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John A. Bremer papers

 Collection
Identifier: L688

Scope and Contents

This collection contains John A. Bremer's papers regarding his work compiling and editing the fourth edition of Constitution Making in Indiana: A Source Book of Constitutional Documents, with Historical Introduction and Critical Notes covering the years 1930 to 1960. Papers related to the book include drafts of chapters of each legislative session and copies of committee reports, joint resolutions, house and senate motions, messages from the Senate to the House, and roll calls.

The collection also includes other research documents regarding the structure, procedures, and staffing of the state legislative bodies, including a copy of "Synopsis of History of the Powers of the Speaker of the Indiana House" by Justin E. Walsh, Director of the Centennial History of the Indiana General Assembly (circa 1980s); copies of Indiana House and Senate Journals (1857-1976); documents regarding rules governing the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives (1966); a "Legislative Council Information Report" (May 1967); "Personal Impressions of the Legislative Process" report (1965); "General Analysis of the Responses to the Indiana Legislative Operation's Questionnaire" prepared by John S. Waggaman (April 1966) and published handbooks and reports from other states: "You and Your Job in the Working Senate: A Handbook for Employees of the New York State Senate" (1966), "130 Guidelines to Better Legislative Administration" by Albert J. Abrams, Secretary of State (undated), and the "Handbook for Legislative Committees" published by The Council of State Governments (January 1963). The research material compiled and added to notebooks by Bremer has been removed from the bindings.

Dates

  • 1857-circa 1980s

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

John Alfred "Jack" Bremer was born on November 10, 1921 in Toledo, Ohio to Clarence A. and Evelyn (Velmure) Bremer. He was a 1942 graduate of the University of Toledo and received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1949. Bremer served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a cryptographer during World War II. He married Marian Elizabeth McCain on December 29, 1944 and they had three sons. Bremer and his family moved to Shelbyville, Indiana from Cincinnati, Ohio in September 1953. He later became an attorney for the Legislative Services Agency, an agency of the Indiana General Assembly, in May 1971 and continued with the agency until his retirement in November 1992. Much of his work consisted of drafting bills and doing legal research for legislators. He also compiled and edited Volume IV of Constitution Making in Indiana: A Source Book of Constitutional Documents, With Historical Introduction and Critical Notes that was published by the Indiana Historical Bureau in 1978. Bremer died at the age of 86 on July 17, 2008.

Sources:

Findagrave.com. "John Alfred 'Jack' Bremer." Find a Grave Memorial 14737134. Accessed December 2, 2020. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14737134/john-alfred-bremer.

"John Alfred 'Jack' Bremer." Indianapolis Star (Ind.), July 20, 2008.

Extent

1.3 Cubic Feet (4 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1: Constitution Making in Indiana documents, notes and drafts, 1930-1960

Series 2: Indiana General Assembly research documents, 1857-circa 1980s

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a records transfer from Robert J. Rudolph, Senior Staff Attorney of Legislative Services Agency on 2016/08/18.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2020/12/21 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2020/12/21 by Laura Eliason.
Title
John A. Bremer papers
Status
Completed
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671