Wayne L. Hays Papers
Scope and Content
The Wayne L. Hays papers span from 1941 to 1989 and document Hays's career as an Ohio politician. The collection includes correspondence; bills introduced by Hays; his voting record; press releases; newspaper clippings; speeches; reports; research on loans and grants; his campaign materials; and photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1941-1989
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio University Libraries.
Conditions Governing Use
Ohio University retains all property rights to the collection.
Ohio University retains all copyrights unless retained by the donor, other correspondents, or other artists.
Biography of Wayne L. Hays
Wayne Levere Hays was born in Bannock, Belmont County, Ohio, on May 13, 1911. He graduated with a B.A. from Ohio State University in 1933 and attended Duke University in 1935.
He served as mayor of Flushing, Ohio from 1939-1945, was elected to the Ohio State Senate from 1941-1942, and was Belmont County Commissioner from 1945-1949. He was elected as a Democrat to fourteen Congresses, finally leaving office in 1976.
Hays was a member of the Officers' Reserve Corps of the United States Army from 1933 until called to active duty during World War II as a second lieutenant on December 8, 1941. He received a medical discharge in August 1942. As a U.S. Congressman, he was chairman of the House delegation to the North Atlantic Assembly from 1955-1976. In addition, he headed special investigative committees for tax-exempt foundations and the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. case.
In 1976, Hays was removed from his position as chair of the House Administration Committee and later forced to resign as a result of a scandal involving allegations of misuse of government funds. He served one term in the Ohio State House, and was then chairman of the Belmont County Democratic Committee from 1980 until his death on February 10, 1989.
Extent
92.6 cubic feet
Abstract
The Wayne L. Hays papers span from 1941 to 1989 and document Hays's career as an Ohio politician.
Statement of Arrangement
The collection remains in its original arrangement.
Acquisition Information
The Ohio University Archives received the original collection as a gift from Wayne L. Hays on November 22, 1976. The supplement were a gift from his widow in February 1990.
Existence and Location of Copies
Ohio University will entertain requests to photocopy reasonable amounts of material from the collection for the convenience of individual researchers.
Bibliography
- Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1971 ed., p. 1095
- Who's Who in American Politics, 11th ed., 1987, p. 1165
- The New York Times, May-September 1976, February 11, 1989
Description Note
Original, legacy collection inventories may contain inaccuracies or be incomplete. Collection descriptions may change or be updated as they are verified. Please contact Mahn Center staff if you note any errors or discrepancies.
Subject
Topical
- Title
- Finding aid for the Wayne L. Hays Papers
- Author
- John Evan Moser processed the original collection in Spring 1988. Chris Woods II processed the supplement in Spring 1991. Finding aid completed by Holly Deakyne September 2010.
- Date
- 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- The finding aid was converted into EAD with funding support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Revision Statements
- 5 January 2024: Subjects and other notes added from ALICE MARC records and Mahn Center Microsoft Office finding aids by Ohio University Libraries Metadata Services Department Python scripts.
Repository Details
Part of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections Repository
