Al Ullman, Democrat of Baker, Oregon, represented Oregon’s second district in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1957 to 1981. Most of his efforts focused on the development of Oregon’s water resources and the improved management of public lands and national forests. In the 1970s, he worked on tax reform, welfare reform, and national health insurance. The collection consists of correspondence, reports, legislation, published material providing background information on the issues, and other files accumulated during his twenty-four years in the U. S. House of Representatives. The collection covers all the issues which concerned Ullman and his constituents between 1957 and 1981.
Repository:
University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through
a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical Note
Al Ullman, Democrat of Baker, Oregon, represented Oregon’s second district in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1957 to 1981. He was born in Great Falls, Montana on March 9, 1914, and was raised in the Northwest. In 1935 he graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, in political science. He also earned a master’s degree in public law from Columbia University in 1939. Ullman was a high school teacher and a businessman in Baker before his election to Congress. He was also a veteran of World War II, having served with the Navy in the South Pacific.
Ullman was first elected to Congress in 1956, defeating incumbent Sam Coon largely on the issue concerning Hells Canyon on the Snake River. It was his second try for the second district congressional seat. Once in Washington, D. C., he devoted major attention to the development of Oregon’s water resources and the improved management of public lands and national forests. He served on the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee and was a member of the National Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission.
In 1961, Congressman Ullman was elected to the important Ways and Means Committee. In 1973, while serving as acting chairman in the absence of Representative Wilbur Mills, he led the committee in developing the Trade Reform Act of 1973 and guided other legislative efforts in the areas of tax reform, welfare reform, and national health insurance. He became chairman in 1975.
Ullman was also considered a leader throughout Congress in the effort to reform budgetary procedures. In 1973, he initiated and later co-chaired the Joint Study Committee on Budget Control, leading to major budget reforms. He also served as chairman of the new House Budget Committee in 1974.
In addition, during his tenure in Congress, Ullman served on the Judiciary Committee, the Democratic Committee on Committees, the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation, and many other joint committees and commissions.
Congressman Ullman was defeated in his bid for re-election for his thirteenth term in 1980, though he remained active in Washington, D. C. until his death in 1986.
Content Description
The Al Ullman Papers contain correspondence, reports, legislation, published material providing background information on the issues, and other files accumulated during his twenty-four years in the U. S. House of Representatives. The collection covers all the issues which concerned Ullman and his constituents between 1957 and 1981.
The Ullman Papers came to the University of Oregon in 1981 from the Federal Records Center in Washington, D. C., where they had been in storage. The increments that were sent to the Records Center were reassembled to create the file that would have existed had all the records remained in Ullman’s office. Thus the files, as near as possible, are arranged chronologically within each heading. The headings differ, however, because a new filing system was adopted in 1969. As a result, materials that were filed under one heading between 1957 and 1968, are found under a different, more specific, heading after that period. A researcher interested in a particular subject may need to consult several files to be certain of finding everything relating to the topic.
The Papers are organized into eight series, each also described separately in the box by box inventory. Series I covers material from 1957 through 1968 and consists of general subject files. The inventory lists the types of materials included under each heading as well as specific topics that are covered. An office index to this series can be found in Box 1.
Series II through IV contain files generated between 1969 and 1980, inclusive. This begins the new filing system so that although this material is also filed according to subject, the headings are more specific; that is, naming the departments (Series II), agencies (Series III), and House Committees (Series IV). For example, material files under Natural Resources in Series I are included under the Department of the Interior in Series II. Series V through Series VII cover the entire twenty-four years of Ullman’s career and contain specific material relating to individual bills (primarily those introduced by Ullman, Series V), Oregon projects and affairs (Series VI), and publicity and scheduling (Series VII). The final section, Series VIII, contains carbons of Ullman’s outgoing correspondence, referred to as “whites.” These can also be used as a cross-reference index to the correspondence in the files arranged by subject, as notations of other file headings appear in the upper right-hand corner of the “white.”
Individual case files have been disposed of in accordance with Mr. Ullman’s wishes.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open to the public.
Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.
Restrictions on Use :
Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries.
Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the
Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives. The
reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation :
[Identification of item], Alfred Conrad Ullman Papers, Coll. 040, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Collection is organized into the following series: Series I. Subject Files, 1957-1968; Series II. Departments, 1969-1980; Series III. Agencies, 1969-1980; Series IV. House Committees, 1969-1980; Series V. Bill File, 1957-1980; Series VI. Oregon Projects and Affairs, 1957-1980; Series VII. Publicity and Scheduling, 1957-1980; and Series VIII. Whites (outgoing letters), 1957-1980.
Acquisition Information :
Gift of Al Ullman in 1981.
Separated Materials :
Photographs in this collection are stored separately under call number PH051.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Series I: Subject Files, 1957-1968
Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically.
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
1
Office index
1957-1968
1-2
Academies
Applications for armed forces academies. Includes application forms, correspondence, letters of recommendation, and follow-up grade reports.
1957-1970
2-3
Administration
Congressional office housekeeping files. Includes personnel applications, supply requisitions, form letters, and administrative assistant’s correspondence.
1957-1968
3-7
Agriculture
Correspondence, legislation, and background material. Includes files on individual commodities, USDA, Farmer’s Home Administration, Forest Service, farm programs such as crop insurance, and farm bills, including those introduced by Ullman.
1957-1968
8
Appropriations
Correspondence, legislation, and background material. Includes files on federal appropriations, agricultural appropriations, budget, HEW, labor, interior, and public works.
1957-1967
9
Area Redevelopment Administration
Correspondence, reports, and background material. Files on individual Oregon counties, not every county included.
1962-1964
9-10
Associations and Committees
Correspondence, largely Ways and Means Committee pressure mail. Also includes files on congressional committee assignments, such as tariffs, taxes, and medical care.
1956-1968
10
Atomic Energy
Correspondence, reports, and background material. Includes general use files, files on development and use, and material relating to nuclear bomb tests.
1957-1968
11-12
Aviation
Correspondence and reports. Includes files on airports and airways (establishment construction, maintenance), specifically John Day airport, Pendleton airport runway, and Portland airways; passenger and freight traffic; air safety rules and regulation; and West Coast “use it or lose it” investigation.
1957-1968
12
Beverages
Correspondence, petitions, and legislation mainly relating to consumption of alcoholic beverages aboard aircraft and advertising and labeling of alcoholic beverages.
1957-1968
12
Civil Rights
Correspondence. Includes files on discrimination, segregation, human rights, the equal rights amendment, and the civil rights act.
1957-1968
13
Civil Service
Correspondence and reports. Includes files on examinations and standards, investigations, separations, and personnel activities.
1957-1968
13
Congressional Business
Correspondence and tearsheets from the Congressional Record. Also includes files on the Congressional Directory, Library of Congress, congressional calendar, and two notebooks on congressional committees.
1957-1968
14
Crime
Correspondence and reports. Includes files on juvenile delinquency and police procedures.
1957-1968
14
Disasters
Correspondence and reports. Includes files on emergency relief, floods, and drought.
1957-1968
14-15
Economic Development Administration
Correspondence, reports and general files on Oregon projects.
1965-1968
15
Economics
Correspondence and background material. Includes files on business recession, industry, inflation, cost of living, monopolies, economic indicators, and false advertising.
1957-1968
15-17
Education
Correspondence relating to the growth of community colleges, federal aid to education, science and research, libraries, education TV, and the National Science Foundation.
1957-1968
17-20
Federal Government
Correspondence. Includes files on the executive branch; the legislative and judicial branches; lands, buildings, and ground; buildings; and statehood.
1957-1968
21-22
Finance
Correspondence, reports and background material. Includes files on banking and currency, public debt-spending, international finance, budget bill, and balance of payments. See also, Economics.
1957-1968
22-23
Foreign Relations
Correspondence and reports. Includes files on foreign policy, foreign aid, treaties and peace pacts, United Nations, war claims (Vietnam), exchange programs, Middle East, Latin America and Cuba, and Far East.
1957-1968
23-25
Health and Welfare
Correspondence. Includes files on community health and sanitation, diseases and conditions, rehabilitation programs, water systems and water supply, drugs – labeling, public welfare, and poverty programs, such as Vista and Job Corps. More specific topics are the “A” canal in Klamath Falls, Hoxey cancer treatments, and Klamath algae.
1957-1968
25-26
Housing
Correspondence and background material. Includes files on construction, financing – Federal Housing Administration, public housing, slum clearance – urban renewal, and housing for the aged.
1957-1968
26
Immigration
Correspondence files relating to citizenship, passports-visas, refugees-quotas, Immigration Act Revision, and deportation.
1957-1968
27-28
Indian Affairs
Correspondence regarding the Umatilla Reservation, Klamath Reservation, Warm Springs Reservation, and Burns – Piaute. Also files on bills and reports, fishing rights, and the 1957 Klamath electors rolls.
1957-1968
29
Institutions
Correspondence and background material. Includes files on federal institutions (corrections, health and mental health), state institutions, and private institutions.
1957-1968
29-30
Insurance and Retirement
Correspondence. Federal government files on insurance, retirement and annuities, railroad retirement, and workmen’s compensation. Also files on state and government insurance and retirement and private industrial insurance.
1957-1968
30
Inventions
Correspondence regarding patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
1957-1964
30-32
Labor
Correspondence. Includes files on conditions, strikes, unions, the Landrum-Griffin Labor Reform Bill, employment of the aged (Ullman’s bill), fair labor standards, and farm labor.
1957-1968
32
Land
Correspondence. Includes files on acquisition-disposal; classification-appraisals-valuation; conservation and protection; and land management and range administration. See also, Natural Resources, and Parks and Forests.
1967-1968
33
Legal
Correspondence and reports. Includes files on claims-litigations, decisions-opinions-interpretations, regulations, and court procedure and sentencing.
1959-1968
33
Legislation
Correspondence and legislation. Includes Ullman bills and responses and testimony by House members. See also, Series V.
1957-1968
33
Lists
Lists and published directories. Includes files on periodic reports, mailing list-newsletter, Christmas list, and second district Oregonians.
1957-1968
33-34
Mail
Correspondence. Includes files on classes, rates, commemorative stamps, transportation of mail, weight-size limitations, and restrictions.
1957-1968
34
Maritime
Correspondence and background material on ports-harbors-shipyards-docks and ships-shipping.
1957-1968
34-36
Meetings
Correspondence, schedules, calendars, and background material. Includes files on invitations- declined, accepted, and tentative; Brookings Institute; and meetings between parties other than the Representative.
1957-1968
36
Memorials
Correspondence and background material on international, national, and state memorials, as well as holidays.
1957-1968
36
Meteorology
Two files of correspondence.
1957-1962
36
Metals
One file of correspondence and background material.
1967-1968
36-39
Military
Correspondence and reports. Includes files on pay and allowances, officer commissions-ROTC, reservations (forts, camps, etc.), reserves and National Guard (including army, navy, air force, and marines), separations-discharges, USO-special services entertainment, weapons-fire arms (including gun control debate), surplus property, national defense, civil defense, and security.
1957-1968
39-51
National Resources
Correspondence, reports, and background material. Includes general files on fish and wildlife, fuels, irrigation and reclamation (Bureau of Reclamation), minerals-mines-mining, Rural Electrification Administration, public works, soil conservation, water resources – watersheds, flood control, and geo-thermal dynamics. Specific projects include Arlington Relocation, 1962 Baker project, Columbia Basin reports, the Dalles Ship Channel, Hells Canyon (1956-1960, Boxes 41-43), High Mountain Sheep Dam, John Day Dam, Oregon-California Intertie, and Wapinitia Project. See also, Series VI.
1957-1968
51-54
Parks and Forests
Correspondence, reports, and background material. Federal files break down into wilderness areas, recreational development (including the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission, 1960), reservations, national forests, national parks, and research programs. Also included are files on state parks and forests, timber-lumber products industry, and forest revenues.
1957-1968
54-58
Political Affairs
Correspondence, reports, and background material, campaign literature, and press clippings. Includes files on Ullman’s political campaigns in 1954 and 1956, commendations-endorsements, Democratic National Committee, political records (including Ullman’s political record and Wayne Morse’s record, 1955-1956, Box 55), Oregon delegation, elections in Oregon, and national elections.
1954-1968
58-61
Post Office
Correspondence. Includes both general and specific files on rural carriers-rural routes, postmasters, and post offices-buildings.
1957-1969
61-68
Public Relations
Correspondence, literature, and press releases. Includes files of anonymous crank letters, biographical sketches, commendations and greetings (such as condolences, congratulation letters, and thank you letters), complaints-criticisms, endorsements-introductions, fairs-expositions-ceremonies, photographs, publicity (such as press releases and clippings), reports to constituents, requests for material, polls-questionnaires, and information on office visitors.
Photographs have been removed to the Photograph Collection.
1957-1968
68-69
Recreation
Correspondence, reports and background material. Includes files on facilities, sports-sporting events, recreation areas (some specific), Land and Water Conservation Act, and meetings of the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission, 1960.
1957-1968
69
Religion
Correspondence relating to prayer and Bible reading.
1963-1968
69
Reports-Statistics
Includes various reports, correspondence, and a guest register for 1960-1962.
1958-1968
70
Roads
Correspondence, maps, reports, and background material. Includes files on federal roads, broken down into safety, specific highways, timber access roads, and trails; and state roads.
1957-1968
71
Salaries
Correspondence and reports. Includes files on federal employees (classified workers, congressional-judicial employees, postal employees), state employees (teachers), and minimum wages.
1957-1968
71
Science and Aeronautics
Three folders of correspondence and reports relating to space and oceanography.
1963-1968
71
Selective Service
Correspondence. Many files on the deferment policy; also university military training.
1957-1968
71
Small Business
Correspondence, reports, and background material. Files mainly on small business loans.
1957-1968
72-74
Social Security
Correspondence, legislation and background material. Includes files on benefits-annuities-eligibility, Ullman’s bills HR 12986 and HR 12987. Medicare, disability, and Title 19.
1957-1968
74
State Government
Correspondence, promotional material, and reports concerning Oregon.
1957-1966
75-77
Taxes
Correspondence, legislation, and reports. Includes files on federal taxes (federal excise, federal income, UNICEF tax exemption, highway users, aviation users, personal income tax exemption, tax exempt municipal bonds), state taxes, Revenue Act of 192, timber tax- 1963 tax bill, 1968 tax bill, and Ways and Means Committee work.
1957-1968
77
Telegrams (others)
One folder of copies of telegrams.
1964-1965
77-78
Trade
Correspondence, reports, and legislation. Includes files on imports-exports, tariffs-trade agreements, trade bills HR 9900 and HR 11970, and fair trade-anti-trust.
1957-1968
78
Un-American Activities
Correspondence. Includes files on Communism-left, John Birch, etc.-right, and House Committee.
1957-1968
78-80
Utilities
Correspondence, reports, petitions, and background material. Includes files on communications-telephone, radio, TV, cable, telegraph and transportation (motor carriers, rail carriers, water carriers, and automobile safety features).
1957-1969
80-81
Veterans
Correspondence and background material. Includes files on medicine and surgery, insurance, education-schooling, loans-housing, and annuities-pensions-disability allowances.
Arranged alphabetically by name of department and chronologically. Most often includes correspondence, reports, and background material. Specific subjects are sometimes mentioned.
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
82-91
Agriculture
Includes forestry, farm prices, and Tussock moth spraying.
1969-1980
92-93
Commerce
Includes economic development.
1969-1980
94-98
Defence
Includes information on the Boardman bombing range (Boxes 97-98).
1969-1980
98-101
Energy
Includes geothermal legislation, Bonneville Power Administration, natural gas deregulation, gasoline allocation, and wood stove tax credit.
1977-1980
101-107
Health, Education, and Welfare
Includes the separate departments of Education, 1980 and Health and Human Services, 1980.
1969-1980
107-109
Housing and Urban Development
1969-1980
110-118
Interior
Specific issues include Hells Canyon (Boxes 115-116), Eastern Oregon (Box 116), wild and scenic rivers (Box 116), Klamath Indian affairs (Box 116), RARE II (Roadless Area Review and Evaluation, Box 117), and Reclamation Reform Act of 1979 (Box 118).
1969-1980
118-119
Justice
Includes information on Nixon pardon, aliens, gun control, and poll closings.
Arranged alphabetically by name of agency and chronologically. Includes independent agencies as well as federal, congressional, presidential, and judicial agencies. Files may contain correspondence, reports, and/or background material.
Arranged alphabetically by name of committee and chronologically. Files consist mainly of constituents’ correspondence urging passage or non-passage of the bills the committees are considering.
Major subject headings within years are: taxes, social security, Medicare, trade, and welfare. Other headings include revenue sharing, committee on committees, Democratic caucus, pensions, unemployment compensation, small bills, health, energy taxes, tax reform, new economic package, member correspondence, and economics.
1969-1980
184-186
Ways and Means Committee
Material is from Ullman’s personal file, and relates more to legislation than constituent relations. Subjects include: welfare reform, unemployment compensation, REACH program, WIN, subcommittee material, tax exempt lobbying, value added tax, municipal bonds, Humphrey-Hawkins, energy, health insurance, federal campaign financing, and tax reform.
Arranged alphabetically by session of congress. Primarily bills introduced by Ullman. Contains printed legislation, legislative calendars, bill correspondence, and bill research.
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
188
85th-86th Congress
1957-1960
189
86th-89th Congress
1960-1966
190
90th-91st Congress
1967-1970
191
91st-93rd Congress
1970-1974
192
93rd Congress
1973-1974
193
93rd-94th Congress
1973-1976
194
94th Congress
1975-1976
195
94th-95th Congress
1975-1978
196
95th Congress
1977-1978
197
95th-96th Congress
1977-1980
198-200
96th Congress: Research and legislation on the Northwest Energy Bill of 1980
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
Personal Names :
Ullman, Al--Archives
Corporate Names :
United States. Congress. House
Geographical Names :
Oregon--Politics and government--1951-
United States--Politics and government--20th century
