ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

ROLAND MEIDINGER PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #1151

DATES: 1952-1986

SIZE: 2.0 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Roland Meidinger Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Roland Meidinger, Jamestown, North Dakota, on August 11, 1987 (Acc.#87- 1558).

ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Roland Meidinger was born in Fredonia, North Dakota, April 15, 1913. Meidinger attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and Business in 1936. Meidinger worked in the fields of teaching, life insurance, banking, and auto sales before founding the R.E. Meidinger Company of Jamestown, a real estate and insurance business, where he served as President. In 1976 Meidinger received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Jamestown College, where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1956-1980.

Meidinger served in the North Dakota Senate for 12 years from 1953-1965, where he was the Senate Majority Floor Leader in 1957, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee from 1957- 1963, Caucus Chairman, 1961 and 1963; and President Pro Tem, 1963. In addition, Meidinger was a Republican National Committeeman for North Dakota from 1963-1968, elected Delegate to North Dakota Constitutional Convention in 1970, where he was appointed Committee Chairman on Education, Natural Resources, and Public Lands. Meidinger served as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for North Dakota from 1972-1976 and also was a member of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education, where he served as President. Meidinger was appointed a member of the North Dakota Legislative Council Constitutional Revision Committee from 1977-1979.

In addition to Meidinger’s political service, he was also a member of multiple state organizations and activities including: member of the Board for Greater North Dakota Association, where he served as President from 1958-1961, organizer of the North Dakota Dairy Show, Director of the North Dakota Water Users’ Association, 1966-1970; member of the North Dakota Higher Education Facilities Commission, 1964-1968; organizer of the Upper Midwest Research and Development Council; Director of the Garrison Conservancy District, 1973-1978; Area Chairman, Ducks Unlimited, 1974-1975; served on Stutsman County Red Cross Board for 12 years, Director of Jamestown Chamber of Commerce, and served on the board of the Central Dakota Nursing Home.

Meidinger’s memberships include: Elks, Masons, Shriners, Jesters, Jamestown Country Club, Rotary (President, 1952), formerly a trustee and present member of administrative board of First United Methodist Church, and the Board of Realtors. Meidinger was selected “Man of the Year” by the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce in 1968 and appointed Commodore in the North Dakota Mythical Navy by Governor Link, “For distinguished service in promoting water resource development,” in December of 1980.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Roland Meidinger Papers consist primarily of correspondence dealing with Senate Bills and other major issues within the Senate from 1953-1961. Further information specifying the purpose of each individual bill is included under the Box and Folder Inventory. The amount of correspondence for each individual bill varies from one bill to the next. Additional materials span the years 1952-1986 and include correspondence with Senator Milton Young, newspaper clippings, and information pertaining to various issues, including the Sale of the State Mill and Elevator, Constitutional Convention, Education, Resources, and Public Lands Commission, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, North Dakota Republican Party Committee, Teacher’s Retirement Laws, Special Education, and the taxation of Cooperatives.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folders:

  1. Resume, 1984
  2. Correspondence: Bills #24-79, 1957-1961
    Bill 24- Game and Fish Funds
    Bill 50- Investment Board Bill
    Bill 51- Economic Development
    Bill 65- Funds for the Exceptional Child
    Bill 66- Teacher Certificates
    Bill 67- School Bonds Voting
    Bill 71- State Income Tax Deductions
    Bill 73- Redistricting of State Political Lines
    Bill 79- Baker's Bill
  3. Correspondence: Bills #80-94, 1959-1961
    Bill 80- Truck License Plates
    Bill 82- School Boards
    Bill 91- Hunting and Fishing Licenses
    Bill 94- Railroad Full Crew Law
  4. Correspondence: Bills #100-116, 1953-1961
    Bill 100- Chiropodists
    Bill 102- Truck Load Weights
    Bill 103- Telephone Tax Bill
    Bill 108- Children's Psychiatric Unit at State Hospital
    Bill 109- Sale of Patented Medicines
    Bill 113- Landing Strip in Every Town
    Bill 116- Hospital Operation Without a License
  5. Correspondence: Bills #141-194
    Bill 141- Credit Union Operation
    Bill 145- License to Carry Handguns
    Bill 148- Compulsory Auto Insurance
    Bill 154- Outlaw of Trading Stamps
    Bill 164- Public Libraries
    Bill 166- Creation of State Wheat Commission
    Bill 184- Construction Fund
    Bill 194- Dissolve Board of Administration at State Hospital
  6. Correspondence: Bills #200-239, 1953-1961
    Bill 206- County Fees
    Bill 224- Insurance for Architects and Engineers
    Bill 231- Labor Laws
    Bill 238- Teacher's Retirement
    Bill 239- Special Education for Handicapped
  7. Correspondence: Bills #263-285, 1953-1961
    Bill 263- First Grade Teacher Certificates
    Bill 266- Reconciliation of Labor Disputes
    Bill 268- Discontinuation of County Ag Schools
    Bill 285- Sale of Liquor in Cafes
  8. Correspondence: Bills #303-322, 1961
    Bill 303- State Milk Control Board
    Bill 322- Cigar Tax
  9. Correspondence: Bills #517-548, 1953-1961
    Bill 517- Speech Therapy for Children
    Bill 532- Nursing Scholarships
    Bill 539- School Districts
    Bill 540- Soft Drink Dealer License
    Bill 541- National Testing of Medical Professionals
    Bill 548- Teacher's Incentive
  10. Correspondence: Bills #554-599, 1953-1961
    Bill 551- Education Foundation Program
    Bill 560- Courthouse hours
    Bill 572- Judicial Districts
    Bill 576- Opening of Liquor Stores on Election Days
    Bill 577- Watchmaker's Bill
    Bill 585- State Hail Insurance
    Bill 592- County Welfare Boards
    Bill 597- Railroad Workers
  11. Correspondence: Bills #606-631, 1953-1961
    Bill 606- Selling of Tobacco to 18 Year Olds
    Bill 610- Bounty on Fox
    Bill 619- Reorganization of School Districts
    Bill 622- Weed Control
  12. Correspondence: Bills #651-697, 1953-1961
    Bill 651- City Planning
    Bill 663- Firecrackers Bill
    Bill 676-Carrying of Firearms
    Bill 679- Bow and Arrow Hunting
    Bill 685- Abstractor's Association
    Bill 697- Special Education for Mentally Handicapped
  13. Correspondence: Bills #705-732, 1953-1961
    Bill 705- Theater Starting Time on Sundays
    Bill 721- Farm Equipment Dealers
    Bill 730- Forbids Selling Cars on Sundays
    Bill 732- Taxation of Easter Seals
  14. Correspondence: Bills #753-780, 1953-1961
    Bill 753- Fair Trade Act
    Bill 754- Dissolution of School Districts
    Bill 759- Taxing Non-Profit Organizations
    Bill 765- Selling Non-prescription drugs in grocery stores
  15. Correspondence: Bills #831-840, 1953-1961
    Bill 836- Prohibits Liquor Advertisements on Radio and Television
    Bill 840- Zoning
  16. Correspondence: Survey Cards, 1953, 1959
  17. Correspondence: Sen. Milton Young, 1961, 1963-69
  18. Correspondence: Sen. Milton Young, 1970-77, undated
  19. Correspondence: North Dakota State Mill, 1954-59, 1978
  20. Correspondence: High School Activities Association
  21. Correspondence: Taxation of Coops, Feb 3-22, 1961
  22. Correspondence: Taxation of Coops, 23-30, 1961
  23. Correspondence: School Bus Transportation, 1961
  24. General Correspondence, 1952-55, 1959-61
  25. General Correspondence, 1963-68, 1970, 1972, 1974-78, 1986, undated
  26. Legislative Assemblies, 1951, 1961-63
  27. Articles, 1961, 1981-81, 1985-86, undated
  28. Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, 1968, 1970-75
  29. Committee on Constitutional Revisions, 1977
  30. Constitutional Convention, 1970-71
  31. Constitutional Convention, 1972

Box 2
Folders:

  1. Education, Resources, and Public Lands Committee, 1971
  2. Education, Resources, and Public Lands Committee, 1972
  3. Election Results, 1952, 1956
  4. Highway Safety Driver Survey Results, undated
  5. Jamestown College Commencement, 1972
  6. Legislative Assemblies, 1951, 1961-63
  7. Lincoln Day Dinner, 1965
  8. North Dakota Republican Party, 1964-68, 1974, 1976, 1978
  9. North Dakota Songs given to Meidinger, undated
  10. Photos, 1981, undated
  11. R.E. Meidinger Challenge, 1981-82
  12. Republican National Committee, 1963-68, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980
  13. Republican National Convention, 1966-69
  14. Senate Resolutions, undated
  15. Tax Department and Collections, 1956-58
  16. The Roundup Newspaper (Publication of North Dakota Republicans),undated

SEPARATIONS RECORD

Six photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

OGL1151-1 Roland E. Meidinger, 1981
OGL1151-2 North Dakota Senate, undated
OGL1151-3 North Dakota Senate, undated
OGL1151-4 North Dakota Senate, undated
OGL1151-5 unspecified group, undated
OGL1151-6 unidentified negatives, undated

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