King Swope papers

Descriptive Summary

Title
King Swope papers
Date
1882-1957
Creator
Swope, King, 1893-1961
Extent
6.69 Cubic feet
Subjects
Elections--Kentucky.
Judges--Correspondence.
Pamphlets.
Politicians--Correspondence.
Posters.
Speeches, addresses, etc.
Politics
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format and subject of materials, and then chronologically within the scrapbooks.
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Laura A. Hess
Preferred Citation
61M248: [Identification of item], King Swope papers, 1882-1957, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
King Swope, a native of Boyle County, Kentucky, began practicing law in Lexington, Kentucky, while attending the University of Kentucky law school. However, his practice was interrupted by his service in World War I. After the war, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1919-1921) from the eighth Congressional District. At twenty-six years of age, he was one of the youngest members of Congress ever to assume that office. When he failed to gain re-election, Swope returned to Kentucky and opened a law practice in Lexington. In 1931, Governor Flem D. Sampson appointed Swope to a judgeship in the Fayette County Circuit Court. Swope served in that capacity until 1940, when he again resumed private practice.
In 1935, Swope, the Republican nominee, lost the gubernatorial election to Lieutenant Governor Albert B. "Happy" Chandler and in 1939, he made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for governor, losing in the primary to John Sherman Cooper.
"Swope, King (1893 - 1961)." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Web. 06 October, 2011.
Scope and Content
The King Swope papers consists of scrapbooks, pamphlets, speeches, posters, and correspondence. The scrapbooks follow political events and issues at the Kentucky state, national, and international level and specifically emphasize Swope's political career as Fayette County circuit court judge and United States Congressman as well as his two campaigns for the Kentucky governor's office. Speeches, posters, and correspondence further outline details of Swope's campaigns. The Republican party features prominently in all materials. Many personal events and milestones in Swope's life are also included in the scrapbooks and other materials.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection belong to the University of Kentucky Special Collections.

Contents of the Collection

Scrapbooks, 1882-1957

Scope and Contents note

The Scrapbooks series contains volumes that records political and historical events on a state, national, and international level. Most of the scrapbooks are composed of newspaper clippings, but there are many business and personal letters, event programs, and other items included as well. A large emphasis is placed on the Republican party and Swope's political career.

Swope, 1904-1957

Scope and Contents note

Swope is a series of scrapbooks about the career and personal life of Judge King Swope. It includes newspaper clippings from multiple local and national newspapers, as well as letters and telegraphs, photographs, programs from various events, and political propaganda. The series covers Swope's career as United States Congressional Representative, his years as Fayette County Circuit Court judge in Lexington, and his campaign for the governor's office in 1935 and 1939. Special emphasis is given to the events and platforms of the Republican party.

Scrapbook Swope, 1919-1950

  • Item 12
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Volume 1, 1912-1921

  • Item 19
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Volume 2, 1927-1935

  • Item 20
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Volume 3, 1932-1934

  • Item 21
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Volume 4, 1934-1935

  • Item 22
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Volume 5, 1935

  • Item 23
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Volume 6, 1935

  • Item 24
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Volume 7, 1935

  • Item 25
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Volume 8, 1935

  • Item 26
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Volume 9, 1935-1937

  • Item 27
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Volume 10, 1937-1938

  • Item 28
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Volume 11, 1938-1939

  • Item 29
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Volume 12, 1939

  • Item 30
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Volume 13, 1939

  • Item 31
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Volume 14, 1939

  • Item 32
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Volume 15, 1939

  • Item 33
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Volume 16, 1939

  • Item 34
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Volume 17, 1939-1941

  • Item 35
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Volume 18, 1941-1942

  • Item 36
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Volume 19, 1942-1943

  • Item 37
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Volume I, newspaper clippings, 1904-1957

  • Item 38
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Politics, 1942-1950

Scope and Contents note

Politics is a series of scrapbooks regarding state, national, and international politics and events. This includes Kentucky gubernatorial election, the United States presidential elections, and global financial affairs.

Scrapbook, politics, volume I, 1942-1943

  • Item 1
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Scrapbook, politics, volume II, 1943

  • Item 2
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Scrapbook, politics, volume III, 1944

  • Item 3
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Scrapbook, politics, volume IV, 1944-1945

  • Item 4
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Scrapbook, politics, volume V, 1946

  • Item 5
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Scrapbook, politics, volume VI, 1946

  • Item 6
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Scrapbook, politics, volume VII, 1946-1947

  • Item 7
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Scrapbook, politics, volume VIII, 1946-1948

  • Item 8
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Scrapbook, politics, volume IX, 1948-1950

  • Item 9
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Kentucky politics, 1935-1944

Scope and Contents note

Kentucky politics is a series of scrapbooks with newspaper clippings about events in the Kentucky state government and politics, including gubernatorial races. Special emphasis is given to A.B. "Happy" Chandler and his campaigns for the governor's office and United States Senate as well as his administration as governor.

Scrapbook, Kentucky politics, volume I, 1943-1944

  • Item 13
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Scrapbook, Kentucky politics, volume II, 1944

  • Item 14
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Volume I, 1935

  • Box 2, Folder 1
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Volume II, 1935-1936

  • Box 2, Folder 2
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Volume III, 1936-1937

  • Box 2, Folder 3
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1938 [Volume IV], 1938

  • Box 2, Folder 4
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Volume II, 1939, 1939

  • Box 2, Folder 5
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Chandler-Barkley campaign scrapbook, 1938

  • Item 18
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WWII, 1939-1947

Scope and Contents note

WWII is a series of scrapbooks with newspaper clippings about events in WWII, both abroad and at home.

Scrapbook, WWII, volume I, 1939-1943

  • Item 10
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Scrapbook, WWII, volume II, 1943-1947

  • Item 11
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George Denny, Jr., 1882-1907

Scope and Contents note

George Denny, Jr. is a series of scrapbooks with newspaper clippings of political discussion and commentary as well as the printed speeches by presidential candidates in the 1904 election.

George Denny Jr. scrapbook, volume I, 1882-1888

  • Item 15
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George Denny, Jr. scrapbook, volume II, 1888-1896

  • Item 16
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George Denny, Jr. scrapbook, volume III, 1904-1907

  • Item 17
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Speeches, 1919-1939

Scope and Contents note

The Speeches series contains typed copies of speeches given by Swope and notebooks of hand-written speech drafts. There are also typed copies of various political speeches by other people.

Speeches and propaganda, 1938-1939

  • Box 3, Folder 6
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Notebooks, speeches, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 7
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Political speeches, 1919-1935

  • Box 3, Folder 9
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Correspondence, 1926-1939

Scope and Contents note

The Correspondence series contains letters to Swope from multiple persons.

Correspondence, 1926-1927

  • Box 3, Folder 5
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Letter, 1939

  • Box 3, Folder 4
Scope and Contents note

Letter was originally housed with the scrapbook Volume 14.

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Campaign posters, 1939

Scope and Contents note

The Campaign posters series contains four advertisements for Swope's campaign for the governor's office.

Star of Kentucky posters, 1939

  • Box 1, Folder 2
Scope and Contents note

Posters for Swope's gubernatorial campaign. Originally found with scrapbooks Volume 13-14.

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Governor's campaign posters, circa 1935-1939

  • Case 6, Drawer 2
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Realia, 1936, 1940

Scope and Contents note

The Realia series contains pins for King Swope from the Republican National Convention and Mrs. Swope from the American Bar Association. They are wrapped in tissue paper as two separate items.

Pins, 1936, 1940

  • Box 4, Folder 5
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Printed materials, 1896-1944

Scope and Contents note

The Printed materials series consists of various documents of both political and historical nature, including Republican party propaganda, materials from the Abraham Lincoln Association, and political satire.

Political, 1896-1944

Scope and Contents note

Political contains various materials from the Republican party, pamphlets and commentary about political issues (especially Roosevelt's administration), and political satire.

Republican Party Convention Delegate Contest, 1912

  • Box 2, Folder 6
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Political pamphlets, 1923-1944

  • Box 2, Folder 7
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Republican printed materials, 1905

  • Box 3, Folder 3
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Printed materials, 1925-1936

  • Box 3, Folder 2
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Campaign pamphlets, 1896

  • Box 3, Folder 8
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Congressional Records, 1937

  • Box 3, Folder 10
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Roosevelt for King, 1937

  • Box 4, Folder 3
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Le Detroit des Grandes Adventures, undated

  • Box 4, Folder 4
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Yearbook, 1914

  • Box 3, Folder 1
Scope and Contents note

Yearbook contains the 1914 "Cardinal and Blue" album from Center College in Danville, Kentucky.

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Historical, 1941, undated

Scope and Contents note

Historical contains various materials from the Abraham Lincoln Association and pamphlets written by Katharine Hayden Salter.

Katharine Hayden Salter pamphlets, undated

  • Box 4, Folder 2
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Abraham Lincoln materials, 1941

  • Box 4, Folder 1
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.