The collection consists of material from Sam Houston Jones' gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns, correspondence, speech files, state and federal files, press releases, invitations and appointments, oil and gas files, and audio tape reels of speeches. William Walter Jones lost his life in the defense of World War I, and it was Sam Houston Jones' wish that the collection be named in his honor.

Biographical Note

Sam Houston Jones (1897-1978) was governor of Louisiana from 1940 to 1944. A Democrat, Jones ran against the late Huey Long's brother, Earl K. Long on the 1940 platform, promising an end to political corruption and a return to government efficiency. Jones enacted civil service, instituted competitive bidding for state contracts, and worked to increase international trade while in office. He was succeeded in 1944 by another anti-Long Democrat, Jimmie Davis.

Subject/Index Terms

Democratic Party (La.)
Elections -- Corrupt practices -- Louisiana.
Governors -- Louisiana -- History.
Jones, Sam H. (Sam Houston), 1897-1978.
Long, Earl Kemp, 1895-1960.
Natural gas -- Louisiana.
Offshore oil industry -- Louisiana -- History.
Political campaigns.

Administrative Information

Repository: Offsite Repository

Alternate Extent Statement: 105 linear feet

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions. Collection is stored offsite, please contact LaRC staff at least two business days in advance to determine availability of the collection.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Acquisition Source: Sam Houston and Louise Jones

Acquisition Method: Gift

Preferred Citation: William Walter Jones collection of Sam Houston Jones papers, Manuscripts Collection 409, Louisiana Ressearch Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Processing Information: Collection processed in 2011 by LAC Group

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Campaign Files, 1939-1948],
[Series 2: State Files, 1930s-1940s],
[Series 3: Governor's Files, 1940s],
[Series 4: Federal Relations],
[Series 5: Speech Files and Press Releases, 1939-1973],
[Series 6: Appointments],
[Series 7: Invitations, 1940-1950],
[Series 8: Oil and Gas Files, 1944-1953],
[Series 9: Congratulations, Telegrams, Printed Matter, 1940s-1950s],
[[information restricted]],
[Series 11: Parish Correspondence],
[Series 12: Other Papers, Printing Blocks, Oversize Materials],
[Series 13: Audiovisual Materials],
[All]

Series 13: Audiovisual Materials

Box 210: Audiovisual Materials: Phonograph records, No date

Item 1: Phonograph records

Box 211: Audiovisual Materials: Tape reels, 1962

Item 1: Tape reel: Sam Jones Interview, January 26, 1962
Item 2: Tape reel: Sam Jones Interview, January 26, 1962

Box 212: Audiovisual Materials: Tape reels, 1947-1948

Item 1: Tape reel: Political Speech, October 4, 1947
Item 2: Tape reel: Political Speech, October 13, 1947
Item 3: Tape reel: Political Speech, October 6, 1947
Item 4: Tape reel: Political Speech, October 20, 1947 (Approximately 3 minutes of duplication on transcriptions in middle of tape)
Item 5: Tape reel: Political Speech, October 27, 1947 (The Introduction to Mr. Fred S. LeBlanc has been deleted due to damage to master record.)
Item 6: Tape reel: Political Speech, November 3, 1947
Item 7: Tape reel: Hale Boggs - Senator Overton, Political Speech, November 10, 1947
Item 8: Tape reel: Shelby Jackson-Sam Jones, November 17, 1947
Item 9: Tape reel: Sam Jones-Vance Plauche, November 24, 1947
Item 10: Tape reel: Ross Bannister, Jimmie Davis, Sam Jones, December 1, 1947
Item 11: Tape reel: Chep Morrison, Ott, Sam Jones, December 8, 1947 (First Part Chep Morrison's Speech Deleted Due to Damaged Master Record.)
Item 12: Tape reel: Political Rally - New Orleans, December 9, 1947 (introduced by Chep Morrison)
Item 13: Tape reel: Larry Eustis - A. Brown Moore, December 11, 1947
Item 14: Tape reel: Question - Answer Program recorded WNOE New Orleans, Decmeber 12, 1947
Item 15: Tape reel: Veterans Program Knowles - Dugas - Sam Jones, December 29, 1947
Item 16: Tape reel: January 5, 1948
Item 17: Tape reel: Major Hardy - Sam Jones, January 13, 1948
Item 18: Tape reel: Sam Jones Rally - New Orleans Hale Boggs - Jimmie Davis January 15, 1948 (This tape number 18 is a one hour rally. Tape number 18 is first part. Tape number 19 is conclusion)
Item 19: Tape reel: Part 2 Sam Jones Rally - New Orleans January 15, 1948 (Tape number 18 is first part of this program)
Item 20: Tape reel: Speech in Ruston, December 24, 1947
Item 21: Tape reel: Part 1 of a 30 minute speech by Sam Jones. Part 2 missing however Jones speech complete on part 1, January 19, 1948
Item 22: Tape reel: Sam Jones - Mrs. Sam Jones Part 2 of this program is missing, Sam Jones and Mrs. Sam Jones talks are complete on this tape, February 5, 1948
Item 23: Tape reel: Sam Jones Speech (Veterans) February 9, 1948
Item 24: Tape reel: Mrs. W.F. Wood - Ben Dawkins February 18, 1948

Box 213: Audiovisual Materials: Tape reels, 1940s

Item 1: Tape reel: Political Speech, January 26, 1948
Item 2: Tape reel: Mrs. Dewitt Henry - T. Gross - Ben Dawkins Sam Jones, February 18, 1948
Item 3: Tape reel: Morrison - Dix - Overton for Jones
Item 4: Tape reel: Jones Farm Program Jimmie Davis Band
Item 5: Tape reel: Speech Bogolusa, Louisiana
Item 6: Tape reel: Speech Hammond, Louisiana
Item 7: Tape reel: Speech Election Day
Item 8: Tape reel: 2nd Primary Speech
Item 9: Tape reel: Political Bandwagon number 1 Bob Lacy
Item 10: Tape reel: Mrs. Floyd Williamson Speaking for Sam Jones 2nd Primary
Item 11: Tape reel: Speech Election Day
Item 12: Tape reel: Speech, January 5, 1940

Tulane University Special Collections