Albany (Or.) -- History

Ralph Reynolds Cronise (1886-1962) was a newspaper owner and civic leader in Albany, Oregon. The collection consists of correspondence, business and civic files, photographs and ledgers.

The Townsend Plan was an old-age pension plan idea proposed by California physician Francis E. Townsend in 1934 prior to the enactment of Social Security; local chapters of the organization included Albany, Oregon. The collection 1935-1945) contains meeting minutes, membership record book, miscellaneous financial papers, correspondence, and convention information, and records of a Townsend President (Fred Stillwell) including correspondence.