Thomas W. Cheek
Papers, 1928-1945

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Personal and official papers of Tom W. Cheek, president of the Oklahoma Farmers' Union from 1931-1945. Includes Cheek's personal correspondence, travel records, expense accounts, diaries and the Oklahoma Farmers' Union and the National Farmers' Union correspondence, speeches, clippings. Contains photographs* of Cheek and family and Farmers' Union groups and events.

Arranged alphabetical by subject. Correspondence arranged alphabetical by sender.

Access to this collection is unrestricted.

*Photographs housed separately; see 83-001.9 (Photo Small Collection)

Finding aid; folder level control

Collection No. 83-001

1 record carton, 2 legal manuscripts boxes, 1 newspaper box

Gift of Tom Cheek family (Lucy Ann Aragues, Eloise Parman, Ima Finley, Tom Cheek, Jr.) and Orville J. Hazlett, 1983

Special Collections and University Archives
Edmon Low Library
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Okla. 74078-1071

BOX 1
Folder:

1. Agricultural Adjustment Administration, Feb. 1940
2. "Capper-Volstead and Antitrust" News for Farmer Cooperatives, Jan. 1972
3. Cards. Greeting, Sympathy, Invitations, etc., 1937-1941
4. Cheek, Tom W. Addresses and notes, ca. 1935-1942
5. Cheek, Tom W. Bills/Receipts, ca. 1933-1943
6. Cheek, Tom W. Biographical
7. Cheek, Tom W. Diaries, Expense accounts, 1936-1943
8. Cheek, Tom W. Cancelled checks, Oct. 1944-Jan.1945
9. Cheek, Tom W. House financing, 1934-1935
10. Cheek, Tom W. Income taxes, ca. 1937-1941
11. Cheek, Tom W. Insurance, ca. 1935-1943
12. Cheek, Tom W. Salary vouchers, 1931-1936
13. Cheek, Tom W. Salary vouchers, 1935-1945
14. Cheek, Tom W. Spanish War Veterans, ca. 1933-1943
15. Cheek, Tom W. Travel
16. Clippings
17. Corporation Laws of Oklahoma, 1930
18. Correspondence - A-C
19. Correspondence - D-F
20. Correspondence - G-H
21. Correspondence - I-L
22. Correspondence - M-N
23. Correspondence - O-P
24. Correspondence - Q-R
25. Correspondence - S
26. Correspondence - T-U
27. Correspondence - V-Z, no signature
28. Correspondence - Cheek - A-B
29. Correspondence - Cheek - C
30. Correspondence - Cheek - D-F
31. Correspondence - Cheek - G-I
32. Correspondence - Cheek - J-L
33. Correspondence - Cheek - M-N
34. Correspondence - Cheek - O-R
35. Correspondence - Cheek - S-T
36. Correspondence - Cheek - U-Z, no addressee
37. Correspondence - Envelopes
38. Farm Bureau. Farm Credit Board. "Statement summarizing discussions held at the Farm Credit Administration on March 14 and 25, 1941, with representatives of the Farmers' Union."
39. Farmers' Union (North Dakota), 1941
40. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1928-1929
41. Farmers' Union (Okla.), Minutes of Special Meeting of Board of Directors, Feb. 21, 1929
42. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1930
43. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1931-1932
44. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1933
45. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1934-1936
46. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1937
47. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1938
48. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1939
49. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1940
50. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1940. Convention transcript
51. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1940. Hospital Insurance
52. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1941
53. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1942
54. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1943
55. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1944
56. Farmers' Union (Okla.), 1945
57. Farmers' Union (Okla.), n.d.
58. Farmers' Union (Okla.), Constitution and By-laws, 1933, 1934, 1944
59. Farmers' Union (Okla.), Cotton Ginners' Association, ca. 1933-1943
60. Farmers' Union (Okla.), Cotton Ginners' Association, Printed material, 1933-1937
61. Farmers' Union (Okla.), History
62. Farmers' Union (Okla.), Rosters of state and national officials, ca. 1931-1944

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BOX 2
Folder:

1. Federal Land Bank System, "Analysis of interest spread and capital structure of the Federal Land Bank System, 1917-1939", Jan. 1941
2. Graduated Land Tax Reform, 1935, 1940
3. Group Health Association, 1940-1941
4. McClintic, Jim (Congressman), 1932
5. Miscellaneous
6. National Farmers' Union, 1930s
7. National Farmers' Union, 1940-1942
8. National Farmers' Union, 1943
9. National Farmers' Union, 1944, n.d.
10. National Farmers' Union, Constitution and By-laws, 1933-1944
11. National Farmers' Union. Tax program, 1943
12. Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce. "Legislative Possibilities", Dec. 1932
13. Oklahoma Tax Commission, 1937. "Tax Talks" by H.L. McCracken, Chairman. Ad Valorem Tax Reduction in Oklahoma
14. Oklahoma Youth Legislature, 1938
15. Oklahoma Youth Legislature. Russia's Secret Weapon, 1942
16. Pamphlets. A - Oklahoma F.
    • American Federation of Labor. An Important Message to the American Farmer
    • Federal Land Bank Commissioner's Loans, Some Questions and Answers, Sept. 1933
    • General Welfare News-Advocate, Apr. 28, 1941
    • Land and Freedom. A Legislative Framework for the Philosophy of Henry George, vol. XLI, #1, sec. 2
    • Montana MVA Association. The Answers to Common Objectives to MVA
    • Nebraska Labor Institute. Tenative Program, 1941
    • Oklahoma Emblems, Historical and Scenic Places
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union
    • [Oklahoma] Farmers' Union Must Talk. Speech Improvement and Discussion Methods, 1941
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union. Why Every Farmer Should be a Member, 1937
17. Pamphlets. Oklahoma H-W
    • Oklahoma Handbook. 1941 Agricultural Conservation Program.
    • Oklahoma Income Tax Law and Rules and Regulations, 1931
    • Oklahoma Youth Frontiers, Mar 1941. vol 2, #1
    • Patton, James G. The Federal Government's Role in the Postwar Economy. The American Political Science Review. Dec. 1944 vol. 38, no.6, p. 1124-1136
    • Southern Conference for Human Welfare
    • Statue of Liberty, History of the. Souvenir of Tom W. Cheek, 1934
    • U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cotton Crop and Ginning Report. Dates for 1932
    • U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eating the Surplus through the Food Stamp Plan, Dec 1940
    • U.S. Proceedings...150th Anniversary...1st Congress...Mar. 4,1939
    • The Voice of the Family Farmer. (partial, photocopy).
    • Wincharger. [Ad for windmill
18. Rural Electrification Project. Letter and map, 1941
19. Sheet music "That Old Farm Union Song Refrain" 1933
20. Speeches. Tom W. Cheek (1)
    • Achievements of the Oklahoma Farmers' Union
    • Cooperation. The Common Ground for Labor and Farmer, 1941 (2 copies)
    • Cooperation Will Save Us (3 copies)
    • Hydro Farmers' Union Cooperative Gin, To the Board of Directors & Stockholders
    • Interstate Migration of Destitute Citizens, Testimony before the Special Committee Investigating the, Sept 1940
    • The Liberty League...
    • The Man on the Bridge (The Cause of our Present Depression)
21. Speeches. Tom W. Cheek (2)
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union. State President's Message to Farm Security Clients
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union [Observations], 1937
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union. Report of State President, 1933
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union. 34th National Convention, 1938
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union. President's Annual Message, 1940 (2 copies)
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union. State President's Annual Message, 1941
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union. Report of Tom W. Cheek ... to the 38th National Convention, [1942]
    • Oklahoma Farmers' Union. State President's Message, n.d.
    • [Our country...democracy or fascism...]
    • Personal recollection of the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America Growth in Oklahoma, [1935]
    • Post-War Agricultural Program, Statement by Tom W. Cheek, Dec. 1944 (2 copies)
    • President Cheek's Stewardship. To the Delegates and Members of the 15th Annual Convention, 1931
    • Shall We Continue to Rob the Hand that's Feeding Us, 1938
    • [Testimony... if American agriculture could be restored...]
    • Value of Farmer's Union Cooperatives Paying Dues for their Stockholder Members, 1937
    • [We organized this... Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America...]
    • Why Christians Tolerate Tenancy, 1938

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BOX 3
Folder:

1. Speeches. Tom W. Cheek. Interstate Migration. 76th Congress Hearings, 1940
2. Speeches--Radio. Tom W. Cheek
   • [The American Farmer...dire necessity of producing food...], W.N.A.D. Radio Message Bankers Subsidy, 10/1/43
   • Bankers Subsidy, [1934]
   • The Cause and Evils of Farm Tenantry, NBC, Chicago, Mar. 27, 1937
   • A Definite Program for Agriculture. Farmers' Union Hour, Mar. 24, 1941 (2 copies)
   • Don't Rob the Hand That's Feeding You, NBC, Chicago, June 25, 1938
   • [Farm Security Administration], KTOK, June 5, 1943
   • [Farm Security Administration], WNAD, June 7, 1943
   • [The Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America...], WNAD, Feb. 15, 1943
   • [Farm Families], KTOK, May 8, 1943
   • [Farm homes in Oklahoma], Oct. 20, 1932
   • [Food Production], WNAD, Feb. 15, 1943
   • Getting Your Cotton Gin Ready, Aug. 10, 1939
   • High Lights on Wartime Food Production, KTOK, June 12, 1943
   • [V.I.A. in the 7th Congressional District...], July 8, 1940 (2 copies)
   • [War Production Board], KTOK, June 26, 1943, WNAD, June 28, 1943
   • Why We Propose to Amend the 1938 Agricultural Adjustment Act, 1940 (4 copies)
3. Speeches, Reports (1)
   • Grain Terminal Association. Food for Freedom Program. Radio address by Don Clayton, Aug. 1, 1943
   • The Income Certificate Plan. By Chairman Fulmer?
   • A Liberal Voice in Agricultural Journalism. By Benton J. Strong, Editor of National Union Farmer
   • Mississippi State AAA Committe Statement by C.L. Neill on Post War Farm Programs
   • New York Cotton Exchange Paper. General Cotton Conference, Dec. 4, 1944
   • Oklahoma Farmers Union. Report of the State President John A. Simpson 1929
4. Speeches, Reports (2)
   • [The Scrap Drive...], John A. Simpson 1930
   • U.S. Department of Agriculture. Financing Additions to the Farm Program. Carl Robbins at annual meeting of Americam Cotton Shippers Association, Apr. 26, 1940
   • U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Owner-operated, Family-sized Farm, Carl Taylor at Farmers' Union Institute of Public Affairs, July 26, 1940
   • Veterans of Industry of America Conference. Democracy is the Only Hope of the Toilers-Fifth Columns Above and Below. Ira M. Finley, June 30, 1940
   • What Makes Your Congress Tick?
   • Views on the Nature and Solution of the U.S. Cotton Problem Submitted by Lamar Fleming Jr. to U.S. House of Representatives Dec. 1944
5. Legislation - Oklahoma, ca. 1934-1941
6. Legislation - United States, 1932-1945
7. Legislation - United States. Congressional Records, 1929-1937
8. Legislation - United States. Congressional Records, April 3,1941
9. Legislation - United States. Congressional Records, 1940,1943
10. Waurika Creamery dispute, n.d.

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BOX 4
Oversize Newspapers

• Colorado Union Farmer, March 1938
• Daily Oklahoman (partial), March 9, 1940
• Daily Oklahoman -10 year Population Changes, July 21, 1940
• Eastern Union Farmer, Oct 1945
• General Welfare Reporter, June 12, 1945
• The Knoxville Journal, April 7, 1940
• National Union Farmer, Feb. 11, 1941
• National Union Farmer, April 8, 1941
• National Union Farmer, April 22, 1941
• National Union Farmer, Mar. 15, 1945
• National Union Farmer, Sept. 15, 1945
• Labor's Voice, June 1, 1937
• Labor's Voice, July 27, 1937
• Labor's Voice, March 8, 1938
• Labor's Voice, March 25, 1941

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Photographs

Folder 1

1. number not used
2. Cheek's daughters sorting his papers, Oct. 27, 1982
3. Tom W. Cheek feeding his dogs, 1903 Roger Mills Co., Oklahoma Territory
4. Tom Cheek Jr. and sister Eloise, with Marguerite and T.R. McKee posed on porch of stone house, Roger Mills County, c. 1908
5. Maurice Bair, Charles Few, F.R. Lenon, Cheek posed in front of automobile with speaker mounted on roof, Bowling Green, OH, July 4, 1936

   Folder 2

6. National Farmer's Union Convention, Omaha, NE, 1933. Includes M. Dickinson, James g. Patton, Glenn Talbot
7. The Big Issue, Washington, D.C., Nov. 16, 1953. Includes Ann Cheek Aragues, Mrs. Tom W. Chek, Harvey R. Solsberg
8. Group seated around table. Includes: George A. Nelson, Hans C. Hanson, Herb Rolph, J.G. Patton, Tom W. Cheek, J.M. Graves, M.F. Dickinson, Ole L. Olson
9. Group standing in field. Includes Ken Holmes, Glenn Talbott, M.F. Dickinson, Tom W. Cheek
10. Group standing in field. Includes Paul Sifton, Glenn Talbott, M.F. Dickinson, Tom Cheek, Ken Holmes, Harvey Solberg, Don Chapman, Ben Strong]

    Folder 3

11. Group standing with tobacco leaves(?). Includes Hans C. Hanson, Glenn J. Talbott, Harvey R. Solberg, Thomas W. Cheek
12. Group sitting at restaurant table. Includes Scott Orbison, Warner; Louise Matthews, OU; Tom Cheek; Harry Synar, Muskogee
13. Group standing in field. Includes Tom W. Cheek, Henry Clark, Hans C. Hanson
14. Oklahoma Farmers Union, 1941 F.S.A. Trip. Winners to National Convention-Topeka, KS. Includes Thomas W. Cheek, Andy Smith, B.A. Pratt, James G. Patton
15. Tom W. Cheek addressing a Legislative Conference at the national Farmers Union Convention. Sitting is William Thatcher, manager of the Farmers' Union Grain Terminal at St. Paul, Minn.

    Folder 4

16. Farm machinery (Vernon, TX (?)). Enclosure to letter from L.A. Hacker to Thomas Cheek, March 6, 1935 [B.1 F.20]
17. Farm machinery (Vernon, TX (?)). Enclosure to letter from L.A. Hacker to Thomas Cheek, March 6, 1935 [B.1 F.20]
18. Farm machinery (Vernon, TX (?)). Enclosure to letter from L.A. Hacker to Thomas Cheek, March 6, 1935 [B.1 F.20]

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