Ohio Congressional Archives
Collection Management and Development Policy
A. Statement of Purpose
The Ohio Congressional Archives is a collaborative effort of The Ohio State University Libraries/Archives and the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to collections of historical documents and related material compiled by or pertaining to members of the past and present Ohio delegations to the United States Congress. The goal of the Ohio Congressional Archives is to make available for research and educational use unique and historical material documenting: a) the workings and history of the U.S. Congress; b) the participation and contributions of Ohio members of the U.S. Congress; and c) the impact of the U.S. Congress on the history of the State of Ohio.
The purpose of the Collection Management and Development Policy is to identify areas of collection and to manage resources by establishing priorities.
B. Nature of the Archives
The papers of Senator John Glenn is the core collection of the Ohio Congressional Archives. This nationally significant collection is the foundation upon which the Ohio Congressional Archives shall solicit and attract the papers (correspondence, memoranda, briefing books, speeches, statements, diaries, reports, etc), audio-visual materials (photographs, video and film footage, audio recordings, etc.), and artifacts (awards, memorabilia, etc.) of other individuals who once served or currently serve as elected members from Ohio in the U.S. Senate or in the U.S. House of Representatives. Experience and expertise in making available and preserving the Glenn papers should be significant assets in drawing other collections.
C. Collecting Activities
The Ohio Congressional Archives will cooperate with other institutions within the State of Ohio to preserve and make available the records compiled by significant members of the Ohio delegation to the U.S. Congress. The underlying purpose of these cooperative efforts is to provide access to these important historical collections for public research purposes. In addition, the Ohio Congressional Archives will participate in national efforts to preserve the records of the U.S. Congress by active membership in the Congressional Papers Roundtable of the Society of American Archivists. As a member, the Archives will be on the Roundtable’s national roster of recommended institutions that have the facilities and expertise to receive Congressional collections.
The following is a ranking by priority of the types of materials collected by the Ohio Congressional Archives. Individual collections will be assessed on their merits and historical significance and weighed against the budgetary considerations necessitated by their acquisition.
Priorities:
- The papers and related materials of members of the Ohio delegation to the U.S. Congress compiled while in office.
- The papers and related materials of members of the Ohio delegation compiled during their careers prior to or after their term(s) in the U.S. Congress.
- The papers and related materials of personal advisors and staff personnel to members of the Ohio delegation to the U.S. Congress.
- Oral histories of Ohio members of the U.S. Congress, their political advisors, and key staff members.
- The papers and related materials of individuals who actively campaigned for but failed to win election to a seat in the Ohio delegation to the U.S. Congress.
The John Glenn Archivist, in cooperation with the John Glenn Institute and the OSU Libraries, will have responsibility for collection development.
Return to Collections Advisory Council September, 2002, or August, 2002, Agenda.