William Langer graduated from UND in 1906 and had a long career in politics. He was North Dakota Attorney General from 1917 until 1920 and served twice as Governor: from 1933 to 1934 and from 1937 until 1939. Elected to the United States Senate in 1941, he served until his death in 1959.
The digitization of these papers has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Letter from Senator Langer to Peggy Harris Regarding Working Conditions on the Garrison Dam Project, December 20, 1948
William Langer
This letter, dated December 20, 1948, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to Peggy Harris of Riverdale, North Dakota, refers to an enclosed report Langer has received in reply to an inquiry Langer made on Harris's behalf regarding working conditions related to Harris's employment by the Rocket Catering Company in the Cafeteria Concession on the construction site of the Garrison Dam. Langer writes that he is very sorry the report is not more favorable for Harris, but that it is how the situation stands.
The report Langer refers to as enclosed was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
See also:
Letter from Peggy Harris to Senator Langer Regarding Working Conditions on the Garrison Dam Project, November 14, 1948
Letter from Senator Langer to Peggy Harris Regarding Working Conditions on the Garrison Dam Project, December 4, 1948
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Letter from Senator Langer to Peggy Harris Regarding Working Conditions on the Garrison Dam Project, December 4, 1948
William Langer
This letter, dated December 4, 1948, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to Peggy Harris of Riverdale, North Dakota, acknowledges receipt of Harris's recent letter describing working conditions in the Cafeteria Concession on the construction site of the Garrison Dam. Langer writes that he is taking the matter up with the appropriate authorities and will advise Harris as soon as information is available.
See also:
Letter from Peggy Harris to Senator Langer Regarding Working Conditions on the Garrison Dam Project, November 14, 1948
Letter from Senator Langer to Peggy Harris Regarding Working Conditions on the Garrison Dam Project, December 20, 1948
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Letter from Senator Langer to R.J. Doebler Regarding Medical Care for Indians of the Fort Berthold and Turtle Mountain Reservations, February 25, 1948
William Langer
This letter dated February 25, 1948, from United States Senator William Langer to R.J. Doebler marks Langer’s receipt of Doebler’s letter from February 19, 1948, regarding the medical care of members of the Fort Berthold and Turtle Mountain Reservations. Langer agrees with Doebler that “something must be done to insure proper care for Indians” and will call Doebler’s letter to the attention of United States Senator Arthur Watkins, Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee.
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Letter from Senator Langer to Wesley D'Ewart Forwarding Petition from Members of the Three Affiliated Tribes, January 31, 1948.
William Langer
This letter, dated January 31, 1948, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to US Representative from Montana Wesley A. D'Ewart, forwards a petition from members of the Three Affiliated Tribes. Langer says that he will offer his help if needed. The aforementioned petition was not included with this document.
See also:
Letter from Senator Langer to Martin Cross Regarding a Petition Addressed to Congressman Wesley A. D'Ewart, January 31, 1948
Letter from Senator Langer to Martin Cross Regarding Cross's Recent Visit to Washington, D.C. and Cross's Testimony, February 10, 1948
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Letter from Senator Langer to WF Gierke Regarding Fort Berthold Reservation, February 12, 1948
William Langer
This letter dated February 12, 1948, from United States Senator William Langer to WF Gierke Jr., states that Langer has received Geirke's letter regarding aid for the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation. He goes on to say that ten thousand dollars have been sent and that more is likely on the way.
There is a handwritten note at the top of the letter that reads "Indians."
See also:
Letter from Gierke to Senator Langer Regarding Fort Berthold Reservation, January 13, 1948
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Letter from Senator Langer to WF Gierke Regarding Fort Berthold Reservation, January 6, 1948
William Langer
This letter dated January 6, 1948, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to WF Gierke Jr., acknowledges Gierke's previous letter and states that he will continue addressing the issues related to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation.
There is a handwritten note at the top of the document that reads "Indians."
See also:
Letter from Senator Langer to WF Gierke Regarding Fort Berthold Reservation, January 6, 1948
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Letters from Senator Langer to John Badbrave et al. Regarding Unauthorized Delegates, December 15-16, 1948
William Langer
This group of letters dated December 15 and 16, 1948, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to Three Affiliated Tribes members John Badbrave, Martin Croy, John Wilkinson, Phillip Atkins, Martin Fox, Charles Burr, George Parshall and Phillip Snow, are identical except for their addressees and dates, and acknowledge the receipt of a telegram from the recipients dated December 3, 1948 advising Langer that the delegates currently in Washington from Fort Berthold were not authorized by a tribal council quorum. Langer writes that he appreciates being informed of this.
See also:
Telegram from John Badbrave et al. to Senator Langer Regarding Unauthorized Delegates, December 3, 1948
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Telegram from Senator Langer to Fred Lone Bear Stating Langer Will Help as Much as Possible, May 7, 1948
William Langer
This telegram dated May 7, 1948, from United States Senator William Langer to Chairperson Fred Lone Bear, responds to Lone Bear's telegram and says that Langer will do everything possible for Three Affiliated Tribes delegates Martin Cross and Floyd Montclair while they are in Washington, D.C.
A handwritten note on the letter says, "Indians."
See also:
Telegram from Fred Lone Bear to Senator Langer Requesting that Langer Help Delegates Martin Cross and Floyd Montclair, May 4, 1948
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Telegram from Senator Langer to George Gillette Regarding Unauthorized Tribal Representatives, January 17, 1948
William Langer
This telegram dated January 17, 1948, from United States Senator William Langer to George Gillette, responds to Gillette's letter from January 9, 1948 about unauthorized representatives from the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold Reservation. In the telegram, Langer states that he will only support official delegates.
This telegram contains the handwritten note, "Indians."
See also:
Letter from George Gillette to Senator Langer Regarding Unauthorized Tribal Representatives, January 9, 1948
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Telegram from Senator Langer to Lillian Endom Regarding Settlement and Reclaimed Lands, May 24, 1948
William Langer
This telegram dated May 24, 1948, from United States Senator William Langer to Lillian Endom, confirms that Langer received her telegram. Langer is attending to the matters expressed in Endom's telegram regarding payment and land. This telegram contains handwriting that says "Garrison Indians."
See also:
Telegram from Lillian Endom to Senator Langer Regarding Settlement and Reclaimed Lands, May 23, 1948
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Telegram from Senator Langer to PW Lanier Regarding Fort Berthold Reservation Conditions, January 9, 1948
William Langer
This telegram dated January 9, 1948, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to attorney PW Lanier, responds to Lanier's previous telegram. Langer states that the US Senate and Indian Department have been disgraceful and that he has presented the matter.
There is a handwritten note at the top of the document that reads "Indians."
See also:
Telegram from PW Lanier to Senator Langer Regarding Fort Berthold Reservation Conditions, January 8, 1948
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Telegram from PW Lanier to Senator Langer Regarding Fort Berthold Reservation Conditions, January 8, 1948
PW Lanier
This telegram dated January 8, 1948, from attorney PW Lanier to United States (US) Senator William Langer, notes that due to a harsh winter, the natives on the Fort Berthold and Fort Totten Reservations are in need of US governmental aid.
See also:
Telegram from Senator Langer to PW Lanier Regarding Fort Berthold Reservation Conditions, January 9, 1948
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Telegram from Fred Lone Bear to Senator Langer Requesting that Langer Help Delegates Martin Cross and Floyd Montclair, May 4, 1948
Fred Lone Bear
This telegram dated May 4, 1948, from Chairperson Fred Lone Bear to United States Senator William Langer, speaks for the "allottees" in requesting that Langer help their delegates Martin Cross and Floyd Montclair in Washington, D.C.
See also:
Telegram from Senator Langer to Fred Lone Bear Stating Langer Will Help as Much as Possible, May 7, 1948
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Affidavits Regarding Martin Sandberger, 1948-1949
Carl Mothander, John Olsson, James I.A. Dickson, Kurt Mintzel, Eva Sandberger, Karl Sandberger, Hedwig Sandberger, and Gustav Adolph Scheel
These affidavits, dated variously from 1948 to 1949, attest to the innocence of convicted Nazi War Criminal and SS member Dr. Martin Sandberger, who was sentenced to death by hanging by the International Military Tribunal at the Nuremberg war crimes trial.
Based on related corresondence, most or all of these affidavits were likely sent to United States Senator William Langer by the Reverend T. W. Strieter of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chicago. Also in the Langer Collection are several letters from Strieter to Langer in which Strieter refers to enclosed "affidavits" or "documents" that he says indicate either Sandberger's innocence or that Sandberger did not receive a fair trial. In most of those cases the referenced enclosed documents were not found with the letter that referenced them. The number of affidavits in this group does not match the number of documents referenced in any one letter, nor the total of all referenced documents, so it is not immediately clear which of these affidavits, if any, go with which letters in the Langer Collection.
See also:
Letter from Pastor T. W. Strieter to Senator Langer Regarding Martin Sandberger, March 19, 1949
Letter from Pastor T. W. Strieter to Senator Langer Regarding Martin Sandberger, April, 5, 1949
Letter from Pastor T. W. Strieter to Senator Langer Forwarding 11 Affidavits Regarding Martin Sandberger and Requesting Langer's reply, April 21, 1949
Letter from Pastor T. W. Strieter to Senator Langer Forwarding a 3rd Set of Documents Regarding Martin Sandberger, May 17, 1949
Letter from Pastor T. W. Strieter to Senator Langer Forwarding Affidavit from Martin Sandberger's Father, May 20, 1949
Letter from Pastor T. W. Strieter to Senator Langer Forwarding Additional Affidavits Regarding Martin Sandberger, May 24, 1949
Letter from Senator Langer to Lt. Gen. Clarence Huebner Conveying Affidavits Attesting to the Innocence of Martin Sandberger, May 25, 1949
US Senate Memorandum from Senator Langer to Pastor T. W. Strieter Regarding Martin Sandberger, June 1, 1949
Letter from Senator Langer to Lt. Gen. Clarence Huebner Conveying Additional Materials Attesting to the Innocence of Martin Sandberger, June 1, 1949
Letter from Senator Langer to T. W. Strieter Acknowledging Strieter's Recent Mailings and Thanking Him, June 1, 1949
Letter from Senator Langer to Lt. Gen. Clarence Huebner Conveying Additional Materials Attesting to the Innocence of Martin Sandberger, June 24, 1949
Letter from Pastor T. W. Strieter to Senator Langer Regarding Martin Sandberger, July 2, 1949
Einsatzgruppen Case: Opening Statement for Defense - Dr. Mandry for Martin Sandberger, International Military Tribunal
Einsatzgruppen Case: Direct Examination of Martin Sandberger, International Military Tribunal
Einsatzgruppen Case: Redirect Examination (Defense) of Martin Sandberger, International Military Tribunal
Einsatzgruppen Case: Presentation of Evidence (Von Stein for Sandberger), International Military Tribunal
Einsatzgruppen Case: Closing Argument (Summation) (Von Stein for Sandberger), International Military Tribunal
Einsatzgruppen Case: Judgement (and official opinion), International Military Tribunal
Einsatzgruppen Case: Individual Judgements, International Military Tribunal
Einsatzgruppen Case: Sentencing, International Military Tribunal
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Letter from Max Perlow to Senator Langer Regarding the Mundt-Nixon Bill, June 17, 1948
Max Perlow
This letter dated June 17, 1948 from Max Perlow to Senator William Langer contains a resolution made by the United Furniture Workers of America adopted by their Fifth-Constitutional Convention of their International Union. They believe the Mundt-Nixon Bill is "aimed at taking away the rights and liberties of the American people..."
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Letter from Holland Roberts to Senator Langer Regarding the Mundt-Nixon Bill, June 14, 1948
Holland Roberts
This letter dated June 14, 1948 from Holland Roberts to Senator William Langer contains the thoughts of distinguished citizens of Palo Alto, CA. They are opposing the Mundt-Nixon Bill and urge Senator Langer to prevent it from passing.
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Memo to Senator Langer Indicating that Marin Cross Requests Langer's Presence at Meeting with the US Interior and Insular Affairs Subcommittee, May 10, 1948
Senator William Langer's Office
This memo dated May 10, likely from 1948, does not have an author and is addressed to United States (US) Senator William Langer. The memo informs Langer that Three Affiliated Tribes member Martin Cross was in that morning and would like Langer to attend a meeting with the US Interior and Insular Affairs Subcommittee later that day. There are some shorthand notes on the memo.
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Letter from Mary Sussex to Senator Langer Regarding the Effects of the Garrison Dam on Fort Berthold Residents, July 15, 1948
Mary Sussex
This letter, dated July 15, 1948, from Mary Sussex of Hope, North Dakota to United States (US) Senator William Langer expresses concern for the effect the construction of the Garrison Dam will have on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Sussex notes that that the dam construction will force members off their own land and urges Langer to use his role as a member of the US Congress to see that legislation is passed to give Fort Berthold members more adequate compensation.
The letter is marked with the handwritten notation, "S. J. Res. 209"
See also:
Letter from Senator Langer to Mary Sussex Regarding the Effects of the Garrison Dam on Fort Berthold Residents, July 22, 1948
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Letter from Senator Langer to Theodore Baker Relaying Copy of Letter from Ben Reifel, March 10, 1948
Langer William
This letter dated March 10, 1948, from United States (US) Senator Langer to Theodore Baker refers to an enclosed copy of a letter Langer received from Fort Berthold Indian Agency Superintendent Ben Reifel regarding a matter that involves Baker.
The referenced enclosed letter was not found with this letter in the Langer papers.
See also:
Letter from Senator Langer to Ben Reifel Regarding Theodore Baker, March 10, 1948
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Telegram from Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Zelitan Regarding the Mundt Bill, May 29, 1948
Zelitan Mr. and Zelitan Mrs.
This telegram dated May 29, 1948 from Mr. and Mrs. Zelitan to Senator William Langer regards the Mundt Bill and their opposition of the bill. Mr. and Mrs. Zelitan write, "Mundt Bill gags free political expression has a strong swastika odor..."
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Form Letter, Membership Application and Bylaws of the Legislative Council of The Indian Tribes and Bands of the United States of America, by US Representative Usher L. Burdick, May 28, 1947
Usher Burdick
This packet of documents, dated May 28, 1947, by United States (US) Representative Usher L. Burdick, consist of a form letter explaining the genesis of the Legislative Council of The Indian Tribes and Bands of the United States of America, an application for membership on the council, and a copy of the bylaws of the council.
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Questionnaire Regarding Creation of Contract to Receive Compensation in Return for Land Taken for the Garrison Dam Project, October 1947
Ralph Case
This questionnaire, which is estimated to have been written in early October, 1947, by the tribes' general counsel Ralph Case on behalf of a committee authorized by a resolution of the Tribal Council of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, "to ask and secure answers from all adults of the Forth Berthold Reservation to a set of questions which are stated below."
The questions cover things like the reader's awareness that the Garrison Dam will be built, what its effects will be, what the US Government is proposing as compensation, what the Tribes' response should be, and whether the Tribal Council and the tribes' attorney should be authorized to write a counteroffer in the form of a contract to be approved or disapproved by members by vote.
Other questions deal with whether the reader owns land in the taking area, the reader's preference for a monetary settlement or land to replace the tribal lands to be inundated, what accommodations should be made for landless tribal members, and how income from timber and lignite should be treated.
The questionnaire also gives information on provisions likely to be included in the proposed contract, including the construction of new homes, supplying of electricity and water for irrigation, oil and gas rights, the construction of new roads and operation of ferries to cross the reservoir, and a variety of other matters.
See also:
Outline of Contract, The United States of America with the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold Reservation, September, 1947
Letter from Ralph H. Case to Senator Langer Regarding Questionnaire Regarding Creation of Contract to Receive Compensation in Return for Land Taken for the Garrison Dam Project, October 3, 1947
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Letter from Ralph Case to Senator Langer Regarding Appropriations for Tribal Council Expenses, October 7, 1947
Ralph H. Case
This letter dated October 7, 1947, from attorney Ralph H. Case to United States (US) Senator William Langer, answers Langer's inquiry on behalf of Three Affiliated Tribes member Martin Cross as to the source of the Three Affiliated Tribes Tribal Council funds. Case informs Langer that the the funds did come out of the $400,000 held in the US Treasury for the Three Affiliated Tribes. Case further writes that US Senate Bill 1133 (S. 1133) was introduced at the request of Cross to authorize per capita distribution of the $400,000 which would have left the Tribal Council without any operating funds.
See also:
Letter from Senator Langer to Ralph Case Regarding Inquiry Made by Martin Cross in September 11 Letter, October 1, 1947
Letter from C.E. Van Horne on Behalf of Senator Langer to Martin Cross Regarding the Source of Tribal Council Expense Funds, October 9, 1947
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Fort Berthold Dam Site v. The Garrison Dam Site Statement of Fact and Law, 1947
Ralph H. Case
Statement of Fact concerning the Fort Berthold Dam site v. the Garrison Dam site presented by The Indian People of Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota. The statement concerns Congress's authorization for the construction of five dams on the Missouri river across North Dakota and South Dakota. The statement headlines involve: impending losses, alternate offers of plans and dam locations, prohibition of money for the Garrison Dam construction according to section 6 of the act of May 2, 1946, War Department offer of lieu lands, losses sustained to North Dakota and to the United States, and a remedy. The War Departments decline of offer letter sent by J.A. Kava, Secretary of the Interior, is included. The statement is a gathering of facts and argument presented by Fort Berthold Reservation to the opposition of the Garrison Dam construction.
See also:
Fort Berthold Dam Site v. The Garrison Dam Site Statement of Fact and Law. Amended and Extended
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Fort Berthold Dam Site v. The Garrison Dam Site Statement of Fact and Law. Amended and Extended, 1947
Ralph H. Case
Statement of Fact concerning the Fort Berthold site v. The Garrison Dam site presented by the Indian People of Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota that has been extended and amended. Headers include: Impending losses of Indian lands, Impending Danger Garrison Dam Site of Opinions of Army and Other Engineers for the inadequacy of the site foundation, Discussion, The unnecessity of Garrison Dam, The Alternate Offer of the Fort Berthold Dam site, The prohibition from Congrees for use of money to construct the dam, The War Department offer of Lieu Lands, Interior Department Declination of War Department Offer, Losses Sustained by Construction of Garrison Dam, Losses to North Dakota, Losses to the United States, Losses to the Indians of Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota, and The Remedy.
See also:
Fort Berthold Dam Site v. The Garrison Dam Site Statement of Fact and Law.