Simeon Slavens Willis papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Simeon Slavens Willis papers
- Date
- 1845-1964, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Willis, Simeon S.
- Extent
- 6.9 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Pamphlets.
- Election returns.
- Governors -- Kentucky.
- Speeches, addresses, etc.
- Governors -- Correspondence.
- Elections -- Kentucky.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by format.
- Preferred Citation
- 69m9: [Identification of item], Simeon Slavens Willis papers, 1845-1964, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Born in Ohio, Simeon Slavens Willis (1901-1965) settled in Kentucky at an early age. In 1901, he passed the state bar examination and established a law practice in Ashland, Kentucky. Willis was appointed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals where he served from 1927-1932. In 1943, he became the sixth Republican Governor elected in Kentucky history, narrowly defeating Democratic candidate, J. Lyter Donaldson. Viewed as a significant off-year election, this vote was interpreted as a protest against President Roosevelt's wartime administration. After serving as Governor (1943-1947) Willis was defeated in an election for judge of the Court of Appeals from the Seventh District in 1951. Throughout his life, Willis remained active in the Kentucky Republican party.
- Scope and Content
- The Simeon Slavens Willis papers (dated 1845-1964, undated; 6.9 cubic feet; 16 boxes, 1 folder) consist of correspondence, reports, newspaper clippings, photographs, speeches, and scrapbooks documenting Willis' tenure as governor of Kentucky and judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence regarding a wide range of political topics, such as endorsements, petitions, and resolutions. The letters from the year 1943 are primarily congratulatory notes to Willis. Among the political ephemera are materials such as election pamphlets and flyers, ballots, election returns, invitations, convention programs, and Republican Party publications. Miscellaneous items include photographs, a scrapbook that concerns Mrs. Willis' trip to Harlan, Kentucky in March 1946, and newspaper clippings mostly documenting Willis' gubernatorial administration.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Correspondence, 1914-1963, undated
Scope and Contents
The Correspondence series primarily contains letters sent to Simeon Slavens Willis pertaining to his career as a judge and politician. Many letters confirm endorsements from Kentucky leaders for his bid for a position as a judge for the court of appeals or as governor. Most of the correspondence relates to his office as governor from 1943 until 1947. Following his term as governor he resumed his law practice and remained politically involved and some the correspondence reveals his interest in federal courts and the national Republican Party.
1915-1927
1928
Endorsements of Willis for Judge of Court of Appeals, 1928-1932
Court of Appeals Commission, 1928 January-1930 October
Supreme Court endorsements, 1930
1930
Endorsements of Willis for Judge of Appeals Court, 1931 October-1932 April 23
Appellate judgeship, 1932 May-June
1932 July 1-19
1932 July 20-August 8
1932 August 9-31
1932 September 1-1933 January 11
1933 January 16-23
1933 November-1938 November
1938 December-1939 December
Ashland Junior College, 1940-1941
1942
1944 January-May
1944 June
Campaign fundraising and state appointments, 1944 July-December
National Federation of Republican Women's Clubs, 1944 September 7-8
From Ralph Human, 1944 October 7
From Alben W. Barkley, 1944 October 10
From Ralph Homan of the Republic National Committee, 1944-1945
Boyd County Bar Dinner, 1945-1946
1947 January-June
Reaction to the Governor's call for a special session, 1947 July 10-14
Appropriations for special session, 1947 July 14-19
1948 January-June
1949 February-1950 May
1950 July 18-August 18
1950 August 22-December 8
Phoenix News Bureau, 1950 February-May
1951 February 14-July 21
Governor's Highway Safety Conference, 1951 April-May
Court of Appeals Judge, 1951 July 13-1951 August 8
1951 August 9
1951 August 10-11
Republican primary, 1951 August 14-15
1951 August 15-December 3
Mailed election pamphlets, 1951
1952
From Kentucky Colonels, 1953-1959
Interest in a position for Federal Court of Appeal, 1953 January 5-12
1953 January 13-16
Federal Court of Appeals, 1953 January 17-21
1953 January 22-31
1953 February 1-15
1953 February 16-28
1953 March 1-15
1953 March 16-April 15
1953 April 16-July 1
1953 July 1-December 31
1960-1963
Personal, 1942-1959
undated
Cards, certifications, and tickets, 1914-1953
Christmas cards, invitations, announcements, 1925-1958
Professional materials, 1845-1964, undated
Scope and Contents
The Professional materials series includes memorandums, notes, articles, and other ephemera from Willis' career as a judge and Governor of Kentucky. It is not evident why the nineteenth century notices and "Ashland Tragedy" narratives are included in the collection but perhaps the documents influenced his career. Most of the papers relate to work in the Kentucky politics and the legislature.
Receipts, checks and notice of past due bill in Cincinnati, 1845-1854
Ashland Tragedy clippings and accounts, 1884
Judge election broadside, 1916
Judicial re-election endorsements, 1932
7th District Court of Appeals election advertisements, notes, receipts, 1932
Court of Appeals election advertisements, clippings, and results, 1932
Commonwealth of Kentucky receipts and disbursements, 1933-1943
Fragmented notes, poems, speeches, 1934-1949
Kentucky Lawyers directories, circa 1935
Notes, articles, statements, 1938-1949
State Republican Party county notes, 1940-1945
Republican National Committee press release and radio broadcast, 1940-1946
Republican campaign announcement, 1942
Memorandums, 1943-1944
Tax and legislative statements, 1943-1944
Interview of Willis by B.F. Forgey, 1943 February 8
Radio broadcast on the relation of taxation and industrial development, 1943 April 18
Kentucky A.B.C. law, 1943 June 30
Gubernatorial Race pamphlets, tablature, press release, 1943 November
Department of Revenue Back Tax Session, 1943 December 2
Political pamphlets, 1943-1949
Republican party pamphlets, 1944
GOP Convention programs and attendance list, 1944-1955
Governor's conference report and schedule, 1944 August
Southern Governor's Conference program and pamphlets, 1944-1945
Department of Revenue Back Tax Session, 1945 April 30
Willis on national campaign trail magazine articles, pamphlets, and certificates, 1946-1949
Republican State Central Committee reports about Kentucky, 1946-1948
Kentucky Female Orphan School program from centennial celebration, 1947 April
Committee on Un-American Activities, House Report No. 209 and What is Communism essay, 1947
Kansas City trip newspaper clipping and tickets, 1949 September 13-15
Republican National Convention pamphlets and attendance list, 1948
Butler County Republican Executive Committee report and financial statement, 1948 November 10-1949 February 1
GOP and Kentucky Republican magazines and pamphlets, 1948-1950
Names and numbers of votes cast in Judge of Appeals election, 1951 November
Historical, economic, and academic pamphlets, 1944 January-1947 July
Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation resolution and policy statements, 1944 January 14
Appellate Court Race notes, tabulations and sample ballots, 1951
Kentucky Senate Bill No. 1 about penal corrections, 1963 June 26
New Kentucky constitution petition, 1964 March 19
Event programs, 1941-1948
Constitution Revision Assembly bills and memorandums, 1964 February-April
Constitution Revision Assembly Coordinating Committee memorandums and assignments, 1964 May
Constitution Revision Assembly Local Government Committee workbook, 1964 May
Constitution Revision Assembly Revision Process Committee workbook, 1964 May
Court of Appeals of Kentucky Harrison Preece, 1953 March
Retirement from the Bench presentation, undated
Biographical information, undated
Compensation schedule for Kentucky, undated
Reports, 1939-1947
Scope and Contents
The Reports series includes statements from Willis' term as governor of Kentucky. The reports discuss state budget issues and proposals. also included are the papers for employees of the state and the office administrative documents from his five years as governor.
Kentucky Tax Research Association reports, 1942 Mach 6-1943 October 15
Kentucky Annual Report, 1942 July 1-1943 June 30
Monthly Report to the Governor, 1943 November
To Board of Trustees at University of Kentucky, 1946 September 21
To Board of Trustees at University of Kentucky, 1946 December 10
To the Board of Trustees at University of Kentucky, 1947 February 25
On District Activities for Smaller War Plants Corporation, 1943 August 31
On Evans McGraw, 1947 December
State expenditures, 1947 January 31
State expenditures, 1947 May 31
State receipts, 1947 May 31
Kentucky Annual Report Teachers' Retirement System, 1944-1945
Kentucky Executive Budget, 1944-1946
Rules and Regulations for Department of Finance, 1943 March
Kentucky State Highway Patrol Bulletin, 1943 December 10
State Officials and Board of Commissions, 1947 September 1
State employee memorandums, 1939-1941
Governor's office administrative, 1943-1946
Newspaper clippings, 1930-1950
Scope and Contents
The Newspaper Clippings series includes articles from Kentucky newspapers about the Willis administration, as well as, major figures and events from his time in office. Official press releases from his office are also included.
Press releases, 1932 July 12-1949 September 10
Photocopies, 1936-1948
1943
1944
1950 July 18-August 18
undated
1945
Kentucky politics, 1946-1947
Tuberculosis sanatoriums, 1950
About Sarah Lesley Willis, 1943-1944
About Ida Lee Willis, 1944
Court of Appeals judge, 1930-1939, 1951
Henry Arrowood column, 1943-1944
About D.C. Moore, 1943
State politics, 1943
1949-1950
Articles by J. Howard Henderson, 1943-1944
About Lyter Donalson, 1943
About Rhodes K. Myers, 1943
About Ben Kilgore, a democratic candidate for governor, 1943
About taxes, revenue, schools, old age pensions, state institutions, 1943
Speeches, 1907-1952, undated
Scope and Contents
The Speeches series includes orations given by Simeon Slavens Willis during his professional career. Some speeches given by his colleagues and political opponents are also present in the series. The speeches were often historical, political, campaign, or celebratory. Many of the speeches contain Willis' argument to eliminate sales tax in Kentucky.
Abraham Lincoln Dinner, 1908-1950
Bluefield, West Virginia, 1930 July 28
Ashland, Kentucky, 1943 February 5
Mount Sterling, Kentucky, 1943 September 29
Newport, Kentucky, 1943 October 28
Lexington, Kentucky, 1943 October 29
Louisville, Kentucky, 1943 October 30
Ashland, Kentucky, 1943 November 1
Frankfort, Kentucky, 1943 December 7
Frankfort, Kentucky, 1944 January 10
Franklin, Kentucky, 1944 February 27
Anco, Kentucky, 1944 April 21
Louisville, Kentucky, 1944 April 25
Frankfort, Kentucky, 1944 May 19
Louisville, Kentucky, 1944 June 23
Louisville, Kentucky, 1944 August 31
Washington D.C., 1944 September 19
Maysville, Kentucky, 1944 October 11
Louisville, Kentucky, 1944 November 17
Paintsville, Kentucky, 1944 October 28
Lexington, Kentucky, 1944 Ocotber 31
Evansville, Indiana, 1944 November 4
Louisville, Kentucky, 1946 November 29
"The Guns Are Silent", 1946
Louisville, Kentucky, 1947 July 31
Louisville, Kentucky, 1947 September 26
Louisville, Kentucky campaign address, 1947 October
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 1949 November
New York, New York, 1950 May 16
Patriotic and memorial, 1907-1941
"Law, Order and Justice", 1930-1952
Delivered in official capacity as governor, 1943-1945
Address by Hon. J. Lyter Donaldson, 1943 September 25
Address by Alben W. Barkley, 1943 September 27
Corbin, Kentucky, 1943 October 15
Walter E. Ernest, 1943 November 15
Opening Address of S.S. Willis, 1943 September 29
Speech of Hon. Rhodes K. Myers, 1943 August 7
Commemoration of Centre College, 1944 January 21
Red Cross Fundraiser, 1944
To the General Assembly, 1944 March 7
"The Spender", 1944 October 21
Address by A.M. Lyon, M.D., Director of Hospitals and Mental Hygiene, 1944 May 20
Statement of Principles, Policies and Objectives of Republican Members of Congress, 1946 September 15
About the Governor's car, 1944 September 24
"Kentucky's Frontier", 1946 August 17
Louisville, Kentucky, 1946 October 5
Moorehead, Kentucky, 1946 October 2
Campaign address, 1946 October 31
Special Session of the General Assembly, 1947
Campaign address, 1947 October 14
Address by Clinton Presba Anderson, 1949
Republican Rallies, 1936-1947
"Analysis of Women", undated
"Defender of Democracy", undated
"Developments of State Industry", undated
"The Family Doctor" by Rueben A. Miller, undated
"Lessons from Lincoln for the United States Today", undated
Mount Sterling, Kentucky, undated
"Oration on the Life of H.H. Ramey" by A.T. Patrick, undated
"Perils of Justice", undated
"Position of the States in the American System of Government", undated
"Reconversion and Post War jobs", undated
Sketch of Eldon S. Dummit, undated
"The Stars and Stripes", undated
"State Federal Tax Coordination", undated
Address by Thurston Morton, undated
"Toll Free Bridges", undated
"Education Today" by Mr. Williams, undated
Untitled, undated
Scrapbooks, 1943-1946
Scope and Contents
The Scrapbooks series includes two albums belonging to Simeon S. Willis and his wife, Ida Lee Willis. Mrs. Willis visited Harlan, Kentucky and filled a scrapbook with clippings and postcards of the small Kentucky town. The second album is filled with newspaper clippings about Simeon S. Willis' governorship from his hometown's newspaper, Ashland Independent.
Ida Lee Willis' trip to Harlan, Kentucky, 1946
Newspaper clipping of Simeon S. Willis in Ashland Independent newspaper, 1943
Photographs, 1944, undated
Scope and Contents
The photographs series contains images from the turn of the twentieth century as well as from the Southern Governor's Convention in 1944. Some of the names are given in the photographs from before Willis' term as governor but there is no indication of the relation to the Kentucky governor. The images from the convention are entirely from a banquet.
Ethel Wakefield and Mrs. Stevenson, undated
Group of unidentified women seated near a lake, undated
Unidentified man and two women standing beside railroad tracks, undated
Gypsy, Harry Schilp, and Amy, undated
Studio picture of three unidentified men, one is wearing a Kentucky letter sweater, undated
Southern Governors Conference banquet, 1944 November
Group of men including S.S. Willis and Thomas E. Dewey, 1944
Dewey's Kentucky Campaign, seated [L to R]: Kenneth Tuggle, Lieutenant Governor; Thomas E. Dewey, Simeon Willis, Governor; Ralph Homan, Governor Secretary. Standing [L to R]: Harry Wildon, J. Fred Williams, Pearl Hyden, two unidentified persons, Charles Brown, Dr. Moore of Eastern State College, C. I. Ross, Tom Vinson, Harold Browning, and Stephen Watking., 1944
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
