Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

MS 154
John Stevenson Murray (1939-    )
Papers, 1971-1983, undated


Descriptive summary

creator: Murray, John Stevenson (1939-    )
title: Papers
dates: 1971-1983, undated
extent: 14.91linear feet (35 document boxes, 1 half-document box)
collection number: MS 154
repository: Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access: Open for research
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation: John Stevenson Murray Papers, MS 154, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Abstract

John Stevenson Murray, State Republican Senator of Iowa, represented district twenty-one for ten years in the Iowa General Assembly (1973-1983). The collection contains correspondence, reports, committee files, speeches, legislation, tax information, appropriation files, news clippings and subject files related to his time as a legislator. The bulk of the collection is correspondence, committee files, and documents related to tax issues.

 

Biographical note

John Stevenson Murray was born March 22, 1939 to William G. and Mildred Murray in Ames, Iowa. He attended local schools and graduated from high school in 1957. He received his B.A. (1961) from Cornell University and his M.A. (1962) from Columbia University in public law and government. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Lieutenant (1962-1965), he earned his J.D. (1968) from the University of Iowa where he was editor of the Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif, Phi Beta Kappa, and Phi Kappa Phi.

Murray was Executive Assistant (1970-1972) to Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray. He ran successfully for the Iowa State Senate (21st District) and served two full terms and part of a third (1973-1983). Murray ran unsuccessfully as the Republican candidate for the U.S. Congress from the Fifth Congressional District of Iowa in 1976.

During the 64th General Assembly (1973-1974), Murray was on the Appropriations Committee, Human Resources Subcommittee, and State Government Committee. He was also Interim Chair of the Alcoholism Treatment Study Committee, Chair of the Civil Rights Commission Investigation, Chair of the Legislative Intern Study, and member of the Legislative Council, Public Boards and Commissions Study Committee, and the Mental Health and Social Services Study Committee. During 1981-1982, he became Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Chair of the Claims Committee, and a member of the Judiciary and Transportation Committees.

 

Collection description

This collection (1962-1996, undated) documents John Stevenson Murray's political career in Iowa, and contains bills correspondence, reports, committee files, speeches, legislation, tax information, appropriation files, news clippings, speeches, campaign materials and subject files. The subject and project files contain background materials, publications, articles, and reports on various topics of interest to Murray and speeches, newsletters by Murray, and campaign materials. Campaign materials include statements, speeches, news releases, letters, news clippings. The subject files include publications, reports, and news clippings on a variety of topics such as taxes, finances, agriculture and schools.

 

Organization

The collection is organized into series:

 

Description of series

Series 1 Bills 1973-1982, undated
extent: 0.6 linear feet (1.5 document boxes)
description: The series contains bills and related documents including correspondence, news clippings, articles, and notes. Many of the bills were sponsored by Murray. The series is arranged chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Sponsored Bills: listing of Bills, Hatch Act Resolution (S. R. 27), Iowa work-study program and appropriations (S. F. 373)

1973

1

2

Sponsored Bills: Transportation and Railroads (S. F. 1061): research notes, correspondence, and news clippings

1973-1974

1

3

Liason Office (Washington, D. C.): S-414, H889, H2460

1973-1975

1

4

Bills sponsored

1974

1

5

Bills sponsored by Murray with related correspondence

1975, undated

1

6

Bills sponsored by Murray

1976

1

7

Bills, bill drafts and related correspondence news clippings

1977

1

8

Bills sponsored by Murray and resolutions (includes related correspondence)

1978, undated

1

9

Pan-mutual betting, Bills-SF351

1978

1

10

Substance abuse: H112

1978

1

11

Bottle bill petitions

1978

1

12

Product liability: Bill H560

1978-1980

1

13

Juvenile justice services: Bill relating to probation officers: SF436

1978- 1981, undated

1

14

Bills sponsored by Murray

1979

2

1

Bills proposed for 1979 (includes correspondence, reports, questionnaire, articles, source material)

1979

2

2

Occupational therapy bill [no number]

1979

2

3

Bills sponsored by Murray

1980

2

4

Bills sponsored by Murray

1981

2

5

Bills

1982

2

6

Living Wills bills: SF207, 81, 2015, 2062

1975-1980, undated

 

Description of series

Series 2 Committees 1973-1983, undated
extent: 0.6 linear feet (1.5 document boxes)
description: The series contains reports, memoranda, questionnaires, policies and guidelines. The series is arranged chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

2

7

Appropriations (social service subcommittee made up of members from senate & house)

1973-1979, undated

2

8

Senate Appropriations & Budget Regulatory & Finance Subcommittee bill SF97, report on Tax Study, SF40.9 for office of Code Editor, HF246: Performance Audit Bill

1974-1978, undated

2

9

Appropriations Subcommittee Bills 84 & 1380 (for Iowa Research Foundation)

1974-1979

2

10

Education subcommittee appropriations

1976-1979

2

11

Education (policy pertaining to enrollment of foreign born students)

1978

2

12

Education: report on funding

1978

3

1

Appropriations (human resources subcommittee reports, 1978-1979 expenditures, memoranda, agencies listed on inside of folder)

1978-1980

3

2

Appropriations and Federal Funding Pre-Application Questionnaire

1978-1981

3

3

Appropriations and Public Employee (desires and financial need)

1978-1981, undated

3

4

Appropriations Subcommittee, and State Government (Court Administrators)

1978, 1981

3

5

Appropriations (claims subcommittee)

1979

3

6

Appropriations and natural resources subcommittee

1979-1980

3

7

Regulatory and finance subcommittee appropriations

1979-1980

3

8

Investigating for Governor's appointments (Michael V. Reagen)

1979-1980

3

9

Budget, 1979-81 Bienneum, Subcommittee (House and Senate)

1979-1981

3

10

House and Senate subcommittees on appropriations and budget

1979-1981, undated

3

11

Social Services Subcommittee Appropriations

1980-1981, undated

3

12

Appropriations Subcommittee (social services)

1980-1981

4

1

Appropriations Subcommittee (education funding needs)

1980

4

2

Appropriations (future of regents universities)

1980-1981

4

3

Appropriations Subcommittee Energy, Fuels and Utilities

1980

4

4

Appropriations Subcommittee: legislative fiscal committee (Murray co-chair: report on "Legislative Oversight of Federal Aid to General Assembly of Iowa")

1980-1981

4

5

Appropriations: legislative fiscal committee (hiring freeze and purchasing freeze)

1980-1981

4

6

Appropriations: capital improvements

1980-1981

4

7

Appropriations: claims subcommittee

1980-1982, undated

4

8

Summary of Appropriations: Subcommittee Guidelines: Appropriations Committee Rules

1980-1982

4

9

Appropriations: human resources

1980-1983

4

10

Appropriations: natural resources

1980-1983

4

11

Appropriations: regulatory and finance

1980-1983

4

12

Appropriations: state government

1980-1983

4

13

Appropriations: transportation and low enforcement

1980-1983

4

14

Appropriations: education subcommittee

1981

4

15

Appropriations subcommittee: education

1981

4

16

Appropriation subcommittee on 4.6% reductions bill and federal funds

1981

4

17

Appropriations subcommittee chairs membership , rules, and legislative fiscal bureau (assignments)

1981

4

18

Legislative program priority workbook

1981

4

19

Appropriations subcommittee (special salaries subcommittee report): commission on compensation, expenses, and salaries of elected state officials

1981

4

20

Appropriations: information from LSB on budget cuts proposed by Governor

1981

5

1

Appropriations: 1928 legislative session

1981-1982, undated

 

Description of series

Series 3 Correspondence 1971-1982, undated
extent: 8.82 linear feet (21 document boxes)
description: The series contains personal, political and general correspondence. The correspondence includes constituent correspondence and correspondence with other legislators. The series is arranged chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

5

2

Personal - February-August (governor's office)

1971

5

3

Personal - September-December (governor's office)

1971

5

4

Personal - January-April, Oct., Dec (governor's office)

1972

5

5

Political (congratulations) - August-December

1972

5

6

Political - May, November, and December

1972

5

7

Political and General - January-June

1973

5

8

Political - June-July

1973

5

9

Political - October-November

1973

6

1

From Constituents and Colleagues "Helpful" - January-February

1973

6

2

From Constituents and Colleagues "Helpful" - March-April

1973

6

3

General - January-February

1973

6

4

General - March 5-24

1973

6

5

General - March 25-30

1973

6

6

General - April 2-15

1973

6

7

General - April 16-30 (includes letters re: sale of liquor on Sunday, SF271-To establish regional library system, SF129+HF238 taxing amenities a 2nd time)

1973

7

1

General - May 20-31

1973

7

2

General - June 1-30

1973

7

3

General - July-September

1973

7

4

General - October-December

1973

7

5

Political - April-May

1974

7

6

Political - June

1974

7

7

Political (includes congratulations) - July-August

1974

7

8

Political - September

1974

8

1

Political - October

1974

8

2

Political - November

1974

8

3

Political - December

1974

8

4

General - January 2-19

1974

8

5

General - January 21-31

1974

8

6

General - February 1-18

1974

8

7

General - February 19-28

1974

9

1

General - March 1-12

1974

9

2

General - March 13-20

1974

9

3

General - March 21-30

1974

9

4

General - April 1-3

1974

9

5

General - April 4-13

1974

9

6

General - April 15-30

1974

9

7

General - May

1974

9

8

General - December

1974

10

1

General - January

1975

10

2

General - February 3-19

1975

10

3

General - February 20-28

1975

10

4

General - March 2-11

1975

10

5

General - March 12-19

1975

10

6

General - March 21-31

1975

10

7

General - April 1-8

1975

11

1

General - April 9-16

1975

11

2

General - April 17-30

1975

11

3

General - May 1-9

1975

11

4

General - May 10-15

1975

11

5

General - May 20-30

1975

12

1

General - June

1975

12

2

General - July-August

1975

12

3

General - September

1975

12

4

General - October

1975

12

5

General - November

1975

12

6

General - December

1975

12

7

General - January 1-10

1976

12

8

General - January 12-20

1976

12

9

General - January 21-31

1976

13

1

General - February 2-11

1976

13

2

General - February 12-28

1976

13

3

General - March 1-10

1976

13

4

General - March 11-19

1976

13

5

General - March 21-30

1976

13

6

General - April 1-14

1976

13

7

General - April 15-30

1976

14

1

General - May

1976

14

2

General - June-July

1976

14

3

General - August-October

1976

14

4

General - November-December

1976

14

5

General - January 3-14

1977

14

6

General - January 17-31

1977

14

7

General - February 1-14

1977

14

8

General - February 15-28

1977

15

1

General - March 1-10

1977

15

2

General - March 11-18

1977

15

3

General - March 21-22

1977

15

4

General - March 23-31

1977

15

5

General - April 1-12

1977

15

6

General - April 13-19

1977

15

7

General - April 20-22

1977

15

8

General - April 25-29

1977

15

9

General - May 2-9

1977

15

10

General - May 10-31

1977

16

1

"Round Table Opinions"

1977

16

2

General - June 1-21

1977

16

3

Special Session June

1977

16

4

General - July-August

1977

16

5

General - September

1977

16

6

General - October

1977

16

7

General - November

1977

16

8

General - December

1977

16

9

General - January 3-10

1978

16

10

General - January 11-19

1978

16

11

General - January 20-31

1978

16

12

General - February 1-10

1978

17

1

General - February 11-18

1978

17

2

General - February 20-28

1978

17

3

General - March 1-6

1978

17

4

General - March 7-10

1978

17

5

General - March 13-17

1978

17

6

General - March 20-23

1978

17

7

General - March 29-31

1978

17

8

General - April 3-14

1978

17

9

General - April 17-28

1978

17

10

General - May

1978

18

1

General - June

1978

18

2

General - July

1978

18

3

General - August

1978

18

4

General - September 1-19

1978

18

5

General - September 20-29

1978

18

6

General - October 2-17

1978

18

7

General - October 18-30

1978

18

8

General - November 1-13

1978

18

9

General - November 14-31 (includes Nov. 17, 1978 letter referring to Murray Trust at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA)

1978

18

10

General - December

1978

19

1

General - January 2-10

1979

19

2

General - January 11-19

1979

19

3

General - January 22-31

1979

19

4

General - February 1-19

1979

19

5

General - February 20-28

1979

19

6

General - March 1-9

1979

19

7

General - March 10-19

1979

19

8

General - March 20-25

1979

19

9

General - March 26-31

1979

20

1

General - April 1-10

1979

20

2

General - April 11-30

1979

20

3

General - May 1-31

1979

20

4

General - June 1-29

1979

20

5

General - July 2-31 (not inclusive)

1979

20

6

General - August 1-31 (not inclusive)

1979

20

7

General - September 4-27 (not inclusive)

1979

21

1

General - October - 2-29 (not inclusive)

1979

21

2

General - Letters from Ames, IA (high school students) - October-November

1979

21

3

General - November 1-30 (not inclusive)

1979

21

4

General - December

1979

21

5

General - January 2-19

1980

21

6

General - January 21-31 (not inclusive)

1980

21

7

General - February 1-8

1980

22

1

General - February 11-19

1980

22

2

General - February 20-29

1980

22

3

General - March 1-17

1980

22

4

General - March 20-31

1980

22

5

General - April 1-16

1980

22

6

General - April 17-30

1980

22

7

General - May

1980

22

8

With Attorney General: June-July 1980, February 1982 (re: Health Insurance, Tax Exemptions for urban revitalization, Rights od aliens to acquire and hold agricultural land)

1980, 1982, undated

23

1

General - June

1980

23

2

General - July

1980

23

3

General - August

1980

23

4

General - September

1980

23

5

General - October

1980

23

6

General - November

1980

23

7

General - December

1980

23

8

General - January

1981

23

9

General - February 2-9 (not inclusive)

1981

23

10

General - February 10-16

1981

24

1

General - February 17-19

1981

24

2

General - February 20-26

1981

24

3

General - March 1-9

1981

24

4

General - March 10-13

1981

24

5

General - March 16-30

1981

24

6

General - April 1-9

1981

25

1

General - April 10-30

1981

25

2

General - May 1-8

1981

25

3

General - May 10-19

1981

25

4

General - 20-29

1981

25

5

General - June

1981

25

6

General - July-August

1981

25

7

General - September

1981

25

8

General - October

1981

25

9

General - November

1981

25

10

General - December

1981

25

11

General - January 2-20

1982

26

1

General - January 21-30

1982

26

2

General - February 1-19

1982

26

3

General - February 22-26

1982

26

4

General - March 1-9

1982

26

5

General - March 10-19

1982

26

6

General - March 20-31

1982

26

7

General - April 1-12

1982

26

8

General - April 13-30

1982

27

1

General - May

1982

27

2

General - June-August, October 1982, February 1983

1982

 

Description of series

Series 4 Subject and Project Files

1972-1981
extent: 0.5 linear feet (1 document box)
description: The series contains background materials, publications, articles, and reports on various topics of interest to Murray and speeches, newsletters by Murray, and campaign materials. The subject files include publications, reports, and news clippings on a variety of topics such as taxes, finances, agriculture and schools. The series is arranged alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

35

6

Abortion: related correspondence and presentations and facts

1976-1978, undated

35

7

Abortion: source material and news clippings

1977-1978, undated

31

6

Announcement on decision to run for Congress (includes resume (fact sheet), report, news release, schedule for announcement day October 7th, 1975)

1975

35

8

Bilingual Position Paper

undated

31

4

Campaign

1974

31

11

Campaign

1978

31

8

Campaign "wind-down"

1975-1976

31

5

Campaign Contributions

1974

31

2

Campaign Finance

1972-1975

31

7

Campaign: Press Release - Running for Congress

1975

31

3

Campaign: remarks, poll, news releases, letters

1973

31

1

Campaign: statements, speeches, news releases, letters, news clippings

1972

31

12

Campaigns: Stoner for US Senate, 1979-1980

1978-1979

29

4

Committees: Judiciary - Obscenity Subcommittee includes agenda, memorandums, report, correspondence, notes

1981

31

10

Congress - Campaign Finance Disclosures

1975-1977

35

9

Creationism Bill controversy

1979-1981, undated

28

3

Education: district concerns, people place, statistical review of Ames, Ames Community School, District Special Education Program

1979-1980, undated

28

1

Education: Maquoketa Valley School case vs. Collective Bargaining

1972-1977

28

2

Education: tuition reciprocity between states - SF470, National Education Association (NEA) positions, correspondence

1974-1977

28

4

Finances: Governor Ray's - Budget Message 66th General Assembly

1975-1977

28

9

Finances: legislative summaries and anticipated reversions, Senate budget, projections, resolutions

1979-1981

28

10

Finances: Revenue Projections

1980-1981

28

11

Financial Summary - State of Iowa General Fund

1981

32

1

Five District Mailing List: Republican by County

undated

27

7

Health, Cost of

1978-1980

28

5

House: members salary and expense report

1977

36

1

Information On: Civil Rights, Collective Bargaining, Consumer Protection, Day Care, Drugs, Iowa Research Foundation, Ipers, State Institutions, Taxes, Transportation, Bills

1974

28

14

Invitations: January-June

1973

28

15

Invitations: January-May

1974

35

10

Iowa Civil Liberties Union - Cardinal Chapter - Ames

1973-1980, undated

27

10

Iowa Department of Health Report - includes correspondence, memorandum, statement by Murray: study of Iowa Family Planning Programs, notes

1979-1981

27

3

Iowa Department of Public Health - background material

1972-1980

29

2

Judiciary: Juvenile Justice

1978-1980, undated

29

1

Judiciary: Legality of life insurance plan SF1106 relating to purchase of life insurance for a minor by a custodian

1975-1976

29

5

Judiciary: local government tort liability - SF474

1981-1982, undated

29

3

Judiciary: Neighborhood Medication Project

1980-1982

29

7

Legislative Council and Committees: 1976 Interim

1976

29

10

Legislative Council: correspondence, reports, minutes, agenda, memoranda

1978-1979, undated

29

9

Legislative: reports

1977-1978

28

8

Legislature Fiscal Bureau: program evaluations

1979-1981

29

12

Legislature: Legislative Service and Fiscal Bureaus and Office of Citizens Aide - Grievance procedures for employees

1981-1982, undated

29

13

Legislature: Lobbyist report

1981-1982

29

8

Lobbyists

1976, 1978

27

8

Mental Health

1979-1980, undated

27

5

Mental Health: Story County Center for Personal Development

1976-1980

32

2

Midwest Republican Group - Correspondence

1966-1975

32

3

Midwest Republican Group - Official Forms and Correspondence

1972-1975

29

11

National Conference of State Legislatures - July

1980

36

2

National Endowment of the Humanities - Iowa Board Speech by Murray and related correspondence

1976

30

4

National Issues - crime and correction

1975

30

5

National Issues - economy

1975

30

6

National Issues - energy

1975-1976, undated

30

7

National Issues: agriculture - reports, articles

1975-1976, undated

30

2

National Issues: Congress

1974-1975, undated

30

1

National Issues: Food and Agriculture

1967-1979, undated

30

10

National Issues: foreign policy

1975-1977

30

3

National Issues: includes human resources, health care, social security

1974-1977

30

11

National Issues: military clippings

1976

30

8

National Issues: Railroads

1975-1976

30

9

National Issues: State Department seminars - foreign policy issues

1975-1977

32

9

National Republican Legislators Association

1980, undated

28

13

New Law Building - University of Iowa

1982, undated

30

12

News articles and releases

1972-1975

30

13

News clippings

1973

31

9

News clippings, news releases and photograph with Governor Ray (1 b/w)

1975-1976

30

15

News Releases: Murray's and vested interests

1974, 1977-1981

30

14

Newsletters (by Murray)

1973-1976

36

3

Nuclear Energy Study Source Material

1970-1977, undated

27

6

Nutrition

1977, undated

27

4

Pawlewski Meetings Material - Documentation Hearing on Confirmation of Pawlewski, Legislation Report, (appendix may be found in the box and file)

1974-1980

27

11

Pawlewski Report: Confirmation of Commissioner Pawlewski - correspondence, notes, material on program evaluation of Chronic Renal Disease Program - Iowa Department of Health

1981

27

9

Pawlewski Report: on activities of Commissioner Norman Pawlewski and Iowa Department of Health Staff in managing Iowa's family planning program - includes responses to legislative report by John Murray and one by Norman Pawlewski and appendix

1979-1980

32

7

Politics: State and National

1974, 1977-1979

32

4

Reports: Midwest Republican Group Financial

1972-1976

32

6

Republican State Central Committee

1974-1978

32

5

Ripon Society

1971-1972, 1979-1981, undated

32

8

San Francisco Republican Convention

1979

28

12

Senate Budget: proposed budget for 1983 fiscal year, resolutions

1981-1983

29

6

Senate: includes correspondence, report, breakdown of payments to Senate, memoranda, news clippings

1975-1977

36

4

Solid Waste Recovery

1977, undated

28

6

Source Material: Governor Ray's Conditions of the State and Budget Messages News Clippings

1977

33

5

Speeches

1975-1976

33

6

Speeches

1977-1980

33

1

Speeches - Political Humor Material

undated

33

2

Speeches (includes related correspondences)

1971-1972

33

3

Speeches (includes source material)

1973

33

4

Speeches (Includes source material)

1974

33

7

Speeches and Speech Information

1981-1982, undated

35

5

Tax study

1974-1982

35

2

Taxes, property

1974-1975, undated

34

8

Taxes: assessments

1973-1977

34

5

Taxes: exemptions

1972-1973

34

6

Taxes: financial schools and property tax relief (a state responsibility)

1973

34

7

Taxes: inflation and federal and state income taxes, state taxation of railroads, the value added tax and alternative sources of federal revenue

1973-1978

35

4

Taxes: property tax valuation

1975-1976, undated

34

4

Taxes: property tax valuation - news clippings and assessment

1971-1976

34

1

Taxes: property taxes by Merrill B. Evans (Iowa Marketing Research Corporation)

1971

34

3

Taxes: source material

1971-1978, undated

34

2

Taxes: three factor corporation tax, fourth annual report, multistate tax commission, Iowa corporation income tax, A Tax Under Fire (Dykstra), Iowa corporation income tax (Sullivan)

1971, 1974, 1977

35

3

Taxes: three-factor corporation tax - bills, reports, correspondence, notes, charts

1974-1977, undated

35

1

Taxes: Ways and Means Committee - reports, statistical samples, Department of Revenue 1974, elderly and disables property tax relief report

1974-1975, undated

28

7

Unemployment Compensation

1978-1979

36

5

Women's Rights and ERA

1974-1977, undated