The Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers dates from 1980 to 2015 and contains correspondence, newsclippings, briefing books, subject files, and other policy documents like speeches and schedules. Dole’s collection of materials represents her tenure as head of the Department of Labor from 1989 to 1990 within President George H.W. Bush's Cabinet. In addition to Secretary Dole’s appointment, this collection includes materials from her personal life and trips. Her husband, Bob Dole, and his political activities also feature prominently throughout the collection as the two political figures supported each other throughout their careers.
The Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers covers various developments in United States labor laws and the labor force’s interactions with the Federal Government. Some of the more prevalent topics covered by these papers include child labor, equality, the Employment and Training Administration, and minimum wage. Another important portion of these materials covers the changes to global labor during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reconstruction of labor systems in Eastern Europe and South America. The wide date range found within this collection reflects Secretary Dole’s commitment to improving legacy labor policies and her continued influence on the Department of Labor into the 21st century.
Series within the Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers are primarily organized chronologically with some deviations made to increase utility for researchers. The Administrative Records series is divided into sub-series that are organized chronologically, except the Subject Files sub-series, which is organized alphabetically by subject and then by date. The Correspondence series begins with an alphabetical organization with numerous group files based on last name initials then switches to chronological for pre-named files and arranged materials. The Speeches and Newsclippings series are ordered chronologically.
The Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers arrived with some pre-existing organization with occasional pre-arranged folders, briefing books, and loosely organized materials. The processors retained titles, acronyms, and dates in order to preserve as much original order as possible. When no original order was possible, the processing archivist mirrored the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Papers, having come with more organized original order.