James E. Bromwell Papers

Collection

Identifier: MsC0441

Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The papers of James Edward Bromwell date from 1959 to 1969 and consist of 52.5 linear feet of manuscripts. Organized in two series, the Bromwell papers begin with general subject folders and correspondence. Arranged alphabetically, there are subject folders concerning agriculture, civil rights, education, politics, postal service, Republican Party, and taxation. Correspondents include Robert K. Beck, Gerald Bogan, Norman Erbe, John Henry, Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Robert D. Ray, and Fred Schwengel. Included among these materials were press releases from the Kennedy White House. These are available in Government Documents in The Public Papers of the Presidents. Also included in this collection were copies of House Rules, reports, Supreme Court decisions and other items that were removed from the collection in the interest of reducing its size. A list of items removed from the collection and can be found in Government Documents.

Dates

Creation: 1959 -1969

Creator

Bromwell, James (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research. This collection is stored at an offsite location. When requesting materials, please allow two business days for items to arrive at the Special Collections reading room.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical / Historical

James Edward Bromwell was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 26, 1920, the son of Max T. and Olive MacDuff Bromwell. After attending Johnson grade school and Franklin High school, he graduated from the University of Iowa in 1942. Serving four years in the Army during World War II, where he served in the European Theatre, he enlisted as a private and was discharged as a captain. After the war he attended the Harvard University School of Business. Receiving his MBA in 1947, he returned to the University of Iowa to attend law school. After receiving his LL.B. in 1950, he was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1951. He began to practice law in his hometown of Cedar Rapids. He served as Assistant Linn county attorney from 1956-1959. He also owned and managed a farm near Center Point.

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, 87th Congress on November 8, 1960 as a Republican, and he served in the 88th Congress until 1965. Running for re-election to the House in 1964, he lost to fellow Franklin High school graduate, John C. Culver, a Democrat. He tried for the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate in 1968. When his bid proved unsuccessful, he resumed his law practice. Bromwell practiced law in Cedar Rapids until 1986 when he retired.

On September 10, 1946 he married Dorothy Bennett of Mapleton, Iowa. They had four children: Maxwell Thomas II, Helen Kirk, Catherine MacDuff, and James Edward, Jr. Bromwell died in Cedar Rapids on September 11, 2009.

Extent

52.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Lawyer and U.S. Congressman, 1961-1965. Political and campaign related papers.

Physical Location

This collection is stored at an offsite location. When requesting materials, please allow two business days for items to arrive at the Special Collections reading room.