This collection consists primarily of photographs (positive prints and negatives) donated by Governor Swainson to the State Archives in 1990. While some personal papers are included in MS-90-299, the researcher will find that the majority of his collection is housed at the Bentley Historical Library, The University of Michigan. Through photographs, this collection chronicles Swainson's political career in Michigan, particularly his term as governor (1961-1962), and also reflects Swainson's commitment to family and friends. The collection consists of four manuscript boxes and is arranged as follows: 1. Papers, 1945-1992. Contains newspaper clippings, statements to the press, campaign literature, and information on the AFL-CIO and teamsters. Also includes a 1962 speech on Social Security and Medicare (1962). 2. Photographs (positive prints), 1928-1990. As the largest series in this collection, series 2 includes photographs of Swainson with notable people: President John Kennedy, Senator Edward Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Arthur Goldberg, Walter Reuther, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Governor G. Mennen Williams. Includes photographs of the Swainson family. 3. Photographs (negatives), 1943-1968. Similar to Series 2. 4. Audio recordings, 1960, 1990. Includes 1960 phonograph recording (45 rpm) entitled "John B. Swainson for governor". Also includes tapes and transcript of the Swainson oral history conducted by Roger F. Lane under sponsorship of the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society (Oct. 18-19, 1990).
