William G. Stigler Collection

Collection

Identifier: CAC-CC-050

Staff Only

The Stigler Collection contains slightly more than 12 cubic feet of material covering the dates 1934-1952. Most of these items were generated during the congressional years, and there is little documenting the congressman's legal and state political careers or his personal life. While this collection reflects Stigler's interests in agriculture and flood control in Oklahoma, there is a significant amount of material on his concern with legislation affecting Indians not only in Oklahoma but also in other parts of the country.

Dates

1934-1952
Majority of material found in 1944-1952

Creator

Stigler, William Grady, U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd district (1944-1952); Member of the Oklahoma Senate (1924-1932), 1891-1952 (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Use:

The University of Oklahoma asserts no claim of copyright over photographs in this collection taken by private citizens. Any publication of such photographs requires the consent of the copyright holder.

Extent

16.83 Linear Feet (14 containers)

Additional Description

Biographical Information:

William Grady Stigler, a quarter-blood Choctaw Indian, was born in Newman, Indian Territory (now Stigler, Oklahoma), on July 7, 1891. He received a teaching certificate from Northeastern Oklahoma State College (Tahlequah) in 1912 and legal education from the University of Oklahoma. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army; afterward, he attended the University of Grenoble (Grenoble, France).

Stigler was admitted to the Oklahoma state bar and practiced law for several years. He served in various political and legal positions: city attorney of Stigler (1920-1924), state senator for the twenty-seventh district (1924-1932) and president pro tempore in 1931, member of the state Pardon and Parole Advisory Board, and attorney for the Choctaw Nation.

In March 1944, Stigler, a Democrat, was elected to represent Oklahoma's Second District in the U.S. Congress, filling the seat vacated by John C. "Jack" Nichols. He served on several standing committees in the House, including Claims, Flood Control, Indian Affairs, Roads, World War Veterans' Legislation, Public Works, and Appropriations. In 1946, he was also a member of the Select Committee to Investigate Supplies and Shortages of Food, Particularly Meat. Stigler served in Congress until his death on August 22, 1952, at Stigler, Oklahoma.

Arrangement of Materials:

This collection has 6 series: Legislative, Subject, Indian Affairs, Oversize, Maps, and Photographs. The Legislative Series is divided into two subseries: General and Committee Subseries. The General Subseries is grouped by material type, bills and speeches/remarks, which are arranged by congress. Speeches and remarks made by others are arranged alphabetically by surname. The Committee Subseries is arranged alphabetically by committee then chronologically. The Subject Series is arranged alphabetically into subject groups which are then arranged chronologically and subsequently alphabetically for each year. The Indian Affairs Series is arranged into three subseries: Legislative, Tribal and General, Claims. Materials in all three subseries are arranged alphabetically then chronologically. The Maps Series is arranged into four subseries: Indians, Water Projects, Reapportionment Plans, Miscellaneous. Most of the photographs in the Photograph Series are arranged into groups based on content and event.