William A. Dawson papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 0031

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The William A. Dawson papers (1902-1971) concentrate on Dawson's last three terms in the U. S. House of Representatives (1952-1958). The first section of the collection is composed of personal and political materials. These include correspondence with his wife, daughters, and brothers. There is also a twenty-six page autobiographical sketch written in 1970, and campaign literature from the 1954 and 1956 elections.

Following the personal and political materials, is the UCRSP file. This is the only subject file which remains from Dawson's tenure in Congress. In his autobiographical sketch Dawson noted that he specifically preserved this file and donated it to the library because of the Colorado River Project's great importance to the state of Utah. The UCRSP file includes correspondence between Dawson and his constituents, his colleagues, conservation groups, and numerous local groups who supported the project. Also included are several versions of the House bill authorizing the project, informal vote tallies, notes on strategy for management of the bill on the House floor, government reports, maps, and cost estimates. There are materials from the propaganda campaign waged by supporters and opponents of the bill, including brochures and pamphlets published by the Upper Colorado River Grass Roots, Inc. Information on the individual units within the project, such as Flaming Gorge Dam, Glen Canyon Dam, the Gooseberry Project, and the Central Utah Project have been filed separately.

The final portion of the collection is the correspondence file. The file consists of the carbon copies of letters sent form the congressman's office from 1953-1958. The letters are arranged alphabetically by last name of addressee. Most of the letters are replies to constituent correspondence expressing Dawson's position on certain issues or providing specific information about problems. The issues which appear most frequently are the condition of the led-zinc industry, the humane slaughter bill, the foreign orphans bill and the UCRSP. Other letters are replies to Dawson's congressional colleagues, officials in the federal government, and political supporters in Utah. Some letters concern Dawson's personal business affairs and problems of political patronage.

Dates

1902-1971

Creator

Dawson, William A., 1903-1981 (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical / Historical

William A. Dawson (1903-1981) was born on 5 November 1903 in Layton, Utah. His father, also named William A. Dawson, was a clerk in the Farmers' Union Store in Layton. The elder Dawson died of typhoid in 1903, three months before William was born. Dawson's mother, Ella Rose, was left alone to support her three boys. The family lived in Layton, but worked a dry farm in Syracuse, five miles west of Layton. Young William was educated in Layton's public schools, and graduated from Davis High in 1921. He entered the University of Utah the following fall, enrolling in the pre-medicine program. He soon changed his mind and entered the law school. He received his LLB in 1926, at the age of twenty-two. Following his graduation from law school, Dawson was elected Davis County attorney. He also established a private practice in Salt Lake with his partner Dale G. Foote. This partnership lasted twenty-one years.

In November 1927, Dawson married Gladys Norton. They settled in Layton, but Dawson was soon called to serve a mission to England for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). He spent his first year in the Manchester District, but later presided over the Sheffield District. At the conclusion of his mission, Dawson was joined in England by his wife. They toured Scotland, Holland, Germany, France, and Italy, before returning to Layton.

After their return, Dawson resumed his law practice and was again elected County Attorney. He was re-elected in 1934. Following his retirement form this position, in 1936, Dawson was elected mayor of Layton. He also served as chairman of the Davis County Republican Party, first president of the Davis County Bar Association, president of the Layton Kiwanis Club and city attorney for Layton and Kaysville. He became Bishop of the Layton Ward in 1938. In 1940 Dawson was elected to the Utah state senate, where he served until 1946.

Dawson's congressional career began in 1946, when he ran for the Second Congressional District seat. He defeated J. Will Robinson, who had represented the district for sixteen years. In 1956 the Republicans gained the majority in the House of Representatives for the first time in over twenty years. Dawson was given a choice seat on the Interior Affairs Committee and on the Subcommittees for Mining, Reclamation, Indian Affairs, and Insular Affairs. He was also named a member of the Republican Executive Committee.

In 1948, Dawson was defeated for re-election by Salt Lake City Judge Reva Beck Bosone. He returned to Utah where he accepted a position as State Welfare Commissioner under Republican Governor J. Bracken Lee. Dawson ran for Congress again in 1952, opposing Congresswoman Bosone, who was seeking a third term. Dawson was elected and moved his family to Washington, D. C. He was re-elected in 1954, deveating Reva Beck Bosone, and in 1956, defeating Oscar McConkie. He lost his seat to David S. King in 1958.

During his eight years in Congress, Dawson's most well known accomplishment was his role in passage of the Upper Colorado River Storage Project (UCRSP). This huge reclamation project was designed to enable the upper basin states to utilize their share of water allocated under the 1922 Colorado River Compact. Congressman Dawson was the Republican leader in the House assigned to manage the fight for the legislation authorizing the project. After several years of intense debate the Upper Colorado River Storage Project Bill was passed in 1956. Following the bill's passage Dawson was active in efforts to fund the various elements or participation projects, including Flaming Gorge, Glen Canyon and the Central Utah Project.

After his defeat in 1958, Dawson became president of the Bank of Kearns and later vice president of Zions Bank. He retired in January 1970. He died in Salt Lake City on 7 November 1981 and was buried in the Kaysville Cemetery.

Extent

17.5 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Abstract

The William A. Dawson papers (1902-1971) consist of personal and political materials, personal correspondence, and autobigoraphical sketch, biograhpical sketches, and memoirs. Dawson (1903-1981) served four terms in the U. S. House of Representatives. This collection contains materials relating to his last three terms in the 1950s.