Blatnik, John Anton, 1911-1991

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John Anton Blatnik (August 17, 1911 – December 17, 1991) was a United States Congressman from Minnesota. He was a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), which is affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Blatnik graduated from Winona State College in 1935 after which he became an educational advisor for the Superior National Forest Civilian Conservation Corps (1935-1937), taught chemistry at Chisholm High School (1937-1939), and served as Saint Louis County Assistant Superintendent of Schools (1939-1941). During 1941 and August 1942 he did graduate work in public administration at the University of Minnesota. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1942, spending three and one-half years in the Army Air Corps Intelligence and Office of Strategic Services, including eighteen months of service in Yugoslavia and Italy. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Captain. For his military service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal.

In 1940, Blatnik was elected to the Minnesota state senate from the sixtieth district (northeastern Saint Louis County) and authored the senate version of the Minnesota taconite tax law of 1941. He retained his senate seat until his election as U.S. Representative (Democratic-Farmer-Labor party) from Minnesota's eighth district in 1946.

During his tenure in Congress, he served twenty years on the House Committee on Public Works, acting as chairman from 1971-1974. He also served on the House Committee on Government Operations, as chairman of the 1973 Conference of Great Lakes Congressmen, and on the fifteen-member study committee that created the 1972 Water Pollution Control Act. Blatnik was especially active in legislation dealing with water pollution control, flood control, disaster relief, community facilities, community development, education and vocational training, and regional economic development. He authored or co-authored many major bills in these areas, including the Water Pollution Control Act of 1956 (and its 1961 and 1972 amendments); Accelerated Public Works Program, 1962; Water Quality Act of 1956; Area Development Act of 1961; and the Public Works and Economic Act of 1965. Blatnik retired from Congress in 1974.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Friends of the Wilderness. Friends of the Wilderness records, 1917-1981. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Roger Hargrave Scrapbooks, Bulk, 1930-1979, 1873-1984 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Heaney, Gerald W. (Gerald William), 1918-. Gerald W. Heaney papers, 1910-2006 (bulk 1946-2006). Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Winston, Elizabeth M., 1905-2000. Elizabeth M. Winston papers, 1928-1992 (bulk 1973-1979). Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Minnesota. Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. Scrapbooks, 1941-1950, 1961-1983 [microform]. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Blatnik, M. J., Mrs. Newspaper article, [1958]. Denver Public Library, Central Library
creatorOf Bester, Earl Thomas, 1900-. Earl T. Bester papers, 1937-1967. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Blatnik, John A. (John Anton), 1911-1991. John A. Blatnik Congressional papers, 1889-1991 (bulk 1947-1974). Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Edward W. Davis papers., 1883-1973. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Cole, Noman M., 1933-. Papers of Noman M. Cole [manuscript], 1970-1974. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations, 1900 - 2003. Official Military Personnel Files, 1947 - 1998. National Archives at St. Louis
creatorOf Yetka, Lawrence R., 1924-. Lawrence Yetka papers, 1921, 1950-1970, 1993. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Reierson, Arthur O., 1905-1965. Arthur O. Reierson papers, 1917, 1934-1965. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Gerald W. Heaney papers., 1910-2006 (bulk 1946-2006). Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Minnesota Emergency Conservation Committee. MECC records, 1927-1974. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Carl Bert Albert Congressional papers, 1910-1998, bulk 1946-1998. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn Hjalmar Petersen papers. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Hawkins, Oscar F. (Oscar Ferdinand), 1872-1964. Oscar F. Hawkins and family papers, 1888-1963. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Louis Lerman papers, 1917-1978 (bulk 1955-1974). Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Davis, Edward W. (Edward Wilson), 1888-1973. Edward W. Davis papers, 1883-1973. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Smith, Francis Monroe, 1904-1951. Francis Monroe Smith papers, 1936-1951. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Association records., 1964-1994. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf John A. Blatnik congressional papers., 1889-1991 (bulk 1947-1974). Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Hjalmar Petersen papers. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Voyageurs Region National Park Association. Association records, 1964-1994. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Elizabeth M. Winston papers., 1928-1992 (bulk 1973-1979). Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Waite, Edward F. (Edward Foote), 1860-1958. Edward F. Waite papers, 1764-1958. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Lerman, Louis Edward, 1894-. Louis E. Lerman papers, 1917-1978 (bulk 1955-1974). Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Dillis Charles Knapp papers, circa 1920-1981 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
creatorOf Vaughan, James Patrick, 1882-1965. James P. Vaughan papers, 1904-1963. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Duluth CIO Industrial Union Council (Duluth, Minn.). Council records, 1937-1956. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn James L Oberstar Congressional Papers., 1964-2011 Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Saint Louis County Club and Farm Bureau Association (Duluth, Minn.). Association records, 1915-1962. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Blair Moody Papers, 1928-1954, 1934-1952 Bentley Historical Library
Relation Name
associatedWith Albert, Carl Bert, 1908-2000. person
associatedWith Begich, Nick. person
associatedWith Bester, Earl Thomas, 1900- person
associatedWith Blatnik, M. J., Mrs. person
associatedWith Cole, Noman M., 1933- person
associatedWith College of Saint Scholastica (Duluth, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, Minn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Davis, Edward W. (Edward Wilson), 1888-1973 person
associatedWith Davis, Edward W. (Edward Wilson), 1888-1973. person
associatedWith Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. corporateBody
associatedWith Duluth CIO Industrial Union Council (Duluth, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith Friends of the Wilderness. corporateBody
associatedWith Hargrave, Roger, 1911-1980 person
associatedWith Hawkins, Oscar F. (Oscar Ferdinand), 1872-1964. person
associatedWith Heaney, Gerald W. (Gerald William), 1918- person
associatedWith Heaney, Gerald W. (Gerald William), 1918-. person
associatedWith Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978. person
associatedWith Izaak Walton League of America. Minnesota Division. corporateBody
associatedWith Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 person
associatedWith Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963. person
associatedWith Knapp, Dillis Charles person
associatedWith Leech Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. corporateBody
associatedWith Leech Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. corporateBody
associatedWith Lerman, Louis Edward, 1894- person
associatedWith Lerman, Louis Edward, 1894- person
associatedWith Minnesota Emergency Conservation Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. corporateBody
associatedWith Moody, Blair, 1902-1954 person
associatedWith Oberstar, James. person
associatedWith Oberstar, James L. (James Louis), 1934- person
associatedWith Olson, Helmer E. person
associatedWith Olson, Helmer E. person
associatedWith Paulucci, Jeno F. (Jeno Francesco), 1918-2011. person
associatedWith Perpich, Rudy, 1928- person
associatedWith Perpich, Rudy, 1928-1995. person
associatedWith Petersen, Hjalmar, 1890-1968 person
associatedWith Petersen, Hjalmar, 1890-1968. person
associatedWith Range Mental Health Center. corporateBody
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. corporateBody
associatedWith Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. corporateBody
associatedWith Reierson, Arthur O., 1905-1965. person
associatedWith Saint Louis County Club and Farm Bureau Association (Duluth, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith Smith, Francis Monroe, 1904-1951. person
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army. Air Corps corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Elections. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Government Operations. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Public Works. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Archives and Records Administration corporateBody
associatedWith Vaughan, James Patrick, 1882-1965. person
associatedWith Voyageurs Region National Park Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Waite, Edward F. (Edward Foote), 1860-1958. person
associatedWith Winston, Elizabeth M., 1905-2000. person
associatedWith Yetka, Lawrence R., 1924- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Maryland MD US
Chisholm MN US
Subject
Boards of trade
Political campaigns
Community development
Consumer cooperatives
Electioneering
Electric utilities
Harbors
Iron Range
Producer cooperatives
Railroads
Railroads
Slavic Americans
Taconite industry
Water
Water conservation
Water resources development
Watershed
Watersheds
Occupation
Member of the House of Representatives
Politicians
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1911-08-17

Death 1991-12-17

Male

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6f874x1

SNAC ID: 87558179