Repository Description

Repository Description The Robert J. Dole Archive is one of the most significant collections of paper, audio/visual materials, and artifacts related to politics in the 20th century. Housed at the Dole Institute of Politics on the University of Kansas campus, the archive is a resource for students, faculty and researchers around the world. The collections contained within the archive include Senator Dole’s House of Representative papers, Senate papers, Senate Leadership Office papers, Campaign papers and post-Senate papers. The collection also contains 25,000 photographs, 1,200 pieces of recorded media and thousands of artifacts that span the length of Senator Dole’s career. The archive also serves as the institutional repository of the Dole Institute and maintains the permanent library of program literature, digital photography and digital video. Collections are overseen by four full-time archivists who are steadily processing and preserving the 4,000 linear feet of collections material. Full access to collections is currently limited; however, Senator Dole's House of Representatives papers, House and Senate press releases, speeches, broadcasts and photographs are processed and available for research use In addition to providing reference and research access to collections, the archives staff maintains the permanent museum exhibits of the Dole Institute, prepares special and traveling exhibits, provides monthly “white glove tours” of the archives and maintains active memberships with the Congressional Papers Roundtable and the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress. The Dole Institute of Politics is a bi-partisan public policy forum devoted to the ideal that politics is an honorable profession. Each semester the Institute presents a slate of programs focused on history, policy, politics and current events. Speakers at the Dole Institute have included Joe Biden, Richard Novak, Michael Dukakis, Walter Mondale, Madeline Albright, Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Joe Trippi, Tom Brokaw and Bob Dole.