Morton, Thruston Ballard (1907-1982) Papers, 1968-1982
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Thruston Ballard Morton, 1907-1982
Title: Papers, 1968-1982
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Curator of Special Collections.
Size of Collection: 2 cubic feet
Location Number: Mss./A/M891
Scope and Content Note
Collection contains general business correspondence related to Morton’s position on various corporate boards of directors, including Churchill Downs, R. J. Reynolds, the Pittston Company, and the Pillsbury Company. Numerous speaking engagement invitations as well as letters seeking donations are attached to copies of Morton response. In addition, collection includes constituent letters, legislative correspondence, letters of recommendation, financial records, congratulatory notes, and limited personal correspondence. Also included is correspondence related to Morton’s declined nomination to serve as Ambassador to the Court of St. James.
Biographical Note
Thruston Ballard Morton was a prominent political and business leader in Kentucky during the mid-twentieth century. As a student, Morton attended public schools, the Woodberry Forest School in Virginia, and graduated from Yale University in 1929. He married Belle Clay Lyons in 1931 and had two sons.
From 1947 to 1953, Morton served three terms as a representative for Kentucky’s Third Congressional District. After his tenure in the house, Morton was appointed Assistant Secretary of State of Congressional Relations by President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 until 1956. In addition, Morton served two terms in the United States Senate for the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 1957 to 1969. Morton was also Chairman of the Republican National Committee and one of the first conservatives to withdraw support from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Vietnam War policies. After his retirement from the Senate, Morton remained active in the Louisville business community, serving as Vice-Chairman of the Board and Director of Liberty National Bank and Chairman of the Board and Director of Churchill Downs. He also served as a Director or Advisor for the Louisville Board of Trade, Pillsbury Company, Texas Gas Company, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the Pittston Company, the University of Louisville, Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor and the Ohio Valley Assembly. Morton died in Louisville in 1982.
Folder List
Folder 1: Correspondence – November-December 1968
Folder 2: Correspondence – January 1969
Folder 3: Correspondence – February 1969
Folder 4: Correspondence – March 1969, I
Folder 5: Correspondence – March 1969, II
Folder 6: Correspondence – April 1969, I
Folder 7: Correspondence – April 1969, II
Folder 8: Correspondence – April 1969, III
Folder 9: Correspondence – May 1969
Folder 10: Correspondence – June 1969
Folder 11: Correspondence – July-August 1969
Folder 12: Correspondence – September 1969
Folder 13: Correspondence – October 1969
Folder 14: Correspondence – November-December 1969
Folder 15: Correspondence – January-March 1970
Folder 16: Correspondence – April-June 1970
Folder 17: Correspondence – July-September 1970
Folder 18: Correspondence – October-December 1970
Folder 19: Correspondence – January-February 1971
Folder 20: Correspondence – March 1971
Folder 21: Correspondence – April 1971
Folder 22: Correspondence – May-July 1971
Folder 23: Correspondence – August-September 1971
Folder 24: Correspondence – October-December 1971
Folder 25: Correspondence – January-June 1972
Folder 26: Correspondence – July-December 1972
Folder 27: Correspondence – January-March 1973
Folder 28: Correspondence – April 1973
Folder 29: Correspondence – May 1973
Folder 30: Correspondence – June 1973
Folder 31: Correspondence – July-August 1973
Folder 32: Correspondence – September 1973
Folder 33: Correspondence – October 1973
Folder 34: Correspondence – November-December 1973
Folder 35: Correspondence – January-February 1974
Folder 36: Correspondence – March 1974
Folder 37: Correspondence – April-May 1974
Folder 38: Correspondence – June 1974
Folder 39: Correspondence – July-August 1974
Folder 40: Correspondence – September-October 1974
Folder 41: Correspondence – November-December 1974
Folder 42: Correspondence – January-March 1975
Folder 43: Correspondence – April 1975
Folder 44: Correspondence – May 1975
Folder 45: Correspondence – June 1975
Folder 46: Correspondence – July-September 1975
Folder 47: Correspondence – October 1975
Folder 48: Correspondence – November 1975
Folder 49: Correspondence – December 1975
Folder 50: Correspondence – January-April 1976
Folder 51: Correspondence – May-July 1976
Folder 52: Correspondence – August-November 1976
Folder 53: Correspondence – December 1976
Folder 54: Correspondence – January-March 1977
Folder 55: Correspondence – April 1977
Folder 56: Correspondence – May 1977
Folder 57: Correspondence – June 1977
Folder 58: Correspondence – July-September 1977
Folder 59: Correspondence – October-December 1977
Folder 60: Correspondence – January-December 1978
Folder 61: Correspondence – January-March 1979
Folder 62: Correspondence – April-June 1979
Folder 63: Correspondence – July-December 1979
Folder 64: Correspondence – January-March 1980
Folder 65: Correspondence – April-June 1980
Folder 66: Correspondence – July-September 1980
Folder 67: Correspondence – October-December 1980
Folder 68: Correspondence – January-June 1981
Folder 69: Correspondence – July-December 1981
Folder 70: Correspondence – March-August1982
Folder 71: Correspondence – Ballard Memorial School Fundraising, 1970
Folder 72: Correspondence – British Royal Family’s Visit to the Kentucky Derby, 1974
Folder 73: Correspondence – Undated
Folder 74: Thruston Ballard Morton – Obituaries
Subject Headings
Agriculture – Taxation
American Horse Council
Animal industry – Law and legislation
Appalachians (People)
Appalachians (People)
Ballard Memorial School (Barlow, Ky.)
Churchill Downs Incorporated
Energy policy
Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.
Kentucky Derby – History
Morton, Thruston B. (Thruston Ballard), 1907-1982
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
Pillsbury Company
Presidents – United States – Election. – 20th century
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Red Cross and Red Crescent – Kentucky
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854-)
Vice-Presidential candidates – United States
