Dole Photograph Collection, 1900-2011 | Dole Archive Collections

Scope and Contents: The Archive of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics houses approximately 25,000 photographs relating to the personal life and political career of Robert J. Dole. The photographs range in size from wallet-size to oversize and include both color and black and white. The photo collection spans the dates circa 1900-2011 and contains images relating to Robert J. Dole's childhood and youth, living family members and ancestors, military service, legal career as Russell Kansas County Attorney, four campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the eight years spent as congressman from Kansas' 6th and later 1st Congressional Districts (1961-1968), his subsequent 28 year Senate career (1968-1996), and the post-Senate years. Other individuals who appear in the photographs include American presidents and foreign heads of state, senators, legislators and dignitaries, as well as constituents and staffers. While the majority of the images in the photograph collection were donated by Senator Dole, several important smaller groups of personal photos were donated by his sisters, Norma Jean (Dole) Steele and Gloria (Dole) Nelson and friends of the Dole family. In addition to photographic prints, collections include negatives, slides, and digital images of Institute events which Dole attended.