Robert Donald Blue Papers

Collection

Identifier: MsC0466

Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The papers of Robert D. Blue date from 1934 to 1976 and consist of approximately 42 linear feet of papers, scrapbooks, and sound recordings documenting his political career as governor of Iowa and beyond. It is arranged in six series: 1) Correspondence 2) Election and campaign material; 3) Iowa state departments; 4) General subject files; 5) Later career, and; 6) Memorabilia.

The correspondence series contains letters from Paul H. Cunningham, J.N. Darling, Thomas E. Dewey, Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Charles B. Hoeven, Herschel C. Loveless, Fred Schwengel, Henry O. Talle, Earl Warren, and George A. Wilson. The election and campaign section includes material relating to the Republican parties and specific campaigns. Some of the state departments and commissions that are documented include the Department of Public Safety, the Highway Commission, the Liquor Control Commission, and the Iowa Commission on the Aging.

Dates

Creation: 1934-1976
Creation: Majority of material found within 1945-1948

Creator

Blue, Robert Donald (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

Robert D. Blue was born in Eagle Grove, Iowa, on September 24, 1898. He attended Capital City Commercial College and Iowa State College. After serving in the Army during WWI, he returned to Iowa and received a law degree from Drake University in 1922. Blue married Cathleen Beale in 1926 and they had two children, Barbara and Donald. Elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, Blue served from 1934 to 1943. He was Speaker of the House from 1937 to 1941. In 1943, he was elected Lieutenant Governor and the following year he defeated R.F. Mitchell to become Governor. He served two terms, during which he supported the standardization of property tax, improved the highways, extended the state hospital program, and encouraged the creation of a retirement program for public employees. Robert D. Blue died in 1989.