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By Alex Adelmund, Brenna Hobbs, Raksha Shrestha, Aislinn Reekie, Riley Osterberg, Marla Weaver
Collection Overview
Title: Elizabeth Hanford Dole Senate Papers, 2001-2009
Predominant Dates:2001-2009
ID: 01/042
Primary Creator: Dole, Elizabeth Hanford
Extent: 49.0 Linear Feet
Arrangement: Large parts of the Elizabeth Hanford Dole Senate Papers arrived with existing organization and this order was preserved and recreated whenever possible. Original folder titles were preserved with some additions like writing out acronyms, providing dates and date ranges. When necessary, pre-existing folder titles were extended to add context or clarify the materials within. When pre-existing organization was not found, materials were arranged to match pre-existing arrangements or best practices found within Managing Congressional Collections, 2008.
The Elizabeth Hanford Dole Senate Papers are arranged into five series: Constituent Relations, Legislative Relations, Office Management, Personal/Political Files, and Press. Sub-series vary within each series based on original order and the medium of materials. Series and sub-series have descriptions and further organization is clarified in notes when sub-series deviate from chronological or alphabetical order to better serve researchers or to follow original order.
When appropriate, prefixes have been applied to materials to further arrange materials within their Sub-Series. For example, materials related to Senator Dole’s two Senate campaigns use “Dole for Senate 2002” and “Dole for Senate 2008” respectively.
Congressional Records refer to any materials produced for or by Congressional Record releases such as a statement, voting records, bill language, etc.
Materials related to Senator Dole’s time as the National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair have been placed under the Caucus/Political Party Records sub-series of the Personal/Political Files Series.
Signed Letters have been organized in the Senator’s Correspondence Sub-series chronologically to retain original order.
Subjects: Dole, Elizabeth Hanford
Languages: English
Abstract
Elizabeth Hanford Dole became the first female Senator to represent North Carolina, and served in the U.S. Senate from January 3, 2003, to January 3, 2009. Senator Dole brought decades of experience to Congress, guiding pieces of legislation to preserve international power and North Carolina’s industry, infrastructure, and national importance.
Senator Dole’s focus was on North Carolina issues and their relevance to the United States. She sought to eradicate hunger in the nation and started her time on the floor of the Senate with a maiden speech targeting the threat of hunger and the importance of childhood nutrition to Americans suffering from food insecurity. Hunger remained an important issue for Senator Dole, and her advocacy brought relief to thousands of North Carolinians and others across the country.
Another key part of Senator Dole’s advocacy for her state included the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, a Native American tribe by law, but one that lacked access to federal services granted to other federally recognized tribes. She worked with community leaders and her fellow lawmakers to argue Lumbee’s case for federal support. Although her bill, S. 420 – Lumbee Recognition Act, failed to pass, Senator Dole’s testimony and support kept the Lumbee’s efforts alive in Congress.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Elizabeth Hanford Dole Senate Papers cover Dole’s tenure representing North Carolina in the U.S. Senate from January 3, 2003, to January 3, 2009. As the collection covers both senatorial campaigns and the continued press coverage of her achievements, the primary dates of the collection range from 1999 to 2011. The collection contains correspondence, briefing books, speeches, legislative documents, press clippings, and other relevant documents.
The papers cover numerous issues ranging from legislation in North Carolina to international cooperation and conflict. Some prevalent topics include Senator Dole’s campaign to eradicate hunger in the United States and abroad, legislation to recognize North Carolina’s Lumbee Native American tribe, and contending with the Global War on Terror. In addition to these topics, the papers include her time as Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a position that guided the Republican Senate campaigns throughout the United States.
Collection Historical Note
Elizabeth Hanford Dole was born Mary Elizabeth Alexander Hanford on July 29, 1936, in Salisbury, North Carolina. She graduated from Duke University in 1958, earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard in 1960, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1965.
Dole began her career in administration at the age of 29, when she began working for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration and for the Office of Consumer Affairs. She was promoted under the Nixon administration to Executive Director of the President’s Committee for Consumer Interests, and in 1973, appointed to the Federal Trade Commission. On December 6, 1975, she married Senator Bob Dole. The following year, Dole took a leave of absence from the FTC to campaign for her husband, who was running on the Republican presidential ticket with Gerald Ford. She served as a Federal Trade Commissioner until 1979, when she resigned to campaign for Bob Dole’s 1980 presidential bid.
She served as Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison from 1981 to 1983, when she was nominated and confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Dole is the first woman to have served as Cabinet Secretary of two federal departments under two different presidents (Transportation 1983-87, Ronald Reagan; Labor 1989-90, George H.W. Bush). She served as the second female President of the American Red Cross from 1991 to 1998, the first woman to hold the position since founder Clara Barton in 1881.
After Senator Jesse Helms announced his retirement in August 2001, Dole began her campaign to fill his Senate seat during the 2002 election. Dole’s campaign was a success, defeating Democrat Erskine Bowles, making her the first woman to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate from January 3, 2003, to January 3, 2009.
In 2012, Dole founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which empowers, supports, and honors America’s military caregivers.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections
Access Restrictions:
Some materials within the Dole Archive are restricted because of their sensitive nature or because they contain personal or confidential information. These records are protected by federal laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Examples of restricted records are personnel files, medical records, financial records, and any materials containing personal information such as addresses and social security numbers. Restricted materials are identified at the box and/or folder level within the finding aid. Questions about these materials may be directed to the Senior Archivist of the Dole Archives.
Use Restrictions:
Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different kinds of materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archive are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. Senator Dole has not donated her copyright interest in her papers and other historical materials to the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics. Permission to publish must be obtained from her, or her designee. There are other materials in the library carrying a copyright interest that must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted materials.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Constituent Relations],
[
Series 2: Legislative Relations],
[Series 3: Office Administration],
[
Series 4: Personal/Political Files],
[
Series 5: Press],
[
All]
- Series 3: Office Administration
- Office Administration focuses on the documents and materials that allowed Senator Dole’s office to function daily. This series includes administrative documents such as job descriptions, office procedures, work schedules, and office call trees.
Restrictions: Some materials within this series may be restricted indefinitely due to sensitive personal and financial information.
- Box 22
- Folder 1: Draft Legislative Assignments, 2007 June 12
- Folder 2: Legislative Assignments, 2007 October 11
- Folder 3: Senator Dole Emergency Procedures, Undated
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Constituent Relations],
[
Series 2: Legislative Relations],
[Series 3: Office Administration],
[
Series 4: Personal/Political Files],
[
Series 5: Press],
[
All]
