Scope and Content Note
The papers of George William Norris (1861-1944) span the years 1864-1954, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1893-1944. The collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, speeches, notebooks, subject files, printed matter, scrapbooks, maps, charts, photographs, biographical material, and memorabilia pertaining mainly to Nebraska and national politics during Norris's career as a judge and later United States representative and senator. The focus is on his tenure in the Senate as a Republican (1912-1936) and as an Independent (1936-1942). Included are files on conservation, development of river valleys, Norris's political campaigns, his role in the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority, his stand on both world wars, and his services as chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
The collection is organized into two parts. Part I is composed entirely of Office Files spanning mainly his senatorial career. Part II consists of seven series: General Correspondence, Letterpress Books, Pensions File, Post Office File, Legal File, Scrapbooks, and Personal File.