Youngdahl, Luther W., 1896-1978

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Luther Wallace Youngdahl was born in Minneapolis on May 29, 1896, the son of John Carl and Elizabeth (Johnson) Youngdahl. He was educated in the Minneapolis Public Schools, attended the University of Minnesota for a year and then transferred to Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. After service in World War I, he returned to Gustavus Adolphus and was graduated from there in 1919. He began his law studies at the Minnesota College of Law (later William Mitchell College of Law) and was graduated from there in 1921.

From 1921 to 1930 Youngdahl was assistant city attorney for Minneapolis and was a partner in the law office of M.C. Tifft. From 1930 to 1936 he served as a municipal judge for the city of Minneapolis and, from 1936 to 1942, as a judge on the Hennepin County District Court. In 1942 he was elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court as associate justice and held that position until 1946, when he resigned to run for governor of Minnesota on the Republican Party ticket. He was elected governor in 1946 and was re-elected in 1948 and 1950. His gubernatorial terms were highlighted by enactment of an anti-slot machine law and a new mental health law considered one of the nation's models at the time.

In 1951 he was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) by Democratic President Harry S. Truman. The appointment generated accusations that Youngdahl was chosen so that he would not run against then Senator Hubert H. Humphrey. One of Youngdahl's most significant federal cases involved Owen J. Lattimore, who was accused of disloyalty by supporting the insurgent Chinese communist movement. Youngdahl's decisions in the case largely supported Lattimore's First Amendment rights and created much public discussion.

Youngdahl served on the federal bench until his retirement in 1966, after which he served as a senior judge for hearing special cases.

Youngdahl married Irene Annet Engdahl on June 23, 1923. They had three children: Margaret, William and David. Luther Youngdahl died June 21, 1978 at his home in Washington, D.C.,,and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

From the guide to the Luther W Youngdahl papers., 1923-1968., (Minnesota Historical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Minnesota. Governor (1947-1951 : Youngdahl). Records, 1943-1954 (bulk 1947-1950). Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Leslie, Frank P. Frank P. Leslie papers, 1903-1972 (bulk 1940-1970). Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Luther W Youngdahl papers., 1923-1968. Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn George A. Barton papers., undated and 1841, 1888-1969. Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Minnesota. Governor (1947-1951 : Youngdahl). Packing houses strike files, 1948. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Federation records., 1890-2012. Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Hjalmar Petersen papers. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Hjalmar Petersen papers. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Records of Temporary Committees, Commissions, and Boards. 1893 - 2008. Commission Records Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Minnesota. Governor (1947-1951 : Youngdahl). Scandinavian trip files, 1947-1948. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Arc records., 1946-2007. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Swanson, Hilding Alfred, 1885-ca.1964. Hilding A. Swanson papers, 1873-1965. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Fosseen, Carrie, 1875-1963. Carrie Fosseen papers, 1914-1951. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Herman Roe papers, 1906-1965. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Barton, George A. (George Arthur), 1885-1969. George A. Barton papers, undated and 1841, 1888-1969. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn George W. Pray Papers, 1844-1890 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Frank P. Leslie papers., 1903-1972. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf General Federation of Women's Clubs of Minnesota. Federation records, 1890-2004. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Brill, Hascal R. (Hascal Russel), 1846-1922. Hascal R. Brill and family papers, 1805, 1849-1964. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Rossman, L. A. (Laurence Alonzo), 1890-1956. Laurence A. Rossman papers, 1924-1996 (bulk 1924-1955). Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Laurence A. Rossman papers, 1924-1996 (bulk 1924-1955). Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Margaret Bayne Price Papers, 1918-1969, 1947-1968 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Youngdahl, Luther W., 1896-1978. Luther W. Youngdahl papers, 1923-1968. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Arc Greater Twin Cities (Organization). Arc records, 1946-2007. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Spencer, Rose Carolyn, 1891-1967. Rose Carolyn Spencer papers, 1889, 1907-1967. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Benjamin E. Youngdahl Papers, 1916-1968, (bulk 1940s-1962) University of Minnesota Libraries. Social Welfare History Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Andersen, Elmer L., 1909-2004. person
associatedWith Arc Greater Twin Cities. corporateBody
associatedWith Arc Greater Twin Cities (Organization) corporateBody
associatedWith Barton, George A. (George Arthur), 1885-1969. person
associatedWith Brill, Hascal R. (Hascal Russel), 1846-1922. person
associatedWith Burger, Warren E., 1907- person
associatedWith Burger, Warren E., 1907-1995. person
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. person
associatedWith Fosseen, Carrie, 1875-1963. person
associatedWith General Federation of Women's Clubs of Minnesota. corporateBody
associatedWith Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972. person
associatedWith Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978. person
associatedWith Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973. person
associatedWith Judicial Conference of the United States. Committee on the Administration of the Probate System. corporateBody
associatedWith Kefauver, Estes, 1903-1963. person
associatedWith Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 person
associatedWith Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963. person
associatedWith Lattimore, Owen, 1900-1989. person
associatedWith Leslie, Frank P. person
associatedWith Minnesota. Governor corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. Governor (1947-1951 : Youngdahl) corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. Legislature. corporateBody
associatedWith Petersen, Hjalmar, 1890-1968. person
associatedWith Pray, George Washington, 1825-1890 person
associatedWith Price, Margaret Bayne, 1912-1968 person
associatedWith Republican Party (Minn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Roe, Herman, 1886-1961. person
associatedWith Rossman, L. A. (Laurence Alonzo), 1890-1956. person
associatedWith Spencer, Rose Carolyn, 1891-1967. person
associatedWith Stassen, Harold Edward, 1907-2001. person
associatedWith Swanson, Hilding Alfred, 1885-ca.1964. person
associatedWith Thye, Edward John, 1896-1969. person
associatedWith Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972. person
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws. corporateBody
associatedWith Warren, Earl, 1891-1974. person
associatedWith Youngdahl, Benjamin E. (Benjamin Emanual), 1897-1970 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Minnesota
United States
China
United States
Scandinavia
China
Scandinavia
Minnesota
Subject
Religion
Education
Allegiance
Allegiance
Communism
Courts
Courts
Criminal law
Criminal law
Presidents
Presidents
Probation
Probation
Probation officers
Probation officers
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Subversive activities
Subversive activities
Occupation
Governors
Judges
Judges
Activity

Person

Birth 1896-05-29

Death 1978-06-21

English

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