The Nonpartisan League was founded in North Dakota by socialist A. C. Townley in 1915 at the height of the Progressive movement in the Northwest. Among its aim was to initiate state-owned mills, grain elevators, bank, and hail insurance company in order to protect the farmers from grain speculators and other business interests. The league won the governor's seat in 1916 and controlled the state legislature in 1919. By 1921, internal and external problems robbed the League of its true political power. By 1932, it was a political machine, and in 1956 it affiliated with the Democratic Party.

This Nonpartisan League collection has been assembled by the Institute staff over a long period. It is by no means comprehensive, but is rather a collection of what has been assembled over the years. The correspondence file contains twelve letters including from A. C. Townley, L. D. Griffith, Alfred Knutson, Leon Durocher, and A. E. Brine.  The publications contains various both pro and anti-league items. The subject files contain a variety of material related to the League from 1917 to the 1950's.
 

Politics and Government