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 Governor Langer to Daniel McNamara Jr. of Home Owners' Loan Corporation, January 9, 1934
William Langer
In this letter dated January 9, 1934, from North Dakota Governor William Langer to Daniel McNamara, Jr., Associate Counsel of the Home Owners' Loan Corporation, Langer acknowledges McNamara's letter of January 4, and writes that he does not know of anything that would necessitate calling a special session of the legislature in 1934, but that if such necessity does arise he will submit the program that McNamara has referenced and cooperate to secure its passage.
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Letter from Governor Langer to Lynn J. Frazier Supporting Regarding Pending Sales Tax Legislation, March 22, 1934
William Langer
In this letter, dated March 22, 1934, from North Dakota Governor William Langer to United States Senator from North Dakota Lynn J. Frazier, Langer endorses the views of California Governor James Rolph Jr. regarding state sales tax on interstate shipments, as expressed in Rolph's letter, which Langer refers to having enclosed.
Dolph's letter was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
See also:
Telegram from California Governor James Rolph Jr. to Governor Langer Regarding Sales Tax on Incoming Interstate Shipments, 1934
Letter from Governor Langer to California Governor James Rolph Regarding Sales Tax Legislation, March 15, 1934
Letter from Governor Langer California Governor James Rolph, Jr. Regarding Sales Tax on Incoming Interstate Shipments, March 22, 1934
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Letter from Governor Langer to New Mexico Governor Arthur Seligman Regarding Land Experiment Stations, February 6, 1934
William Langer
In this letter, dated February 6, 1934, from North Dakota Governor William Langer to New Mexico Governor Arthur Seligman, Langer refers to the elimination of appropriated funding for dry land experiment stations from the 1934-1935 federal budget. Langer notes that these stations are funded by both their host states and the federal government, and writes that without this appropriation of $250,000.00 some of the states included in the experiment must bear the full cost or close their stations. Langer asks Governor Seligman to write the President urging reinstatement of the appropriation.
Identical letters were also sent to other governors including Governor Leslie Miller of Wyoming, Governor Edward Johnson of Colorado and Governor Miriam Ferguson of Texas.
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Letter from Governor Langer to Seth Richardson Regarding Bismarck Airport, 1934
William Langer
February 1934 letter from North Dakota Governor William Langer to Seth Richardson, an attorney in Washington, D.C.. Langer notes that he has written two government officials regarding the establishment of an airport near Bismarck and Mandan. Governor Langer favors the development of a site at Ben Carl Ben Eielson Field, three miles west of the Bismarck post office on Highway 10.
Langer closes the letter by asking Richardson to "do whatever you can to help out in this matter."
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Letter from Governor Langer to the NAACP regarding Lynching, 1934
William Langer
In this letter from February 1934, Governor Langer told Walter White, Secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), that he fully supported anti-lynching legislation that had been introduced in the United States Senate.
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Telegram From Governor Langer to John Simpson Regarding Visit to Oklahoma City, 1934
William Langer
In this telegram, dated January 5, 1934, from William Langer to National Farmers Union President John Simpson, Langer writes that he will be in Oklahoma City if humanly possible.
See also:
Telegram from Governor Langer to William Simpson Regarding Visit to Oklahoma City, 1934
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Telegram from Governor Langer to William Lemke Regarding Governors' Conference, 1934
William Langer
In this telegram, dated January 5, 1934, from Governor William Langer to US Congressman from North Dakota William Lemke, Langer writes that he will attend governors' conference if at all possible and will call Lemke the next day.
See also:
Letter from Representative William Lemke to Governor Langer, 1934
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Telegram from Governor Langer to William Simpson Regarding Visit to Oklahoma City, 1934
William Langer
In this telegram, dated January 5, 1934, from Governor William Langer to Oklahoma Farmers Union Editor William Simpson, Langer writes that he expects to be with Simpson on the 16th or 17th of January.
See also:
Telegram From Governor Langer to John Simpson Regarding Visit to Oklahoma City, 1934
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Letter from Representative William Lemke to Governor Langer, 1934
William Lemke
In this telegram, dated January 5, 1934, from US Representative William Lemke from North Dakota to North Dakota Governor William Langer, Lemke suggests that attend a governors' conference in Oklahoma City to present a resolution to Congress asking for the Frazier-Lemke Bill to be passed.
See also:
Telegram from Governor Langer to William Lemke Regarding Governors' Conference, 1934
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Letter from Home Owners' Loan Corporation to Governor Langer, 1934
Daniel McNamara Jr.
In this letter, dated January 4, 1934, from Daniel McNamara Jr. of the Home Owners' Loan Corporation to Governor William Langer, McNamara outlines the goals of the HOLC, formed "to aid owners to save their homes." McNamara also urges the Governor to make HOLC bonds legal investments in North Dakota.
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Letter from Barratt O'Hara to Governor Langer Regarding Radio Address, March 10, 1934
Barratt O'Hara
In this letter, dated March 2, 1934, Chicago radio personality Barratt O'Hara of WCFL ("The Voice of Labor") thanks Governor Langer for his letter of March 2nd, which O'Hara used in a radio address. O'Hara also writes of a crowd of 15,000-20,000 people petitioning the editor of the Chicago American to give publicity support of bondholders' request for constructive federal legislation.
See also:
Letter from Governor Langer to Barratt O'Hara Regarding Radio Address, March 30, 1934
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Letter from Minnesota Governor Olson to Governor Langer, 1934
Floyd B. Olson
Governor Floyd B. Olson of Minnesota wrote this letter to Governor William Langer in January 1934 regarding agricultural relief and marketing. This letter was also sent to Governor Tom Berry of South Dakota, Governor Albert Schmedemann of Wisconsin, and Governor Clyde Herring of Iowa.
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Telegram from California Governor James Rolph, Jr. to Governor Langer Regarding Sales Tax on Incoming Interstate Shipments, March 8, 1934
James Rolph Jr.
In this telegram, dated March 8, 1934, from California Governor James Rolph Jr. to Governor William Langer, Rolph advocates for the early passing of pending federal legislation authorizing states to tax incoming interstate shipments. Rolph urges Lager to wire his endorsement to North Dakota's legislative delegation.
James Rolph Jr. was Governor of California from January 6,1931 to June 2, 1934.
See also:
Letter from Governor Langer to California Governor James Rolph Regarding Sales Tax Legislation, March 15, 1934
Letter from Governor Langer California Governor James Rolph, Jr. Regarding Sales Tax on Incoming Interstate Shipments, March 22, 1934
Letter from Governor Langer to Lynn J. Frazier Supporting Regarding Pending Sales Tax Legislation, March 22, 1934
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Telegram from South Dakota Governor Tom Berry to Governor Langer Regarding a Minimum Price for Grain, Augusts 15, 1933
Tom Berry
In this letter, dated August 15, 1933 from South Dakota Governor Tom Berry to North Dakota Governor William Langer, Berry refers to Langer's telegram of August 5 regarding the grain prices and recommends waiting until the Farm Credit Administration's allotment plan for stabilizing farm product prices has gone into effect before making further suggestions.
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Telegram from Nebraska Governor to Governor Langer, 1933
Charles Wayland Bryan
Nebraska Governor Charles Wayland Bryan sent this telegram to Governor William Langer in October 1933 regarding the use of federal tax money to construct public roads. Governor Bryan believed that using funds from the Industrial Recovery Act was a great way to get money into the hands of laborers and that this area of the country needed updated roads.
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Telegram from Usher Burdick to Governor Langer, 1933
Usher L. Burdick
Usher Burdick, President of the Farmers' Holiday Association, sent this telegram to Governor William Langer in October 1933 regarding the loss of a farm owned by Mary Patterson of Westhope, North Dakota. The Association sought to end foreclosures on family farms and worked closely with Langer when the Governor enacted a moratorium on farm foreclosures in 1933.
Usher Burdick served in the United States House of Representatives from 1935 to 1945 and from 1949 to 1959.
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NPL Picnic in Menoken with Govenor Langer, 1933
Capital Publishing Company
Poster advertising an all day Nonpartisan League picnic near Menoken on July 28, 1933. Governor William Langer and Senator Lynn Frazier were the featured speakers, while County Agent H. O. Putman spoke about the about the Farm Adjustment Act.
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Letter from A. M. Caya of California State Chamber of Commerce to Governor Langer's Letter to Ccalifornia State Journal, December 7, 1933
A. M. Caya
In this letter, dated December 7, 1933, from A. M. Caya of the Research Department of the California State Chamber of Commerce to North Dakota Governor William Langer. Caya writes that he believes Langer's letter has been mistakenly forwarded to his organization and recommends that Langer refer to the California State Journal for a more complete address.
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Letter from State Forester Francis E. Cobb to Governor Langer Regarding Arbor Day Observance, May 4, 1933
Francis E. Cobb
In this letter, dated May 4, 1933, from North Dakota State Forester and President of North Dakota State School of Forestry Francis E. Cobb to North Dakota Governor William Langer, Cobb recommends May 12th as the date for Arbor Day to be observed that year.
Cobb goes on to tell of the North Dakota School of Forestry's hopes and plans for planting more trees around the state.
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Letter to Governor Langer regarding Foreclosure Moratorium, 1933
Clyde Duffy
September 12, 1933, letter from Clyde Duffy of the Sinness and Duffy law firm in Devils Lake to Governor William Langer regarding the moratorium on farm foreclosures in North Dakota. Duffy wrote to Langer asking to be allowed to foreclose on a farm in Rock Lake.
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Letter from U.S. Senator (North Dakota) Lynn J. Frazier to Governor Langer urging him to attend planned governor conference. (1933)
Lynn J. Frazier
Letter to Governor Langer from U.S. Senator (North Dakota) Lynn Frazier. This letter mentions Langer's heath, notes newspaper reports of "interesting developments" brought out by the "investigation committee" and urges Langer to attend a conference of governors being called for by then-.President-Elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
See also:
Governor Langer's response to U.S. Senator Lynn Frasier's letter Regarding Governors' Conference, 1933.
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Farm Credit Association to Governor Langer, 1933
A. S. Gross
October 1933 letter from A. S. Gross of the Farm Credit Administration to Governor William Langer regarding land bank loans. Gross feared that waiving the usual $10 application fee would lead to a rise in "applications from those who were not in special need of financing."
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Telegram from King Haakon VII to Governor Langer, 1933
Haakon VII
Following an invitation to visit North Dakota from Governor William Langer, Haakon VII, King of Norway, responds by noting that a visit to the United States in 1933 would be impossible.
Crown Prince Olav (later King Olav V) eventually visited North Dakota in 1939.
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Congratulatory Telegram to President Roosevelt, 1933
William Langer
Governor Langer sent this telegram to Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the eve of the future President's inauguration on March 3, 1933. The next day, Roosevelt delivered a historic speech and told Americans that the "only thing we have to fear is...fear itself."
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Govenor Langer to Usher Burdick regarding Financial Difficulties of the Odegaards, 1933
William Langer
This letter from October 2, 1933, from Governor Langer to Usher Burdick examines the financial difficulties of the Nils Odegaard of Pekin, as well as the challenges faced trying to overcome them.