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Miller, Archie H.

Senate 1931-1943 (District 36); Senate 1945-1958 (District 36)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election

Counties Served:  Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/8/1886
Birth Place: Hopkins, Minnesota
Birth County: Hennepin
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 2/11/1958
Gender: Male
Religion: Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Hopkins
Occupation (when first elected): Practicing Law

EDUCATION

Hopkins Public Schools; Elementary School;
Hopkins High School; Secondary; Graduate
Minnesota College of Law; Law Degree;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Council/Aldermen: Hopkins, Minnesota (Village Council, 4 terms); 19?? to 19??
Municipal Government: Hopkins, Minnesota (Village/City Clerk, 4 terms); 19?? to 19??
School Board/Administration: Hopkins, Minnesota (School Board of Education, Clerk, 10 years); 19?? to 19??
State Lieutenant Governor: Minnesota; 05/06/1943 to 01/02/1945

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Ruth
Children: Three children: Jerre, James, and Robert (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

As President Pro Tem, Senator Archie Miller became lieutenant governor when Governor Harold Stassen resigned on April 27, 1943 elevating Lt. Governor Edward Thye to governor. Senator Miller was sworn in on May 6, 1943 and resigned from the Senate on May 10. The Senate met just once, in a four-day special session that began on March 8, 1944, during Lt. Governor Archie Miller's tenure. He served as the presiding officer and did not participate as a senator. He pursued running for lieutenant governor in the 1944 general election but the Minnesota Supreme Court determined in April 1944 that he was ineligible to run for that position. The primary reason was because the Legislature had raised the pay of the governor, the lieutenant governor, and legislators; members of both houses were barred from running for governor or lieutenant governor in the upcoming election. Instead, Archie Miller ran in a special election in November 1944 for the seat he had resigned from. He won and returned to the Senate in January 1945.

He was a member of the Republican Party.

He played semi-professional baseball.

He played the clarinet in the Hopkins Village Band.

He died in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Religion provided by In Memoriam.

Total Days Served: 9293

SESSIONS SERVED

60th Legislative Session (1957-1958) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/2/1954
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 2/11/1958 (unfinished term)
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Committees
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Municipal Affairs
  • Public Highways
  • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He died while in office on February 11, 1958.
Reason for unfinished term: Death
Session Notes: He died while in office on February 11, 1958.

59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/2/1954
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 2/11/1958 (unfinished term)
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Committees
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Municipal Affairs
  • Public Highways
  • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Reason for unfinished term: Death
Session Notes: He died while in office on February 11, 1958.

58th Legislative Session (1953-1954) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/7/1950
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Civil Defense
  • Committees
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs
  • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Towns and Counties
Leadership Position: Majority Leader

57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/7/1950
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Committees
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs
  • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Towns and Counties
Leadership Position: Majority Leader

56th Legislative Session (1949-1950) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/5/1946
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Committees
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs
  • Rules and Legislative Expense (Chair)
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Towns and Counties
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He became Majority Leader after Charles Noah Orr died in office on January 10, 1949.

55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/5/1946
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Banks and Banking
  • Committees (Chair)
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws (Chair)
  • Municipal Affairs
  • Rules and Legislative Expense
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Towns and Counties

54th Legislative Session (1945-1946) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/7/1944
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/2/1945 to 1/6/1947 (Special Election)
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Banks and Banking
  • Committees
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs (Chair)
  • Public Welfare
  • Rules and Legislative Expense
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Towns and Counties
Session Notes: He was required to run in a special election to complete the final two years of his four-year Senate term after he served as lieutenant governor from 5/6/1943 to 1/2/1945 because he resigned from the Senate on 5/10/1943.

53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/3/1942
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 5/6/1943 (unfinished term)
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
  • Committees
  • Finance
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs (Chair)
  • Public Welfare
  • Rules and Legislative Expense
  • Towns and Counties
Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore
Leadership Notes: He became Minnesota's Lieutenant Governor on May 6, 1943.
Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
Session Notes: As President Pro Tem, Senator Archie Miller became lieutenant governor when Governor Harold Stassen resigned on April 27, 1943 elevating Lt. Governor Edward Thye to governor. Senator Miller was sworn in on May 6, 1943 and resigned from the Senate on May 10. The Senate met just once, in a four-day special session that began on March 8, 1944, during Lt. Governor Archie Miller's tenure. He served as the presiding officer and did not participate as a senator. He pursued running for lieutenant governor in the 1944 general election but the Minnesota Supreme Court determined in April 1944 that he was ineligible to run for that position. The primary reason was because the Legislature had raised the pay of the governor, the lieutenant governor, and legislators; members of both houses were barred from running for governor or lieutenant governor in the upcoming election. Instead, Archie Miller ran in a special election in November 1944 for the seat he had resigned from. He won and returned to the Senate in January 1945.

52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/8/1938
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Practicing Law
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs (Chair)
  • Public Welfare
  • Rules and Legislative Expense
  • Towns and Counties

51st Legislative Session (1939-1940)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/8/1938
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Practicing Law
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Liquor Control
  • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs (Chair)
  • Public Welfare
  • Rules and Legislative Expense
  • Towns and Counties

50th Legislative Session (1937-1938) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/6/1934
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/2/1939
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Practicing Law
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs (Chair)
  • Public Highways
  • Public Welfare
  • Rules and Legislative Expense
  • Towns and Counties

49th Legislative Session (1935-1936)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/6/1934
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/2/1939
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Practicing Law
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs (Chair)
  • Public Highways
  • Public Welfare
  • Rules and Legislative Expense
  • Towns and Counties

48th Legislative Session (1933-1934) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/4/1930
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/6/1931 to 1/7/1935
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Practicing Law
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Education
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs (Chair)
  • Public Highways
  • Public Welfare
  • Towns and Counties
Session Notes: George A. Turnham contested the election of Archie H. Miller in the 1930 election. Archie H. Miller was determined to be the winner of the election and entitled to the seat.

47th Legislative Session (1931-1932)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/4/1930
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/6/1931 to 1/7/1935
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Practicing Law
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Education
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
  • Municipal Affairs
  • Public Highways
  • Public Welfare
  • Towns and Counties
Session Notes: George A. Turnham contested the election of Archie H. Miller in the 1930 election. Archie H. Miller was determined to be the winner of the election and entitled to the seat.