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

MS 588
Charles Walters (1926-    )
Papers, 1937-2003, undated


Descriptive summary

creator: Walters, Charles (1926-    )
title: Papers
dates: 1937-2003, undated
extent: 8.1 linear feet (5 document boxes, 6 oversize boxes)
collection number: MS 588
repository: Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access: Open for research
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation: Charles Walters Papers, MS 588, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note

Charles Walters, Jr., was born in Ness County, Kansas in 1926. He received his undergraduate degree from Creighton University and his graduate degree from Denver University. He is an economist and journalist with a number of books to his credit. His main professional focus is on raw materials economics. Walters was greatly influenced by the works of Carl H. Wilken, Charles B. Ray, and John Lee Coulter.

During the 1960s, Walters became associated with the National Farmers Organization (NFO) and edited the organization’s news publication, NFO Reporter. He also supplied numerous articles on farm economics for the publication. Walters observed and documented many of the activities of the NFO and one of his books, Holding Action, discusses the events surrounding the milk holding actions of 1967.

Walters is a member of several professional organizations including past president of the National Organization for Raw Materials. In 1970, he founded Acres USA, a monthly magazine that promotes the family farm and organic farming. He is now the publication’s editor emeritus while his son, Fred Walters, publishes the magazine from his home in Austin, Texas.

Charles Walters Jr. currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri.

 

Collection description

The Charles Walters Papers (1937-2003, undated) contain correspondence and printed matter related to Walters’ research, as well as copies of some of Walters’ publications. Material related to the NFO includes correspondence, legal documents, printed matter, and includes both paper records and microfilm.

Over half of the collection is devoted to photographs documenting the activities of the NFO throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The photographs include images of members of the NFO leadership, conventions, holding actions and other activities sponsored by the NFO. The majority of the photographs were taken by Walters.

 

Organization

The collection is organized into five series:

 

Description of series

Series 1 Correspondence
1941-1971
extent: 0.21 linear feet (6 folders)
description: This series contains correspondence between Walters and people he contacted while doing research. Of particular interest is correspondence with Carl H. Wilken, about whom Walters’ book, Unforgiven, was written. The series is in alphabetical order.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

3

General correspondence

1970-1971

1

5

Auen, Jake

1967-1970

1

8

Hoeven, Representative Charles R.

1970

1

11

Rash, Harry E.: President of The First State Bank, Thayer, Kansas

1966-1970

3

8

Wilken, Carl H.

1941-1967

3

9

Wilken, Carl H.

1968

 

Description of series

Series 2 Printed materials and publications 1937-2004, undated
extent: 0.84 linear feet (2 document boxes)
description: Series 2 consists of printed materials. The series contains some items written by Walters as well as source material for his writings. The series is in chronological order.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

2

9

Pope-McGill Hearing

1937

2

10

Pareconomy Paper

1939

2

2

Congressional Record

1939-1942

1

14

"The Key to Prosperity," by E. H. Taylor

1940s circa

2

8

Booklet: "A Prosperous Post-War Era Is Possible"

1940s circa

2

7

NACSDA

1943-1947

2

3

Congressional Record

1943-1949

3

5

Farm Econ Contest

1945

2

5

Long-Range Agricultural Policy Hearings

1947

1

13

Strategic and Critical Minerals and Metals Hearing

1948

2

6

Washington Case: United States v. Tom Linder

1948-1953

2

4

Congressional Record

1950-1952

1

9

Carl H. Wilken Papers (1 of 2)

1950-1971, undated

1

10

Carl H. Wilken Papers (2 of 2)

1950-1971, undated

3

1

Committee for Economic Development Hearing

1962

1

2

"Farm Tempo," Address Before the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association by Carl Wilken

1962-1968, undated

1

12

Rossiter, Vincent: articles

1962-1970

1

7

Bowers, Walter A.: Papers: "The Balance Sheet of Agriculture" and "The American Farmer, His Balance Sheet"

1965

3

2

Independent Bankers Association (IBA) Papers

1965

3

6

Springfield Seminar

1965

3

3

Subcommittee on Wheat Hearing

1966

2

1

Forbes Paper

1966-1968

4

7

"China Journal"

1967

3

7

Sioux City Seminar

1967

3

4

Subcommittee on Rural Development Hearing

1967

1

6

Vietnam: Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, report

1969-1970

1

4

Rights and Permissions

1971

4

4

Weeds: Control Without Poison by Charles Walters

1996

4

3

Publication: Acres USA

1999

4

5

National Organization for Raw Materials: "Economic Report of the Producers"

2002

4

6

National Organization for Raw Materials: "Economic Report of the Producers"

2003

3

10

Articles

undated

1

1

Prosperity Unlimited (photocopies)

undated

 

Description of series

Series 3 National Farmers Organization 1964-1994, undated
extent: 0.21 linear feet (4 folders)
description: This series consists of materials related to the National Farmers Organization. The series contains news clippings, newsletters, correspondence with NFO members, and NFO trial documents. The series is in chronological order.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

3

11

NFO materials (1 of 2)

1964-1985

3

12

NFO materials (2 of 2)

1964-1985

4

2

NFO materials

1964-1991

4

1

NFO materials

1972-1994, undated

 

Description of series

Series 4 Audio and visual materials 1958-1979, undated
extent: 0.42 linear feet (1 document box)
description: This series consists of microfilmed transcripts from National Farmers Organization (NFO) lawsuit depositions along with some general NFO historical materials. Also included are two reel-to-reel audiotapes about the assassination of President Kennedy.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

5

 

Microfilm: Roll 1 (48023): NFO history; reader opinion questionnaire; NFO field staff; NFO grain department; basic agricultural economics communications; Charles Walters, Jr. ad; Adventures in facts

1966-1971, undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll 2: NFO history, Farm Bureau, Ray Fairprice coloring book, NFO staff biographies, Potato Action, 1972 Convention file, Jim Stewart, NFO reporters

1965-1972, undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll I (82687): Depositions: Ed Graf, Lee Sinclair, Fred Deardorff, H. W. Lashmett

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll II (91782): Depositions: William D. Hall, Norbert Connor, Rhea Hackler

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll III (91783): Depostions: Rhea Hackler, Oliver Odean Hanna, Gordon Shafer, Albert Scott, Stephen Blomeke

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll IV (92650): Depositions: Albert Scott, Allen Skroch

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll V (93269): Depositions: Kenneth Stofferahn, Bernice Campbell, Melvin Aven, Ricardo Antonio Avila

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll VI (93270): Depositions: Ricardo Antonio Avila, Albert Scott, Raymond Keck, Arthur McWilliams

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll VII (61124): NFO Depositions: Gordon Shafer, Oren Lee Staley, Brynolf Grahn, Harold Nelson

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll VIII (61123): NFO Depositions: Harold Nelson, Oras Kanerva, John  Oster, Steve Pavich

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll IX (61125): NFO Depositions: Steve Pavich, Erhard Pfinasten, Avery Voss

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll #1: Holding action: book, backup notes and clips

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll #2: Angry Testament: book, backup notes

undated

5

 

Microfilm: Roll #3: Angry Testament: backup notes

 

5

 

Microfilm, Roll #5 (47525): Angry Testament, Dissertation, NFO history

1958-1965, undated

5

 

Microfilm, Charles Walters, Jr.: Deposition, NFO journals, NFO journals, 1972 Convention, Visits to Corning, notes

1969-1970

5

 

Microfilm, Roll 74-B (79654): George J. Walters’ file

undated

5

 

Microfilm, (94896): Oren Lee Staley, Albin Rust

undated

5

 

Microfilm, Roll 1979: Gasohol U.S.A., June: August

1979

5

 

Microfilm, Roll 1979: Acres U.S.A., July: August

1979

5

 

Microfilm, Roll "0": Abortion, politics, alienation, Atlantic Community College, education, inflation, religion, war, employment, et al

1973

5

 

Microfilm, unidentified

undated

5

 

Microfilm, unidentified

undated

5

 

Kennedy Assassination audiotapes (2 magnetic reel-to-reel audiotapes)

1963

5

 

Kennedy Assassination audiotapes (2 audio CDs copied from original reel-to-reel audiotapes)

1963

 

Description of series

Series 5 Photographs 1965-1976, undated
extent: 6.0 linear feet (6 oversize boxes)
description: This series consists of photographs taken almost entirely by Charles Walters as he observed and documented the actions of the National Farmers Organization (NFO). The collection contains images of NFO activities in different states as well as NFO holding actions, conventions and members. The collection is in alphabetical order.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

6

1

Board

1965

11

4

Convention (71 4x5 b/w photos, 18 8x10 b/w photos)

1965

6

2

Convention (1 8x10 b/w photo)

1966

6

3

Convention (12 4x5 b/w negatives, 58 4x5 b/w photos, 34 8x10 b/w photos)

1967

6

4

Convention (1 4x5 color photo, 41 8x10 b/w photos)

1968

7

3

Convention (33 8x10 b/w photos)

1969

7

4

Convention (1 4x5 b/w photo, 1 4x5 color photo, 23 8x10 b/w photos)

1970

6

6

Corning (1 4x5 b/w photo, 24 8x10 b/w photos)

1967-1969, undated

11

5

Dairy Commodity Department (7 5x7 b/w photos)

undated

11

8

Field Staff Department (2 5x7 b/w photos, 5 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

11

10

Grain Commodity Department (11 8x10 b/w photos, 2 4x5 b/w negatives)

undated

11

2

Holding Action (22 8x10 b/w photos)

1968

11

7

July 4, 1968 (5 8x10 b/w photos)

1968

11

11

Meat Commodity Department (3 5x7 b/w photos, 2 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

11

6

Meeting for Action (10 8x10 b/w photos)

1967

7

1

Milk Holding Action (4 4x5 b/w photos, 11 5x7 b/w photos, 32 8x10 b/w photos, 4 4x5 b/w negatives)

1967

6

9

Milk Holding Action (8 5x7 b/w photos, 6 8x10 b/w photos)

1967

11

12

NFO (2 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

7

6

NFO: Alabama (2 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

7

7

NFO: Alaska (1 5x7 b/w photo)

undated

7

8

NFO: Arkansas (2 5x7 b/w photos, 13 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

7

9

NFO: California (1 4x5 color photo, 1 4x5 b/w photo, 3 5x7 b/w photo, 1 8x10 b/w photo)

undated

7

10

NFO: Colorado (15 5x7 b/w photos, 7 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

7

11

NFO: Florida (8 5x7 b/w photos)

undated

7

12

NFO: Idaho (1 4x5 color photo, 13 5x7 b/w photos, 2 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

8

2

NFO: Illinois (1 4x5 b/w photos, 76 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

8

1

NFO: Indiana (13 4x5 b/w photos, 8 5x7 b/w photos)

1975, undated

8

3

NFO: Iowa (1 4x5 b/w photo, 5 5x7 b/w photos, 21 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

8

5

NFO: Kansas (40 5x7 b/w photos, 41 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

11

13

NFO: Kentucky (1 4x5 b/w photo, 2 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

8

4

NFO: Maine (1 4x5 b/w photo, 1 5x7 b/w photo)

undated

8

6

NFO: Michigan (1 4x5 b/w photos, 17 5x7 b/w photos, 23 8x10 b/w photos, 6 4x5 b/w negatives)

undated

9

2

NFO: Minnesota: Belle Plaine (4 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

9

3

NFO: Minnesota: St. Peter (7 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

9

4

NFO: Minnesota: Windom (1 8x10 b/w photo)

undated

9

1

NFO: Minnesota (4 5x7 b/w photo, 15 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

9

5

NFO: Missouri (8 5x7 b/w photos, 49 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

9

6

NFO: Montana (1 8x10 b/w photo)

1976

9

7

NFO: Nebraska (2 5x7 b/w photos, 18 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

9

8

NFO: New York (4 5x7 b/w photos)

undated

9

9

NFO: North Carolina (1 8x10 b/w photo)

undated

9

10

NFO: North Dakota (4 4x5 b/w photos, 13 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

9

11

NFO: Ohio (1 4x5 b/w photos, 24 5x7 b/w photos, 4 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

9

12

NFO: Oklahoma (7 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

9

13

NFO: Oregon (1 4x5 b/w photo, 2 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

9

14

NFO: Pennsylvania (2 4x5 b/w photos, 7 8x10 b/w photos)

1966, undated

10

1

NFO: South Carolina (1 8x10 b/w photo)

1970

10

2

NFO: South Dakota (2 4x5 b/w photos)

undated

10

3

NFO: Tennessee (1 5x7 b/w photo, 5 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

10

4

NFO: Texas (2 5x7 b/w photos, 28 8x10, b/w photos)

undated

6

10

NFO: Wisconsin (2 4x5 b/w photos, 2 5x7 b/w photos, 44 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

11

1

Office (24 8x10 b/w photos)

1967, undated

6

8

Officers (1 5x7 b/w photo, 2 8x10 b/w photos, 9 4x5 b/w negatives, 4 5x7 b/w negatives)

undated

6

7

Potatoes (1 4x5 b/w photo, 2 5x7 b/w photos, 4 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

11

3

Public Information Department (6 4x5 color photos, 4 5x7 b/w photos, 14 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

7

2

Sioux City seminar (2 8x10 b/w photos)

1967

7

5

Staley, Oren Lee (8 4x5 b/w photos, 7 4x5 color photos, 7 5x7 b/w photos, 10 8x10 b/w photos, 23 4x5 b/w negatives, 2 8x10 b/w negatives)

undated

11

9

Visual Aids (1 5x7 b/w photo, 5 8x10 b/w photos)

undated

6

5

Washington meeting, demonstration (7 8x10 b/w photos)

1966-1971