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Harvey W. Wertz Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MsC0479

  • Staff Only
  • Please navigate to collection organization to place requests.

Scope and Contents

These papers are arranged chronologically within an alphabetical order. Included in the collection are correspondence files--including letters written by Wertz during World War I, copies of articles written by him, certificates and plaques, photographs, travel diaries, campaign materials and more.

Dates

  • Creation: 1917-1963
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1950-1969

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

Biographical / Historical

Harvey W. Wertz was born in Grand Junction, Iowa, on August 4, 1899. During World War I he served in the Machine Gun Company of the 168th Regiment, 3rd Iowa Infantry, part of the Rainbow Division, which was involved in much of the heaviest combat in France. Wertz was wounded in a German gas attack. In 1918, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

After the war, Wertz attended the University of Missouri at Columbia where he graduated with a B.A. in journalism in 1924. The following four or five years found him working as a reporter on the following newspapers: St. Louis Star Times, Chicago Tribune (Paris bureau), N.Y. Graphic, N.Y. Evening Post, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In 1929, Harvey Wertz married Scerita Osborne. He subsequently returned to graduate school at the University of Missouri. Upon receiving his M.A., Wertz went to work for the Newspapers Enterprise Association and then the federal government as the information officer of the Office of Price Administration.

Moving to California he purchased a weekly newspaper, the Sherman Oaks Sun. He later sold the paper in order to pursue other career options. Wertz served as a consultant and information director to the Office of Rent Stabilization and was then a field campaign manager for Estes Kefauver's presidential bid. He was also the campaign manager and assistant to Councilman Everett Burkhalter of Los Angeles and State Senator James Corman. On top of all of this Wertz did public relations work over the years for many organizations, was sought after as a popular speaker, and remained active in the Army Reserves. Harvey W. Wertz died in 1989.

Extent

1.50 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

American journalist.

Method of Acquisition

The Harvey W. Wertz Papers were donated to the University Libraries in March 1991 by Alta Wertz, second wife of Harvey.

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the University of Iowa Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5921
319-335-5900 (Fax)