Lawrence W. Wetherby papers

Scope and Contents note

The Clippings Series contain newspaper clippings such as editorials, news articles and campaign ads as well as come correspondence during the administration of Governor Wetherby and in a few instances Governor Clements. The correspondence includes pink carbon copies of letters from Governor Clements to the press. These letters are also found in the Earle C. Clements Collection. The clippings, taken from a variety of newspapers, are marked as to origin and date. They are filed chronologically. Frequently parts of the clippings are highlighted in red pencil.

For a more complete and well indexed group of articles on the Wetherby administration from two Louisville newspapers see the Scrapbook Series. There are also clippings in the Oversized Materials Series as well as scattered clippings appearing in other series. The clippings have been separated by sheets of acid-free paper for preservation purposes.

Scope and Contents note

The Correspondence Series contains green carbon copies of outgoing correspondence from Wetherby's office. The series is arranged chronologically and thereunder alphabetically by name of correspondent. The subject of the letters are handwritten in the corner of most of the copies. Because much of the Subject File is missing, the Correspondence File is in many cases the only record of certain letters. For example, legislative and political headings are noted in the Correspondence Series, but the first carbon copy and the incoming letter (usually filed by subject) for these headings do not exist. For those headings that do exist in the Subject File Series, the Correspondence File serves as a name index by year. Only the January 1956 folder contains both incoming and outgoing correspondence.

Scope and Contents note

The Executive Orders Series contains signed carbon copies of the executive orders of both Governor Wetherby and Governor Earle C. Clements under whom Wetherby served as Lt. Governor. The executive orders are arranged chronologically. The Governor's treatment of bills may be found in the following locations:

For veto messages see the Subject File Series, Legislative File. Issues of Legislative Digest from 1952 are found in the Oversized Materials. Legislative messages are scattered through the Speech Series.

Signed bills are located in the Governors Record Group at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort Kentucky.

Scope and Contents note

This series contains the photos used by Governor Wetherby's office for publicity purposes. Most of the photos are eight by ten inches, black and white. Some of the photos are captioned and some have information such as names of persons in the photo, place taken, and photographer on the back. Some prominent persons in the photos include Alben Barkley, Earle C. Clements, Mrs. Helen Wetherby, and "Doc" Beauchamp. One group of photos reveals that Wetherby socialized with A.B. "Happy" Chandler early in his administration. In some of the photos subject's faces have been removed. There is one newspaper clipping from 1953. The photos have been separated by sheets of paper for preservation purposes. To facilitate research the photographs have been arranged chronologically and thereunder alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Contents note

This series contains typed copies of press or news releases from the Governor's office or from other executive branch offices during the term of Governor Lawrence W. Wetherby. The releases cover a wide range of subjects from state revenue receipts to campaign statements. Accompanying the releases are a few clippings, correspondence, and other appended materials. The series is arranged chronologically. In some cases the press releases show editor's markings.

Scope and Contents note

The Speech Series contains typed and occasionally printed copies of Governor Wetherby's legislative messages, addresses to civic and governmental organizations, campaign speeches, introductions, and media presentations on topics such as sports, the state budget, education, mental health, labor, and administrative accomplishments. The speeches, which are all dated, are arranged chronologically. In addition to the speeches the series contains related news releases, clippings, correspondence, and speeches by others. Most of the materials used in the preparation of speeches are found at the end of the series.

The Governor received assistance in speech writing from his executive secretary, Edward A. Farris, and his administrative assistant, George Kerler. Unfortunately, there are no early drafts of speeches and only a few handwritten modifications of the texts to indicate how the speeches developed. For additional public statements by Wetherby see the Press Release Series, Subject File (Campaign), and the Executive Orders Series. Also included in the Speech Series are a few addresses from Wetherby's 1956 campaign for the Senate.

Scope and Contents note

Because so many of Weatherby's gubernatorial records were lost, the Subject File Series contains correspondence and printed material on only a fraction of the total number of subjects handled by the Governor's office. However, the series does contain personal and political topics such as:

Campaign (extensive materials)

Democratic Women's Journal of Kentucky

Legislative (veto reasoning)

Politics

Senatorial Vacancy

Christmas Cards

Congratulatory Letters

Attorney General

Budget

Court of Appeals

Finance Department

Insurance

Resignations

State Police

Louisville-New Albany Bridge

State Fair

Toll Roads

The Subject File Series is arranged alphabetically by subject and thereunder chronologically.

Scope and Contents note

This series contains materials too large to fit in standard archival boxes. Most of the items are printed material including reports, maps, digests, clippings, and election results.

Scope and Contents note

This series contains handwritten appointment books and published materials that Wetherby used as Governor. The appointment books refer to speeches, conferences, sports events, presentations, and cabinet meetings as well as scheduled meetings with individuals such as President Dwight D. Eisenhower (May 3rd and 4th, 1953). Though a few of the books have Wetherby's name in them, the Governor did not write in them. The Autograph Book is signed by friends and employees of the executive branch. The series is arranged alphabetically by title.

Scope and Contents note

The scrapbooks in the Scrapbook Series contain clippings from the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times that cover political events during the administration of Governor Wetherby. The clippings are arranged chronologically and in most cases dated either by hand or in newsprint. At the beginning of each volume is a subject index. The first three volumes are dedicated to the first lady by Frank G. Drewry, the compiler.