Leland Olds began his governmental service making special economic studies for the Council of National Defense in 1917. In 1918 he became a statistician for the Shipbuilding Labor Adjustment Board and later the same year the Administrator of Awards for the National War Labor Board. From 1920 to 1922 he headed the research bureau of the Railroad Employees Department of the American Federation of Labor, and from 1922 to 1931 was the industrial editor for Federated Press. From 1931 to 1939 he was with the New York State Power Authority, first as the Assistant to the Chairman and later as Executive Secretary. In 1936 he was a member of the President's Commission to Study Cooperative Enterprise Abroad. He was appointed to a five-year term on the Federal Power Commission in 1939, and re-appointed in 1944. He served as Chairman of the Commission from 1940 to 1945 and again in 1947. In 1950-51 he was a member of the President's Water Resources Policy Commission. The papers consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, reports, statistics, proposed legislation, press releases, and press clippings, all relating to Mr. Olds' interests and concerns for conservation, electric power, and ecology.

Contains early material from Mary P. Adams and Joseph Daniels Leland, maternal grandparents of Leland Olds; also miscellaneous papers, correspondence and academic materials of his father, George D. Olds, mathematics professor and president of Amherst College. Includes family correspondence between Olds' parents, LO and his wife, Maud, his children, John, Mary, James and Zara and other family members, arranged in chronological order. Most correspondence is between LO and his mother, Marion, 1902-1953. School memorabilia, as well as legal documents i.e. LO's Army discharge (1918), marriage certificate (1924) and his last will and testament (1945).

This series does not in any way represent all of LO's correspondence from 1930-1960, nor is it largely personal. Letters to and from LO are scattered throughout every series in this collection. Contains exchanges between LO and various individuals and organizations relative to issues and subjects in which he was interested. Correspondents include: Morris L. Cooke, Senator Paul H. Douglas, Judson King, W. Jett Lauck, Adlai Stevenson, Frank P. Walsh; some organizations represented are : Affiliated Young Democrats, Amherst College, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, Democratic National Committee, Liberal Party, National Planning Association, Twentieth Century Fund. Arranged alphabetically by surname of individual or institution.

Notebooks contain LO's comments on various subjects and excerpts from his voluminous daily reading. Reminders are secretary's entries for LO's appointments, meetings, speeches, and luncheons. Arranged chronologically, although parts of this series are fragmented, i.e. desk calendars exist for only the years 1933-1934; 1943-1944; 1948-1960.

LO served as industrial editor of and consultant to the Federated Press, a labor news service, 1922-1931. His syndicated column appeared in a number of labor newspapers including the COMMUNIST DAILY WORKER. Contains copies of Federated Press publications and articles arranged chronologically as well as press releases, 1925-1929, arranged by subject.

LO was a member of the Governor's Commission working to revise the Public Service Commission Law. Contains correspondence with Frank P. Walsh, reports, working papers, case studies and exhibits.

One of the many consultants' positions held by LO during this period was to the Mayor's Commission which was to reorganize the taxicab industry in New York City. Contains related correspondence, memoranda, clippings, reports, minutes of meetings, and LO's research notes.

LO worked with Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt on a state program to regulate utilities in New York State and Canada while simultaneously working on a similar program in Wisconsin. Correspondence with Governor Roosevelt and Samuel Rosenman, notes and data on New York State legislation and the Wisconsin District Utilities Bill.

With Mary Harriman Rumsey, the Community Councils of New York City and others, LO tried to relieve unemployment by planning self-help cooperative farm communities. Includes data on farm activities in selected states, information on existing agricultural cooperatives and the American Farm Foundation, correspondence, memos, notes and miscellaneous printed matter.

LO was active in and served as consultant to this group which advocated citizen participation in public affairs. Corresondence, minutes of meetings, data on proposals and programs, speech material and yearbooks for 1933, 1936 and 1943.

LO was assistant to Chairman, Frank P. Walsh and later executive secretary to the Power Authority, 1930-1939. His responsibility for the work of the Authority in U.S. - Canadian relations is reflected here. Reports, publications, records of conversations and conferences with Canadian representatives on St. Lawrence Power, Communications with the White House and State Department 1936-1938; also Governor Roosevelt's Utility Messages of 1930, a small amount of corresondence 1931-1939, annual reports 1931-1954 and LO's notes and memos.

Material in this file consists of various and unrelated subjects arranged chronologically. I. AE Lecture tour, 1930-1931 Poet and protagonist of the communal movement in Ireland, AE (George Russell) conducted a lecture in the U.S. on European cooperatives. LO organized the tour and accompanied AE. Includes miscellaneous correspondence, itineraries, copies of lectures, publications and press clippings. II. Atlantic Ciry Gas Co. Rate Schedule, 1931. LO was a private consultant for Samuel Morris, an Atlantic City attorney. Contains LO's file notes on the study. III. Progressives for FDR, 1936 Includes lists of sponsors, literature and copies of speeches used to support Roosevelt in the campaign of 1936. IV. American Labor Party, 1936-1941. LO was active in the American Labor Party and served as temporary chairman of its convention in New York City in 1938. Contains correspondence, minutes of meetings, campaign speech made by Olds and publicity material. V. League for Industrial Democracy, 1937-1958. Correspondence with Harry Laidler, Executive Director of the League, notes and speeches of LO and miscellaneous printed materials concerned with the League. VI. Proposal on LO's Appointment as Minister to Canada, 1938. Correspondence of McIntyre to Carrol, January 14, 1938. VII. Cooperative Forum, 1947-1949. Newsletters, lists of speakers and subjects, financial statement of Forum. VIII. American Friends Service Committee, 1949. Reports (2) on American-Russian relations prepared by Friends Committee.

LO and Mary Harriman Rumsey were co-chairmen of this organizaion created to eliminate unemployment through cooperative activities. Correspondence, constitution and by-laws of the organization, planning documents and reports on programs.

Materials concerning the TVA are scattered throughout many series in the collection, but this material was segregated by Olds' secretary. Contains the "TVA Report to the Nation" 1933-1948, reports 1934-1937, miscellaneous correspondence including exchanges with David Lilienthal 1942-1944, the Rankin manuscript on TVA with Olds' drafts and revisions, and LO's memo: "Alabama Power Co. Yardstick", 1938.

LO was a member of President Roosevelt's committee to study consumer cooperatives in the British Isles and Scandinavia in March, 1937. Includes invitations from foreign governments, correspondence among members of the committee and others, memoranda, itineraries, notes, preliminary and final drafts of a report to FDR, newspaper clippings, and printed materials arranged alphabetically by country studied.

LO represented the Secretary of the Interior on the National Defense Power Committee, 1938-1939; he was vice-chairman of the National Power Policy Committee, 1939-1944; also, member of the Special Committee on European Power Problems, 1943-1944. LO's notes and memos, related correspondence, reports, minutes of meetings and utilities conferences, plans and power programs.

From 1939 to 1943, LO was a member of the Water and Energy Resources Committees of the National Resources Planning Board. Largely working reports of these committees arranged chronologically, committee meetings minutes, plans for energy programs.

Contains material related to specific subjects such as: the Defense Power Program 1939-1943, St. Lawrence Seaway Treaty Negotiations, 1939-1949, the Federal Power Commission, 1939-1949; also, miscellaneous memoranda of LO to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman and invitations received by him to attend presidential functions.

LO was appointed chairman of this Commision by President Roosevelt October, 1940. He helped negotiate the formal agreement with Canada in 1941 to deepen the St. Lawrence waterway and develop hydroelectric power. Contains historical data on U.S.-Canadian relatons, survey studies, correspondence, notes, memos, preidential memos, treaty drafts, press releases and congressional committee hearings.

The relationship between the prior series and this one is obvious although the material in this section deals chiefly with legislation related to Niagara power development. Includes historical notes, correspondence, memos to LO from FDR and Berle, Army Corps of Engineers reports, New York Power Authority and Vermont Cooperatives contracts, congressional hearings, statements, speeches and newspaper clippings.

LO was appointed to the Federal Power Commission in 1939 by President Roosevelt and served as chairman 1940 to 1944 and 1946 until his second term expired. His renomination by President Harry S. Truman was rejected by the United States Senate in 1949. This series is organized into 12 parts: I. Nominaton and Reappointment of Leland Olds, 1939-1949 (4 containers) Congratulatory messages and correspondence, miscellaneous notes, memos and data used at Olds' congressional hearings 1939, 1944. The 1949 materials include correspondence with President Truman, general correspondence, presentation materials, statements from witnesses, committee reports, radio interviews (LO's), the NEW YORK POST article series, report of the Senate proceedings, and newspaper clippings. II. General Files, 1939-1949 (19 containers) These files comprise a large segment of the materials and correspondence that crossed LO's desk as chairman of the FPC. Arranged alphabetically. III. Daily News Digest, 1939-1949. (9 containers) An in-house organ that provided a daily account of FPC activities, June 26, 1939 through 1949. IV. National Defense and War Power Requirements, 1939-1947. (8 containers) The role and activities of the FPC in war power supply as an integral part of national defense are reflected in these files. Reports, studies, conference minutes, plans and proposals which the Commission worked on during the war era. Arranged alphabetically by subject. V. Cases and Court Decisions, 1939-1955. (7 containers) Materials relating to FPC docketed cases supervised by LO. Arranged alphabetically by case name. VI. River Basin Studies, 1939-1960. (13 containers) Files of FPC's River Basin Division created by Flood Control and River-Harbor Acts in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers. Arranged alphabetically by river name. VII. Interconnection Studies, 1940; 1958. (2 containers) Reports and activities of the FPC regional offices. VIII. Congressional Hearings, 1940-1949; 1956 (6 containers) Chiefly, printed materials relating to House and Senate bills in which the FPC had a direct interest. Arranged chronologically. IX. Power Market Surveys, 1942-1950. (3 containers) FPC reports prepared at the request of state governors, district engineers and/or others for use in studying present and future electric power supplies. Arranged alphabetically. X. Natural Gas Files, 1942-1949; 1953-1960. (7 containers) Correspndence, statistical data, reports and evaluations relating to natural gas; also files dealing with the affairs of specific gas and electric companies. Most materials 1953-1960 deal with amendments to the Natural Gas Act and committee hearing relating to them. XI. Natural Gas Investigation G-580, 1944-1960. (9 containers) Materials concerning the Congressional investigations of the natural gas industry accompanied by copies of hearings, testimonies, statements, exhibits, newspaper clippings, and articles. Arranged chronologically. XII. Miscellaneous Printed Materials, 1939 and c.f. (2 containers) Printed matter sent to LO and bound FPC materials.

In 1949, LO was a contributor and participant in the United Nations Scientific Conference on Conservation and Utilization of Resources. Materials include a record of the plenary meetings of this conference, Olds' papers and the papers of other participants, bound volume of materials concerning water resources, and printed U.N. matter including "New Sources of Energy and Economic Development" (1957) and "Integrated River Basin Development" (1958)

Many topics found herein are also treated elsewhere but these files emphasize LO's continuing interest and activity in public utility regulation, regional development, hydropower, conservation and a national water policy. Additionally, there are research files on a variety of bills prepared by LO for members of Congress, correspondence, reports, studies and informational data, etc. Arranged alphabetically.

From 1950-1951, LO served on the Water Resources Policy Commission established by President Truman. As Commissioner-in-Charge-of-Studies, he supervised the preparation of the Commission's three-volume report: "A Water Policy for the American People" (Vol. 1), "Ten Rivers in America's Future" (Vol. 2), "Water Resources Law" (Vol. 3). LO's working files are arranged alphabetically by topic or name of correspondent. Also, three notebooks containing source material and notes on personnel, minutes of various committee meetings, commission mid-year reports, memoranda, summaries of views and recommendations, evaluations and LO's working drafts of chapter on "Power" for the Commission's report. For an inventory of the President's Water Resources Policy Commission Files transferred from the National Archives to the Harry S. Truman Library, see Appendix I.

As representative of the Secretary of Interior 1951-1953, LO became a member of the New England-New York regional interagency committee charged with surveying land and water resources and submitting a comprehensive report with recommendations. He was Director of the Northeast Field Staff and coordinated the work of the Bureau of Mines, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Geological Survey Group. The Inter-Agency Committee Files, 1951-1953 and the New England General Files, 1953-1960 are arranged alphabetically by topic. The comprehensive report, "Resources of the New England-New York Region" is contained in bound volumes. Chapter headings are found in the Container List.

Series includes projects LO worked on either because of his special interest, e.g. the Democratic Party 1956, 1960 or because he was hired to research problems for individuals or companies, e.g. John F. Kennedy and the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association. Arranged alphabetically.

In 1953, LO joined the Public Affairs Institute in Washington, D.C. as a staff consultant. Materials include transitional correspondence 1953, general correspondence 1953-1959, memoranda, reports and working files related to several research studies, e.g.: Atomic Energy, Hells Canyon, and Dixon-Yates. Topically arranged and thereunder alpabetically.

From 1954 until his death in 1960, LO was Director of Energy Research Associates, a private research group which he founded as an affiliate of the Public Affairs Institute. Largely, administrative and financial files dealing with contributions, expenditures, fund raising, personnel, minutes of meetings, organizational data, etc. Also several working files related to "Giant Power" and the South Dakota Rate Studies. Arranged topically and thereunder alphabetically.

Although this file contains most of LO's speeches and writings, additional materials as well as copies of speeches and articles are scattered throughout the papers. Materials in the Speech File are arranged in the following manner: Speeches - Personal File, 1908-1960 (Vols. 1-4 bound); Speeches and Related Correspondence, 1908-1960; Speeches, 1941-1960; Speech Requests Unfilled, 1939-1958; Miscellaneous Speeches by Others, 1948-1949; Selected Speech Materials, 1938-1960 (topical arrangement). LO's Writing Files c. 1898 to 1960 are arranged chronologically. Included are his miscellaneous school writings, the manuscript of his doctoral dissertation, "From Jacobin to Boleshevik" with notes and working papers, course and teaching notes, lectures, research data, topical notes relating to labor and economic problems, articles, drafts, book reviews, requests for articles and books refused, undated writings and miscellaneous notes for books and reminiscences. Also includes articles written about Olds.

Includes commendations and tributes from the American Power Association, the Federal Power Commission, the Executive Committee of the Electric Consumers Information Committee; also the John Dewey Award from the League for Industrial Democracy. A book of letters from eminent Americans (ECIC, 1959) contains messages from Harry S. Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, John Sparkman, Ordway Tead, Horace Gray, Lowell Mellett, and Herbert Lehman.

These materials, chiefly newspaper clippings with a few scattered magazine articles are arranged chronologically and alphabetically, but in the case of unarranged clippings only chronologically. The series includes: Arranged Clippings, 1920-1960; Selected Clippings, 1959-1960, Unarranged Clippings, 1921-1949; also some miscellaneous reprints and articles.

Brochures, booklets, pamphlets, music books, scores and other printed matter. Arranged chronologically by date received or date of publication.

Address and occupation records kept by LO of family members, friends, business associates, and acquaintances. Unarranged, on 3 by 5-inch cards. Appendices: I. Index to the President's Water Resources Policy Commission Files, transferred from the National Archives to the Harry S. Truman Library. II. Chronology of and Subject Index to major Speeches, Articles, Papers and Memos of Leland Olds, 1908-1960

Includes personal and business correpondence, office notes and miscellaneous materials i.e. articles, scrapbooks, etc. related to Miss Meyer's long association with LO and his work. A copy of Mr. Olds' will is also included here.

Actual dates are 1930-1936, 1949-1958.