MSS 211 - Francis C. Grevemberg Collection: Inventory

Francis C. Grevemberg COLLECTION

(Mss 211)

Inventory

Earl K. Long Library

University of New Orleans

 

Summary

 

 

Size:                           8 linear feet

 

Geographic

locations:                 Louisiana

 

Inclusive dates:      1930-1960; 1985; 1989

 

Summary:                 Records primarily concerned with Francis C. Grevemberg's career as Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police during the administration of Govenor Robert Kennon (1952-1956) and his unsuccessful candidacy for governor in 1956 and 1960; mainly correspondence, clippings, photographs, tape recordings, and miscellany.

 

Related

collections:              Grevemberg/Carpenter Collection (Mss 242); Francis C. Grevemberg Collection, Addendum 1 (Mss 299)

 

Source:                     Gift, 1990

 

Access:                     No restrictions

 

Copyright:                Physical rights are retained by the Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans.

 

Citation:                    Francis C. Grevemberg Collection, Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans

 

 

Biographical Note

 

            A descendant of an old Louisiana family, Francis C. Grevemberg was born June 4, 1914.  His father's business failure forced him to leave school and go to work for Security Bankers Management Corporation.  His military career began with his enlistment in 1932 in a National Guard cavalry unit.  Thereafter he rose through the non-commissioned ranks until January 1941 when he was commissioned as a lieutenant.  Shipped overseas to England in 1942 with an anti­aircraft unit, he saw combat in North Africa in November 1942, in Sicily in 1943, and at Anzio, Italy in 1944.  Later he took part in the invasion of Southern France and in the drive up through France and into Germany near Alsace-Lorraine.  By the end of World War II he had risen to the rank of colonel.

 

            Following the war Grevemberg was employed in the sale of real estate, insurance, stocks and bonds, and in the building of homes on speculation.  Appointed Superintendent of the State Police in 1952 by Governor Robert Kennon, Grevemberg's strict enforcement of state laws, in particular those prohibiting gambling, prostitution, and narcotics trafficking, quickly earned him a reputation for honesty.

 

                        In 1956 Grevemberg ran as a Democrat for governor and lost.  Four years later, after switching his registration from Democrat to Republican in 1959, he again ran unsuccessfully for governor.

List of Series

 

Series I.    Artifacts

 

Series II.        Clippings

 

Series III.       Correspondence

 

Series IV.      General Miscellany

 

Series V.       Serials

 

Series VI.      Speeches and Interviews

 

Series VII.     Subject Files

Container List

             

Series I.    Artifacts

 

211-20            Political campaign buttons, lottery tickets, marked playing cards, prints, and stationery with French Quarter scenes drawn by Grevemberg.

 

 

Series II.        Clippings

 

                        Clippings (mainly from newspapers), undated; 1930-1960; 1963; 1971; 1974; 1980; 1986.

 

211-22                   unidentified source, undated; 1930 - 1953

 

211-23                   unidentified source, 1954-1960

 

211-24                   identified source, undated

 

211-25                   identified source, 1941-1953

 

211-26                   identified source, 1954

 

211-27                   identified source, 1954

 

211-28                   identified source, 1955

 

211-29                   identified source, 1955

 

211-30                   identified source, 1955

 

211-31                   identified source, 1955

 

211-32                   identified source, 1956-1960; 1963; 1971; 1974; 1980; 1986

 

 

Series III.       Correspondence

 

                        Correspondence to and from Grevemberg and others; includes attachments (undated; 1948; 1951-1958).  For additional correspondence, see Subject files.

 

211-1                     undated; 1948; May 9, 1951 - April 14, 1953

 

211-2                     April 15, 1953 - January 11, 1954

 

211-3                     January 13 - October 6, 1954

 

211-4                     October 11, 1954 - September 14, 1955

 

211-5                     September 15, 1955 - February 15, 1958

 

 

Series IV.      General Miscellany

 

211-6              Resolutions and certificates of appreciation (1952-1954).

 

211-7              Affidavits and typescript statements (undated; 1950; 1952; 1953; 1955).

 

211-8              Transcripts and "Audograph" recordings of conversations (undated; 1954; 1955).

 

211-17            Audio cassette copy of aforelisted "Audograph" recordings (produced by Media Resources Department, University of New Orleans, 1990).

 

211-9              State Police arrest reports; personnel statistics; raid procedures with related "wanted" lists; traffic enforcement handbills, memoranda, pamphlets, statistics; related miscellany (undated; 1952-1955).

 

211-10            Documents from state election campaigns of 1956 and 1960, including affidavit of candidacy, press releases, lists of campaign officials and supporters, appearance schedules, handbills and stickers, platform pamphlet.

 

211-11            U.S. War Departments travel voucher (1945).

 

211-13            Photographs of Colonel Grevemberg and state police activities, including views of slot machine destruction, traffic law enforcement, raids against gambling, narcotic and prostitution activities (undated; 1952-1955; 1957; 1959; 1960; 1962).

 

Index Terms

 

Elections—Louisiana

Grevemberg, Francis C.

Louisiana State Police

Louisiana—Politics and government