DENIS WADLEY:

An Inventory of His Minnesota ADA Files at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Wadley, Denis, creator.
	Title:	Minnesota ADA files and related papers.
	Dates:	1948-1984.
	Abstract:	Records compiled by Wadley, documenting the activities of the Minnesota chapter of Americans for Democratic Action, as well as personal papers documenting Wadley's involvement in other political organizations and issues. Included in the collection are bylaws, minutes, correspondence, financial records, membership records, newsletters, news releases, newspaper clippings, subject files, and a few committee files.
	Quantity:	3.0 cubic feet (3 boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description section for shelf locations.

Denis Wadley was active in the revitalization of the Minnesota chapter of Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) in the late 1960s and served as its vice chairman for one year before being elected chairman at the age of 29 in 1969. He held this office for three years and served the following year as the organization's executive director. In later years, he functioned as executive secretary and vice president. Wadley was an active member of the national ADA from 1961 and was also involved with the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, and a number of other political organizations.

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Wadley was a graduate of DeLaSalle High School and held degrees from Mankato State College and the University of Minnesota. He worked as a librarian, high school teacher, legal researcher, and book reviewer, and served as an aide to then Lieutenant Governor Rudy Perpich. Wadley ran an unsuccessful campaign in 1973 for a position on the Minneapolis Library Board.

Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) is the oldest independent liberal political organization in the United States. It was created in 1947 by leaders of the Union for Democratic Action (UDA), a liberal group that had been organized in 1941 to oppose fascism in the United States and abroad. Following World War II, the UDA's leaders became increasingly anti-communist and they reorganized as the ADA to portray their organization as specifically democratic in purpose. The ADA positioned itself as a progressive organization, supporting expansion of New Deal programs, protection of civil liberties, involvement with the United Nations, and aid to other democratic peoples.

In the years that followed, the ADA encouraged liberal action on civil rights and civil liberties issues, the Vietnam War, the move to impeach President Richard Nixon, nuclear arms control, apartheid, workers' rights, women's issues, increases in the minimum wage, and the Federal budget and tax policy.

The Minnesota chapter of the ADA was provisionally organized at a meeting of about 100 people on March 9, 1947. By the time a statewide convention was held three months later, its membership had swelled to 250. During its first years, the chapter concentrated on expanding membership throughout the state, publishing a newsletter, developing a state program, campaigning for continued national rent control, and revitalizing the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). The latter activity was so successful that, by the late 1950s, the chapter found it difficult to maintain a separate existence outside the party.

The Democratic Party's involvement with the Vietnam conflict appears to have been a major factor in the revitalization of the ADA in Minnesota. The chapter was rechartered in April 1968 and held an organizing convention the following November. The invitation to the convention presented the ADA as a liberal organization free from party ties. In the following years, the chapter focused on national issues such as the draft, drug legislation, gun control, spying, migrant workers, and tax reform. On a local level, issues such as the size of the state legislature, gay rights, and bail reform were addressed. The chapter also endorsed candidates on a nonpartisan basis and produced surveys of the Minnesota legislature, rating individual legislators on a selection of issues deemed important by the ADA.

Historical information on Denis Wadley was taken from the collection. Information on the ADA was taken from: Americans for Democratic Action Papers, 1932-1965: A Guide to the Microfilm Edition, edited by Jack T. Erickson; Americans for Democratic Action: Its Role in National Politics, by Clifton Brock; The ADA: Americans for Democratic Action, Its Advocates in Government, Its History and Its Program, published by the Minnesota Republican Party; the ADA Web site (http://adaction.org/); and the collection.

Return to top

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The Minnesota ADA files and related papers mainly comprise the organizational records of the Minnesota chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action (ADA). The records, which were compiled by Wadley, consist of bylaws, minutes, correspondence, financial records, membership records, newsletters, news releases, newspaper clippings, subject files, and committee files. The main topics covered by these papers include: the draft, drug legislation, gun control, spying, migrant workers, tax reform, the Minnesota legislature, gay rights, and women's issues.

Also included in the collection are a small number of Wadley's personal papers, which concern his campaign for the Minneapolis Library Board, his firing from a teaching position, and his involvement with other political organizations and issues.

Return to top

ARRANGEMENT

These records are organized into the following sections:


		Americans for Democratic Action Files
		Denis Wadley Personal Papers

Return to top

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

Denis Wadley. Minnesota ADA Files and Related Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number:13,102; 13,524

Processing Information:

Processed by: Candice L. Hart, November 2000

Catalog ID number: 990017353690104294

Return to top

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION FILES

Location

Box

148.H.6.1B

Committees:

Elections:

Correspondence consists of memos to committee and board members; letters to voters and newspapers supporting endorsed candidates; and letters to and from candidates. Also included is a list of proposed questions for candidates running for Minneapolis mayor and city council in 1977. The minutes mainly record interviews with and endorsements of candidates for a variety of local and national offices.

Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1972-1977.

Minutes, 1973, 1977.

Legislative:

Correspondence consists of letters to legislators on various issues; memos to the board; and letters from the Gay Rights Legislative Committee. Also included are the legislative program procedures from the Massachusetts chapter and the Pennsylvania chapter's 1971-1972 State Legislative Voting Record. Most of the minutes are from the Legislative Survey Committee and mainly record decisions on which bills to include in the 1973 survey. The minutes of one 1977 meeting of the Legislative Committee are also included.

Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1971-1973, 1975.

Minutes, 1972-1973, 1977.

Lobbying, undated, 1972-1977.

Materials consist of correspondence, notes, statements, newspaper clippings, reports (by the ADA and the Minnesota Conservative Union), and lobbyist registration forms. Subjects include lobbying priorities and lowering the state's age of majority.

Policy:

Materials mainly consist of policy statements on a variety of issues, including American Indians, farming, taxes, abortion, and social security.

Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated, 1970, 1973-1977.

Minutes, 1972-1973.

Constitution and bylaws, [circa 1968]-1974.

Correspondence, 1948-1949, 1968-1978, 1982-1983. 14 folders.

Correspondence from the 1940s consists of letters to Richard O. Hanson from the Minnesota ADA chapter and informational materials on the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Materials from 1968 deal mainly with the reorganization of the Minnesota chapter, and 1969 correspondence mainly concerns preparations for the chapter's second state convention.

From 1970 to 1973, most of the correspondence is to and from Denis Wadley in his capacities as chapter chairman and executive director, with much of it concerning organizational issues with the national organization. In 1970, other subjects include the Northern States Power Company nuclear power plant at Monticello, the formation of an ADA chapter on the campus of Winona State College, and Hubert H. Humphrey's candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Subjects covered in 1971 include the Vietnam War and the draft. In 1972, subjects include: the 25th national convention; a national board meeting held in Minneapolis; national, local, and state elections, including internal controversy over the chapter's support of Allan Spear over John Cairns for state senator and the financial statement for Volunteers for Spear; state redistricting; and the 1971 legislative survey. In 1973, major topics include the funeral industry, gay rights, abortion, and the movement to impeach President Richard Nixon.

From 1974 to 1983, most correspondence is to or from chapter presidents Doris Caranicas and Lois Gibson and covers a variety of subjects.

Location

Box

148.H.6.2F

Financial records, 1972-1977. 2 folders.

Materials consist of a cash book covering January 1972 to May 1973; monthly dues reports to the national ADA office; records from a party held in honor of national ADA president Leon Shull; forms from contributors to the ADA Carter-Mondale Committee; information concerning financial reports to the state Ethical Practices Board; and membership dues lists from 1974.

Legislative surveys, 1970, 1971, 1973-1975, 1977.

Lobbying:

Materials consist of correspondence, reports, copies of legislative bills, and other background information on the topics.

Bail reform, 1971-1973.

Consenting adults, 1971.

Gun control, undated, 1966, 1972, 1973, 1976.

Presidential primary, 1972-1975.

Membership, 1970-1976. 4 folders.

Materials include mailing lists, lists of prospective members, lists of delegates/alternates, lists of Minnesota ADA office holders, and an undated membership list.

Minutes, 1948-1949, 1969-1978, 1981. 6 folders.

Materials from the 1940s include one set of minutes, the officers' report (both from 1948), and a progress report from the steering committee for the 1949 legislative conference. From 1969 to 1981, minutes from the state board meetings, state conventions, and some committees, reports from national board meetings and state committees, agendas, resolutions, and meeting agendas are included.

Topics in 1969 and 1970 include the NSP power plant in Monticello, endorsement of Earl Craig for Senator rather than Hubert Humphrey, and the first legislative survey. Issues in 1971 include drugs, tax reform, rent control, the draft, gun control, spying, and tuition grants. Major topics in 1972 were rural development policy, rent control, sabbatical-type vacations for all Americans, and the Mideast. In 1973 subjects included the United Farm Workers strike, abortion, tax relief for the elderly, the "Demogrant" program, Wounded Knee, affirmative action, and gay rights. From 1974, minutes cover mainly internal matters.

Newsletters, 1969-1978. 2 folders.

One folder contains ADA newsletters, which cover the same major subjects found in the correspondence and minutes. The second folder contains undated enclosures that announce various events.

Newspaper clippings, 1968-1982, 1984. 2 folders.

Clippings are mainly from Minnesota newspapers and cover ADA activities. Major topics include the Humphrey vs. Craig DFL primary contest for U.S. Senate and other ADA endorsements, the draft, state redistricting, and gay rights.

News releases, 1970-1976.

Subjects are the same as those found in the correspondence, minutes, and newspaper clippings.

Photographs, undated.

One photograph of Wadley and one of Wadley and a group of unidentified people.

Subject Files:

American Conservative Union, 1967, 1971-1972.

American Conservative Union publications, including The A.D.A. Report.

B-1 bomber, 1976.

Informational pieces from the Minnesota Clergy and Laity Concerned.

Busing, 1972.

Miscellaneous papers.

Consumer affairs, 1976.

Guide to Federal Consumer Services, Background Materials Concerning Child and Family Services Act, 1975 S. 626, list of businesses offering the Minnesota Consumer Alliance (MCA) discount, and two MCA newsletters.

Davies, Jack, Senator, 1970-1972.

Booklets and articles written by Davies, including The Quarter Billion Dollar Issue and The Minnesota Proposal for No-Fault Auto Insurance, and campaign literature.

Location

Box

148.H.6 .3B

Democratic Party, 1971-1976.

Campaign literature, newspaper clippings, and other papers.

Democratic Planning Group, 1973-1976.

Democratic Planning Group newsletters and other papers.

Education, 1971-1973.

Informational pieces on voucher systems.

Funeral service industry, [circa 1962].

The Federal Trade Commission's "Trade Practice Rules for the Funeral Service Industry" and "Antitrust Aspects of the Funeral Industry."

Gay rights, undated, 1963-1977.

Miscellaneous papers, including publications of the Gay Rights Legislative Committee and the Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights. Subjects are the protest over Northwestern Bell's hiring policy and state legislative bills dealing with human rights and sexuality.

Henry A. Wallace: The First Three Months, [1948].

ADA's analysis (35 pp.) of the early months of Wallace's 1948 presidential campaign.

Legislature, Minnesota, undated, 1973, 1977.

A state senate candidate questionnaire tally, a report on the state senate judiciary committee, list of registered lobbyists in 1973, and information on a proposal to reduce the requirements to ratify an amendment to the state's constitution.

Miscellaneous, undated, 1972, 1975-1978.

Conference on Alternative State and Local Public Policy newsletters and other miscellaneous papers touching on unions, foreign policy, Chilean political prisoners, torture, and the Kemp-Roth tax cut plan, among other subjects.

Ripon Society, 1972-1973.

One copy of the Ripon Forum and one of the Minnesota Ripon Commentary.

Socialist Workers Party, 1961, 1974.

Miscellaneous papers, including the Minnesota party's Application for Exemption from the Provisions of Minnesota Laws 1974, Chapter 470, Section 20, and two partial lists of application supporters.

Spying, 1973, 1977.

Campaign to Stop Government Spying newsletters and miscellaneous papers concerning the FBI and CIA.

Tax reform, 1973-1975.

Miscellaneous papers, including A Guide to the American Loophole System: The ADA Tax Reform Manual and Tax Justice Act of 1975: An Explanation and Summary.

United Farm Workers, 1970-1973.

Miscellaneous papers regarding grape and lettuce boycotts.

Voter registration, 1976.

Correspondence regarding a study of voter registration procedures in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Women's issues, 1972-1976.

Miscellaneous papers on the subjects of day care, abortion, the Equal Rights Amendment, and sex discrimination.

Young Americans for Freedom, 1972-1973.

Miscellaneous papers, including Young Americans for Freedom issue statements, newsletters, and correspondence.

Return to top

DENIS WADLEY PERSONAL PAPERS

Location

Box

148.H.6.3B

Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated, 1971, 1973.

Materials include letters to Wadley, newspaper clippings, and other materials that relate to Wadley's firing from a teaching position at Holy Trinity High School in Winstead, Minnesota, his 1973 campaign for Minneapolis Library Board, his testimony at a trial of a lawsuit contesting the constitutionality of income tax credits to parents of non-public school pupils, and his support of the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.

Return to top

RELATED MATERIALS

The State Historical Society of Wisconsin holds the records of the national organization of Americans for Democratic Action. A guide to the records, The Americans for Democratic Action Papers 1932-1965: A Guide to the Microfilm Edition, edited by Jack T. Erickson, is in the Minnesota Historical Society book collection.

Return to top

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Abortion -- Law and legislation -- United States.; Age (Law) -- Minnesota.; B-1 bomber.; Bail -- Minnesota.; Busing for school integration.; Civil rights -- United States.; Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.; Drugs -- Law and legislation -- United States.; Educational vouchers -- United States.; Firearms -- Law and legislation.; Gays -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Minnesota.; Gays -- Minnesota.; Intelligence service -- United States.; Labor unions -- Agricultural laborers.; Lobbying -- Minnesota.; Minnesota -- Politics and government -- 1945-1980.; Political activists -- Minnesota.; Political participation -- Minnesota.; Rent control -- United States.; Sex discrimination against women -- Law and legislation.; Social pressure.; Taxation -- United States.; Undertakers and undertaking -- Law and legislation -- United States.; Voter registration.; Women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States.

Persons:: Altholtz, Josef L.; Anderson, Eugenie Moore, 1909- .; Anderson, Wendell Richard, 1933-2016.; Baylinson, Viva.; Berglin, Linda Lee, 1944- .; Brown, Henry C.; Cairns, John.; Davies, Jack, 1932- .; Endean, Steve.; Fraser, Donald M. (Donald MacKay), 1924-2019.; Frenzel, William E., 1928- .; Gibson, Lois.; Hamburger, Amy.; Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978.; Kahn, Phyllis, 1937- .; Keith, A. M., 1928- .; Miller, Richard R.; Mondale, Walter F., 1928-2021.; Moore, Paul J.; Moosbrugger, Gordon C.; Naftalin, Arthur.; Olkin, Ellis.; Perpich, Rudy, 1928- .; Sauer, Don F.; Schlesinger, Steve.; Shull, Leon.; Smaby, Alpha.; Spannaus, Warren, 1930- .; Spear, Allan H.; Tice, Helen.; Youngdale, James M.

Organizations:: American Conservative Union.; Americans for Democratic Action.; Americans for Democratic Action Minnesota Chapter.; Conference on Alternative State and Local Public Policy.; Gay Rights Legislative Committee.; Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.; Minnesota Clergy and Laity Concerned.; Minnesota Conservative Union.; Minnesota Consumer Alliance.; Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights.; Minnesota. Legislature.; New Democrats (U.S.).; Northern States Power Company (Minn.).; Northwestern Bell Telephone Company.; Ripon Society.; Socialist Workers Party.; United Farm Workers.; Young Americans for Freedom.

Types of Documentation:: Photographs.

Occupations:: Teachers -- Minnesota.

Return to top