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Brooks Hays Papers

Finding Aid & Inventory

Brooks Hays (1898-1981) was a U.S. Congressman from Arkansas; staff assistant to John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; Director of the Ecumenical Institute at Wake Forest University; and chair of the North Carolina Good Neighbor Council. His papers consist of correspondence; speeches and addresses; photographs; audiotapes; and clippings relating to his activities after his defeat for Congress in 1958.

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Biographical and Historical Note

Lawrence Brooks Hays, known as Brooks, was born August 9, 1898, in London, Arkansas. He was educated in Russellville County, Arkansas, public schools before entering the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (1915-1919). He briefly served in the U.S. Army during World War I in 1918 before completing his studies in 1919. Hays then attended George Washington University to obtain a law degree (1922) and returned to Russellville to practice law.

He entered Arkansas state politics as a young man, serving two years as Assistant Attorney General (1925-1927) and later as the Democratic National Committee's Arkansas representative (1932-1939). Hays then served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1943-1959). Hays's deep devotion to his faith and the Southern Baptist Convention is reflected in his support for legislation that created a National Day of Prayer (1952), added "under God" to the pledge of allegiance (1954), and mandated "in God We Trust" appear on U.S. currency (1955). Hays was known for his moderate stand on civil rights issues, and it was these moderate beliefs which cost him his congressional seat in 1958. He later ran unsuccessfully for a House of Representatives seat in N.C.'s fifth district in 1972.

In addition to his political positions, Hays held a number of other government and religious positions. He was Southern Baptist Convention president (1957-1958), a member of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors (1959-1961), Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations (1961), and Special Assistant to presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson (1961-1964). In addition to politics, Hays was a professor of political science at Rutgers University, professor of government at University of Massachusetts at Amherst (1966-1967), and Ecumenical Institute director at Wake Forest University (1968-1970).

Hays married Marian Prather on February 2, 1922, and they had two children: M. Steele Hays and Betty Brooks Hays Bell. He died in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on October 11, 1981.

Collection Overview

His papers consists of correspondence; speeches and addresses; photographs; audiotapes; and clippings relating to his activities after his defeat for Congress in 1958. A microfiche copy of the papers is also available.

Collection Inventory

  • Biographical Files
    • Biographical information box 1 folder 1
    • Clippings (Brooks Hays) box 1 folder 2
    • Family records  (1964) box 1 folder 3
    • Collection microfiche (undated) box 11
  • Correspondence
    • A (1958-1970) box 1 folder 4
    • Allen, Judson B. (1967-1970) folder 5
    • Angell, J. William (1970-1975) folder 6
    • Autograph file (1960-1970) folder 7
    • B
      • (1920-1967) folder 8
      • (1968) folder 9
      • (1969) folder 10
      • (1970-1975) folder 11
    • Broach, Claude U. (1967-1975) folder 12
    • Brown, Raymond (Undated) folder 13
    • C
      • (1916-1965) folder 14
      • (1967-1969) folder 15
      • (1969-1971) folder 16
    • Corpening, Julius (1969-1970) folder 17
    • D folder 18
      • (1958-1968) folder 19
      • (1969-1975) folder 20
    • Diekmann, Godfrey (1969) folder 21
    • E (1958-1975) folder 22
    • F (1958-1974) folder 23
    • Fisher, Ben Coleman, (1968-1969) folder 24
    • G
      • (1958-1965) folder 25
      • (1967-1969) folder 26
      • (1969-1971) folder 27
    • H
      • (1920-1965) folder 28
      • (1967-1968) folder 29
      • (1969) folder 30
      • (1970-1976) folder 31
    • Hays family (1953-1968) folder 32
    • Hays, Orren (1968) folder 33
    • Hays, Steele and Steele, III (1959-1970) folder 34
    • Herzburg, Donald, undated folder 35
    • Hill, Samuel (1968-1970) box 2 folder 36
    • Hinson, Glenn (1968-1969) box 2 folder 37
    • Hughes, Sarah (1965-1969) folder 38
    • I (1964-1970) folder 39
    • J (1920-1970) folder 40
    • J. D. Marsh and Associates, Inc. (1964) folder 41
    • K (1958-1970) folder 42
    • L
      • (1921-1968) box 2 folder 43
      • (1969-1976) folder 44
    • Law, Bernard (1968-1969) box 2 folder 45
    • M
      • (1958-1965) folder 46
      • (1966-1968) folder 47
      • (1969-1974) folder 48
    • Mc (1958-1971) folder 49
    • McDonnell, Kilian (1968-1970) folder 50
    • Moore, Walter, Jr. (1968) folder 51
    • N (1958-1971) folder 52
    • O (1964-1970) folder 53
    • P
      • (1958-1968) folder 54
      • (1969-1971) folder 55
    • Q (1969) folder 56
    • R
      • (1958-1965) folder 57
      • (1967-1968) folder 58
      • (1969-1973) folder 59
    • S
      • (1958-1967) folder 60
      • (1968) folder 61
      • (1969-1975) folder 62
    • Scales, James Ralph (1968-1974) folder 63
    • Special letters (1962-1965) folder 64
    • T
      • (1920-1968) folder 65
      • (1969-1978) folder 66
    • U (1968-1970) folder 67
    • Unsigned correspondence (1958-1967) folder 68
    • V (1920-1964) folder 69
    • W
      • (1958-1966) folder 70
      • (1967-1968) folder 71
      • (1969) folder 72
      • (1970-1975) folder 73
    • White House correspondence (1964-1970) folder 74
    • Y (1968-1970) folder 75
    • Z (1958-1969) folder 76
  • Writings and Speeches
    • Articles by Hays  (1963-1965) box 3 folder 77
    • Hays, Marion, Youth Wants to Know: How Would You Answer? folder 78
    • Diary notes (1964-1965) folder 79
    • Poems (1969) folder 80
    • Speeches and Addresses
      • Undated folder 81
      • (1954-1959) folder 82
      • (1961) folder 83
      •   (1962) box 3 folder 84-85
      •   (1963) box 3 folder 86-87
      •   (1964) box 3 folder 88-90
      • (1965) folder 91
      • (1967) folder 92
      • (1968) folder 93
      • (1969) folder 94
      • (1970) folder 95
      • (1976) folder 96
    • Speech notes and note cards (1962-1964) folder 97
    • Speech notes (1968-1970) folder 98
    • Supplementary notes/miscellaneous  (1963-1963) folder 99
    • Speech preparations materials  (1964-1964) box 3 folder 100-102
    • Writings
      •   (1958) box 3 folder 103
      •   (1962-1965) box 3 folder 104
      •   (1964-1969) box 3 folder 105
  • Photographs
    • Allen, Judson B. and Brabiel, Justin Matthews  (1963) box 3 folder 106
    • Hays, Brooks (1960-1969) folder 107
    • Hays, Brooks and Hays, Marion and others  (1922-1965) folder 108
    • Holten, Walter (undated) box 3 folder 109
    • NCCJ Poster (1969) folder 110
    • Vaughn Bible Class (1970) folder 111
  • Subject Files
    • Accounts  (1965) box 4 folder 112
    • Address File (1967-1970) folder 113
    • Address Book (1967-1970) folder 114
    • Advisory Committee on Governmental Relations (1965) folder 115
    • Africa (1965-1970) folder 116
    • Agricultural Advisory Commission (1964-1966) folder 117
    • Air Force and Army Base Chaplains (1963-1970) folder 118
    • American Bible Society (1964-1965) folder 119
    • American Municipal Association (1964) folder 120
    • Asia (1965) folder 121
    • Associational schedule (1968) folder 122
    • Atlanta (1965) folder 123
    • Baptist Conventions (1968-1970) folder 124
    • Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs (1964-1970) folder 125
    • Baptist World Alliance (1965-1975) folder 126
    • Baptists (1964-1975) folder 127
    • Highway beauty (1964-1966) folder 128
    • Miscellaneous items on beauty (1964-1966) folder 129
    • Pollution - Beauty (1964-1965) folder 130
    • President's Council - Beauty (1965) folder 131
    • Recreation and Advisory Council - Beauty (1962-1966) folder 132
    • Belmont Abbey College (1969-1970) folder 133
    • Bible (1964-1965) folder 134
    • Bible Class (1978) folder 135
    • Biblical Recorder,  (1968-1971) folder 136
    • Hot Bed of Tranquility - (book) (1968-1970) folder 137
    • Book reviews (1964) folder 138
    • Books (1959-1966) folder 139
    • Boy Scouts of America (1957-1969) folder 140
    • Canada (1964-1965) folder 141
    • Capitol Hill United Methodist Church (1973-1975) folder 142
    • Christian Life Commission (Southern Baptist Convention), 196401974 folder 143
    • Church/State Relations (1962-1965) folder 144
    • Civil Rights (1963-1965) folder 145
    • Civil Rights (1960-1965, 1975) box 5 folder 146
    • Clippings
      • Baptists  (1952-1975) box 5 folder 147
      • Civil Rights (1963-1974) folder 148
      • Miscellaneous (1963-1970) folder 149
      • North Carolina Good Neighbor Council (1970) folder 150
      • Political (1959-1970) folder 151
      • School desegregation (1970) folder 152
    • Communism (1961-1962) folder 153
    • Community Relations Service (1964) folder 154
    • Cosmos Club (1968-1970) folder 155
    • Defense (1963-1964) folder 156
    • Democratic National Committee (1965) folder 157
    • Drawings by Hays (1942-1958) folder 158
    • Duke University (1968-1970) folder 159
    • Eagle Properties, Inc. (1964) folder 160
    • Eagleton Institute of Politics (1964-1965) folder 161
    • Economic policy (1964-1965) folder 162
    • Education
      • (1955-1963) folder 163
      • (1964) folder 164
      • (1965-1970) folder 165
      • Undated folder 166
    • Engagements
      • Speaking engatement arrangements (1963) folder 167
      •  (1964 January-February) folder 168
      •  (1964 March-April) folder 169
      •  (1964 May-June) folder 170
      •  (1964 July) folder 171
      •  (1964 September-October) folder 172
      •  (1964 November-December) folder 173
    • European trip (1968-1969) folder 174
    • Expense accounts of Brooks Hays (1968-1970) folder 175
    • Federal/State relations  (1964-1965) box 5 folder 176
    • Food (1963-1965) box 6 folder 177
    • Fiscal arrangements (1966) folder 178
    • Foreign Aid (1964-1966) folder 179
    • Foreign Relations (1964-1965) folder 180
    • Former Members of Congress, Inc. (1970) folder 181
    • Freedom (1964-1966) folder 182
    • George Peabody College (1964-1969) folder 183
    • George Washington University (1964-1965) folder 184
    • Governor's Race (Arkansas) (1966) folder 185
    • Guideposts Association (1968-1970) folder 186
    • Harriman, Averell (1966) folder 187
    • Hays, Steele (1962) folder 188
    • Health (1964-1965) folder 189
    • Home Mission Board (Southern Baptist Convention) (1965-1970) folder 190
    • Home Mission Board (Southern Baptist Convention). Resort Mission Conferences (1967-1969) folder 191
    • Human Relations Committee (1973-1975) folder 192
    • Humor (1946-1963) folder 193
    • Humphrey, Hubert Horatio (1964-1965) folder 194
    • Income Tax (1964) folder 195
    • International Economic Development (1964) folder 196
    • Japan (1965) folder 197
    • Japan International University (1963-1965) folder 198
    • Jews (1967-1973) folder 199
    • Johnson, Lyndon Baines (1953-1965) folder 200
    • Juvenile Delinquency (1964) folder 201
    • Kennedy, John F. (1963-1964) folder 202
    • Labor Management Relations (1965) folder 203
    • Lists (undated) box 6 folder 204
    • LQC Lamar Society (1970) folder 205
    • MacMillan Company (1964-1969) folder 206
    • Memoirs of B. Hays - Notes and Articles (1935-1965) folder 207
    • Metropolitan Development (1964-1965) folder 208
    • Minister's Fund (1965-1970) folder 209
    • Miscellaneous notes (1968-1969) folder 210
    • Muslims (1967) folder 211
    • National Citizens Committee for Community Relations (1964) folder 212
    • National Conference on Christians and Jews (1958-1970) folder 213
    • National Conference on Citizenship (1964-1969) folder 214
    • National Council of Churches (1968-1975) folder 215
    • Newark Seminars  (1960-1965) box 5 folder 216
    • New York trip (1968) box 7 folder 217
    • North Carolina Good Neighbor Council (1968-1970) folder 218
    • Official visits (1965-1966) folder 219
    • Pacem in Terris (1963-1965) folder 220
    • Peace (1963-1965) folder 221
    • Political Campaign (1964) folder 222
    • Politics (1963-1965) folder 223
    • Poverty (1964-1965) folder 224
    • Public Administration (1965-1968) folder 225
    • Race Relations (1964-1965) folder 226
    • Religion in the Schools (1963-1970) folder 227
    • Religious Heritage of America (1964-1976) folder 228
    • Religious Instruction Association (1965-1969) folder 229
    • Report from the Capital (1964-1974) folder 230
    • Roosevelt, Eleanor - Memorial Foundation (1964) folder 231
    • Roosevelt, Franklin D. folder 232
    • Rural Life (1964-1965) folder 233
    • Rural Life Pamphlets (1964-1965) folder 234
    • Rusk, Dean (1966) folder 235
    • Russia (1964-1969) folder 236
    • Rutgers. The State University, New Brunswick, N. J.
      • Academics (1964-1966) folder 237
      • Miscellaneous (1963-1964) folder 238
      • Student Papers folder 239-243
    • Science (1963-1965) folder 244
    • Shriver, George (1968) folder 245
    • Sigma Chi (1965-1970) folder 246
    • Southeast Asia  (1966) box 7 folder 247
    • Southern Baptist Convention (1968-1971) box 8 folder 248
    • SCOPE - Southern Committee on Political Ethics (1967-1970) folder 249
    • Southern Regional Council (1968-1971) folder 250
    • Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1969-1976) folder 251
  • Speaking Engagements
    • A  (1955-1963) box 8 folder 252
    • B  (1964 January-June) box 8 folder 253
    • C  (1964 July-December) box 8 folder 254
    • D (January-June, 1965) folder 255
    • E (July-December, 1965) folder 256
    • F (1966) folder 257
    • G (1967-1968) folder 258
    • H (1969) folder 259
    • I (January-June, 1970) folder 260
    • J (July-December, 1970) folder 261
    • K (1971) folder 262
    • Special Days (1964-1965) folder 263
    • Stationary examples (undated) box 8 folder 264
    • Adlai Stevenson Memorial Fund (1965-1966) folder 265
    • Tait Trussel Article Nation's Business (1964) folder 266
    • Taxes and Trade (1963) folder 267
    • Telephone calls (1964) folder 268
    • Travel (1965) folder 269
    • Travel tickets (1965) folder 270
    • United Nations  (1961-1965) box 8 folder 271
    • Urban affairs (1962-1969) box 9 folder 272
    • Vaughn Bible Class (1967-1971) folder 273
    • Vietnam (1964-1965) folder 274
    • Walker, Harry, Inc. (1964-1970) folder 275
    • Water Technology (1964) folder 276
    • White House Press Releases (1964-1965) folder 277
    • Meredith Wilson - Texaco Star Parade (1964) folder 278
    • World Trade (1964-1965) folder 279
  • Wake Forest University
    • Ecumenical Institute
      • Clippings  (1968-1969) box 9 folder 280
      • Conferences
        •   (1968 March 12) box 9 folder 281
        •   (1969 March 13-15) box 9 folder 282
        • Attendants  (1969 May 8-10) box 9 folder 283
        • Correspondence  (1969 May 8-10) box 9 folder 284
        • Participants (May 8-10, 1969 -) folder 285
        • Dialogue (May 8-10, 1969 -) folder 286
        • (1969 June 24) folder 287
        • (1969 February 22) folder 288
        •  (1970 February 5-7) folder 289
        •  (1970 May 12-14) folder 290
        •  (1970 November 18-20) folder 291
        •  (1971 January) folder 292
        •  (1971 May 5-6) folder 293
        •  (1972 April 17-18) folder 294
        •  (1974 April 29 - May 1) folder 295
      • Contributors (1968-1970) folder 296
      • Ecumenical Information
        • (1962-1964) folder 297
        • (1965-1967) folder 298
        • (1968-1969) folder 299
        • (1970-1974) folder 300
        • Undated folder 301
      • Expenses (1969-1970) folder 302
      • Mailing list, undated folder 303
      • Proposals (1968) folder 304
    • Medieval Studies
      • Information and pamphlets (1967-1969) folder 305
      • Proposals and plans (1967-1969) folder 306
      • Wake Forest University (1967-1980) folder 307
      • Wake Forest University (general) (1970-1975) folder 308
  • Audiotapes
    • Address on the Arkansas River Project, Japanese textile imports, and rural industries, 1 reel. 7 inches. Recorded at 7Ɖ  (circa 1956) box 10 folder 309
    • Weekly Congressional report to the people of Arkansas, 1 reel. 7 inches. Recorded at 7Ɖ  (circa 1955) box 10 folder 310
    • Weekly Congressional report to the people of Arkansas with his wife, Marion. Topic was Christmas, 1 reel. 5 inches. (1953 December 20) folder 311
    • Agricultural problems, 1 reel. 5 inches. (circa Spring 1958) folder 312
    • Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, NBC TV, Recorded at 3 3/4. Jack Parr Show, Recorded at 7Ɖ. Re-recorded at 3 3/4. 1 reel. 7 inches.  (1963-1963) folder 313
    • Addresses at Southwestern College, Winfield, Kansas in the Artist and Lecture Series. Side 1: The Generous and Complete Education. Side 2:  Reflections of a Troubled Moderate. 1 reel. 7 inches. (1964 May 11) folder 314
    • Address to the Maryland State Education Association, 1 reel. 7 inches. (1964 October 16) folder 315
    • Address at the annual Pilgrimage Award dinner, Religious Heritage of Aserica, 1 reel. 7 inches. Recorded at 3 3/4. (1964 June 27) folder 316
    • Address at Arkansas State, 1 reel. 7 inches. Recorded at 7Ɖ. (1965 March 19) folder 317
    • Address at Franklin and Marshall College, Lebanon, PA, 1 reel. 7 inches. Recorded at 3 3/4. (1965 March 25) folder 318
    • Weekly Congressional report to the people of Arkansas. A discussion with Ray Hedges on economic problems, Washington, DC. 1 reel. 5 inch. Recorded at 7Ɖ. folder 319
    • Stories about L. B. Johnson, narrated by Brooks Hays. 1 reel. 7 inch. folder 320
    • Amusing stories told by Brooks Hays before a small group. 1 reel. 7 inches. Recorded at 3 3/4. folder 321
    • ABC newsbroadcast, Edward Morgan, commentator, Washington, DC, after the defeat of Brooks Hays, 1 reel. 5 inches. (1958) folder 322
  • Personal Memorabilia
    • Diary pages  (1965 February 12 - March 19) box 10 folder 323
    • Items removed from crumbling pages of scrapbook relating to the 1958 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, Louisville, KY and the Centennial of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary  (1959) box 10 folder 324
  • Oversize
    • Can you spare a minute? Side A, Cuts 1-6 contain selections of Bible readings by Brooks Hays, 33 1/3 RPM record  (1964 December) box 10 folder 325

Summary Information

Repository
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
Creator
Hays, Brooks
Title
Brooks Hays Papers
ID
MS134
Date [inclusive]
1916-1982
Quantity
10 record cartons, 1 half-document box
Extent
13.21  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2004
Revision Description
Revised by Stephanie Bennett and Nancy Sullivan, 2023
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for use. 
Copyright Notice
The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 
Preferred Citation
Brooks Hays Papers (MS134), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. 

Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

Related collections include the following found in Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections: General University Organizations. Ecumenical Institute Records (RG13.1), Ecumenical Institute, Oscar Burnett Records (RG13.2), and Claude Upshaw Broach Papers (MS366).

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