ELWIN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

WALTER LOOMER PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #1172

DATES: 1900-1988 [bulk dates 1920-1960]

SIZE: 6 linear feet, 45 photographs

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION:The Walter Loomer Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Walter Loomer Jr., Bremnerton, Washington, on September 7, 1988 (Acc.#1188-1619).

ACCESS: The collection is open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Walter Melvin Loomer was born on November 12, 1900 in Webster County Iowa in the town of Ortho. He was the first born of Charles Francis Loomer and Mary Ella Schram Loomer. He attended several elementary schools in Iowa and Minnesota before graduating from high school at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He graduated from the State Teacher's College (then, the State Normal School) at Mayville, North Dakota in 1926 and from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1931. He returned to UND to receive a Master of Science in Education in 1936.

Before and during his attendance at the State Teachers College, Loomer taught at rural schools in Minnesota and North Dakota from 1920-1925. From 1926- 1928 he was principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Beach, North Dakota. For the 1928-1929 school year he was principal at Washington Elementary School in Grand Forks. He became principal at Roosevelt Elementary School in Grand Forks in 1929 where he remained until 1949. At that point, he became principal at Lincoln Elementary School, also in Grand Forks. Beginning in 1948, he became Coordinator of Elementary Education for the Grand Forks Public Schools, a position he held for several years.

Throughout his career, Loomer was active with many professional affiliations. These included: the National Education Association (NEA) in which, at one point, he was a member of the Tax and Finance Committee; the North Dakota Education Association (NDEA) in which he became Field Director (1936-1937) and eventually a life member; the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in which he was active in both the National and North Dakota Congresses, serving on the State Board of Managers as Legislative Chairman for several years and as president at the state level for one year; and Phi Delta Kappa (PDK), a professional educational fraternity, in which he served as secretary, treasurer, vice-president, and president in the University of North Dakota Chapter.

Loomer was also very active in the community. In the Lions International Organization he held many positions including zone chairman, president, and delegate to ten district conventions. During WWII, Loomer was a member of the American Red Cross and the County Ration Board and was a first aid instructor for cadet nurses. Some of his other activities included participation in the Youth Council, the Adult Education Council, and the Citizen's Forum.

Walter Loomer married Caroline Folstad on June 27, 1923 in Colfax, North Dakota. The couple had four children: Mary Ella, Walter Jr., Cheryl, and Renee. Caroline Loomer passed away on May 30, 1971, followed by Walter Loomer on August 23, 1988.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Walter Loomer Papers date from 1900-1988, however the bulk of the records date from 1920-1960. Originally, the papers were only partially organized. Upon processing, they were rearranged to reflect his professional and civic involvements and his personal life. The papers are arranged in six series.

SERIES I, Professional Activities: personal resumes (1932-1953); material regarding Loomer's education at UND (1936); salary contracts (1920-1963); teaching certificates; material from the NEA (1938-1957), the NDEA (1923-1954), the National Congress of Parents and Teachers (1946-1954), the North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers (1944-1957), the Grand Forks PTA, and the Roosevelt Elementary School PTA; material from the North Dakota Department of Classroom Teachers and the Department of Public Instruction; general educational correspondence and legislation (1932-1962); educational speeches given by Loomer; various material on North Dakota schools; information about several school programs including the school lunch program (1938-1953), special education, the Defense of the Common Schools - Retaining the 75% Tax Base (1945-1946), and the State Equalization Fund (1930's-1950's); teaching material; material regarding the American Federation of Teachers; and newspaper clippings.

SERIES II, Community Activities: material on the Lions International and the Grand Forks Lions Club including the constitution and bylaws, international annual directories (1939-1949) and monthly newsletters (1941-1949), Grand Forks membership, committees, and newsletters, zone chairman material (1948-1949), speeches given by Loomer, a 25 Year Old Monarch Award presented to Loomer, Lions news- clippings, and song sheets; Phi Delta Kappa material (1935- 1956); and United Lutheran Church material (1941-1958).

SERIES III, WWII: material on WWII including information on Julius A. Skavlan, Loomer's son-in-law, who was killed in action during the war, general correspondence, war bonds, the Price Control and Rations Board, involvement in First Aid and Aquatic Training Program, a merit award for wartime contributions, local war programs, newspaper clippings, and post-war economics.

SERIES IV, Family: miscellaneous and correspondence with Loomer's parents and each of his four children; material about his wife, Caroline, and correspondence with her, primarily during the summer of 1944 when he was away to Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremnerton, Washington.

SERIES V, Financial Records: federal and state tax returns (1933-1977); social security and personal property taxes (1926-1979); check stubs; withholding statements; homes purchased; automobiles purchased; and correspondence.

SERIES VI, Miscellaneous: federal census (1940, 1950); Delta Zeta Sorority; North Dakota Order of DeMolay; Citizen's Forum (1939-1942); Grand Forks city map (1932); greeting cards; post cards, many of North Dakota; Old Age Assistance Program for Olga Folstad, Caroline's mother; and several speeches given by Loomer.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder
SERIES I: Professional Activities

1. Personal Resumes (1932-1953).
2. Portions of Loomer's master's thesis "A Reorganization of State Educational Support in North Dakota" (1936). (A complete copy is housed in the Department of Special Collections at UND)
3. College transcript (1936).
4. Diploma from UND (1936).
5. Teaching certificates.
6. Salary contracts (1920-1965).
7. Correspondence regarding applications for educational and recertification (1921-1945).
8. NEA: Program of Action and Achievements.
9. NEA: correspondence (1938-1957).
10. NEA: Legislative News Flash (1945-1948).
11. NEA: news publications (1950).
12. NEA: convention summary (1950).
13. NEA: miscellaneous.
14. NDEA: constitution.
15. NDEA: platform and objectives.
16. NDEA: meeting minutes (1946, 1954).
17. NDEA: legislation (1935-1948).
18. NDEA: correspondence (1933-1948).
19. NDEA: educational directories (1933-1935).
20. NDEA: programs for annual meetings (1935-1953).
21. NDEA: treasurer's book for the NE Division (1923-1933).
22. NDEA: programs for NE Division Annual Meetings (1931-1947).
23. NDEA: Grand Forks Local Chapter (1939-1944).
24. NDEA: miscellaneous.
25. National Congress of Parents and Teachers: National Congress Bulletin (1946-1954).
26. National Congress of Parents and Teachers: Founders Day events.
27. National Congress of Parents and Teachers: manuals and guidebooks.
28. National Congress of Parents and Teachers: pamphlets.
29. National Congress of Parents and Teachers: miscellaneous.
30. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: bylaws.
31. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: function of the PTA.
32. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: newsletters (1944- 1957).
33. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: State Legislative Chairman (1945-1950).
34. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: correspondence (1946-1957).
35. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: membership (1947- 1949).
36. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: Life Membership Certificate of Walter Loomer.
37. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: annual state conventions (1946-1949).
38. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: Board of Managers and Executive Board Meetings (1946-1948).
39. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: Annual Parent- Teacher Workshops (1951-1952).
40. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: resolutions (1944- 1954.
41. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: Finances (1947- 1950).
42. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: nominations (1947- 1950).
43. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers; programs and pamphlets.
44. North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers: miscellaneous.
45. PTA: Grand Forks.
46. PTA: Roosevelt Elementary School.
47. North Dakota Department of Classroom Teachers.
48. Department of Public Instruction.
49. Correspondence (1932-1962).
50. General legislation and related correspondence
51. Speeches given by Walter Loomer.
52. Teachers' Insurance and Retirement Fund (1941-1949).
53. Conference Workshops for School Administrators
54. Border Conferences (1951-1952).
55. North Dakota Schools.
56. Grand Forks Schools.
57. UND.
58. Roosevelt Elementary School.

Box 2
Folder

1. Defense of the Common Schools - Retaining the 75% Tax Base (1945-1946).
2. Driver Education (1946-1950).
3. Handwriting Program (1941-1942).
4. Health Programs.
5. School Lunch Program (1938-1953).
6. Safety Program.
7. School Building Program.
8. Special Education.
9. Recreation Enabling Act (1946).
10. State Equalization Fund (1930's-1950's).
11. Teaching Material.
12. Young Citizen's Day (5-24-42).
13. Grand Forks Central High School Senior Scroll (1941).
14. Notebook from summer spent at the University of Southern California (1940).
15. American Federation of Teachers.
16. A Critical Evaluation of the American Federation of Teachers - a thesis by Aileen W. Robinson (1934).
17. Newspaper clippings.
18. Miscellaneous.

SERIES II: Community Activities.

19. Constitution and bylaws.
20. International Annual Directories (1939-1949).
21. Detailed meeting agendas of the Board of Directors (1948-1949).
22. International Monthly Letters (1941-1949).
23. Pamphlets, international.
24. Membership (1948-1950).
25. Officers and committee chairmen lists (1940-1955).
26. President's book (1940.1941).
27. President's report (1941).
28. Zone Chairman, Walter Loomer: correspondence (1948-1949).
29. Zone Chairman, Walter Loomer: activities and membership (1948-1949).
30. Treasurer's reports (1944-1950).
31. Correspondence (1940-1950).
32. Newsletters (1938-1941).
33. Newsletters (1942-1960).
34. Speeches given by Walter Loomer.
35. Convention material (1946-1949).
36. 5th District convention programs (1936-1950).
37. Pamphlets of the Grand Forks Lions Club.
38. State Jaycee "Find A Friend In Europe" Committee (1948).
39. Events.
40. 25 Year Old Monarch Award presented to Walter Loomer.
41. Certificate of Honorary Tail Twister presented to Caroline Loomer (1952).
42. Newspaper clippings.
43. Song sheets.
44. Miscellaneous.

Box 3
Folder

1. Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Theta Chapter (1935-1956).
2. Religion United Lutheran Church (1941-1958).
3. Religion North Dakota Rural Life (1949-1950).
4. Religion miscellaneous.

SERIES III: WWII

5. Correspondence (1938-1945).
6. Julius A. Skavlan, son-in-law of Walter Loomer, killed in action during WWII.
7. Puget Sound Navy Yard.
8. Subcommittee of Organizations on the War Bond Committee.
9. Office of Price Administration and War Rations Board.
10. Works Project Administration (1942).
11. Instructor's book for first aid.
12. First aid and aquatic training classes.
13. Merit Award to Walter Loomer for wartime contributions.
14. Grand Forks Lions Club Soldier Benefit Fund (1942).
15. Surplus war property for educational purposes.
16. Newspaper clippings.
17. Post-was economics.
18. Miscellaneous.

SERIES IV: Family

19. Walter M. Loomer, personal papers.
20. Charles and Mary Ella Loomer, Walter's parents.
21. Correspondence, Walter to family while he had to be away in Bismarck (1937).
22. Caroline Loomer, Walter's wife.
23. Correspondence with Caroline, primarily during the summer of 1944 while Walter was away at Puget Sound Navy Yard (1943-1949).
24. Mary Ella Loomer, Walter's eldest daughter.
25. Walter Loomer, Jr., Walter's son.
26. Cheryl Loomer, Walter's daughter.
27. Renee Loomer, Walter's daughter.
28. Funeral record of stillborn twins (1936).
29. Obituaries for Caroline Loomer (1971) and Walter Loomer (1988).
30. Newspaper clippings.

SERIES V: Financial Records

31. Federal taxes (1940-1977).
32. North Dakota state taxes (1933-1977).
33. Social Security tax (1944, 1956).
34. Property taxes (1926-1979).
35. Personal property tax returns (1935-1950).
36. Assessor's listing of personal property (1952-1969).
37. Check stubs.

Box 4
Folder

1. Bonds and investments (1942-1959).
2. Withholding statements and pay stubs (1940-1950).
3. Homes purchased and insured (1930-1959).
4. Automobiles (1922-1960).
5. Tax study (1931).
6. Correspondence (1940-1973).

SERIES VI: Miscellaneous

7. Baldhill Dam.
8. Census Material (1940, 1951).
9. Correspondence -general (1932-1963).
10. Current affairs test from TIME magazine (1940).
11. Delta Zeta Sorority - "The Lamp" yearbook (1946, 1947, & 1952).
12. Delta Zeta Sorority - song book.
13. DeMolay, North Dakota Order of (1945-1947).
14. Equal Rights Amendment (1946).
15. Forums (1939-1942).
16. Forums - newspaper clippings.
17. Government pamphlets.
18. Grand Forks City Map (1932).
19. Grand Forks Brochure (1947).
20. Greeting cards with correspondence.
21. Greeting cards.
22. "I Am An American " Day (1943).
23. Maps and brochures of North Dakota.
24. Maps and brochures of Minnesota and South Dakota.
25. Memo, engagement, and date books of Walter Loomer (1940-1949).
26. Newspaper clippings, miscellaneous.
27. Old Age Assistance Program for Olga Folstad (1938-1939).
28. Post cards, North Dakota - blank.
29. Post cards, North Dakota - with correspondence.
30. Post cards, with correspondence (1933-1963).
31. Post cards, blank.
32. Speeches, miscellaneous.
33. Speeches, miscellaneous portions.

SEPARATIONS RECORD

45 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

The following photographs are separate from the folders due to larger size.

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