Albert Isaac Beach (1883-1939) Papers (KC0072)

Beach was elected mayor of Kansas City, Missouri on a reform platform in 1924 -- the first Republican to be elected to the post of mayor in 21 years. He was reelected in 1926 and in 1928. His election resulted from a breach between Tom Pendergast and Joe Shannon which is given partial credit for disrupting the operation of the Pendergast Machine in Kansas City, Missouri. During Beach's term as mayor, a city manager form of government was instituted under a new 1925 Charter. Other occurrences during his tenure included improved budgeting of taxes, the establishment of a City Plan Commission and a Zoning Board, the building of Municipal Airport, the dedication of Liberty Memorial, and the nomination of Herbert Hoover for President at the 1928 Republican National Convention held in Kansas City.

The collection contains his mayoral papers for his three terms in office. They include information on all areas of city government, including boards, commissions and finance. Departmental and personal correspondence are the bulk of these papers. 1924-1931.

5 cubic feet.

© WHMC-KC, University of Missouri

updated: Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Kansas City
(816) 235-1543 WHMCKC@umkc.edu