Milward L. Simpson was Governor of Wyoming from 1955 to 1959 and was elected to the United States Senate in 1962. Before that he was a prominent lawyer in Wyoming. In November 1942, Simpson became chairman of the Park County Civilian Defense. The Office of Civilian Defense was a federal emergency war agency set up in May 1941 to co-ordinate state and federal measures for protection of civilians in case of war emergency. Its two branches supervised protective functions such as blackouts and special fire protection and "war service" functions such as childcare, health, housing, and transportation. Correspondence in Simpson’s law office files relay his security concerns about Heart Mountain due to its proximity to his community of Cody as well as perceived food hoarding at the center and other issues such as work strikes by internees.
Additional content for this collection can be found in the "Inventory for collection.”
Letter to Milward Simpson from Lovey Meigh, October 23, 1942
Lovey Meigh of Meigh Home Ranch in Hiland, Wyoming, asks for Simpson's help in getting a female internee from Heart Mountain to do housekeeping work for her.
Letter from Colonel William P. Scobey, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the War Department to Milward Simpson, Chairman, Civilian Defense for Park County, Wyoming, December 14, 1942
Colonel Scobey addresses Simpson's concerns about the location of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center near Cody, Wyoming.
Letter to A. Baker of Casper, Wyoming from Milward Simpson, January 14, 1943
Simpson writes to Baker of a rumor he is tracking down that Heart Mountain internees are buying knives.
Letter to Kiyo Sato, U.S.O., Heart Mountain Relocation Center from Milward Simpson, April 8, 1943
Simpson sends his regrets to Sato that he and his wife cannot attend a dinner at the Center.
Letter to Milward Simpson from Noah Riley, April 12, 1943
Cody Club member Noah Riley writes to fellow club member Milward Simpson of his discomfort in the club showing preference to Heart Mountain internees who volunteer for military service.
Letter to Wyoming U.S. Senator E. V. Robertson from Milward Simpson, April 17, 1943
Simpson writes to Robertson of Wyoming that fired employee Ben Lummis from the Heart Mountain Relocation Center can provide the Denver Post with "the real low-down" on the Center.
Letter to Louie Albi, Republic Drug Company, Denver from Milward Simpson, May 3, 1943
Simpson writes to Denver druggist of his appreciation for Denver Post reporter Jack Carberry's "expose" of Heart Mountain Relocation Center and alludes to his involvement in the series.
Letter to Milward Simpson from Jack Carberry of the Denver Post, May 6, 1943
Denver Post reporter Jack Carberry seeks information about the Heart Mountain Relocation Center from Simpson.
Letter to Jack Carberry of the Denver Post from Milward Simpson, May 11, 1943
Simpson writes to Denver Post reporter Jack Carberry that Heart Mountain internees are not working diligently enough in getting irrigation work done in his area.
First page of letter to Wyoming U.S. Senator E. V. Robertson from Milward Simpson, April 13, 1944
Simpson writes of his disgust at perceived lax security conditions at Heart Mountain and of internees "flouting" Selective Service law.