Val (Frederick Valdemar Erastus) Peterson, 1903-1983 [RG2386.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG2386.AM: Val (Frederick Valdemar Erastus) Peterson, 1903-1983

Papers: 1942-1977, n.d.
Oakland, Burt County, Neb.: Former Nebraska Governor
Size: 6.0 cu.ft.; 6 boxes

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Val (Frederick Valdemar Erastus) Peterson was born in Oakland, Nebraska, on July 18, 1903, the son of Henry C. and Hermanda (Swanberg) Peterson. He graduated from Wayne State College in 1927 and received an MA degree from the University of Nebraska in 1931, taking additional graduate study the next two years. He married Elizabeth Howells Pleak on June 6, 1929.

Peterson coached athletics and taught government and history in Nebraska high schools from 1925-1930 and was superintendent of the Elgin public schools from 1933-1939. He published the Elgin Review from 1936-1946, and served as secretary to Nebraska Governor, Dwight Griswold in 1941 and 1942. Peterson was elected three times as Governor of Nebraska on the Republican ticket serving from 1947 to 1953. From 1953-1957 he was administrative assistant with cabinet rank to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. During this time he was the Federal Civil Defense Administrator in charge of all disaster relief activities, and presided over White House governors’ and mayors’ conferences. He was named ambassador to Denmark in 1957 and served in that position until 1961 and later served as ambassador to Finland, 1969-1973. In Finland he hosted the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) in 1973.

Val Peterson has received numerous awards and citations for distinguished service in government and in the Air Force during World War II and has served on boards of numerous corporations and professional and fraternal organizations.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The materials in this collection were transferred from Val Peterson’s gubernatorial records held in RG001, SG33. These materials consist of post-gubernatorial correspondence and other files not officially related to Peterson’s time as Governor.

See the photo component [RG2386.PH] for related images. See also the NSHS Library Catalog and the Nebraska History index for published materials by and about Val Peterson.

INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

1. A 1961-1966
2. Adams County Sanitary & Improvement Dist. #1
3. Air Force Association
4. Ak-Sar-Ben
5. Ambassadorship 1975
6. American Retail Federation
7. B 1961-1966
8. B 1970s
9. Bank Records
10. Behlen Manufacturing Co. 1961-1962 – Fallout Shelters
11. Behlen Manufacturing Co. – Nebraska Centennial Coliseum, 1963-1965
12. Bouges (Oakland Independent) 1961-1966
13. Boy Scouts of America Relief Administration
14. C 1961-1966
15. Christian Record Braille Foundation
16. Council of Former Governors, Inc. 1976
17. Curtis, Carl T. (Sen., US)
18. D 1961-1966
19. Danaher, Earl – Insurance Complaint
20. Danish Brotherhood in America
21. Ambassador to Denmark
22. Denmark/Sweden
23. Denmark – Crowe Letters, 1974
24. Durham, C.W. 1962-
25. E 1963-1966
26. Eisenhower, Dwight D.
27. Election Results – 1964
28. Election – 1966
29. Elections – Federal Election Commission, 1975
30. Expenses – Automobile
31. F 1961-1966
32. Fairbury Jr. College
33. Faulkner, Edwin J. (Woodmen Accident & Life) 1961-1966
34. Finland, Ambassador to
35. First National Bank, Hastings, 1963-1966
36. Ford, Gerald R.
37. G 1961-1966
38. Goodman, Thomas Hill, 1961-1965

Box 2
Folder

1. K 1961-1963
2. K 1964-1966
3. L 1961-1963
4. L 1964-1966
5. Letters answered and outgoing, 1974
6. Letters answered and outgoing, 1975
7. Letters answered and outgoing, 1975-1976
8. M 1961-1962
9. M 1963-1964
10. M 1965-1966
11. M-1 Rifle (Richard D. Lesh), 1967
12. Mc 1961-1963
13. Mc 1964-1965
14. McDonald Foundation: By Laws
15. McDonald Foundation: Executive Minutes, 1959-1960
16. McDonald Foundation Minutes, 1963
17. N 1961-1963
18. N 1964-1966
19. Natural Resources District 1969-1974 Lower & Upper Elkhorn
20. Neb. Congressman for Val Peterson for Ambassador, 1976
21. Norman Nordstrand, 1961-1964
22. Norman Nordstrand, 1965
23. O 1961-1966
24. P 1961-1962
25. P 1963-1964
26. P 1965-1966
27. Person to Person
28. Peterson Family: Fred Kern, 1961-1965
29. Peterson Family: William Lawn T., 1961-1962
30. Peterson Family: Carl Peterson, 1962-1965
31. Peterson Family: Evan Peterson,
32. Peterson Family: Fred Peterson, 1963-1965

Box 3
Folder

1. Fred Peterson Railway Commission, 3rd District
2. Personal, 1962-1965
3. Personal, 1965-1966
4. Political, 1963
5. Political, 1964-1965
6. Politiken, “Good Bye Val,” 1961
7. Q 1962
8. R 1961-1962
9. R 1963-1964
10. R 1965-1966
11. Redpath Bureau (CE Backman), 1963-1965
12. Republican NTL Convention, 1972
13. Earl Reutzel, 1961-1965
14. Nelson Rockefeller, 1975-1976
15. S 1961-1962
16. S 1963-1964
17. S 1965-1966
18. Sanitary and Improvement District, 1966-1967
19. Speaking Engagements Accepted, 1965
20. Speaking Engagements Accepted, 1966, Jan.-Feb.
21. Speaking Engagements Accepted, 1966, Mar.
22. Speaking Engagements Accepted, 1966, Apr.-May
23. Speaking Engagements Not Accepted, 1966, Feb.-Mar.
24. Speaking Engagements Not Accepted, 1966, Apr.-May
25. T 1961-1963
26. T 1964-1966
27. Telephone Conversations
28. Tiemann, 1966
29. Visit to Turkey
30. U 1961-1966
31. V 1961-1966
32. W 1961-1962
33. W 1963-1964
34. W 1965-1966
35. Waste, Animal: Nebraska Management Project
36. Water Preservation Plans, 1963
37. Wayne State College, Public Affairs Institute Info, 1975
38. George Wright, 1961-1965
39. X-Y-Z 1961-1966

Box 4
Folder

1. AASCU Announcement, 1976
2. AASCU Clippings, 1976
3. Awards & Letterhead
4. Biographical Sketch
5. Cards & Plates
6. Certificate of Election: Director Lower Elkhorn at Large NRD
7. Congressional Record: Civil Defense Program, 1961
8. Bob Considine Series on Think Tanks
9. Diet by Dr. Paul Charlton
10. Finland
11. Finland Booklets
12. Finland, General
13. Finland: Newspaper Articles and Personal
14. Finland: S.A.L.T. Newspaper Clippings
15. Finland Speeches: 1958-1959
16. Foreign Newspaper Clippings
17. Governors Mansion, General Material
18. Mental Health Project Grant Application
19. Middle East Conference: Wayne State College, 1974
20. Military Records, 1942-1945
21. Military Records, 1945-1955
22. Military Records, 1955-1957
23. Military Records, 1961
24. Military Records, 1962-1963
25. University of Nebraska Budget Controversy: Gov Exon Newspaper Clippings, 1971
26. Passports
27. Personal, Federal Government Service
28. Political, Finland
29. Resume, 1968-1976
30. Retirement
31. American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Awards Luncheon
32. Speeches: Democratic Administration, 1963-1965
33. Speech: General
34. Speech: 1968 GOP Convention
35. Speech: Natural Law and Scientific Method
36. Speeches: Nebraska’s Strengths and Weaknesses
37. Speech Note cards
38. Speech: The Open Society
39. Speeches: A Plan for Action: Governor’s Game Plan
40. Republican Dinner, Columbus, 1965
41. Speech Titles
42. Tribute to Fred Seaton
43. Speech: Wealthy Countries Get Richer – Poor Countries Get Poorer
44. Speech: Wesleyans Great Teaching Program
45. Who’s Who Papers

Box 5
Folder

1. Daily Log, 1961-1962
2. Daily Log, 1963-1964
3. Daily Log, 1965-1966
4. Daily Log, 1968
5. Daily Log, 1975-1976
6. Daily Log, 1977
7. Diary, 1963
8. Diary, 1964
9. Certificate of Secretary to the Gov.
10. Civil Defense, 1956-1957
11. Paper on Val Peterson
12. Briefing Book on Finland
13. Finland Fact Book
14. Helsinki Consultations
15. Consolidated Reports on FCDA Programs
16. Economic Strengths of NE
17. Address Book

Box 6
Folder

1. Ha 1961-1966
2. He-Hu
3. Hardin, Clifford M.
4. Hastings State Hospital
5. Helprin, Dorothy
6. Honorariums
7. Hruska, Roman L.
8. Hump Pilots Association, 1970-1972
9. I
10. Insurance
11. International Christian Leadership
12. International Club of Washington
13. International Platform Assn.
14. J
15. Legislative Council
16. Legislative – Nebraska
17. Lutheran Church
18. Martin, Dave (M.C.)
19. McDonald Foundation
20. McDonald (J.M.) Company
21. Media
22. Memberships
23. Mid-America Mutual Fund, Inc.
24. Nebraska Association For 4-H Development
25. Nebraska Heart Association
26. Nebraska State Centennial Commission
27. Nebraska State Offices
28. Real Estate – Florida/Tennessee
29. Real Estate – Hastings
30. Real Estate – Wayne, Nebraska
31. Republican Central Committee
32. Republican National Convention, 1972
33. Sod House Society
34. Taxation
35. Taxes
36. Nebraska Tax Research Council, Inc.
37. US Air Force Reserve Center
38. US Civil Service Commission
39. US Congress – Congrats to Members
40. US Dept. of Defense
41. GSA – National Archives
42. United State – State Dept.
43. University of Nebraska
44. Board of Regents Campaign, 1961-1962
45. University of Nebraska – Board of Regents, 1962-1963
46. University of Nebraska – Board of Regents, 1964
47. University of Nebraska – Board of Regents, 1965
48. University of Nebraska – Trip to Turkey, 1965
49. University of Nebraska – Board of Regents, 1966
50. Board of Regents Minutes, 1963-1965
51. Veterans of Foreign Wars
52. Water Resources
53. Wayne State College (Bressler, John T., Jr.)
54. Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial

Subject headings:

Ambassadors — United States
Diplomatic and Consular Service, American — Denmark
Diplomatic and Consular Service, American — Finland
McDonald Foundation
Peterson, Val (Frederick Valdemar Erastus), 1903-1983
Peterson family
Politics — Nebraska
University of Nebraska

TMM/bl 12-2007
Encoded TMM 03-07-2011