Edmund S. Muskie Oral History Collection: Elmer Violette [2]

Contributing Institution

Bates College

Repository

Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library

View at Contributing Institution

https://scarab.bates.edu/muskie_oh/397/

Digitization Status

Digitized / Numérisé(e)

Identifier/Call Number

MOH 055

Collection/Part of

Edmund S. Muskie Oral History Collection, 1985-2067

Title

en Edmund S. Muskie Oral History Collection: Elmer Violette [2]

Description

en Interview includes discussions of: Aroostook County, 1946-1999; Maine Democratic Party post- 1946; Party organization; Violette’s contributions to the 1960s Maine legislature; the seclusion of Aroostook County; Dickey-Lincoln; Allagash Wilderness Waterway; Sumner Pike; running against Margaret Chase Smith; 1968 Maine Convention debates; Ed Muskie’s 1968 Vice Presidential campaign; Congressional campaigns of the early 1970s; politics as a justice; Bob Haskell; and John Martin.

Author/Creator

Violette, Elmer H.

Nicoll, Don (interviewer)

Date(s)

1998-10-31

Genre

en sound recordings

en interviews

en oral histories (literary works)

Topic & Theme

American Experience/Américanité

Government/Gouvernement

Politics/Politique

Geography

Maine

Van Buren ME

St. John River Valley ME

familyName

Violette

Gallant

Jalbert

Levesque

Source Language

English

Copyright Statement and Conditions governing use

Copyright Bates College. This transcript is provided for individual Research Purposes Only; for all other uses, including publication, reproduction and quotation beyond fair use, permission must be obtained in writing from: The Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College, 70 Campus Avenue, Lewiston, Maine 04240-6018.

Existence and Location of Originals

Part of the Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library Repository, 70 Campus Avenue, Lewiston, Maine 04240 United States of America

Biography, Administrative History and Provenance

en Elmer H. Violette was born on February 2, 1921 in Van Buren, Maine. His father was a woodsman, and a butcher/grocer during the Depression. His mother was a schoolteacher, and raised seven children. Both parents were strong Democrats. His father served in the Maine Legislature for three terms. Mr. Violette was a Roman Catholic, and served as an alter boy as a teenager. He attended Ricker College and earned a two-year degree. In 1941, he was elected to the Maine Legislature, and was drafted soon thereafter. After discharge, he returned to Van Buren, and successfully ran again for a 1946 House term. After that, he attended Boston University School of Law, graduated in 1950, and returned to Van Buren once again to practice law. In 1964, Violette returned to Augusta as a State Senator. In 1966, he unsuccessfully ran for Senate against Margaret Chase Smith. He was also an active campaigner for Ed Muskie. In 1973, he was appointed to the Maine Superior Court by then Governor Ken Curtis. In 1981, he was appointed to the Maine Supreme Court, retiring in 1986. Elmer Violette passed away on June 18, 2000 at the age of 79 as a result of an automobile accident.

Extent

29 pages, summary sheet and transcript

Materials Specific Details

Listening copies on CD are available for in-building use only at the Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College.Digital preservation master WAV files are available for staff use only at the Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College.Transcripts and some audio files are also available online. http://digilib.bates.edu/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?site=localhost&a=p&p=about&c=muskieor&l=en&w=utf-8

Recommended Citation

Nicoll, Don, "Violette, Elmer oral history interview" (1998). Edmund S. Muskie Oral History Collection. 397. https://scarab.bates.edu/muskie_oh/397

State/Province

Maine

Country

United States