Disney, Wesley Ernest, U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 1st district (1931-1945); Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1919-1924), 1883-1961

Person

Biographical:

Wesley Ernest Disney, seven-term congressman from Oklahoma's First District, played a long and important role in Oklahoma politics. Reared and educated in Kansas, where he was born on October 31, 1883, Disney was admitted to the bar, and moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1908. While in Muskogee, Disney began his political career by becoming county attorney, and then went on to become a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. While in the State House (1919-1924) Disney, a Democrat, voted in favor of the 18th and 19th amendments and numerous progressive labor laws. He also assumed a leadership role in the impeachment proceedings against then Governor John C. "Jack" Walton. On the merit of his accomplishments he ran a successful campaign for the U.S. House in 1930. He remained in the House until 1944, at which time he commenced a long anticipated run for the Senate against incumbent Elmer Thomas. Disney, by this time an anti-New Deal Democrat, took on the Roosevelt-supporting Thomas, claiming that Thomas was backed by the "CIO goon squads." Disney lost in the primary and lived out his professional life as a lawyer in Washington, D.C. He died in 1961.

Found in 26 Collections and/or Records:

1201-S CLASS OF SERVICE: Ship Radiogram to Congressman Wesley E. Disney, 1935-01-01 - 1939-12-31

Item — Box 5: Series CAC_CC_047_1_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 45

Identifier: CAC_CC_047_1_5_45_0016

Abstract

74th (1935-1937); 75th (1937-1939); 76th (1939-1941)

Dates: 1935-01-01 - 1939-12-31

Found in: Carl Albert Center Congressional and Political Collections / George B. Schwabe Collection / 79th Congress / Indian Affairs, 1935-1939

1963 Correspondence: Legal Services Rendered to the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma, 1946-11-30

Item — Box 32: Series CAC_CC_038_8_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 19

Identifier: CAC_CC_038_8_32_19_0010

Abstract

79th Congress (1945-1947)

Dates: 1946-11-30

Found in: Carl Albert Center Congressional and Political Collections / A. S. "Mike" Monroney Collection / General Correspondence / Interior, Interior and Insular Affairs, Indians, D-F, 1963

Advocating for the Osage Civilization Fund Bill: A Letter to Honorable Wesley E. Disney, 1935-01-01 - 1939-12-31

Item — Box 5: Series CAC_CC_047_1_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 47

Identifier: CAC_CC_047_1_5_47_0008

Abstract

74th (1935-1937); 75th (1937-1939); 76th (1939-1941)

Dates: 1935-01-01 - 1939-12-31

Found in: Carl Albert Center Congressional and Political Collections / George B. Schwabe Collection / 79th Congress / Indian Affairs, 1935-1939

An Act to Authorize Payment to the Osage Tribe of Indians for Land Sold by the United States, 1935-01-01 - 1939-12-31

Item — Box 5: Series CAC_CC_047_1_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 41

Identifier: CAC_CC_047_1_5_41_0004

Abstract

74th (1935-1937); 75th (1937-1939); 76th (1939-1941)

Dates: 1935-01-01 - 1939-12-31

Found in: Carl Albert Center Congressional and Political Collections / George B. Schwabe Collection / 79th Congress / Indian Affairs, 1935-1939

An Act to Protect Osage Indian Investments in Oklahoma, 1935-01-01 - 1939-12-31

Item — Box 5: Series CAC_CC_047_1_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 41

Identifier: CAC_CC_047_1_5_41_0006

Abstract

74th (1935-1937); 75th (1937-1939); 76th (1939-1941)

Dates: 1935-01-01 - 1939-12-31

Found in: Carl Albert Center Congressional and Political Collections / George B. Schwabe Collection / 79th Congress / Indian Affairs, 1935-1939

Correspondence Regarding S.670: Relief for the Osage Tribe of Indians, 1937-03-15 - 1937-03-15

Item — Box 5: Series CAC_CC_047_1_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 46

Identifier: CAC_CC_047_1_5_46_0007

Abstract

75th (1937-1939)

Dates: 1937-03-15 - 1937-03-15

Found in: Carl Albert Center Congressional and Political Collections / George B. Schwabe Collection / 79th Congress / Indian Affairs, 1935-1939

Wesley E. Disney Collection

Collection

Identifier: CAC-CC-013

Scope and Contents The Disney Collection consists of 8 linear feet with the majority of the materials covering his tenure in office, 1931-1944. Most of the documents were originally housed in scrapbooks, including newspaper clippings. Of particular note is Disney’s column, “Washington Letter,” that he wrote for local newspapers. There are also lists that contain extensive data about his constituents. The materials cover a variety of topics including prohibition, the Grand River Dam, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the...

Dates: 1909-1958; Majority of material found in 1931-1944

Found in: Carl Albert Center Congressional and Political Collections