William I. Aitken, 1896-1978 [RG3714.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID



RG3714.AM:  William I. Aitken, 1896-1978



Papers:  1932-1978, mostly 1932-1969

Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska:  Lawyer, civic leader

Size:  0.25 cu. ft., 1 box



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE



Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1896, William I. Aitken attended the University of Nebraska and Harvard Law School, where he received his law degree in 1921. After returning to Lincoln, Aitken started the law firm of Woods and Aitken with co-founder Thomas C. Woods, Sr. In 1974, the Lincoln Bar Association honored him for his more than 50 years of practice. Aitken held many positions throughout his career including director, vice president, and general counsel of Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Co., director of Woodmen Accident and Life Co., University of Nebraska Foundation trustee, director and vice president of the Lincoln Foundation, and director of the National Bank of Commerce Trust and Savings. He was also the director and president of the University Club and the Country Club of Lincoln, served as a director of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and was a member and vice president of the Water Advisory Board. William I. Aitken died in Lincoln on July 4, 1978. He was survived by his wife and three children.



SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE



The collection consists mostly of testimonials written by William I. Aitken upon the retirement or death of various community leaders, business leaders, and political figures around Lincoln, Nebraska. Some of the people represented include University of Nebraska Chancellor, Samuel Avery, District Court Judge, James Donohoe, Supreme Court Judge, Leonard Flansburg, and Mayor of Lincoln, Clark Jeary. Also included in the collection are an address by Aitken on Social Security legislation, and a folder of photocopied obituaries for Aitken.



DESCRIPTION



Box 1

Folder




    1. Allen, Thomas Stinson (1865-1945), memorial booklet

    1. Avery, Samuel (1865-1936), memorial resolution

    1. Bates, Harry Cole (1891-1948), memorial resolution

    1. Bourke, Leonard K. (1898-1946), memorial booklet

    1. Donohoe, James A. (1877-1956), memorial booklet

    1. Everett, Harry Harding (1875-1949), memorial booklet

    1. Ferguson, Myrtle Likes, tribute, 1968

    1. Flansburg, Leonard A. (1882-1957), memorial booklet, etc.

    1. Hale, Merle M. (1902- ), tribute

    1. Hansen, Elmer M. (1893- ), memorial resolution

    1. Holmes, George W. (1880-1965), memorial resolution

    1. Jeary, Clark (1892-1959), memorial resolution

    1. Munger, Thomas C. (1861-1941), memorial resolution

    1. Potter, Herbert W. (1889- ), tribute, 1967

    1. Putney, William W. (1893-1969), memorial resolution

    1. Rose, Halleck Fruit (1863-1932), memorial booklet

    1. Rose, William B. (1862-1946), memorial booklet

    1. Spangler, C.E. (1871-1943), memorial booklet

    1. Steinhart, Morton (1889- ), tribute, 1967

    1. Talbot, A.R. (1859-1944), memorial booklet

    1. Ward, C. Lauer (1910-1958), memorial resolution

    1. Wheeler, Hiland H. (1889-1952), memorial resolution

    1. Woods, Henry C. (1895- ), tribute, 1967

    1. Address, ìSome Aspects of Social Security Legislation,î 1937

    1. Obituaries for William I. Aitken



 



ADDED ENTRIES:



Lawyers–Nebraska

Lincoln, Neb. Social Life and Customs

Allen, Thomas Stinson, 1865-1945

Avery, Samuel, 1865-1936

Bates, Harry Cole, 1891-1948

Bourke, Leonard K., 1898-1946

Donohoe, James A., 1877-1956

Everett, Harry Harding, 1875-1949

Ferguson, Myrtle Likes

Flansburg, Leonard A., 1882-1957

Hale, Merle M., 1902-

Hansen, Elmer M., 1893-

Holmes, George W., 1880-1965

Jeary, Clark, 1892-1959

Munger, Thomas C., 1861-1941

Potter, Herbert W., 1889-

Putney, William W., 1893-1969

Rose, Halleck Fruit, 1863-1932

Rose, William B., 1862-1946

Spangler, C.E., 1871-1943

Steinhart, Morton, 1889-

Talbot, A.R., 1859-1944

Ward, C. Lauer, 1910-1958

Wheeler, Hiland H., 1889-1952

Woods, Henry C., 1895-



 



03-07-2006   TMM/tmm

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Massacre Canyon Oral History and Archeology Project

The Massacre Canyon Oral History and Archeology Project

Lest We Forget:  The Lynching of Will Brown, Omaha’s 1919 Race Riot

Lest We Forget: The Lynching of Will Brown, Omaha’s 1919 Race Riot

Portraits of Omaha’s 1898 Indian Congress

Portraits of Omaha’s 1898 Indian Congress

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.
Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.