JOHN M. HENRY PAPERS
Scope and Content Note
The Papers of John M. Henry consist of 13 linear feet of correspondence,
articles, scripts, notes, cartoons and layout,, campaign literature, speeches, drafts,
writings, clippings and other printed materials, most of which document his life work
in various aspects of journalism. They also describe the activities of the many Iowa
organizations for which he usually acted as secretary.
John M. Henry (1895-1981), editor, Republican political manager, radio
station manager and writer was born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. After his
formal education at Macedonia, Iowa High School and the University of Kansas,
he purchased and operated his home town newspaper at Macedonia in 1917. A year
later he became affiliated with the Council Bluffs Nonpareil. In 1931 as general
manager he joined the. Central States Broadcasting System which operated the radio
stations of KFAB, KOIL and KFOR. In 1938 he joined the Republican National
Committee as "trouble-shooter" and in 1940 was a manager of the campaign to
nominate Robert A. Taft for president. After the election, he returned to the National
Committee and was a roving correspondent for the "Washington Merry-Go-Round"
column, written then by Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen.
In 1944 he became mid-west manager of the organization to renominate Wendell
Willkie as Republican candidate for the presidency and in that year he also became a
member of the Des Moines Register and Tribune staff as "Public Affairs Editor".
Later he became "Iowa Secretary" for U.S. Senator Bourke B. Hickenlooper, and
editor and publisher of two Republican monthly publications, the "Green Sheet" and
the "White Paper".
In 1973 Henry was named chairman of the committee that managed the
centennial observance of the birth of Herbert Hoover, following which he became an
editor and writer for the TransWorld newspaper syndicate, based in Washington, D.C.
contributing a daily feature of light-hearted wit. He also edited a syndication of the
cartoons of Jay N. "Ding" Darling, the Pulitzer Prize winning Des Moines Register
cartoonist who had willed his cartoons to John M. Henry. For several years, while at
Des Moines, he edited a page of small town newspaper quotes for McCall's and
Cosmopolitan magazines.
Henry wrote or edited several books, including a college text on column
writing, four anthologies, one volume on organizing and managing a mounted drill team, and
two based on the cartoons of "Ding". He spoke at numerous press-association conventions
and national conventions of the National Editorial Association.
Individual File
Box Contents
1
A General, 1959-79
Allen, Robert S.
1959-77
1978-81
Anderson, William B., 1959-74
B General, 1959-80
Bailey, Merritt, 1964-79
Batten, Joe, Wendy & Gail, 1965-78
Beck, Robert & Charlotte, 1961-81
Benthack, Gladys, 1959-62
Berry, Don, 1962-74
Bostedt, Gertrude, 1971-73
2
Bromwell, James, 1960-81
Burr, Dale & Faye, 1972-80
C General, 1942-80
Casper, Kathy Hoffa 1969-80
D General, 1959-81
Darling, Jay N., 1918-62
See Also: Subject File, J.N. "Ding" Darling Foundation
Davis, Gene, 1961-69
Dewitt, Jack, 1959-81
Duncan, Joanne, 1975-81
Dunlap, Leslie, 1962-81
E General, 1960-80
Engle, Paul, 1960-77
Evans, Ralph, 1959-73
F General, 1960-80
Fawcett, Floyd, Helen & Mary Helen, 1976-78
G General, 1942-81
Garvey, Olive M.
See: Subject File, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association
3
Gibson, Michael, 1979
Goodwin, Robert K., 1960-81
Grassley, Charles, 1978
Gross, H.R., 1963-76
H General, 1961-79
Hamilton, Carl, 1961-77
Hancher, Virgil, 1959-64
Harstad, Peter
1976-78
1979-81
Henle, Guy & James, 1959-71
Henry, Grace
Henry, John M.
See Also:
1. Subject File, Henry, John M.
2. Financial Records, 1957-60
3. Personal Records, 1908-77
4. California Horse (John Henry), 1980-81
5. Shorthand Notes for Letters Written
Henry, Pat, Art Work
Henry, Paula "Pink" 1969
Henry, Margine, 1975-79
Hickenlooper, Bourke B., 1962-71
See Also: Subject File, Hickenlooper, Bourke B.
Hill, E. Howard, 1975-78
Hoover, Herbert, 1928-79
See Also: Subject File, Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation,
Awards
Hoover, Lou Henry - Genealogy, 1960
Houser Family, 1970-80
Hull, Laverne, 1960-79
Hultman, Evan See: Subject File, Hultman, Evan
Hunt, Marianne, 1980-81
Hunter, Graham, 1960-81
4
J General, 1961-80
Jensen, Ben F., 1961-64
Jepsen, Roger, 1980-81
Johnson, Don, 1969-79
K General, 1959-81
Kinnaird, Clark (King Features Syndicate), 1961-68
Knight, Eva M., 1962-77
Koss, Richard & Mary
See: Publications, Darling, Jay N.
L General, 1961-78
Landon, Alfred M.
1959-67
1968-75
1976-80
Lendt, David L., 1976-81
Lincoln Club, 1976-81
See Also: Subject File, Lincoln Club
5
Mc General,1960-81
McCown, Robert, 1973-80
McCoy, Donald, 1979-80
McDonald, Kenneth, 1960-78
Ma-Me, General, 1943-81
Mason, Frank E.
1972
1973
1979
Maurer, Neil, 1973-81
Mayes, Herbert R., 1959-81
Mi-Mu, General, 1959-80
Miller, Jack, 1961-80
Milroy, James H. & Jack, 1959-81
Moe, Beverly
1977-79
1980-81
Montgomery, Daniel L., 1976
Morrow, Lucile E., 1960-62
Murray, William G., 1975-80
See Also: Subject File, Murray, William G.,Gubernatorial Campaign
6
N General, 1959-81
Namen, Albert A., 1961-81
Nye, Frank, 1975-80
O General, 1960-81
O'Brien, Daniel, 1962-64
P General, 1959-81
Pearce, Charles A.
See: Publications, Darling, J.N., Ding’s Half Century
Petersen, William J., 1962-77
Pfaff, Adele, 1961-64
Pohlman, Lynette, 1978-80
Q General, 1962-75
R General, 1943-80
Radcliffe, Robin, 1979-80
Reese, Warren, 1962-81
Root, Carolyn McNutt 1916-78
S General, 1960-81
Schramm, James, 1959-65
Seberger, Eleanor, 1959-61
Shannon, Ralph E., 1960-62
Simms, Dean, 1959-78
Smith, Mary Louise, 1972-81
Smith, Mason Rossiter, 1959-69
Steinisch, Irmgard, 1975-76
T General, 1959-76
Thalken, Tom, 1970-81
Thomason, Frazer, 1974-81
Turnbull, Mildred, 1960-77
7
U General, 1960-61
V General, 1960-77
Vickers, L.D., 1961-62
W General, 1959-80
Wagner, William J., 1959-81
Wallace, DeWitt, 1959-81
Wallace, James W., 1959-60
Walsh, Harry E. & Grace
1960-68
1976-77
1978
1979-81
Wargo, Mary Albertson, 1970-80
Way, Vera, 1975-77
Westberg, Rebecca Ruan
1975-77
1978-81
Westerfield, Richard, Jannes & Sara, 1960-76
Wilson, George & Genie, 1976-79
Wood, Robert
1969-71
1972-80
Wright, Mary Louise, 1959-61
Yoseloff, Thomas E., Inc., 1961-65
Z General, 1976-80
Subject File
Box Contents
8
American Association for the World Press, Inc., 1962-65
Attitudes, Inc., 1955-60
Calendar
1967-71
1976
Daily Newspapers
Depression of 1930's, 1977
Editors Conference Call, n/d
Eisenhower Presidential Library, 1962
Flying Hoofs, 1954-80
Henry, John M.
Oral History Interview, 1979
Speeches
1951
January 23, Sigma Delta Chi, Ames, Iowa
May 12, Illinois Press Association Convention, Peoria, IL
September 1, Montana Press Association
1953
May 9, Renfro, Kansas
June 15, Theta Convention, Ames, Iowa
1954
January 11, State University of Iowa Workshop
April 9, North Dakota Press Association
1955, June 7, State University of Iowa Workshop
1957, February 1, Wyoming Press Association Convention
1961, October 28, Iowa High School Press Association Convention
1961, October 7, South Dakota State College, Brookings, SD
1962, September 11, Omaha, Nebraska
A New Literature
American Home
Battles
Columnists
Country Press, Influence of
How to Write Quotable Quotes
Paragraphs
Press Columnists of Iowa, Bulletin
State Press Association
State Press Convention
9
Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation
Correspondence
1948-58
1959
1960
January - June
July - December
1961
1962
January - June
July - December
1963
January - May
June - December
1964
January - June
July - December
10
1965
January - June
July - December
1966
1967
"Birthplace Goddess" film, 1958
Printed Material
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association
Correspondence
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980-81
11
Cartoons and Layouts, 1976
Essay Contest, 1973-77
Free Enterprise, winning essays, 1974
Garvey, Olive W.
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980-81
Hoover Presidential Library Association News, 1973-74
Review, 1976
Thank you letters, 1976
12
Hickenlooper, Bourke B.
Fund Raising Luncheon, 1962
Committee Notes
County Chairmen
Benda, Kenneth
Bluedorn, Carl A.
Farver, Paul
Frudden, C.M.
Getting, LeRoy
Hall, Payson
Hayes, Boyd
Jurgemeyer, L.L.
Lomas, Malcolm
McCague, Ralph C.
Milroy, James H.
Morain, Fred E.
Ross, L.W.
Rowe, Harold J.
Schramm, James S.
Strickland, Charles E.
Summerwill, W.W.
Des Moines Area
Brenton, W. Harold
Clark, Vernon
Henry, John M.
Hubbell, Mrs. Grover
Nollen, Gerard S.
Schmidt, Marvin M.
Webster, Ben A.
Expenditures
National Lumber Manufacturers Association, 1962
See Also: Individual File, Hickenlooper,Bourke B.
13
Hultman, Evan - Campaign, 1963-64
Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation
Awards
1951, Herbert Hoover
1961, James A. Van Allen and Frank H. Spedding
1967, Henry A. Wallace
1970, Mamie Doud Eisenhower
1978, Norman Borlaug
1980, Msgr. Luigi Legutti
History, 1977
Meetings, 1959-80
Reports
1960-67
1977-78
1980
Scholarships
1950-57
1959
14
1960
January - April
May - December
1961
1962
January - June
July - December
1963
January - June
July - December
15
1964
January – April
May - June
July - December
1965
January - April
May - July
August - December
16
1966
1967-80
Iowa Bar Association
1957
1958
1959-60
Iowa Development Commission, 1980
Iowa Society for Preservation of Historic Landmarks, 1964
Iowa State Historical Society, 1977-81
Iowa State University Press
See: Individual File: Bailey, Kenneth
J.N. "Ding" Darling Foundation
1962-63
1964
1965-66
1972-77
1978
17
1979
1980
1981
Des Moines Center of Science & Industry, 1980
Lewis & Clark Trail, 1962-63
National Wildlife Refuge Sanibel Island,
Florida 1962-78
Papal Visit, 1979 See: Living History Farms
Lincoln Club
General
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966-81
18
"Green Sheets"
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965-66
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
19
"White Papers"
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
Living History Farms, 1977-80
Murray, William G. - Gubernatorial Campaign, 1958
Briefing Envelope
Campaign Literature
Clippings
Daily Correspondence
June 6 - August 31
September 1 - October 29
Fairall and Bassinger Letters
Film Requests
Gold Medal List
Iowa Republican Workshop State Board
Loveless Veto
Political Platform
20
Policy Committee
Polk County Delegates
Primary Results
Publicity
Ambro Advertising Agency
Radio, TV and Newspapers
Releases, Permission for Statements
Speeches
State House List
Survey
Namen, Al 1977
Opinion Survey, Adult Residents of Iowa, 1964
Time Life Books
University of Iowa Libraries, 1953-81
Publications File
Box Contents
21
Animals Story & Pictures
Are You Wittier than these Iowans?
Autobiography
Outlines
A Happy Editor
I. Irish Township-Campus Victory-Town Shame
II. $3,500,000 Robbery-KKK, Cupid-Arrow Ballots
III. My Boo Book-Goes to the U.S. Senate
IV. New Radio Things-to Congress(?)-Help Alf
V. I Murder Many-I become "Big"-Could Alf Elect Taft?
VI. Death Nudges Me-Willkie Happy-and Unhappy
VII. 17 Happy Years with the R & T
VIII. Herbert R. Mayes-Premier Magazine Editor
IX. I Become An Evangelist for Local Newspaper Columns
X. Country Editors, TV, and Jim
XI. I Write or Edit a Dozen Books
XII. Young Bob Ray WIll Run for Something
XIII. "Ding," Master of Them All
XIV. I Retire, Whatever that Means
XV. Ike, Bob Hope, and Flops
XVI. Being Secretary Means Alot
XVII. Tales of 2 Townships Into History
XVIII. When Old Timers Begin Remembering
XIX. Philosophies After 80 Years
XX. My Final Public Activity
A Letter to Jim
Index
Group I - Author-Artist
II - Journalism
III - Radio
IV - Politics
V - Magazines
VI - Columns
VII - Register & Tribune
VIII - Books
IX - "Ding"
X - Personal
XI - Paragraphs
XII - Related Activites
XIII - Friends
XIV - A Couple of How To's
XV - Fillers
Bostedt, Gertrude
Correspondence
Materials Edited
Cartoons
Henry, Pat
Correspondence
Materials Edited
I Do An Oral History
Illustrations
Iowa Essays
23
Journalism, Horses & Votes
Autobiography
See Also:
1. Bailey, Merritt ISU Press, 1980
2. Our Town Is a Hundred, 1980
3. Ratcliffe, Robin, 1979-80
4. Seventy Years of Journalism
5. Twenty Short Stories - List
1. $20,000
2. Harold Loved An Idential Twin
3. A Year
4. Her Invitation
5. The River That Went to Market
6. He Wanted to be a Red Devil
7. A Matter of Equine Nobility
8. Our Daughter
9. Aunt Euph Astride
10. Twas a Saturday Night
11. The Preacher and the Fishing
12. Uncle Will, Intellectual
13. She was from the City
14. A Cousin of Mine
15. Its How You Look
16. A Man Dad Liked Very Much
17. The Mule, The GOP, the Democrats
18. The PhD Degree
19. A Man Who Stammered
20. Township Nobility
24
Book Covers
Cartoon Ideas
Column Series, 1952
Columnists Bin, 1956
Country Editor, 1950-65
Darling, Jay N.
Koss, Richard & Mary 1947-81
General Correspondence
1961-62
1963
1964
1965
1967
1977-81
As "Ding" Saw Hoover
25
Christmas Cards, 1958-87
Conservation
Des Moines Art Center, 1959
"Ding's" Half Century, 1962-63
About This Book
Carbon Typed Script
Original Script
Text ( 2 folders)
America's First 50 Years As A World Power
26
Cartoons Used
Groupings
McGraw-Edison Company, 1962-63
Meredith Press, 1961-64
Meredith Publishing Co., 1961
Pearce, Charles A.
1961
1962
1963-64
Saturday Evening Post, 1961
Herbert Hoover Office Building, 1977-79
Here We Go Again, 1957-62
How Ding Drew His Cartoons
Iowa State University Exhibit
It Seems Like Only Yesterday, 1961-62
Living History Farms
Looking Through the Years With Ding, 1947
Source File of Cartoons
Clippings
Large Size
27
Miscellaneous
Negative Proofs
Numerical Order
Photos
Positive Film Proof
1916 Series
Speech on Ding by John Henry
Transworld News Service
Treasury of Ding (Palimpset)
Watercolors: Original
World War I
World War II
Detective Stories
Editors Conference Calls
Editor Hits Back
Editors Replies
Frolic of the Type, 1920-30
28
Furthermore
Quotes (3)
Quotes #14-119
Quotes, 1981
January
February
March
April-May
Descriptions
Source Material
Hall Syndicate, 1963-66
Hallmark Cards Incorporated
1967
1968-72
Golden, Harry 1968
Henry, John
Reviews, 1968
Source Material
29
How Are You Under Pressure, 1956
How to Write Columns
I Saw It In the Paper
Partial List of Quotes
Quotes
1960
July-September
October
November-December
1961
January-April
May-August
September-December
1962
January-March
April-June
30
July-September
October-December
1963
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1964
January-March
April-June
31
July-September
October-December
1965
Children, Especially Those in Your Family
For Radio
Grandpa & Grandma Who Listens To Kids
Just Being Realistic About It All
Man & Wife, Woman & Husband
Mom the Handy Gal Around Here
Now That He's Getting To Love Her
Now That She's Said Yes
Now That They've Both Said I Do
Pops & Mom's the Whole Family
Sisters In Law
That You May Still Be a Better Person
The Home
Three Little Wits
Tis the Season to be Jolly
To A Good Citizen
To Feel Like A Really Big Shot
To Make The Day A Little Brighter
To My Husband
To My Sweetheart
To My Wife
Wit by Women
Iowa Press Association, 1970 & 1980
Ladies Home Journal - Quotes
1953-54
32
List
Literary Digest, 1926-34
McCall's - Quotes
1969
Published
Requests
Scrapbooks
McCall's, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan - Quotes
1949-61
33
"Main Street," Cosmopolitan
Paragraphs
Beneath the Spreading Antlers
Frolic of the Type
Gentle Barrage, 1931
Here Is the American Humor
In Classes & Rumble Seats
In Conference
Junior's Parents
The Great U.S.A. Editor Really Is Funny
Untitled
Potomac Contagion, 1981
Correspondence
Features
Precinct Organization, film script by J.P. Henry, 1959
Radio Scripts, 1952-54
"Skull in the Vault"
"Skull, A Vault & Osta"
Smart Chat Album
Toppers
Two-Township Collection
Wit and Humor of America
Clippings