History of the Arizona State Legislature 1912-1966

This collection was compiled by J. Morris Richards, whose Arizona education and public sector service made him uniquely qualified to write this history. Born in Joseph City, Arizona in 1906, he earned a B.A. from Northern Arizona Normal School in Flagstaff, an M.A. from the University of Arizona, and worked as a visiting professor at Arizona State University. He worked as a news reporter and later, editor and publisher for the Winslow Daily News.  His public service in Arizona was long and diverse. He served as director of publicity and advertising for the Arizona State Fair, served three terms as a State Senator from Navajo County, as special assistant to Arizona Governor Wesley Bolin, and as Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction.  A prolific author of histories and biographies on Arizona subjects, he was tasked by the Arizona Legislative Council with preparing this summary, which he completed in 1989. He passed away at age 92, on January 5, 1999. 

The collection is arranged chronologically. It starts before Statehood with the Enabling Act and the disputes surrounding the new Arizona Constitution. It continues through the adjournment of the 27th Legislature in 1966. Richards compiled brief summaries of the major legislation considered by each Legislature. It includes the political development of the issues, the roles of the prominent figures of the day, floor speeches, and news reports. As much of Arizona’s legislative history before the mid-1960s is lost, this collection is invaluable.