Personal, 1864-1969

Dirksen, Everett McKinley (1896-1969), Papers
Personal, 1864-1969
3 Linear Shelf Feet

The Personal series contains files marked “personal” and files pertaining to the Dirksen family’s private activities. Many of the documents were designated by Everett Dirksen. There was a great deal of inconsistency in Dirksen’s and his staff’s classification of documents; consequently, related materials and comparable documentation exist in other series of the Dirksen papers.

The Personal series is organized alphabetically by subject and chronologically within each subject. The quality of the series is uneven at best, but the most substantive are “A Senator’s Notebook,” related to a syndicated newspaper column authored by Dirksen, 1968-69; “Autobiography,” containing drafts of Dirksen’s memoir, The Education of a Senator, published years after his death; and “Family Letters, 1917-1967,” consisting of letters primarily by Everett to Louella dating from his years in the U.S. House.

Each of the three major divisions of Politics is described more fully in the finding aid.

Folder Title List and Description	Description
“A Senator’s Notebook.” Correspondence, 1967-1969 (3 folders)	Correspondence with Carl Riblet, Jr., to develop Dirksen’s weekly newspaper column. Subjects: contract, writing style, subject matter, syndication, schedules, advertising, payment, and others. Includes Riblet’s appraisal of Arizona politics in 1969. The Los Angelese Times Syndicate eventually purchased the rights to the column from the Carl Riblet Syndicate.
“A Senator’s Notebook.” Drafts, 1968-1969 (4)	Typed drafts of columns arranged by column number. Preliminary drafts prepared in outline and textual form can be found in the Notebooks series of the Dirksen Papers.
“A Senator’s Notebook.” Releases, 1968-1969 (4)	Final version of the columns distributed as syndicate press releases. Arranged chronologically. The column as it appeared in newspapers can be found in the Remarks and Releases series of the Dirksen Papers.
American Legion, 1918-1969	Chicago Tribune clipping listing Dirksen as a graduate of officers’ training school; certificates of membership; certificate of appointment as second lieutenant.
Autobiography, 1968-1969	Staff memorandum regarding Dirksen’s contract with the Doubleday Company to write his autobiography; a transmittal letter to the Foley Agency, literary agents.
Autobiography. Drafts, 1968-1969 (3)	Typed, lightly annotated draft chapters for what was initially titled, “So You Want to Be a Senator” but which was later published by the University of Illinois Press as The Education of a Senator.
Autobiography. Galley Proofs, 1969 (3)
Autograph Book, 1888-1893	Autograph book addressed to “Friend Alfred” and signed by schoolmates.
Baker, Howard H. Jr., n.d.	Draft of a joint participation agreement concerning oil and gas leases; memorandum regarding the Tennessee Steel Corporation.
Ball, Edward, 1967-1969 (2)	Correspondence regarding donations by Mrs. Jesse Ball DuPont for Dirksen to distribute to various charities of his choice. Some of the funds were used to establish scholarships at several colleges and universities, amounting to more than $40,000.
Biographical, 1875-1968	Certificate from Germany (2875); childhood recollections; explanation of legal education; campaign biographies; clippings.
Central America, 1943-1946	One page of Dirksen’s typed outline; published reference material on Pan American agriculture.
Certificate of Death, 1969	Certificate of Death for Everett Dirksen issued by the District of Columbia Department of Public Health.
“Chinese Love: A Play in Two Acts,” 1922	Dirksen and C. Hubert Ropp’s play published by the T.S. Denison & Company, Chicago.
Christmas Cards, n.d.-1968 (4)	The Dirksen family Christmas cards. Those dated before 1960 were personally designed and drawn by a member of the family.
“Corn Is King,” 1967	Correspondence and text related to a Dirksen-authored article for the Family Circle Magazine.
Correspondence, 1946-1959	Miscellaneous letters dealing with family matters, insurance, and financial transactions; controversy over developments at the Second Reformed Church in Pekin, 1954; telegrams to Louella from Everett during his 1955 trip to Asia; a letter from Westbrook Pegler chastising Dirksen.
Correspondence, 1963-67	Letter enclosing a 1924 letter from Dirksen to Commercial Solvents, Peoria, seeking a job and Dirksen’s response; correspondence regarding delivery of a La-Z-Boy recliner; January 1967 letter from the Assistant Attorney General regarding campaign contributions solicited by Robert G. “Bobby” Baker.
DeBary, Florida, 1956-1964	Florida fishing license; correspondence regarding property taxes; pamphlet about the Frederick DeBary mansion.
Dirksen, Joy, 1929-1951 (3)	Correspondence; “Student Manual and Course of Study, Pekin Community High School, 1935-1936”; autograph book featuring signatures of Congress members, 1937; application documentation, Hollins College, 1946; wedding photographs; Cherry Blossom Festival 1951 (Joy was First Blossom Princess).
Dirksen Brothers Bakery, 1935-1941	Undated material relating to Dirksen’s option to buy out A&E Wholesale Bakers; documentation of disputed tax claim against the Dirksen bakery.
Education, 1895-1919 (5)	Pekin High School Commencement programs (1895, 1897, and 1913); program for Class of 1909 Tazewell County Graduation Exercises; grade and credit reports for Dirksen; Pekinians; grade transcripts from the University of Minnesota; membership card, LaSalle Extension University, Chicago, Department of Law (1919).
Elks Club, 1929	Constitution and Statutes, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.
Family Letters, 1918-1949 (58)	Personal letters written primarily by Everett to Louella while he served in the House of Representatives while she and their daughter, Joy, remained in Pekin, living with her mother, Lillie Carver. Louella published excerpts from these letters (and others not in the collection) in her memoir, The Honorable Mr. Marigold. Dirksen’s letters are rich in detail and comparable to diary entries. Often he would write three or four letters each day, although there are gaps in the chronological series. Subjects include his daily activities, speaking engagements, family plans, legislation, House and Senate personalities and proceedings, trips, and constituents. Occasionally, Dirksen will describe how he came to a position on legislation, but these are rare. There are some letters from Louella and others letters relating to business and finances in the late 1920s. There are two difficulties with the family letters. First, most of them were undated and arrived at The Center in no apparent order; archival staff has attempted to date them by internal evidence and context. Second, although granddaughter Cissy Baker donated scores of letters to add to the series in 2013, gaps remain—letters known to have existed when Louella wrote her memoir are apparently lost.
Files Disposition, n.d.	Lists of Dirksen office files transferred to storage.
First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Chicago, 1960	Minutes of the February 10 Board of Directors meeting.
Gifts, 1964-1969	Lists of gifts sent by Dirksen for parcel post auctions, celebrity auctions, bazaars, and other fund-raising events; memorandum on gift taxes.
Heart’s Desire, 1960	Two pages from the guest register at the Dirksen home in Virginia—the signatures are primarily from senators; map to Broad Run Farms.
Home Owners Mutual Insurance, 1958	Dirksen’s investment in HOMI.
Illinois History Magazine, 1959	Dirksen’s, “From Committee to Debate: The Work of a Senator.”
Keeshin Air Transport Service, 1957	Legal matter.
Lincolniana, 1864-1967 (24)	Copiers of 1864 Lincoln letters; Abraham Lincoln Sees Peoria (1939); Lincoln Day programs; magazine articles and pamphlets; Wigwan edition, Life, Speeches, and Public Services of Abraham Lincoln; remarks and writings by others about Lincoln; selected copies of the Lincoln Herald; materials related to the Lincoln Sesquicentennial.
Masons, 1953-1958	Dirksen’s consistory record; election as 33rd degree Mason; Dirksen speech to Masons.
Medical, 1947-1969	Descriptions of medical equipment related primarily to respiratory problems; medical journal articles on respiratory illness; 1947-1948 medical reports on Dirksen’s eyes; x-rays of Dirksen’s broken hip, 1966; 1968 and 1969 eye examination reports.
Miscellaneous, 1919-1965 (7)	Resolution proposing Dirksen as president; Invictus, Dirksen’s favorite poem; pamphlets; lists; blank postcards; illustrations of U.S. presidents; dance card, officers’ mess, Treves, 1919; warranty deed, color illustrations of American Indians; Dirksen’s 1965 speaking schedule.
Pekin Players, 1924	Playbill, “The Pekin Players” present “A Thousand Years Ago”; the script by Percy Mackaye.
Pere Marquette Building Corporation, 1939	Report to stockholders.
Recordings, 1966-1969 (2)	Memoranda regarding Dirksen’s proposed contract with Gene Shalit and Artists Agency Corporation concerning RCA recordings; press release from Capitol Records announcing the debut of “Gallant Men”; proposed legislation dealing with copyright of sound recordings; Function Media, Inc., radio programs, “Decisive Moments,” featuring Dirksen; clipping describing Dirksen’s recording career; letter regarding agreement with MCA Inc.
Recordings. ABC, 1967-1968 (2)	Correspondence and memoranda concerning a one-hour documentary walking tour of the U.S. Capitol with Dirksen and Howard K. Smith, “Everett Dirksen’s Washington”; notations on reference cards; script of the documentary which aired on January 22, 1968.
Recordings. Dolan Productions, 1969	Information concerning the “Bold Americans” series to be hosted by Dirksen.
Recordings. Red Skelton, 1967-1969	Correspondence regarding Dirksen’s appearance on the “Red Skelton Show”; Skelton’s notes of his impression of Dirksen.
Taxes, 1938-1948	Personal income tax forms and information; real estate tax statement.
Tazewell County Chateau Club, 1959	Tax claim.
Tournament of Roses, 1967-1968 (3)	Program, publicity, and correspondence related to Dirksen’s appearance as Grand Marshal.
Trip Diary, 1955	Photocopy of Dirksen’s diary entries, which are mostly mundane but which include autographs from heads of state, during his trip to Asia and Europe.
War Ration Books	War ration books issued to the members of the Dirksen family by the Office of Price Administration during World War II.
Washing Machine, n.d.	Advertising brochure for the Tri-Plex washing machine, manufactured by Pekin’s Vacuum Electric Washing Machine Company.