Manuscript Register
PAPERS
OF WILLIAM H. NICHOLAS
Collection Dates: 1956 -- 1971
.25 linear ft.
This document describes a collection of materials held
by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu
Posted to Internet: July 2002
Acquisition
Note: William Nicholas
donated his papers to the University of Iowa Libraries in 1973.
Access
and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.
Photographs: Box 1
Film/Video: Box 1
Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but
does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this
collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections
Department.
Copyright: Please read
The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished
Materials"
Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.
Biographical
Note
William
Hall Nicholas (1892 -- 1984) was born in Bristow, Butler County, Iowa. His
first elected office was as Butler County recorder in 1916. He held that office
for eight years. From 1946 to 1948, he was the state representative from Cerro
Gordo County. Nicholas was elected lieutenant governor twice, in 1951 under
William Beardsley and again in 1957 under Herschel Loveless. He sought the
Republican nomination for governor three times in the 1950s and 1960s, but
never received the nomination. He served on the Iowa Highway Commission from
1959 to 1963 and was a member of the Iowa Development Commission.
Mr. Nicholas (fondly known as "Turkey Bill") once owned and operated eight chicken hatcheries in Iowa. He was a pioneer in the Iowa turkey industry, building the state's first turkey laying house in 1938. At one time his turkey operation produced 100,000 birds a year.
A World War I navy veteran, Nicholas was a member of the American Legion. He was also active in the Methodist Church, the Rotary, Masonic Lodge, and the Shrine. William H. Nicholas died at the age of ninety-one.
Scope
and Contents
The
papers of William H. Nicholas consist of 181 items arranged alphabetically
dating from 1956 through 1971. This small collection includes correspondence
(much of it relating to the Iowa Highway Commission), press releases, photographs,
and newspaper clippings. There is also a speech given by Nicholas, which was
recorded on film.
Correspondence,
1956 -- 1971, including a letter from Verne R. Martin
Iowa
State Highway Commission correspondence, 1963, including a letter from Lew
Warren
Iowa
State Highway Commission materials
Newspaper
clippings, including obituary
Photographs
Press
releases, etc., 1962
W.
H. Nicholas 14 minute speech on film and DVD
