Women in Politics: women in government and party politics
The Bentley Historical Library has the papers of many Michigan women elected to local, state or national office, or otherwise involved in the Democratic and Republican parties. Ruth Thompson, a Republican, was the first woman from Michigan ever elected to the U.S. Congress in 1951. In 1954 Martha Griffiths became the first Democratic woman to represent Michigan in Congress. In 1982 she would become the first woman lieutenant-governor of Michigan. Margaret Price was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1952 to 1964 and served as Director of the Democratic Party's Women's Activities from 1960 to 1968. Virginia Allan's career is also worth mentioning. During the Nixon Administration she headed the President's Task Force on Women's Rights and Responsibilities, and her paper include many significant documents concerning women's rights issues. She later became later deputy assistant secretary of state for public affairs.
At the state level, Elly Peterson of Charlotte became the first woman to be state chair of a major political party in Michigan, as chair of the Republican Party in 1965. Olivia Maynard was chair of the state Democratic Party from 1979 to 1983, the first woman to hold this office. Another official of the state Democratic Party apparatus was Adelaide Hart, who served as Vice chairman of the Democratic Party State Central Committee in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition to the personal papers of both Maynard and Hart, the Bentley has the records of the Democratic Party of Michigan which document their careers as well. Lana Pollack was State Senator from 1982 to 1994. All of these women were actively involved in women's rights issues.
At the local level, the Bentley Historical Library has the papers of several former members of the Ann Arbor City Council (Eunice Burns, Florence Crane and Colleen McGee) and the papers of Ruth Braden McNamee who served as mayor of Birmingham, MI, in 1970-1971.
Virginia Allan being sworn in as Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State, March 1972. Virginia R. Allan
Papers, Box 9, Folder "Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State".
Allan, Virginia R.
- Virginia R. Allan papers, 1932-1995.
- 3 sound tape reels ; 3-7 in. 2 sound cassettes.
- 8.5 linear ft. and 1 oversize folder.
Wyandotte, Michigan, businesswoman, chairwoman of the President's Task Force on Women's Rights and Responsibilities during the Nixon Administration, later deputy assistant secretary of state for public affairs.
Papers and photographs relating to her interest in women's rights, the equal rights amendment, Republican Party politics, the activities of International Women's Year, 1975, and the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Recording of State Department swearing-in ceremony, 1972; speech, 1974, of Martha Griffiths before the Chicago convention of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs on the Equal Rights Amendment; tape on Commission on the Status of Women; and interview with Aris Reunes, 1971.
Lorraine Beebe. Lorraine B. Beebe
Papers, Box 3, Folder "Portraits -
Formal".
Beebe, Lorraine B.
- Lorraine B. Beebe papers, ca. 1920-1981.
- 2.2 linear ft. and 1 v. [outsize].
Republican state senator, state coordinator of the Anderson for President campaign in 1980.
Papers and photographs relating to her public career and to her interest in women's issues, especially abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment; also relating to her involvement with the President's Committee on Mental Retardation, her political activities and in the state senate; and scrapbook, 1966-1970, detailing political career.
Flyer for Elizabeth Belen's
campaign for State Representative,
n.d. Elizabeth L. Belen Papers.
Belen, Elizabeth L.
- Elizabeth L. Belen papers, 1935-1969.
- .4 linear ft.
State legislator and Democratic Party leader from Lansing, Michigan.
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and campaign material concerning Belen's political career; and material concerning activities of other members of the Belen family. Correspondents include: James A. Farley, January 12, 1940, Murray D. Van Wagoner, January 13, 1937 and November 8, 1940. Family photographs; photos of Democratic Party groups, Grand Rapids women's suffrage parade, and 1944 Lansing Democratic Party headquarters.
Berthelot, Helen W.
- Helen W. Berthelot papers, 1948-1995.
- 34 linear ft.
Campaign manager for G. Mennen Williams and official of the Communications Workers of America.
Correspondence, schedules and publications concerning politics, election campaigns, 1954-1976, labor, communications satellites, the Democratic Party, and the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services.
Finding aid in the library.
Blanchard, Janet
Janet Blanchard, circa 1990. Janet
Blanchard Papers, Box 1, Folder
"Photographs".
- Janet Blanchard papers, 1987-1990.
- 3.5 linear ft.
Career state government worker, later wife of Michigan governor James J. Blanchard.
Files detailing her career in state government and her later duties as wife of Michigan governor James J. Blanchard, 1989-1990. The collection includes extensive documentation of the Governor's Task Force on Telecommunications (1990) on which she served.
Burns, Eunice L.
- Eunice L. Burns papers, 1960-1990.
- 2.5 linear ft.
Democratic member of the Ann Arbor City Council (Mich.), the Ann Arbor Planning Commission, and the Ann Arbor Development Authority.
Correspondence, reports, minutes, and other materials largely concerning municipal issues; and papers concerning work as chairperson of the University of Michigan Committee to Study Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.
Florence Crane in 1959. Florence
R. Crane Papers, Box 1, Folder
"Photoprints."
Crane, Florence R.
- Florence R. Crane papers, 1949-1989
- 1 linear ft.and 1 oversize folder.
Republican member of the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council, 1957-1961; active participant in civic and political affairs on the state and local level.
Subject files relating to her involvement with various civic and community organizations.
Democratic Party (Mich.)
- Democratic Party of Michigan records, 1949-[ongoing].
- 97 linear ft.
Files of state chairs, Neil Staebler, John J. Collins, Zolton Ferency, Sander Levin, James McNeely, Morley Winograd, Olivia Maynard, Richard Wiener, F. Thomas LeWand, and Gary Corbin; files of deputy state chair, Billie S. Farnum, vice chairs Adelaide Hart and Olivia Maynard, and vice chair Robert Mitchell; files relating to state constitutional convention, and to state and national political campaigns, since 1950; sound recordings and photographs. These include files of party activities and positions on women's rights issues in the period covered. Of particular interest are the records of Adelaide Hart and Olivia Maynard. Hart was vice-chair in 1961-1966 and her files include a lot of materials documenting women's rights issues (see also her papers). Maynard was party secretary, and became chair after 1979. Her files includes documents on abortion reform and legislation, the Northwestern Michigan Democratic Women's club organizational meeting, and responses to a survey she conducted of women's organizations in Michigan (see also her papers).
Fleming, Sally
- Sally Fleming papers, 1928-1988.
- 3 linear feet.
Wife of University of Michigan president Robben Fleming; active in civic and cultural organizations.
Correspondence, appointment books, organizational files, and personal materials relating to her University of Michigan activities and responsibilities.
Finding aid in the library.
Griffiths, Martha Wright
Martha Griffiths, July 1, 1961.
Martha W. Griffiths Papers, Box
60, Folder "Portraits."
- Martha W. Griffiths papers, 1956-1976.
- 60 linear ft. and 8 oversize volumes. Visual materials 1 linear ft.
Detroit, Michigan, attorney, Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1955-1974, and member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Congressional papers, arranged by term, include legislative files, bills files, topical files, schedules, sound recordings, photographs, motion pictures, and scrapbooks. The collection details relationship with colleagues and constituents and pertains to committee activities, legislation sponsored, and issues of the day. Topics of interest include civil rights, the war in Vietnam, Sleeping Bear Dunes, the humane slaughtering of animals, the economy and the fiscal policy of the federal government, women's rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, economic problems of women, and the need for national health insurance legislation.
Adelaide Hart, 1966. Democratic
Party of Michigan Records, Box 92,
Folder "Photos: elected officials:
Adelaide Hart".
Hart, Adelaide, 1900-
- Adelaide Hart papers, 1948-1971.
- 11.5 linear ft.
Vice chairman of the Democratic Party State Central Committee, primarily during the gubernatorial administration of G. Mennen Williams.
Office files concerning party conventions, election issues, and the work of the state central committee, particularly the role of women in the party and the Women for Humphrey organization during the election of 1968; and scrapbooks and photographs.
Hay, Regina
- Regina Hay papers, 1930-1966.
- 2 linear ft., 1 oversize folder, and 2 oversize volumes.
Republican Party official from Romeo, Michigan, National Republican Committeewoman, secretary of the Republican National Convention, 1948.
Correspondence, scrapbooks, political miscellanea and photographs largely relating to the Republican National Convention held in Philadelphia and the election of 1948.
Finding aid in the library.
Lecznar, Stella
- Stella Lecznar scrapbooks, 1939-1948.
- 1 microfilm reel : positive.
Democratic Party worker and ethnic club leader.
Clippings, correspondence, and other memorabilia concerning her involvement in Democratic politics and Polish-American organizations, especially the Ladies Voters League.
Partially in Polish.
Olivia Maynard, n.d. Democratic
Party of Michigan records, Box 92,
Folder "State Central Committee,
Miscellaneous".
Maynard, Olivia
- Olivia Maynard papers, 1976-1982.
- 1 linear ft.
Democratic Party of Michigan officer; candidate for state lieutenant governor in 1978 and 1990; regent of the University of Michigan.
Topical files and other materials relating to her Democratic Party responsibilities, to her campaign for lieutenant governor in 1978, and to her advocacy of women's rights issues.
Finding aid in the library.
McDonald, James Henry / Jewell, Christine
- James Henry McDonald collection, 1783-1938.
- 2.4 linear ft., 2 oversized folders, and 1 oversize volume.
Graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A., 1876; Law, 1878), Detroit attorney. His third wife, Christine Jewell, was active in the state Democratic party.
The collection includes Christine Jewell's papers, which document her activities with the Democratic party in 1937-1938.
McGee, Colleen S.
- Colleen S. McGee papers, 1956-2003.
- 2 linear ft.
Journals for 1974-1976 also available on microfilm.
Democratic member of the Ann Arbor (Mich.) City Council, 1974-1976; social science research associate and lecturer in the University of Michigan College of Engineering.
Diaries, journals, and weekly planners detailing her life and activities at home and in the office; also campaign materials.
McNamee, Ruth Braden
Ruth McNamee (on the left) at the signing
of the Gold and Silver law, 1980. Ruth
Braden McNamee Papers, Box 1, Folder
"Photographs". Click for larger.
- Ruth Braden McNamee papers, 1964-1984.
- .3 linear ft.
Mayor of Birmingham, Michigan, 1970-1971, and Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives, 1974-1984.
Biographical material, speeches and articles, subject files relating to her public service activities, and photographs.
Nye, Kathryn C.
Kathryn Nye. Kathryn Nye
Papers, Box 4, Folder
"Photographs".
- Kathryn C. Nye papers, 1952-1967.
- 3.5 linear ft.
Recording secretary of the Central Committee of the Michigan Democratic Party, 1962-1967.
Correspondence, working files, printed material, photographs and audio-tapes dealing with the organization and management of the state Democratic Party, Lansing and Ingham County, Michigan, party politics, various political issues, Michigan participation in the national Democratic Conventions of 1960 and 1964, and the Michigan Senate Campaign of 1966. Correspondents include: Neil Staebler, John Swainson, and Zolton Ferency.
Finding aid in the library.
Ogden, Rosemary Mason
- Rosemary Mason Ogden papers, 1946-1950.
- .2 linear ft.
Papers of Mrs. Doan R. Ogden, Republican Party worker from Romeo, Michigan, publicity chairperson of the Republican Women's Federation of Michigan.
Correspondence, typescripts of writings, speeches, and other materials concerning state Republican Party affairs, her work with the Republican Women's Federation, and the political activities of national committeewoman, Mrs. Dudley C. Hay.
Elly Peterson with Richard Nixon and George
Romney. Elly Peterson Papers, Box 21, Folder
"Republican Party - Michigan - General."
Peterson, Elly
- Elly Peterson papers, 1943-1997.
- 24 linear ft., 4 v. [outsize], and 1 oversize folder.
Charlotte, Mich., resident, state chairperson of Republican Party, and assistant chairperson of Republican National Committee.
The Elly McMillan Peterson papers consist of 7 series: Republican Party Activities, ERAmerican, Other Organizational Activities, Personal/Biographical, Speeches, Photographs, Scrapbooks/Clippings. The first series, and by far the largest set of files, has been labelled Republican Party Activities (17 linear ft.; 1958-1985). Grouped by period of time, this series really covers Peterson's entire career as she was a lifelong Republican. As she held many different positions within the party, the series naturally breaks down into chronological divisions: 1958-1964, 1965-1970, 1971-1979, and 1980-1985. Each of these chronological divisions begins with a set of files (arranged roughly by chronology) that include correspondence, memoranda, and other forms of communication. These files are then followed by sub-series of material either resulting from specific activities within the party or offices held either within the state or national Republican party. Thus files pertaining to Peterson's campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1964 will be found within the 1958-1964 division and files created while serving with the President Ford Committee in 1976 will be found in the 1971-1979 division. Other Republican party material will of course be found within genre series - Speeches, Photographs, and Scrapbooks/Clippings. The second series - ERAmerica - relates to Peterson's work within this organization to obtain passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. The series (1.5 lin. ft.; 1971-1982) includes material that predates the establishment of ERAmerica but which relates to women's issues in general. The files have been arranged alphabetically by topic. Papers from Peterson's other group activities have been put into Other Organizaional Activities (1 lin. ft.; 1969-1983). These files document in part Peterson's many trips abroad with women's organizations, notably to China and the Middle East. Personal/Biographical (.3 lin. ft.; 1955-1981) includes information about awards received by Peterson and some of her private writings. Speeches (1 lin. ft.; 1953-1980) includes both manuscripts of her speeches and also published copies. Other speeches of Peterson will be found (as indicated) in the Republican Party Activities and ERAmerica series. The Photographs series (.3 lin. ft.; ca. 1950-ca. 1976) and the Scrapbooks/Clippings series (2 lin. ft.; 1943-ca. 1980) are self-explanatory.
Lana Pollack at the signing of the
anti-corporal punishment bill, 1989.
Lana Pollack Papers, Box 15, Folder
"Photographs".
Pollack, Lana
- Lana Pollack papers, 1979-1994.
- 15.5 linear ft.
Lana Pollack served as state senator for Michigan's Eighteenth District from 1982 to 1994. Born near Ludington, Michigan, on October 11, 1942, she grew up in Ludington and attended the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1965, and a Master of Arts in Education in 1970. It was not until the late 1960s that Pollack became active in politics as a volunteer worker for the Ann Arbor Democratic Party. After years of substitute teaching and working on other candidates' campaigns, she successfully ran for the Ann Arbor Board of Education in 1979. The quality of her work as a Board member led to a landslide victory when she ran for state Senate in 1982. Major issues which came to be associated with Pollack were family and women's rights concerns, anti-pollution legislation, support for the arts, and tax equity. She organized a bi-partisan statewide coalition to discourage teenage pregnancy called the Campaign to Promote Responsibility, as well as the Gun Violence Coalition, which was an education and pro-gun control effort. In 1988 Pollack ran for Congress against Republican incumbent Carl Purcell. She lost, but proved to be a strong campaigner and prodigious fundraiser. This gave her the confidence to run for a vacant United States Senate seat in 1994; she finished second to Congressman Bob Carr. Since she had given up her senate seat to run federally, Pollack moved on to a new career in 1995 when she helped found Michigan Monthly magazine.
The Lana Pollack papers have been divided into six series: Ann Arbor Board of Education, Michigan Senate, campaigns, photographs, videotapes, and audiotapes. The collection documents diverse aspects of Pollack's legislative and political activities.
Price, Margaret Bayne
Margaret Price. Margaret Bayne Price
Papers, Box 25, Folder "Formal Portraits".
- Margaret Bayne Price papers, 1918-1969.
- 25 linear ft.
Democratic National Committeewoman from Michigan, Vice-Chairman Democratic National Committee and Director of Women's Affairs of the Democratic Party.
Extensive correspondence, speeches, press releases, political campaign materials, newspaper clippings, agendas, and assorted printed material relating to her work in the Democratic Party; material concerning Democratic politics, 1948-1967, and the activities of the Democratic National Committee and the Michigan State Central Committee.
Republican National Convention (20th : 1932 : Chicago, Ill.)
- Republican National Convention photograph collection, 1932.
- 1 outsize folder.
Photograph of Michigan delegates, including women, to Republican National Convention.
Romney, Lenore LaFount
- Lenore LaFount Romney papers, 1962-1974.
- 10 linear ft. and 1 v.
Civic leader, wife of Michigan governor, George Romney, and Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1970.
Correspondence, political background files, speeches, and miscellanea largely concerning election of 1970; and campaign and speech files covering gubernatorial career of George Romney.
Roosevelt, Dorothy Kemp
Flyer for Dorothy Kemp Roosevelt's
campaign for Congress, 1942.
Dorothy Kemp Roosevelt Papers,
Box 1, Folder "Congressional
Campaign, 1942".
- Dorothy Kemp Roosevelt papers, 1922-1985.
- 2 linear ft.
Political activist, concert pianist, sister-in-law of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Biographical materials; correspondence with politicians, musical figures and other dignitaries; also personal materials concerning her concert career, her campaign for Congress in 1942. Formal and informal family photographs; portraits of various dignitaries; photo of Eleanor Roosevelt with Michigan WPA officials; and travel diary-photo album created by Amy and Janet Roosevelt documenting their trip to Europe in 1949.
Stanis, Antoinette, collector
Polish American Women Political Club, Red Cross Unit, 1940. Stanis is
the third from the right in the front row. Antoinette Stanis, collector.
Click for larger.
- Antoinette Stanis records, 1936-1971.
- 1 linear ft.
Records collected by Antoinette Stanis of Dearborn, Michigan, related to her civic, social and political activities in the Polish-American community in Detroit.
Minutes and treasurer's books of the Polish-American Women's Political Club; constitution and amendments of the West Side Council of Clubs (Democratic); miscellaneous personal material and photographs. Photograph of members of Polish-American Women's Political Club (1940); photographs of victory celebrations for various Michigan candidates; and photographs of Stanis and others on various political and social occasions.
Thompson, Ruth
Ruth Thompson (second from right) and other
women illustrating rising prices for average
Americans. Ruth Thompson Papers, Folder
"Groups of Five or More".
- Ruth Thompson papers, 1950-ca. 1957.
- .3 linear ft. and 1 oversize folder.
Republican member of the U. S. Congress, 1951-1957, from Whitehall, Muskegon County, Michigan.
Scrapbook, 1950-1952, containing clippings, greeting cards and telegrams, correspondence, programs and scattered photographs; and miscellaneous loose scrapbook materials. Portrait; photos of Thompson with other legislators and public figures, including Dwight Eisenhower and Pope Pius XII; and photos of Thompson with other women members of Congress.
Developed by Dominique Daniel, a graduate student at the School of Information, June 2008.