Guide to the David I. Wells Papers,
1964-1980.

Collection Number: 4917

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
EAD encoding:
Martin Heggestad,

© 2003 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
David I. Wells papers, 1964-1980.
Collection Number:
4917
Creator:
David I. Wells.
Quantity:
19 cubic feet.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, subject files, legal briefs and papers, and other material.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Correspondence, subject files, legal briefs and papers, and other material pertaining to Wells' career and interest in legislative representation and redistricting, including the Wells Vs. Rockefeller Supreme Court challenge, anti-gerrymandering legislation, presidential election system reform, and other legal cases concerning districting and reform.
Language:
Collection material in English


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Lecturer and writer on matters of apportionment.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Correspondence, subject files, legal briefs and papers, and other material pertaining to Wells' career and interest in legislative representation and redistricting, including the Wells Vs. Rockefeller Supreme Court challenge, anti-gerrymandering legislation, presidential election system reform, and other legal cases concerning districting and reform.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Wells, David I.

Subjects:
Wells vs. Rockefeller (suit).
Apportionment (Election law).
Legislation.
Legislative bodies.
Presidents--Election.
Representative government and representation.
Gerrymandering.


INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
David I. Wells papers, #4917. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
D.W. written materials (several folders)
Box 1-2
Correspondence to D.W.
Box 3
Correspondence by D.W.
Box 3
Articles and letters mentioning D.W.
Box 3
Miscellaneous D.W. activities and involvements
Box 3
Dirksen Amendment ( 1964-1965 ) (efforts to nullify "one person-one vote" ruling)
Box 3
Legislative Representation in New York State ("LRNYS") - a booklet by D.W., issued in several editions between 1957 and 1964 (2 folders)
Box 3
Wells v. Rockefeller ( 1966-1970 ) - case challenging three successive New York State Congressional Districting redistricting statutes (1961, 1968, 1970) - the first two successfully. Second phase ruling (1969) was by U.S. Supreme Court.
Box 4-6
General material on redistricting reform (mostly late 1970s, early 1980s)
Box 6
Proposed Danford Amendment (U.S. Senate) ( 1979, 1980 )
Box 6
WMCA case (WMCA v. Lomenzo). Case which, when consolidated with cases from five other states, became the so-called "one person-one vote" Supreme Court ruling of 1964 (3 folders)
Box 7
New York State Committee for Fair Representation ("NYSCFR") - 2 folders (successful)
Box 7
National Committee for Fair Representation ("NCFR")
Box 7
"Black-Republican Redistricting Alliance"
Box 7
Race and redistricting, post-1980
Box 7
Voting Rights Act Extension ( 1982 )
Box 7
Schwartz case, 1971-1972 (subsequently combined with Schnider v. Rockefeller) - attacking constitutionalityof New York State legislative redistricting of 1971-1972 (4 folders)
Box 8
1974 N.Y.S. racial redistricting ruling, leading to United Jewish Organizations (UJO) v. Carey
Box 8
Proposed federal anti-gerrymandering legislation
Box 9
D.W. consultation work (national), initiated through AFL-CIO COPE (post-1970 redistricting) - 2 folders
Box 9
Informal Advisory Committee on Redistricting to Democratic National Committee (DNC)
Box 9
Articles & commentaries on redistricting (early 1970s ) (2 folders)
Box 9
State legislative redistricting (national), 1971-1972
Box 9
Local redistricting
Box 9
DW, GT (Gus Tyler) and other's writing on redistricting - early 1970s
Box 9
Articles on redistricting, post- 1980
Box 9
Computer redistricting, post- 1980
Box 9
Congressional redistricting (national), 1971-1974
Box 10
Legal briefs on redistricting (most early 1970 s)
Box 10
Legal decisions on redistricting (most early 1970 s)
Box 10
Presidential election system reform; the Electoral College
Box 11-12
Summaries of events & cases, post- 1970 redistricting
Box 12
1992 N.Y.S. congressional redistricting, including D.W. plan submitted to task force
Box 12
State-by-state files on redistricting, in alphabetical order, beginning with this box which runs from Alabama through Georgia
Box 13
State files contain various materials on redistricting in the state in general, as well as some correspondence and other material on D.W. involvements in the state. Note, for example, Colorado, where League of Women Voters successfully campaigned to get proposal drafted in part by D.W. onto the ballot through initiative process. Proposal passed (1974) and was incorporated into state constitution.
State-by-state files, continued (Hawaii through Missouri)
Box 14
NOTE: Pre-1990 files for twelve states (Idaho through Minnesota, alphabetically) are missing.
State-by-state files, continued (Montana through New Jersey)
Box 15
NOTE: New Jersey files include extensive material on D.W. involvement in N.J. congressional redistricting in early 1970s at initial request of Congressman (and House Judiciary Committee Chairman) Peter Rodino.
State-by-state files, continued (New Mexico through Oklahoma)
Box 16
State-by-state files, continued (Oregon through Vermont)
Box 17
State-by-state files, continued (Virginia through Wyoming, plus Canada, France, Japan, etc.)
Box 18
Books on various aspects of districting and apportionment - mostly historic ( late 1950s, early 1960s )
Box 19