Richard W. Fitzsimons Papers (S2681)

1953-1978

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Richard W. Fitzsimons was born January 19, 1922 and raised on a farm near Argyle, Minnesota.  After the death of his father in 1937, Richard and his mother ran the farm.  Fitzsimons was active in the 4-H Club and he helped organize the Rural Youth Program in Minnesota, serving as state president and on the National Committee.  Fitzsimons married Janice Kyseth and had a son, Mark and a daughter, Lori.  Fitzsimons was first elected to the Minnesota State Legislature in 1952 from the Sixty-Seventh District - Marshall County.  He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for twenty years and was elected to the Minnesota Senate from District 1 in 1972.  Fitzsimons served on nearly every major committee and was chairman of the House of Appropriations Committee from 1962 to 1972.  After retiring from the Legislature in 1976, Richard Fitzsimons became the executive director of the Red River Valley Sugar Beet Growers Association.   Mr. Fitzsimons died in 1991.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

This collection consists of papers kept by Richard Fitzsimons while serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate.  It contains mostly correspondence and background materials provided by the legislative research staff and lobbyists.    Included in this collection is a Minnesota Historical Society educational packet entitled “What is a Legislator?” using Senator Fitzsimons as the model. 

Inventory

Box 1

Abortion.  1973-74

Agriculture.  1973-74

Airports, Orr and Thief River Falls.  1974

Appropriations Committee.  1969-73

Authors List.  1971

Bicentennial Commission.  1972-74

Bicycle Bill.  1975

Committee Schedules.  1973-74

Computers.  1971

Congratulatory Letters.  1973-74

Constitutional Study Commission.  1971-72

Correspondence.  1953, 1955-61

Box 2

Correspondence.  1963-75

Box 3
Correspondence.  1982

Education.  1967, 1972-76

Eighteen-Year-Old Drinking.  1975

Energy.  1975

Equal Rights Amendment.  1972-74

Final Report of Structure and Form Committee.  1972

Finance Committee. 1975

Fire Departments.  1972-74

Fitzsimons Sponsored Bills.  1973-76

Fuel Shortage.  1973-74

Gas Tax and Highway Legislation.  1972-75

Grygla High School Controversy.  1973

Gun Control Legislation.  1973-75

Health Legislation.  1974-75

Invitations.  1975

Legislative Advisory Committee - Agenda.  1965

-Reports.  1963

Legislative Audit Commission Minutes.  1973-76

Minnesota - Outdoor Recreation Resource Commission.  1967

- Resources Commission.  1970-74

Box 4

Minnesota, continued

- Resource Commissions, continued.  1974-76

- Senate Handbook.  1972

Moose Season.  1971-74

Natural Resources Committee.  1970-74

News Releases.  1965-67, 1973-76

Occupational Development Center SF26.  1975

Oral Interview with Mr. Fitzsimons.  1983 

Photographs.  1975

Public Employee’s Bargaining. 1972-73

Public Health Nursing Service and Housing for the Elderly.  1973-74

Redistricting of County Boards, Letter to County Commissioners SF 2136.  1974

Reports - Interim Committee on Medical Education to the Minnesota Senate.  1969

- Medical Education Committee, House Appropriations Committee.  1966

- Medication Education Subcommittees of House Appropriations.  1971

- Special House Committee on the Need for a Second Medical School.  1969

- Structure and Form Committee to the Constitutional Study Commission.  1972

Republican - Party Platform Materials.  1973-74

- Views and Statements.  1975-76

Snowmobile Legislation.  1973-75

Special Subcommittee on Land Acquisition Policies and Procedures.  1965

Taxation.  1973-76

Thief River Falls, Minnesota.  1973-74

Township Tort Liability H.F. 978.  1974

Twin Trailers Bill.  1973-74

Veterans Agriculture Bill.  1973

Vocational Agriculture Program.  1973

What is a Legislator?  1975

Williams School.  1975