Harris, Victor B. (1909-1960), Papers, 1921-1960 (C3920)
3 linear feet
INTRODUCTION
Papers of a St. Louis, Missouri, lawyer active in the St. Louis Civil Liberties Committee, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Lawyers Guild, Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State (PAOU), and other organizations relating to the Bill of Rights and civil liberties. Harris specialized in litigation on union issues and free speech during the period of the House Un-American Activities hearings, segregation, and the rights of married women to continue teaching.
DONOR INFORMATION
The Harris Papers were donated to the University of Missouri on 15 April 1961, by his widow Roberta L. Harris (Accession No. 3473).
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Victor B. Harris was born in 1909 in Hutchinson, Kansas. He attended the University of Arkansas, then received his LL.B. from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1931. Harris was a member of the St. Louis, the Missouri, and the American Bar Associations and the National Lawyers Guild. Immediately after his graduation he began practicing law in St. Louis with Carr & Carr & Graveley (1931-1932), then with Oliver Blackington (1932-1937), and finally with Smith, Harris & Hanke from 1937. The senior partner Luther Ely Smith was an area representative for the American Civil Liberties Union. When Harris joined the firm he assisted with these cases and soon assumed responsibility for several of them.
Harris was an unsuccessful candidate for the Missouri State Senate in 1944 and was defeated in his 1948 bid for the Republication nomination for state senator. Harris served as vice president of the National Lawyers Guild and was active in the St. Louis Civil Liberties Committee for many years. He was the attorney during the original investigation into the 1942 beating death of Edward Melendes, a Mexican citizen held in a St. Louis police cell. Harris was also the attorney during the long appeal process of Al Friedman v. the International Machinists Union.
Harris was an organizer of the St. Louis Chapter of Protestants and other Americans United for Separation of Church and State (POAU) in 1952, served as its secretary until his death in 1960, and was on the organization's national advisory council. The POAU was a non-professional organization to which Harris devoted his legal talents and most of his free time. The propaganda of the POAU was primarily anti-Catholic. Harris, who believed that Catholic dogma prohibited the separation of church and state, anticipated undue influence by the Pope and other church officials upon citizens and elected officials. He was the author of several pamphlets on church-state separation. Harris was a member of the official board of St. John's Methodist Church in St. Louis.
Harris' first marriage to Abigail H. Henry ended in divorce around 1953. In 1955 he married Roberta Christy Lucas Sprengnether. Harris died of a heart attack, at his home, on 14 June 1960. He was survived by his wife, her three children, Robert L., Madelon, and Ronald J. Sprengnether, his mother, Eliza Harris, and a sister, Urano Tumiata.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Harris Papers are divided into three series:
The concentration of the collection is on the professional career of Victor B. Harris, however, his work for the organization Protestants and Other Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is strongly represented.
As an attorney Harris handled civil rights cases for the American Civil Liberties Union and the St. Louis Civil Liberties Committee. Among his cases represented in the Professional Papers series were St. Louis, Missouri v. Pulitzer Publishing Company; Willard Williams v. Dr. Ivan W. Steele, Warden; Marrian Timmerman v. Sexton, et. al.; Al Friedman v. International Association of Machinists, et. al.; and Teachers' Federation of St. Louis County v. St. Louis School Board. These cases covered such issues as segregation, the right to criticize a judge, freedom of the press, the right of married women to teach, the right to attend meetings of the Communist Party, loyalty tests for lawyers, and whether the U.S. Postmaster General had the right to determine what could and could not be sent through the mail. Harris saw many of these cases through the appeals process from state to federal levels. The series includes briefs, correspondence and research notes. It does not deal with his political career or cover all of his cases or business dealings. The Professional series is arranged by the earliest date of association with an organization or case.
The Protestants and Other Americans United for the Separation of Church and State series contains Harris' correspondence, articles, and research in behalf of the POAU. A large portion of this series deals with the sale of Mill Creek Valley, a section of St. Louis to St. Louis University, a Roman Catholic institution, by the City Redevelopment Corporation. The series is arranged chronologically.
The Personal Papers series includes letters between Harris and his second wife Roberta, and correspondence with educational institutions concerning his step-children. In the 1940s and 1950s Harris made frequent trips to Mexico, maintaining friendships and business associations with residents of Mexico City. Several of the letters are in Spanish. At the end of the collection is a scrapbook volume prepared by Roberta Harris after her husband's death. This series is arranged in chronological order.
FOLDER LIST
| f. 1-14 | St. Louis Civil Liberties Committee and American Civil Liberties Union |
| f. 1-4 | Civil Liberties, correspondence, 1941-1958 |
| f. 5 | St. Louis Civil Liberties Committee, pamphlets |
| f. 6 | Miscellaneous civil liberties pamphlets, 1935 |
| f. 7 | Miscellaneous civil liberties pamphlets |
| f. 8 | ACLU pamphlet, 1921 |
| f. 9 | ACLU pamphlet, 1947 |
| f. 10 | ACLU annual report, 1949 |
| f. 11 | ACLU pamphlet, 1949 |
| f. 12 | ACLU annual report, 1951 |
| f. 13 | ACLU miscellaneous |
| f. 14 | Restrictive covenant case, St. Louis, 1947 |
| f. 15-163 | Case Files |
| f. 15-20 | Burbank vs. Bauer [Melendes File], 1934 |
| f. 21-26 | Joe Morris v. Stephen Richards, 1936 |
| f. 27-28 | State of Missouri on information of Franklin Miller, Circuit Attorney of the City of St. Louis, Missouri v. The Pulitzer Publishing Company (a corporation), Ben H. Reese, Ralph Coughlan and Daniel R. Fitzpatrick, 1940 |
| f. 29-31 | Susie Morris for Herself and Others Similarly Placed & Frances Hibbler, Intervener v. Robert M. Williams, Chairman, et. al., 1944-1945 |
| f. 32-42 | State of Missouri ex rel John L. Wood vs. Board of Education, 1945-1948 Teachers Federation of St. Louis and St. Louis County, Local 420, A.F.T. right of married women to continue teaching, 1945-1948 |
| f. 32-35 | Correspondence, 1945-1948 |
| f. 36-37 | Research notes, 1945, n.d. |
| f. 38-40 | Legal drafts and notes |
| f. 41 | Circuit court, 1943, 1944 |
| f. 42 | Briefs |
| f. 43-45 | ACLU/St. Louis Civil Liberties, 1946 |
| f. 46 | United States of America v. Eugene Dennis [aka: Francis Waldron], c.1947 |
| f. 47 | Miguel Mendez, Detention of, 1949-1950 |
| f. 48 | Willard Williams v. Dr. Ivan W. Steele, Warden, 1952 |
| f. 49-140 | Al Friedman v. International Association of Machinists [IAM] |
| f. 49 | IAM and Lodge #688 Constitutions, By laws, and Working Rules |
| f. 50 | IAM 22nd Convention Proceedings, 1948 |
| f. 51-53 | Lodge #688 Hearing, 1949 |
| f. 54 | IAM District #9 and Anheuser-Busch Contract, 1951 |
| f. 55-56 | Friedman's File, 1952 |
| f. 57-67 | Correspondence, 1952-1956 |
| f. 68 | Un-American Activities Committee, 1956 |
| f. 69-73 | Correspondence, 1957-1959 |
| f. 74 | Miscellaneous , 1960 |
| f. 75 | Clippings, 1960 |
| f. 76-87 | Research notes, 1952-1958 |
| f. 88 | Miscellaneous , n.d. |
| f. 89 | Weber v. Friedman; Friedman v. IAM, 1952 |
| f. 90 | First Proceedings, July 1952 |
| f. 91 | Transcript, August 1952 |
| f. 92-96 | Briefs, 1952-1954 |
| f. 97-98 | Testimony of Fred O. Younglove, 1954 |
| f. 99 | Deposition of Al Friedman, 1954 |
| f. 100 | Appeal from U.S. District Court, September 1954 |
| f. 101-104 | Briefs, 1954-1955 |
| f. 105 | Decision, February 1955 |
| f. 106-121 | Briefs, Motions, Petitions and Memorandum, 1955-1957 |
| f. 122-125 | Oral Argument, Court of Appeals, 1957 |
| f. 126-140 | Briefs, Motions, Petitions and Memorandum, 1952-1958 |
| f. 141 | Paul W. Preisler v. Members, Board of Election Commissioners, St. Louis, Missouri , 1937 |
| f. 142 | Robert E. Hannegan, U.S. Postmaster General v. ESQUIRE, INC., 1946 |
| f. 143 | Patricia Arnold v. Kirkwood School District, 1954 |
| f. 144 | Graybar Electric Company, Inc. v. Automotive Petroleum and Allied Industries Employees Union, Local 618, 1955 |
| f. 145-149 | Harris: Raffety Guardian Ad Litem, 1955, 1957 |
| f. 150-153 | Marrian Timmerman Byrd v. F.L. Sexton et. al., Superintendent of Schools, Consolidated District #2, Franklin County, Missouri , 1957 |
| f. 154-155 | Matthew J. Connelly and T. Lamar Caudle v. United States of America, 1957 |
| f. 156 | ACLU, Model Civil Service Law, 1958 |
| f. 157 | Potter's Supreme Court News Service: Labor, October Term 1953 |
| f. 158-163 | Potter's Supreme Court News Service: Labor, October Term 1954 |
| f. 164-203 | National Lawyers Guild, 1943-1960 |
| f. 164 | Pamphlets |
| f. 165 | "Unconstitutionality of the Mundt-Nixon Bill", National Lawyers Guild |
| f. 166-167 | Zechariah Chafee, Jr., Harvard Law School to Congressman John S. Wood, House Committee on Un-American Activities in opposition to bill, March 1950 |
| f. 168-169 | Correspondence, 1943, 1945-1947 |
| f. 170 | Edward K. Barsky v. U.S. of America, Amicus Curiae Brief, 1947 |
| f. 171-172 | Correspondence, 1948-1949 |
| f. 173-181 | Correspondence, 1950-1959 |
| f. 182 | Correspondence, 1960 |
| f. 183 | Booklets, 1952, 1953 |
| f. 184-185 | Conference on Threats to the Independence of the Bar, October 1953 |
| f. 186 | Pamphlet Draft: Threats to the Independence of the Bar |
| f. 187 | Loyalty Tests for Lawyers, 1953 |
| f. 188 | Report: Program in Opposition to Political Tests for the Right to Practice Law |
| f. 189 | "Memo For Trade Unions" |
| f. 190-202 | National Lawyers Guild v. Herbert Brownell, Jr., Attorney General of the United States [Guild v. Brownell], 1954-1956 |
| f. 190 | Affidavit of A.L. Wirin, July 1954 |
| f. 191-194 | Affidavits, 1954 |
| f. 195-196 | Plaintiff's Memo of Points and Authorities in Opposition. . . |
| f. 197 | Brief for the Respondent in Opposition |
| f. 198-200 | Petitions, 1954-1955 |
| f. 201 | Appeal from Judgement of the U.S. District Court, Washington, D.C. |
| f. 202 | Miscellaneous , 1955-1956 |
| f. 203 | Statement Re: House Un-American Activities Committee on "Neo-Fascist and Hate Groups", February 1955 |
| f. 204-218 | Correspondence, n.d., 1951-1955 |
| f. 219-235 | Correspondence, 1956-1959 |
| f. 236-239 | Correspondence, 1960 |
| f. 240 | Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 1949 |
| f. 241 | Hearing, House Bill 100, 1955 |
| f. 242 | George Spencer Campaign, 1960 |
| f. 243-256 | POAU Articles and Speeches by Harris |
| f. 243 | Miscellaneous Editorials and List of publications |
| f. 244 | "Pressure of Rome for Public Funds", Harris |
| f. 245 | Pamphlets: School Bus Issues |
| f. 246 | Mill Creek: Correspondence, 1957-1960 |
| f. 247 | Mill Creek: Article Drafts |
| f. 248 | "Mill Creek - Seven Cents on the Dollar" |
| f. 249 | "Mill Creek, The Jesuits & Six Million Dollars" |
| f. 250 | "Statement to the Committee on Housing & Land Clearance. . ." |
| f. 251 | "Mill Creek Valley & The Jesuits" |
| f. 252 | "St. Louis University & Public Funds" |
| f. 253 | "Fact or Fancy in Mill Creek" |
| f. 254-256 | "Mill Creek - An Unhallowed Perversion" |
| f. 257 | Mill Creek: Peter Kintzele, et al v. City of St. Louis, Missouri , et al |
| f. 258 | Mill Creek: Petition for Declaratory Judgement |
| f. 259 | Religious Issues in American Public Education, Winter, 1955 |
| f. 260 | Articles regarding Catholicism |
| f. 261 | Booklets: Jesuits; Religion & American Democracy |
| f. 262 | Encyclical Letters |
| f. 263 | Biographical sketch |
| f. 264 | "Capitalism v. Democracy", by Harris |
| f. 265 | Correspondence, 1944-1946 |
| f. 266-270 | Correspondence, 1947-1949 |
| f. 271-283 | Correspondence, 1950-1955 |
| f. 284-294 | Correspondence, 1956-1959 |
| f. 295 | Correspondence, 1960 |
| f. 296-297 | Correspondence, Victor and Roberta L. Harris, 1955; 1957; 1959 |
| f. 298 | Insurance, 1955 |
| f. 299-301 | Julia L. Stevens Estate, 1950-1952 |
| f. 302 | Compton Heights Association, Petition for Injunction, 1958 |
| f. 303 | Y.M.C.A. Board of Directors, 1960 |
| Vol. 1 | Scrapbook |
INDEX TERMS
These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available
indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index
term, please contact the reference staff
| Actions and defenses | f. 1-203, 257-258, 302, v. 1 |
| Aliens, Illegal | f. 47 |
| Allen, Claxton Edmonds (1910- ) | f. 141 |
| America First Party | f. 43-45 |
| American Bar Association | f. 190-202 |
| American Federation of Teachers | f. 32-42 |
| American Jewish Congress | f. 204-239 |
| Amicus curiae briefs | f. 29-31, 142, 170, 198 |
| Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry | f. 204-240 |
| Anheuser-Busch, Inc., St. Louis | f. 49-140 |
| Anti-communist movements | f. 1, 2, 46, 49-140, 190-202, 284-286 |
| Archer, Glenn L. | f. 204-239 |
| Arkansas, Little Rock | f. 29-31 |
| Arnold, Patricia | f. 143 |
| Automotive, Petroleum and Allied Industries Employees Union, Local 618 | f. 144 |
| Baldwin, Roger Nash (1884- ) | f. 1-4, 43-45, 204-239 |
| Bar Association of St. Louis | f. 43-45 |
| Barsky, Edward K. | f. 190-202 |
| Bauer, Walter | f. 15-20 |
| Benz, George | f. 15-20 |
| Black schools--Kirkwood, Missouri | f. 143 |
| Black teachers | f. 29-31 |
| Blackington, Reid & Harris | f. 21-26 |
| Blacklisting | f. 49-140, 164-203 |
| Blacks--Law school | f. 1, 2 |
| Blacks--Restrictive covenants | f. 14 |
| Blacks--St. Louis, Missouri | f. 14 |
| Blacks--Suffrage | f. 46 |
| Brinkley, Andrew | f. 15-20 |
| Brodsky, Joseph R. | f. 46 |
| Brownell, Herbert, Jr. | f. 190-202 |
| Burbank v. Bauer | f. 15-20 |
| Burbank, David T. | f. 15-20 |
| Busing (School integration) | f. 204-239 |
| Byrd, Marrian Timmerman | f. 150-153 |
| Catholic Church | f. 204-262 |
| Caudle, Theron Lamar | f. 3, 4, 154, 155 |
| Caulfield, Henry Stewart (1873-1966) | f. 141 |
| Chaffee, Zechariah, Jr. | f. 166, 167 |
| Chubb, Robert Walston (1894- ) | f. 43-45 |
| Church and education | f. 204-262 |
| Church schools--Finance | f. 45, 204-239 |
| Church--Government policy | f. 3, 4, 204-262 |
| Clark, Boyle G. (1906-1963) | f. 204-239 |
| Clarke, James W. | f. 204-239 |
| Cohen, Richard | f. 204-239 |
| Communism--United States | f. 1, 2, 46, 49-140, 190-202, 284-286 |
| Communist Party--United States | f. 1, 2, 46, 49-140, 190-202, 284-286 |
| Connelly, Matthew J. | f. 3, 4, 154, 155 |
| Constitutional law | f. 1-203, 257, 258, 302, v. 1 |
| Contempt of court | f. 27, 28 |
| Coughlan, Ralph | f. 27, 28 |
| Country Day School, St. Louis, Missouri | f. 265-295 |
| Dahlberg, Edwin T. | f. 204-239 |
| Deering, Elbridge M. | f. 21-26 |
| Dennis, Eugene | f. 46 |
| Deportation | f. 284-286 |
| Donnell, Forrest C. (1884-1980) | f. 190-202 |
| Donnelly, Phil M. (1891-1961) | f. 1, 2 |
| Dowd, Edward L. (1918- ) | f. 3, 4 |
| Duemler, George E. | f. 141 |
| Eagleton, Mark D. (1894-1970) | f. 43-45 |
| Equal Pay for equal work | f. 29-31 |
| Esquire, Inc. | f. 142 |
| Estate settlements | f. 299-301 |
| Federal Employee Security Program | f. 190-202 |
| Fitzpatrick, Daniel Robert (1891-1969) | f. 27, 28 |
| Forster, Clifford | f. 1, 2, 29-31 |
| Fraenkel, Osmond K. | f. 3, 4, 164-203 |
| Franklin County Schools | f. 204-239 |
| Freedom of the press | f. 1, 2, 27, 28, 142 |
| Friedman, Al | f. 49-140 |
| Gaines, Lloyd L. | f. 1, 2 |
| Gerald, James Edward (1906- ) | f. 1, 2 |
| Graybar Electric Company, Incorporated | f. 144 |
| Guze, Samuel B. | f. 3, 4 |
| Hanke, Harold C. | f. 1, 2 |
| Hannegan, Robert E. (1903-1949) | f. 142 |
| Harris, Abbie | f. 279 |
| Harris, Roberta L. | f. 283-297, 302, v. 1 |
| Harris, Victor B. (1909-1960) | f. 1-303, v. 1 |
| Harris, Victor B. (1909-1960) | f. 284, v. 1 (pictorial image) |
| Hays, Arthur Garfield (1881-1954) | f. 1, 2 |
| Hewlett, J. Edwin | f. 204-239 |
| Hibbler, Francis | f. 29-31 |
| Hoepner, Mary E. | f. 302 |
| Holt, Ivan Lee (1886-1967) | f. 204-239 |
| House Committee on Un-American Activities | f. 3, 4, 49-140, 166, 167, 190-203 |
| Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 | f. 284-286 |
| Industrial Relations | f. 144 |
| Internal security | f. 190-202 |
| International Association of Machinists | f. 3, 4, 49-140 |
| Jesuits | f. 204-262 |
| Joslyn, L. D. (Dan) (1907- ) | f. 15-20, 47, 265-295 |
| Kelly, Frank | f. 21-26 |
| Kintzele, Peter | f. 204-239, 257-258 |
| Kreiger, Seymour | f. 49-140 |
| Labor unions | f. 3, 4, 32-42, 49-140, 144, 157-163, 189 |
| Labor unions--Law and legislation | f. 3, 4, 157-163 |
| Laheist, Marion | f. 204-239 |
| Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, St. Louis, Missouri | f. 204-239 |
| Lawyers | f. 1-203, 257-258, 302, v. 1 |
| Lecana, Frank | f. 15-20 |
| Levy, Herbert Monte | f. 3-4 |
| Lowell, C. Stanley | f. 204-239 |
| Lutheran Church | f. 204-239 |
| Mary Institute, St. Louis | f. 265-295 |
| Mayne, John C. | f. 204-239 |
| Meek, Harold Tecumseh | f. 1-2 |
| Melendes, Edward | f. 15-20 |
| Mendez, Miguel | f. 47 |
| Methodist Church | f. 204-239 |
| Mexico--Description & travel | f. 265-295 |
| Mill Creek Valley Redevelopment Project | f. 204-239, 246-258 |
| Miller, Franklin | f. 27-28 |
| Mississippi--Blacks--Suffrage | f. 46 |
| Missouri Baptist Association | f. 204-239 |
| Missouri Press Association | f. 1-2 |
| Missouri State Board of Education | f. 204-239 |
| Missouri, DeSoto | f. 21-26 |
| Missouri, Dunklin County | f. 47 |
| Missouri, Franklin County. Consolidated School District #2 | f. 150-153 |
| Missouri, Franklin County. Sullivan High School | f. 150-153 |
| Missouri, Scott County--Schools | f. 204-239 |
| Missouri, St. Louis | f. 1-303, v. 1 |
| Missouri, St. Louis, Black Law School | f. 1-2 |
| Missouri, St. Louis, Compton Heights Association | f. 302 |
| Missouri, St. Louis, International Association of Machinists, District 9 | f. 3, 4 |
| Missouri, St. Louis, Mill Creek Valley | f. 204-239, 246-258 |
| Missouri, St. Louis, Police | f. 15-20, 43-45 |
| Missouri, St. Louis, Restrictive Covenants | f. 1-2, 14, 302 |
| Missouri, St. Louis, School Board Election, 1937 | f. 141 |
| Missouri, Washington County | f. 21-26 |
| Missouri, Washington County--Schools | f. 150-153 |
| Missouri. Board of Education |
|
| Mobley, Tom B. | f. 47 |
| Model State Service Law | f. 156 |
| Morris, Joe | f. 21-26 |
| Morris, Susie | f. 29, 31 |
| Mundt-Ferguson Bill | f. 3, 4, 190-202 |
| Mundt-Nixon Subversive Control Act | f. 165, 190-202 |
| National Conference of Christians & Jews | f. 204-239 |
| National Lawyers Guild | f. 164-203 |
| Nations, Caroline G. | f. 204-239 |
| Neighbors, Charles A. | f. 204-239 |
| Neuhoff, Ralph R. | f. 204-239 |
| Parker, Bessie B. Raffety | f. 145-149 |
| Preisler, Paul W. | f. 141 |
| Prisoner rights | f. 48 |
| Private schools, Finance | f. 204-239 |
| Protestants & Other Americans United for Separation of Church & State | f. 204-262 |
| Public education | f. 150-153 |
| Public Meetings | f. 43-45 |
| Pulitzer Publishing Company | f. 27-28 |
| Punishment | f. 48 |
| Race discrimination | f. 29-31 |
| Raffety, George Hunter | f. 145-149 |
| Rankin, John E. (1882-1960) | f. 46 |
| Reese, Ben H, | f. 27-28 |
| Representative government & representation | f. 46 |
| Restrictive covenants | f. 1, 2, 14, 302 |
| Richards, Stephen | f. 21-26 |
| Scarlett, William (1883-1973) | f. 204-239, 295 |
| Second Presbyterian Church, St. Louis | f. 204-239 |
| Segregation in education | f. 143 |
| Sexton, F. L. | f. 150-153 |
| Silberstein, Robert J. | f. 190-202 |
| Smith, Luther Ely, Sr. (1873-1951) | f. 1, 2, 29-31, 142 |
| Spencer, George A. (1906- ) | f. 242 |
| St. Louis Civil Liberties Committee | f. 1-14, 15-20, 43-45 |
| St. Louis Newspaper Guild | f. 27, 28 |
| St. Louis Post Dispatch | f. 27, 28 |
| St. Louis University, St. Louis | f. 204-262 |
| Steele, Ivan W. | f. 48 |
| Stone, Kimbrough (1875-1958) | f. 21-26 |
| Strikes & lockouts | f. 144 |
| Sullivan High School, Franklin County, MO | f. 150-153 |
| Teachers Federation of St. Louis and St. Louis County, Local No. 420 |
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| Teachers, Married |
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| Tool and Die Makers Union, Lodge #688 |
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| U.S. Court of Appeals, Washington, D. C. |
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| U.S. Medical Center, Springfield, MO |
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| U.S. Postal Service |
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| U.S. Postmaster General, Authority |
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| U.S. Supreme Court |
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| University of Missouri |
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| Veterans |
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