Eli M. Oboler Library
Perry Swisher - Table of Contents
MC002
Perry Swisher (1923- )
Scope and Content
The Perry Swisher Collection was received in 1968. The collection contains approximately seven linear feet of Hollinger boxes of correspondence, newspaper clippings, subject files, and legislative publications. Photographs were removed to a separate photograph collection.
The collection has a few items from Swisher's early career in newspapers and politics. However, the major part of the collection falls into the 1950's and 1960's. The focus of the collection is on newspaper and political activities. These cover a variety of subjects. Swisher was involved politically in civil rights, education, public utilities and taxation. Swisher's newspaper activities brought letters and press releases from newspaper men or politicians such as Vardis Fisher, Frank Church and Ralph Harding.
The original filing order and folder titles were retained, as much as possible. The arrangement is alphabetical by subject with chronological subdivisions. The titles reflect the varied interests of a newspaper man who was a legislator. Overlapping contents can be observed such as part of the legislative assignment, as opinions for newspaper editorials and as education, which is viewed as a separate subject.
A substantial number of clippings from a variety of newspapers are included, but are often not identified by date or publication.
Chronology
| 1923 | Joseph Perry Swisher was born in Bruneau, Idaho, Sept. 21st. |
| Moved with his family to Springfield, Illinois. | |
| 1941-1943 | He earned a Certificate in Arts from the University of Idaho Southern Branch. |
| 1942 | He worked as a Pocatello reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune. |
| 1943-1952 | He was Pocatello News Bureau Manager for the Salt Lake Tribune. |
| 1944 | Perry's first political campaign. He was press secretary for the GOP gubernatorial candidate. |
| 1947-1954 | He was a correspondent for Time-Life. |
| 1948 | He married Isabel Nichols, May 7th. |
| Made an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the Idaho House of Representatives. | |
| 1952-1958 | In 1952 Perry was elected as a Republican to the Idaho House of Representatives. |
| 1952-1967 | Became editor and publisher of The Intermountain. |
| 1958 | Lost the primary race for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor. |
| 1960 | Perry ran for the Idaho Senate, but lost the election. |
| 1961-1967 | Perry worked as a correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor. |
| 1962-1966 | He was elected to a term in the Idaho Senate. |
| 1966 | He was an unsuccessful Independent candidate for Governor. |
| 1968 | He earned a BA in Government from Idaho State University. |
| 1969-1976 | Perry worked as Director of Special Services at Idaho State University. |
| 1975-1976 | Elected once again to the Idaho House of Representatives, this time as a Democrat. |
| 1976 | He became Managing Editor of the Lewiston Morning Tribune. |
| 1979-date | Governor John Evans appointed Perry Swisher to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission(he served as its president from 1980-1983). |
Manuscript Collection (MC 002)
Processed by: Marcia Bair
Completed: November 1985
Collection size: approx. 7 linear feet item count = 4,650
Located: Eli M. Oboler Library - Archives; Idaho State University
This register is the final product of a grant funded by the Association for the Humanities in Idaho and sponsored by Idaho State University, Eli M. Oboler Library.