Senate Papers

Senate Papers of Lyndon B. Johnson, 1949-1961

- Available for research
- Less than 1% digitized
- See all digitized items from this collection
- 33 series

The collection includes papers accumulated by Lyndon B. Johnson while he served in the United States Senate from 1949 to 1961. It also includes documents that were brought forward from earlier years when he served in the U. S. House of Representatives. Most of the papers originated from Johnson's "Texas Office" on Capitol Hill, and reflect Johnson's role as a Senator from Texas. Some of the files also originated from the offices Johnson maintained in Austin, Texas, during his political campaigns, the period following his heart attack in 1955, and when the Congress was not in session. These files include extensive correspondence with his Texas constituents about legislation, appointments and nominations, public works, foreign affairs, domestic policy, and constituent's problems with the federal bureaucracy.

Lyndon Johnson as Senator

Lyndon B. Johnson was elected to the Senate on November 2, 1948, for the term beginning January 3, 1949. He was reelected in 1954 and again in 1960. He served as majority whip, 1951-1953; minority leader, 1953-1955; and majority leader, 1955-1961. He was nominated for the office of Vice President of the United States by the Democratic Party at the convention in Los Angeles in 1960, and was elected Vice President on November 8, 1960. He resigned from the Senate on January 3, 1961.

While in the Senate, Johnson served as the chairman of the Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, 1958-1960, and chairman of the Preparedness Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, 1950-1960. He served as a member of the Armed Services Committee, 1949-1960; the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, 1949-1954; the Finance Committee, 1955; the Appropriations Committee, 1956-1958; the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, 1952-1953; and the Board of Visitors to the Coast Guard Academy, 1952.

For complete collection and series descriptions, visit the National Archives Catalog. [NAID: 17408917]

Jump to:
1. Card Indexes of Correspondence, 1948-1953
2. Case and Project Files, 1953-1957
3. Case Files, 1958-1961
4. Christmas Cards, 1958-1960
5. Chronological Files, 9/1958-1/1961
6. Correspondence Files, 1949-3/1953
7. Departmental Files, 1949-1953
8. Files Relating to Lyndon Johnson's Senate Committee Assignments
9. Files Relating to Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Scott, Sherwood and Brindley Foundation, 1950-1956
10. Files Relating to the Senate Democratic Leadership and the Democratic Policy Committee
11. General Files, 1958-1/1961
12. General Subject Files
13. Legislative Files, 1949-1960
14. Master File Indexes, 3/1953-1/1961
15. Materials to be Filed
16. Military Case Files, 1949-1953
17. Newspaper Clipping Files, 1949-1961
18. Nominations and Appointments Files
19. Office Files
20. Office Files of George E. Reedy
21. Office Files of Gerald Siegel
22. Office Files of Mrs. Willie Day Taylor
23. Office Files of Solis Horwitz
24. Position Files
25. Public Works Files
26. Publicity Files
27. Sam Houston Johnson Memorandum Files
28. Service Academy Appointment Files, 1948-1961
29. Speech Files
30. Subject Files, 1958-1/1961
31. Texas Congressional Delegation Files
32. Veterans Case Files, 1949-1953
33. Working Files of Mrs. Christine Stugard


1. Card Indexes of Correspondence, 1948-1953

- 20 linear feet
- Available for research
- 0% digitized
- Go to folder title list

This series consists of 3x5 index cards. Each card includes the name and address of a correspondent, his or her county, the date of his or her incoming letter, and the file classification of the correspondence.

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2. Case and Project Files, 1953-1957

- 93 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series includes correspondence from individual Texas constituents, organizations, businesses, and local governmental units about national issues, local federal projects, events, and constituent's problems or interactions with federal agencies.

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3. Case Files, 1958-1961

- 86 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series includes correspondence from individual Texas constituents, organizations, businesses, and local governments about their problems or interactions with federal agencies.

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4. Christmas Cards, 1958-1960

- 3 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series contains Christmas greeting cards. The greeting cards are usually attached to the envelope in which they were mailed. Some cards include letters or notes.

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5. Chronological Files, 9/1958-1/1961

- 0% digitized

This series consists of carbon copies of outgoing correspondence, including letters, some outgoing telegrams, and a few interoffice memorandums from Senator Lyndon B. Johnson's office.

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6. Correspondence Files, 1949-3/1953

- 19 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series contains correspondence, including letters, telegrams, postcards, and memorandums from constituents, officials of the Executive Branch, military personnel, other federal employees, lobbyists, newspaper editors, businesses, civic groups, personal friends, members of Congress, and others.

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7. Departmental Files, 1949-1953

- 32 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series consists primarily of correspondence between Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and his constituents in Texas who were seeking information or assistance from federal government departments and agencies.

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8. Files Relating to Lyndon Johnson's Senate Committee Assignments

- 10 linear feet
-  0% digitized
- Available for research
- Go to folder title list

Senator Johnson was a member of the following standing committees:

81st Congress, 1949-50:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce

82nd Congress, 1951-52:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce

 83rd Congress, 1953-54:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce

 84th Congress, 1955-56:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Finance (1st Session, 1955)
-Committee on Appropriations (2nd Session, 1956)

 85th Congress, 1957-58:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Appropriations
-Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Chairman

86th Congress, 1959-60:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Chairman

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9. Files Relating to Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Scott, Sherwood and Brindley Foundation, 1950-1956

- 1 linear foot
- 0% digitized

This series pertains to Scott and White Memorial Hospital from when the hospital and clinic reorganized from a private corporation to a public service institution and foundation. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson became a member of the Board of Trustees representing the public interest.

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10. Files Relating to the Senate Democratic Leadership and the Democratic Policy Committee

- 14 linear feet
- Available for research
- 0% digitized
- Go to folder title list

The files pertain to Lyndon B. Johnson’s Senate leadership role as the Democratic Majority Whip in 1951 and 1952, Democratic Minority Leader in 1953 and 1954, and Democratic Majority Leader from 1955 to 1961.

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11. General Files, 1958-1/1961

- 8 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series consists primarily of correspondence with Lyndon B. Johnson's Texas constituents.

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12. General Subject Files

- 0% digitized

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13. Legislative Files, 1949-1960

- 41 linear feet
- Available for research
- 0% digitized
- Go to folder title list

The series consists mostly of correspondence with Lyndon B. Johnson’s Texas constituents and
covers a wide range of public relations, legislative, political and administrative topics.

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14. Master File Indexes, 3/1953-1/1961

- 89 linear feet
- Available for research
- 0% digitized
- Go to folder title list

This series consists primarily of peach or salmon colored carbon copies of outgoing letters and interoffice memorandums annotated with the file classification of the incoming constituent correspondence and other correspondence.

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15. Materials to be Filed

- 0% digitized

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16. Military Case Files, 1949-1953

- 35 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series includes correspondence, primarily with Lyndon Johnson's Texas constituents, relating to matters affecting military service personnel; operating, closing or re-activating Texas military installations; establishing reserve officers’ training at Texas schools; civilian defense; and other matters within the purview of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Selective Service, the Corps of Engineers, the National Guard, and the Coast Guard.

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17. Newspaper Clipping Files, 1949-1961

- 21 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series consists of clippings pertaining to the Senate career of Lyndon B. Johnson.

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18. Nominations and Appointments Files

- 1% digitized
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- Go to folder title list

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19. Office Files

- 0% digitized

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20. Office Files of George E. Reedy

- 0% digitized
- Go to folder title list

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21. Office Files of Gerald Siegel

- 0% digitized

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22. Office Files of Mrs. Willie Day Taylor

- 0% digitized

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23. Office Files of Solis Horwitz

- 0% digitized

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24. Position Files

- 0% digitized

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25. Public Works Files

- 0% digitized

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26. Publicity Files

- 0% digitized

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27. Sam Houston Johnson Memorandum Files

- 0% digitized
- Go to folder title list

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28. Service Academy Appointment Files, 1948-1961

- 11 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series contains letters, telegrams, memorandums, printed forms, lists, semiannual grade reports for cadets appointed by Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, card files, and other material related to appointments made by Senator Johnson to the service academies, including the Military Academy at West Point, New York; the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York; and the Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut.

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29. Speech Files

- 0% digitized

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30. Subject Files, 1958-1/1961

- 91 linear feet
- Available for research
- Less than 1% digitized
- See all digitized items from this series
- Go to folder title list

This series consists mostly of correspondence with Lyndon B. Johnson's Texas constituents and covers a wide range of public relations, legislative, political and administrative topics, including office administration; agriculture; armed services, including military installations in Texas; civil rights; commerce, including trade, exports, imports, and transportation; presidential nominations, including those to the judiciary in Texas; education; elections and campaigns; foreign relations; labor; the national budget; natural resources, especially water, gas, and oil; Texas post offices and postmasters; press relations; public works, including dams, reservoirs, parks, and public power; taxes; and, welfare.

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31. Texas Congressional Delegation Files

- 0% digitized

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32. Veterans Case Files, 1949-1953

- 5 linear feet
- 0% digitized

This series includes correspondence and memorandums relating to veterans, veterans’ benefits, and the Veterans Administration.

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33. Working Files of Mrs. Christine Stugard

- 0% digitized

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