Schwabe, Max (1905-1983), Papers, 1927-1971 (C4019)
.8 linear feet and 1 scrapbook
INTRODUCTION
The papers were created by Max Schwabe, who served the Second Congressional District of Missouri in the United
States House of Representatives from 1943 to 1948. The collection includes political files, newspaper clippings,
published materials, photographs, and a scrapbook that outlines Schwabe's political career.
DONOR INFORMATION
Schwabe's daughter, Maxine Lusk, donated the papers to the State Historical Society of Missouri on March 31, 2000
(Accession No. 5930).
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Max Schwabe was born in Columbia, Missouri on December 6, 1905. A lifelong resident of Boone County, Schwabe began his career as an insurance salesman and farmer. Interested in political trends, Schwabe earned his bachelor's
degree in political science from the University of Missouri in 1942. He believed the time was right for a Republican
to win Missouri's predominately Democratic Second Congressional District and filed as a candidate in the 1942
election. Schwabe won by 566 votes, and became the first Republican to represent the district since 1920.
Schwabe served in Congress from 1943 to 1948, and was a member of the Education and Labor Committee (1943-1948), Flood Control Committee (1943-1948), and Accounts Committee (1945-1948). When his half-brother, George
Blaine Schwabe (R-OK) was elected to Congress in 1944, they became the first brothers to serve in the House of
Representatives since 1851.
Wary of large bureaucracies, Schwabe was against much of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal legislation
including the Office of Price Administration (OPA), farm subsidies, and nationalized healthcare. While in Congress,
Schwabe proposed an amendment to the Constitution to change the procedures for the ratification of treaties in 1945. He also helped draft the Hartley Bill, the House's version of what would become the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947.
Schwabe ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 1948, 1950, and 1952. After his congressional career, Schwabe
served as the Missouri State Director in the Farmers Home Administration, part of the U. S. Department of
Agriculture from 1953 to 1961. He died on July 31, 1983.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Max Schwabe papers consist of political files, a scrapbook, newspaper clippings, published materials,
and photographs which primarily document Schwabe's time as Congressmen during the 1940s. The bulk of
the collection dates from 1938 to 1950. The papers are arranged into four series: Political Files, Scrapbook,
Published Materials, and Photographs.
The Political Files series is arranged alphabetically and consists of requests for government materials from
constituents, form letters, Schwabe's 1943 Certificate of Election, district voter charts, invitations to
Republican and White House functions, census bureau forms, a guest register, and Missouri Republican
committee assignments. The series gives insight into Schwabe's views, how he prepared for campaigns, and
interacted with his constituents.
The Scrapbook series contains one volume of clippings from various newspapers in Schwabe's district. The
scrapbook contains information on Schwabe's Congressional career, ideology, and stance on a large range of
national issues important to the state of Missouri.
The Published Materials series is arranged alphabetically and consists of a yearbook, government manual,
and a magazine. The series provides information on how Schwabe was perceived nationally, as well as the
views of his daughter, June Schwabe. The Congressional Club is mentioned in an oral history interview the
Truman Presidential Library did with Max's wife, Georgia May Schwabe, concerning her husband's political
career.
The Photographs series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The photographs are almost all black and
white, and show Schwabe at different functions, visiting with constituents, and with his family.
FOLDER LIST
| f. 1 | Campaign, 1946 |
| f. 2 | Census Bureau, c.1943 |
| f. 3 | Certificate of Election, 1943 |
| f. 4 | Congressional Record Mailing List Requests, December, 1942-1947 |
| f. 5 | Congressional Record Mailing List Requests, 1947-1948 |
| f. 6 | Correspondence and Invitations, 1943-1948 |
| f. 7 | County Chairmen, 1945-1948 |
| f. 8-9 | District Voter Charts, c.1947-1948 |
| f. 10 | Governor John Bricker, 1944 |
| f. 11 | Guest Register, 1943-1948 |
| f. 12 | Missouri Republican - State, County and Congressional Committees, 1946-1948 |
| f. 13 | Newspaper Clippings, 1944-1948 |
| f. 14 | Requests for Baby Books (Doctors), 1946-1948 |
| f. 15 | Requests for Congressional Directories, 1945-1948 |
| f. 16 | Scrapbook, 1927-1950 |
| f. 17 | The Congressional Club Yearbook, 1947 |
| f. 18 | Essentials of Missouri Government, 1953-1954 |
| f. 19 | Life Magazine, 13 September 1943 |
| f. 20 | Life Magazine, 1943 |
| f. 21 | Political Sign, November 1952 |
| f. 22 | Political / Social Events, 1938-1947 |
| f. 23 | Portraits of Max Schwabe, c.1942-1948 |
| f. 24 | Quizspiration, 21 June 1947 |
| f. 25 | Schwabe Family, 1944, 1971 |
| f. 26 | Schwabe Farm, unknown |
| f. 27 | Schwabe with Constituents, 1940s |
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
| Addresses and essays | f. 20, (pictorial image) |
| American Agricultural Editors Association | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| American Mining Congress, 1947 | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Automobiles--Touring, 1943 | f. 20, (pictorial image) |
| Bangham, Walter N. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Benson, R. C. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Boats and boating | f. 20, (pictorial image) |
| Books--Correspondence | f. 14 |
| Bradshaw, William L. (1896-1964) | f. 4 |
| Brandt, E. G. | f. 4 |
| Brandt, John | f. 4 |
| Bricker, John (1893-1986) | f. 6, 10 |
| Briggs, Frank A. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Missouri State Legislative Board | f. 4 |
| Campaign literature, 1946 | f. 1 |
| Certificate--Election, 1943--U. S. House of Representatives | f. 3 |
| Chambers, Max | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Chambers, Mrs. Max | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Claus, H. F. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Collins, John M. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Communist Party--United States | f. 1 |
| Congress of Industrial Organizations, Political Action Committee | f. 16 |
| Congressional club--Yearbooks, 1947 | f. 17 |
| Congressional Record--Correspondence | f. 4, 5 |
| Davis, John C. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Dawes, Holmes G. (1888- ) | f. 4 |
| Deering, Ferdie (1910-1993) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Dewey, Thomas E. (1902-1971) | f. 6, 16 |
| Dinners and dining | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Dinsford, W. L. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Domestic animals | f. 20, 26, (pictorial image) |
| Dunk, Milton R. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Eaton, David W. | f. 4 |
| Election, 1944--U .S. House of Representatives | f. 16 |
| Election, 1946--U. S. House of Representatives | f. 16 |
| Election, 1947-1948--Missouri | f. 8-9, 16 |
| Election, 1948--U. S. House of Representatives | f. 16 |
| Farm life--Missouri | f. 26, (pictorial image) |
| Farm life--Missouri | f. 16 |
| Farm tenancy, 1943 | f. 20, (pictorial image) |
| Farm tenancy, 1943 | f. 16 |
| Federal aid to education | f. 16 |
| Floods--Control | f. 4, 16 |
| Food supply, 1940s | f. 16 |
| Gehrean, James Edward (1883- ) | f. 4 |
| Griffis, C. O. | f. 4 |
| Grinnell, Milon (1896-1984) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Hall, A. James | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Hall, Herbert W. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Harman, Kenyon G. (1888-1975) | f. 4 |
| "Harvester Farm," Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, Illinois, 1940s | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Hervey, Cameron | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Hunt, Bernard C. | f. 4 |
| International Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL, 1940s | f. 16 |
| International Harvester Company | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Invitation cards | f. 6 |
| Jenks, F. W. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Klinefelter, Howard Emanuel (1902-1956) | f. 4 |
| Lassetter, W.C. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Leach, Corl A. (1882-1972) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Lloyd, Robert | f. 4 |
| Lohr, Lenox (1891-1968) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Lusk, Mary K. | f. 25, (pictorial image) |
| Lusk, Maxine Schwabe | f. 25, (pictorial image) |
| Lusk, Sally | f. 25, (pictorial image) |
| Lusk, Ted | f. 25, (pictorial image) |
| McMunn, Earl W. (1910-1993) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Military service, Compulsory, 1940s | f. 16 |
| Missouri Farm Bureau Federation | f. 4 |
| Missouri Republican Party, County Chairmen--Political activity, 1945-1948 | f. 7 |
| Missouri Republican Party, State, County and Congressional Committees - Political activity | f. 12 |
| Missouri State Legislative Board, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen | f. 4 |
| Missouri, Tuscumbia, 1943 | f. 20, (pictorial image) |
| Moser, L. G. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Neel, L. R. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Nelson, Will L., Jr. | f. 1 |
| Nelson, William L. (1875-1946) | f. 16 |
| New Deal, Opposition to | f. 1, 4-5, 16 |
| Ninabuck, W. L. (1889-1967) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Peckels, Michael F. (1900-1980) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Periodicals, 1943 | f. 19 |
| Political conventions, Missouri | f. 13 |
| Politicians--Ohio | f. 6, 10 |
| Politics and government | f. 16 |
| Postal service | f. 20, (pictorial image) |
| Public opinion polls, Missouri, 1946 | f. 1 |
| Radio programs | f. 24, (pictorial image) |
| Reber, Norman F. (1909-1998) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Reconstruction (1939-1951) | f. 16 |
| Republican National Committee | f. 1 |
| Republican National Convention, 1948 | f. 6 |
| Republican Party | f. 1, 12, 16 |
| Ridgeway, Major George | f. 13 |
| Riley, Russell L. | f. 4 |
| Runnells, D. L. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Salter, J.T. | f. 6, (pictorial image) |
| Salter, J.T. | f. 6 |
| Sampier, Jack (1919-1979) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Sanders, Paul | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Schnatmeier, Omar (1908-1993) | f. 4 |
| Schwabe, Georgia May (1906-1995) | f. 25, (pictorial image) |
| Schwabe, Georgia May (1906-1995) | f. 6 |
| Schwabe, June | f. 18 |
| Schwabe, June | f. 25, (pictorial image) |
| Schwabe, Max (1905-1983) | f. 6, 20, 22-27, (pictorial image) |
| Schwabe, Max (1905-1983) | f. 1, 3-6, 13-16, 19 |
| Scrapbooks | f. 16 |
| Sheppard, C. W. | f. 4 |
| Schwabe, George B. (1886-1952) | f. 13, 16 |
| Schwabe, George B. (1886-1952) | f. 25, (pictorial image) |
| Signs and signboards, 1952 | f. 21, (pictorial image) |
| Soderstrom, E. A. | f. 4 |
| Strohm, John | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Subsidies, 1940s | f. 16 |
| Summers, J.S. | f. 14 |
| Sunflower Agency, Kansas City, 1927 | f. 16 |
| Swan, M. F. | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| U.S. Office of Price Administration | f. 1, 16 |
| von Rothkirch, Ed | f. 4 |
| Wetenhall, J. Huber (1901-1987) | f. 22, (pictorial image) |
| Wickham, Jack (1907-1990) | f. 20, (pictorial image) |
| Williams, J.C. | f. 4 |
| Williamson, John Sam | f. 4 |
|