and he was vice-chairman of the Ethic's Committee. Had the Republican won a majority in the Senate he would have become chairman of either the Finance or Banking and Currency Committee.
His special interest in the senate included the upper Colorado Storage Project, establishing a review process for Medicine and Miecaid payments, and securing federal insurance for share holders of the nation's credit union's. When he left the senate he was characterized by Frank Hewlett who headed the Salt Lake Tribune's Washington bureau as "one of the Senate's foremost financial experts."
Wallace F. Bennett died 19 December 1993.
Upon graduation he became the principal of the San Luis Stake Academy in Manassa Colorado which was operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He returned to Salt Lake in 1920 and began his career at Bennett's Glass and Paint, the family business.
In 1922 he married Frances Grant the youngest daughter of Mormon Church president Heber J. Grant. They became the parents of five children, Wallace Grant, David Wells, Robert Foster, Rosemary [Fletcher] and Frances [Jeppson].
In 1917 a formal trust document had been signed by John F. Bennett, W. J. Bennett, a brother, and Joseph C. Sharp, an associate, creating the Bennett Association with a lifetime of fifty years. W. J. Bennett became trustee of the Bennett Association in 1928. In 1938 Richard Bennett became the third trustee on the death of his father. This association was a holding company for the Bennett family assets. In 1928 his father's health began to deteriorate and he assumed more responsibility for the Bennett's business interests becoming secretary-Tresurer of Bennett's Glass and Paint. Upon his fathers death in 1938 he became president of Bennett's.
In 1939 he, along with his two brothers, Harold and Richard, and Homer C. "Pug" Warner, received a franchise from Ford Motor Co. to and establish a car dealership, Bennett Motor Co. In the meantime he continued to be active in his church following in his father's footstep and becoming treasurer of the General Board of the Deseret Sunday School Union. He was active in civic affairs. In 1940 he was elected president of the Salt Lake Rotary Club and in 1944 he was selected as the President of the Salt Lake Community Chest.
Over the years he had assumed leadership positions in business organizations. In 1935 he served as Vice President of the National Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association and in 1937 he became president of the National Glass Distributor's Association. In 1945 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers and elected President of this organization in 1949) the first time someone from a small business background had been chosen.
It was not surprising perhaps that in 1950 some of the leaders in Utah's Republican Party, in searching for the right candidate to unseat long time Democratic Senator Elbert Thomas, looked favorably upon Wallace Bennett's business, civic and church credentials and nominated him as the Republican candidate. He was successful in unseating Senator Thomas and went on to represent the people of Utah for the next twenty-four years.
This election to the senate caused a change in his business responsibilities and these were assumed for the most part by his brother, Richard. The Senator was listed as Chairman of the Board of both Bennett's Glass and Paint and Bennett Motor Co. He continued to act as a Trustee of the Bennett Association, the family holding company.
In 1962 he had a hard fought campaign against Congressman David King. He won and gradually as he had more seniority he had more responsibilities.
His assignments in the senate included the committees in Finance, Banking and Currency, joint committees on Atomic Energy and Defense Production and he was vice-chairman of the Ethic's Committee. Had the Republican won a majority in the Senate he would have become chairman of either the Finance or Banking and Currency Committee.
His special interest in the senate included the upper Colorado Storage Project, establishing a review process for Medicine and Miecaid payments, and securing federal insurance for share holders of the nation's credit union's. When he left the senate he was characterized by Frank Hewlett who headed the Salt Lake Tribune's Washington bureau as "one of the Senate's foremost financial experts."
Wallace F. Bennett died 19 December 1993.
Extent
20 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Wallace F. Bennett papers (1946-1978) hold documents from the four terms this conservative politician and businessman who served as a U. S. Senator from Utah. Included are business papers relating to the Senator's interests in Bennett Motor, Bennett Glass and Paint, Bennett Leasing, and various investments; family correspondence; correspondence with friends, associates and constituents, such as George Romney, Ezra Taft Benson, J. Willard Marriott, and Ernest L. Wilkinson; and political correspondence that includes interesting items about Utah Governor J. Bracken Lee and Utah Congressman Douglas Stringfellow. Also present are three of Bennett's books, which provide information on his beliefs, the Bennett family, his business interests, and his life in Washington: Faith and Freedom (1950), Why I Am A Mormon (1958), and John F. Bennett: Businessman--Benefactor (1980).
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Wallace F. Bennett in 1982.
Gift of Wallace G. Bennett in 2012.
Gift of Wallace G. Bennett in 2012.
Separated Materials
Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0017).
Senatorial papers are located at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. See also the Robert F. Bennett papers (ACCN 1423) located in the Mansucripts Division of Special Collections.
Senatorial papers are located at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. See also the Robert F. Bennett papers (ACCN 1423) located in the Mansucripts Division of Special Collections.
Processing Information
Processed by Nancy V. Young in 1983 and Julia Huddleston in 2012.
Addendum processed by Julia Huddleston in 2012.
Addendum processed by Julia Huddleston in 2012.
Creator
- Title
- Inventory of the Wallace F. Bennett papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Nancy V. Young.
- Date
- 1983 (last modified: 2020)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2012: Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Julia Huddleston.
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