Skip to main content

C. Ben Ross papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MG 091

Content Description

The five boxes of C. Ben Ross papers consist of letters, speeches and other memorabilia, the majority of which deals with Ross's tenure as governor of Idaho, 1930-1936. There are also items relating to the Ross Plan and miscellaneous items of campaign material.

There is also a collection of reports, some published by private organizations such as the Fraternal Order of Eagles, some are typescripts of articles and others are government reports.

Series V contains newspaper clippings, and occasionally complete newspapers, dealing primarily with Ross and Idaho politics, There are a few articles on W.E. Borah in the 1935 and 1936 folders.

Among the more interesting items of personal memorabilia is a collection of photographs. Unfortunately very few have been dated, and often there is no identification for Ross's companions in group photographs. There are a number of identification badges, ribbons, and souvenir programs for functions Ross attended, as well as magazines with articles about Ross.

The more personal items include farm leases, a Quit Claim Deed, check registers, correspondence with the Federal Land Bank of Spokane regarding the loans for S.S. Powers and E. Stemper, and property tax records.

The contents of each section are outlined in full in the following Description of Series.

In addition to the five boxes of Ross papers herein described, the Special Collections Department of the University Library has the book C. Ben Ross and the New Deal in Idaho by Michael P. Malone (Seattle, University of Washington Press, 1970).

Dates

  • Creation: 1922-1945

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

Idaho's first native-born governor, Charles Benjamin Ross, was born near Parma, Idaho December 27, 1876. He was one of eight children born to cattleman John M. Ross and his wife Jeanette Hadley Ross. He attended school in Parma, ending his education after grade six. In 1894, at the age of 18, he decided to continue his education by attending business colleges in Boise and Portland, graduating from Portland Commercial College. He returned to the ranch in 1897 where he and his brother W.H. Ross managed the holdings which their father had developed.

On February 14, 1900 he married Edna Reavis, who was a natural politician and a great asset to her husband's career. When Ross became governor she was often referred to as "Governor Edna." Although they had no children of their own, they raised four foster children.

C. Ben Ross was elected county commissioner in Canyon County, a position he held for three terms (six years) resigning it when, in 1921, he moved to Pocatello to manage his father's estate in that town. In 1923 he was elected mayor of Pocatello, and remained in office until he was elected governor in 1930. When Ross took office as mayor, Pocatello had only a few blocks of paved streets, and a few more were gravel; at the end of his term 54 per cent of Pocatello's roads were oiled. He also improved the city's water supply and lowered taxes. His interest in roads and taxes continued into his terms as governor.

He ran for governor five times, the first in 1928 when he was defeated. On May 2, 1930 he again announced his intention of running for governor. This time he was successful, but, as a democrat, was handicapped by a republican legislature. The election of 1932 saw the return of Ross as governor, but this time with a democratic legislature; his unusual bid for a third term in 1934 was also successful. In 1936 he received the democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, but was defeated in the general election by the incumbent William E. Borah. In 1938 he again ran for governor, receiving the nomination in the primary by defeating B.W. Clark by only 2,200 votes. The general election saw his defeat by C.A. Bottolfsen by 28,571 votes.

Following this defeat Ross retired to his farm. He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945, the day of President Roosevelt's death, and lingered as a semi-invalid for almost a year. In mid March, 1946, he had a heart attack and on March 31 he died in St. Alphonsus Hospital, Boise. His wife refused to allow his body to lie in state in the Statehouse and he was buried quietly near his Parma home.

Extent

5 linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Letters, speeches, and memorabilia, primarily dealing with his term as governor.

Arrangement

The papers of Governor C. Ben Ross have been arranged by keeping like material together. The correspondence is arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by correspondent within each year, thus the outgoing and incoming letters are kept together. Letters from local, state, and federal agencies or organizations are arranged under the name of the person signing the letter rather than the agency.

Reports and newspaper clippings are in chronological order. The items of personal material are sorted according to type. Property tax notices are arranged by county, then by date. There is no arrangement in the photograph portion of the collection.

Title
Guide to C. Ben Ross papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by Judith Nielsen; updated by Sara Szobody.
Date
1979, 2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Repository