Fred Schwengel collection

Frederick Delbert Schwengel, 1907-1993, United States Representative from Iowa's First District 1954-1963, 1966-1973 was born to Gerhardt and Margaret (Stover) Schwengel on a farm near Sheffield, Iowa, May 28,1907. Fred Schwengel attended rural schools and high school at Chapin. He graduated with a B.S. from Northeast Missouri Teachers College (now Northeast Missouri State University) at Kirksville, Missouri, in 1930 and took post-graduate work during summers at the University of Iowa from 1933 to 1935. After a stint of coaching and teaching in public schools in Missouri, Schwengel entered the insurance business in Davenport, Iowa, in 1937 and from 1938 to 1955 was an agent of the American Mutual Life Insurance Co. In 1939-1940 he was President of the Scott County and First District Republicans, and from 1944 to 1954 he served as a representative from Scott County in the Iowa State Legislature. In 1954 he was elected as a Republican to the United States Congress where he served five consecutive terms (84th-88th Congresses). An unsuccessful candidate in 1964, he was re-elected in 1966 for three more terms (90th-92nd Congresses). Schwengel was a member of the Public Works Committee, the House Administration Committee, and the Joint Committee on the Library. Before his defeat in 1964, he served on the District of Columbia Committee. He was also a member of two commissions, the National Visitor Facilities Advisory Commission and the Commission on Highway Beautification. The Week in Washington Program for Iowa college students and professors was introduced by him. He also instigated a Research Team at the University of Iowa using students to help with legislative research. Schwengel was the Vice-Chairman of the Civil War Centennial Commission. In Congress he authored bills to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, the 100th anniversary of the Civil War, and the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's first and second inaugurals. After leaving political office, Schwengel served as president of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society.