The Board of Regents is the governing body of the University of Minnesota. In the 1930s, the governor nominated regents and the Minnesota State Legislature elected regents. Because the legislature was divided, with Farmer-Labor in control of the House and Republicans were in control of the Senate, it was difficult for both bodies to select regents for their full six-year terms. In those cases, the Governor appointed a regent for a two-year term.

In the 1930s the Regents played significant roles in deciding issues, which included mandatory drilling for male students, segregated housing, and hiring and firing a faculty member for political reasons.

Archival research revealed that Ray Chase and Dean of Student Affairs Edward Nicholson conspired throughout the mid to late-1930s to advance people who shared their political agendas to be approved by the Legislature.

All minutes of the Board of Regents are digitally archived at the University of Minnesota. https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/5