John F. Seiberling
Reference code:
Repository: University of Akron Archival Services, Polsky Building, LL10, Akron, OH 44325
Title: John F. Seiberling Papers
Dates: 1937-1995 (bulk 1971-1987)
Extent: 650 cubic feet
Abstract:
John F. Seiberling (Democrat) was elected to the 92nd United States Congress in 1971. Prior to serving on Congress, Seiberling was a lawyer for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, member of the Akron Regional Development Board, three-term president of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission in Akron, and board member of the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority. He also served in the Army during World War II, discharged as Major with three Battle Stars and the Bronze Star. During his years as Congressman, John Seiberling was a member of several committees and subcommittees, including the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Monopolies & Commercial Law, Committee on Interior & Insular Affairs, and Subcommittee on National Parks & Recreation. He also served as Chairman on the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Vice-President of the Democratic Study Group (DSG), and Chairman of the Members of Congress for Peace through Law (MCPL). Seiberling chose not to seek reelection to the 100th Congress in 1986.
Following his years in Congress, Seiberling was a faculty member for the University of Akron Law School and Director for the Center for Peace Studies at the university.
This collection consists of papers and other materials (e.g. photographs, audio tapes) mainly concentrated on the congressman's tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 to 1987. The collection reflects Seiberling's congressional activities regarding the Nixon impeachment hearings; Vietnam War; Nixon, Carter, Ford, and Reagan presidencies; Cuyahoga Valley National Park/Recreation Area; land conservation and environmental protection; SALT II; and the coal industry (e.g. strip and surface mining). Material also contains pre- and post-congressional careers, including law professor at the University of Akron and Director of Peace Studies at the University of Akron.
Creator: John F. Seiberling
Language: English
Access: Collection is open for research. Some fragile items may need to be handled by the staff only. Use of audiovisual material may require the production of listening or viewing copies.
Provenance:
John F. Seiberling donated his personal and professional papers to the University of Akron Archives in a series of accessions, from Oct. 1986 to 1995
Finding Aid Prepared By: Richard Wisneski, 2007
Statement of Arrangement:
Papers of John F. Seiberling were transferred from his Akron and Washington offices to the University of Akron Archives, beginning in 1986. Seiberling's collection, consisting of his legislative and political files, covers his activities in Congress.
Custodial History:
The John F. Seiberling Papers were originally maintained by the Federal Records Center, GSA. John F. Seiberling donated them to the University of Akron libraries in 1986 and 1987 to be included in the etc etc. Some of the official records and papers were sent from the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives (staff contact Wilda Chisolm).
Preferred Citation:
[Box Number, Folder Number], The John F. Seiberling Papers, University of Akron Archival Services
Related Material:
William P. Seiberling Collection, Summit County Historical Society Collection
John F. Seiberling Papers: The Conservation Collection, The Denver [CO] Public Library
Theodore R. McCann Papers, The University of Maryland Archives
Biographical Information
The grandson of F.A. Seibering, the founder of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, John F. Seiberling was born September 8, 1918 to Henrietta (Bukler) and J. Frederick Seiberling. John Seiberling served for 16 years in the U.S. Congress, representing District 14 from Ohio. He attended Staunton Military Academy in Virginia, received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1941, and his LL.B. from Columbia Law School in 1949. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1946, being discharged as Major with three Battle Stars, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star.
After his military service, Seiberling worked for the law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton, & Irvine in New York (1949-1954) and as a corporate attorney for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (1954-1970). He married Elizabeth Behr in 1949. Together, they had three sons. Seiberling also was active in his community, serving as a member of the Akron Regional Development Board, the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, and as president of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission in Akron.
In 1970, Seiberling was elected as a Democrat to the 92nd Congress, defeating incumbent William H. Ayres. Soon after entering Congress, he co-sponsored legislation with Rep. Charles Vanik, D-Cleveland, and Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Navarre, that started the process of securing the vast acreage of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. Seiberling went on to serve on several significant committees and sub-committees, including the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Monopolies & Commercial Law, Committee on Interior & Insular Affairs, the Subcommittee on National Parks & Recreation, and the Subcommittee on Mines and Mining. He also served as Chairman on the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Vice-President of the Democratic Study Group (DSG), and Chairman of the Members of Congress for Peace through Law (MCPL)
John Seiberling actively participated in the Watergate hearings, but he was best known for his commitment to environmental issues. He helped establish the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, secure passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, and, as chair of the Subcommittee on General Oversight and Alaska Lands, helped shape law and policy that preserved Alaskan wilderness and doubled the size of the National Park System throughout the United States
Seiberling chose not to seek re-election to the 100th Congress in 1986. After retiring from Congress, John Seiberling taught for the University of Akron Law School and became director of the Center for Peace Studies at the university.
Compiled by Richard Wisneski, 2007
References:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005. Washington, D.C.: U.S. G.P.O., 2005)Snider, J. (2005). Profiles in service: John & Betty Seiberling. Akron: Akron Council on World Affairs
Jackson, M. (March 1994). Peace through law: John Seiberling's vision of world order, part I. Nobody gets off the bus: The Viet Nam generation big book 5:1-4, 1-8.
Biographical Chronology
1918: September 8. Born in Akron, Ohio, Summit County1941: Graduated with honors, Harvard College
1942-1946: Served in U.S. Army during World War II
1949: Graduated Columbia University, LL.B.
1949: married Elizabeth Behr
1950: Admitted to the Bar, New York
1955: Admitted to the Bar, Ohio
1964-1970: Member, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Akron, OH
1970: November 3. Elected to the House of Representatives, 92nd Congress (Democrat)
1987: Retired from U.S. Congress
1992-1996: Faculty, University of Akron Law School
Director for Peace Studies at University of Akron
Law professor at University of Akron
Collection Scope and Content
The bulk of the collection consists of materials relating to John F. Seiberling's service as U.S. Congressman representing the 14th district from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1987. Of particular interest are materials regarding: Nixon's impeachment; the Subcommittee on General Oversight and Alaska Lands; the 1975 Congressional delegation to the Middle East; legislation to secure the vast acreage of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park; strip-mining and surface mining; Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs reports regarding Trust Territory and Micronesia; and Lower States / Public Land Issues.
Materials include files, books (JFS reports, Congressional reports, miscellany), newsletters, videotapes, audio tapes, letters, legal documents, newspaper clippings, Congressional directories, JFS legal briefs, and miscellaneous bric-a-brac (mugs, framed pictures), campaign pamphlets and fliers, petitions, and photographs.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1: Pre-Congressional
This series consists of campaign literature; pre-congressional materials related to John Seiberling's membership on the Akron Regional Development Board, the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, and as president of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission in Akron; college notebooks; and news clippings.
Series 2: 92nd Congress (1971-1972)
Series 3: 93rd Congress (1973-1974)
Series 4: 94th Congress (1975-1976)
Series 5: 95th Congress (1977-1978)
Series 6: 96th Congress (1979-1980)
Series 7: 97th Congress (1981-1982)
Series 8: 98th Congress (1983-1984)
Series 9: 99th Congress (1985-1986)
Each of these series consists of letters, legal documents, news clippings, press releases, legislative files, subject files (e.g. abortion, conservation, Vietnam, Presidents, etc.), campaign literature, national legislation, state legislation, and local legislation.
Series 10: Post-Congressional
This series consists of John Seiberling's University of Akron law school teaching materials, materials related to the Center for Peace Studies, and environmental issues involvement.
Series 11: Subject Files
Subseries 1: Cuyahoga Valley National Park / National Recreation Area (CVNP, CVNRA)
This subseries consists of newspaper clippings, press releases, legal documents, correspondences, congressional documents, reports, memos, and legal documents related to the creation and maintenance of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Subseries 2: Alaska Legislation / Alaskan Lands
Materials here consist of Department of the Interior books, legal documents, memos, congressional documents, correspondences, maps, photographs, reports, news clippings, and press releases.
Subseries 3: Lower States / Public Land Issues
This subseries consists of legal documents, maps, photographs, congressional documents, memos, court documents, correspondences, reports, news clippings, and press releases.
Subseries 4: Strip Mining / Surface Mining
Subseries D consists of legal documents, maps, congressional documents, memos, correspondences, court documents, reports, news clippings, and press releases.
Subseries 5: Confederated States of Micronesia / Trust Territory
Materials here consist of legal documents, memos, maps, congressional documents, correspondences, reports, news clippings, and press releases.
Subseries 6: President R.M. Nixon Impeachment / Watergate Hearings
This subseries consists of committee hearings and reports, House journals, legal documents, congressional documents, correspondences, news clippings, and press releases.
Series 12: Miscellany
Series 13: Photographs
This series contains framed pictures and photo albums related to Seiberling's congressional service, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and the National Park System.
Series 14: Audio-Visual Material
This series contains cassette taped interviews with Seiberling during his years in Congress and Beta videotapes of Seiberling during his years in Congress.
SERIES AND SUBSERIES LISTING
This collection is divided into several series and subseries, as follows:
- Series 1: Pre-Congressional
- Series 2: 92nd Congress (1971-1972)
- Series 3: 93rd Congress (1973-1974)
- Series 4: 94th Congress (1975-1976)
- Series 5: 95th Congress (1977-1978)
- Series 6: 96th Congress (1979-1980)
- Series 7: 97th Congress (1981-1982)
- Series 8: 98th Congress (1983-1984)
- Series 9: 99th Congress (1985-1986)
- Series 10: Post-Congressional
- Series 11: Subject Files
- Subseries 1: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Subseries 2: Alaska Legislation
- Subseries 3: Lower States/Public Land Issues
- Subseries 4: Strip Mining/Surface Mining
- Subseries 5: Confederated States of Micronesia / Trust Territory
- Subseries 6: President R.M. Nixon Impeachment / Watergate Hearings
- Series 12: Miscellany
- Series 13: Photographs
- Series 14: Audio-Visual Material
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Persons:Seiberling, John Frederick, 1918-
Family Names:
Seiberling
Places:
Summit County (Ohio)
Subjects:
United States History
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
Democratic Party (Ohio)
Democratic Party (Ohio)-congresses
Democratic Party (Ohio)-history
Environmental Protection-Ohio
Environmental Protection-United States
Geology-Ohio-Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Parks and Reserves-Ohio
United States, Congress (92nd: 1971-1972)
United States, Congress (93rd: 1973-1974)
United States, Congress (94th: 1975-1976)
United States, Congress (95th: 1977-1978)
United States, Congress (96th: 1979-1980)
United States, Congress (97th: 1981-1982)
United States, Congress (98th: 1983-1984)
United States, Congress (99th: 1985-1986)
United States, National Park Service
United States-Politics and Government-1969-1974
United States-Politics and Government-1976-
United States-Politics and Government-1977-1981
United States-Politics and Government-1981-1989
Campaign literature
Coal Industry
Coal Mining-Appalachian Region
Strip Mining
Occupations:
U.S. Congressman, 1971-1987
Titles:
U.S. Representative, 1971-1987
Additionally, the following acronyms are used frequently throughout the finding aid:
C, L, M - Constituents, Legal, Miscellaneous
CFA - Compact of Free Association
CVNP - Cuyahoga Valley National Park
CVNRA - Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area
DOI - Department of the Interior
DSG - Democratic Study Group
EROA - Energy Research Development Administration
FSM - Federated States of Micronesia
FTC - Federal Trade Commission
GAO - General Accounting Office
HR - House of Representatives
JFS - John F. Seiberling
L of C CRS - Library of Congress Congressional Research Service
LAWCON - Land and Water Conservation
MCPL - Members of Congress for Peace through Law
NEMW - Northeast Midwest Coalition
NFS - National Forest Service
NPS - National Park Service
OCS - Outer Continental Shelf
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
RARE II - Roadless Area Review and Evaluation
TTPI - Trust Territory Pacific Islands
Detailed Description of Collection
n.b. all parts are in PDF format
PART 2. Series 5: 1977-1978 through Series 7: 1981-1982
PART 3. Series 8: 1983-1984 through Series 11, Subseries 3: Lower States / Public Lands Issues
PART 4. Series 11, Subseries 4: Strip Mining / Surface Mining through Series 14: Audio-Visual Material