Collection Management and Development Policy

Ohio Public Policy Archives

The Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections

A. Statement of Purpose

The Ohio Public Policy Archives is a collaborative effort of The Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to collections of historical documents relating to the function and history of policymaking in the federal branches of the U.S. government and informed by individuals and groups from the state of Ohio. The Ohio Public Policy Archives makes available for research and education use unique and historical material documenting:

  1. The function, history, and process of policymaking in the U.S. Congress
  2. The participation and contributions of Ohioans in the three branches of the federal government
  3. The impact of federal policy on the State of Ohio and its citizens
  4. The participants and processes of policymaking on a national level

B. History

In 1999, The Ohio State University obtained the congressional, NASA, and personal papers of Senator John Glenn in conjunction with the founding of the university’s John Glenn Institute of Public Service and Public Policy, which became the John Glenn College of Public Affairs in 2015. Senator Glenn’s collection served as the core collection of the Ohio Congressional Archives which was established in 2004.

Founded following the recommendations put forth by the Third Report of the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress for the “development of statewide Public Policy Centers that include a strong archival component with a focus on political and public policy documentation,” the Ohio Congressional Archives sought to acquire the collections of current and former members of the Ohio delegation to the U.S. Congress.

In 2020, the Ohio Congressional Archives was renamed as the Ohio Public Policy Archives to better reflect the expanded collection scope and goals.

C. Collecting Activities

The Ohio Public Policy Archives seeks to cooperate with other institutions at Ohio State and around the state of Ohio in effort to ensure the preservation of the records compiled by policymakers, elected and appointed, serving in the federal government. The underlying purpose of these cooperative efforts is to provide access for public research purposes to these important historical collections. In addition, the Ohio Public Policy Archives seeks to cooperate with and 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. The archives maintains inclusion on the Roundtable’s national roster for Representatives and Senators of recommended institutions with the facilities and expertise to house congressional collections.

  1. Areas of Existing Strength

    The Ohio Public Policy Archives’ collections are strongest in congressional collections from Ohio  members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate from the 1940s to present.

  2. Areas for Continued Growth and Development

    The Ohio Public Policy Archives seeks to grow its collections in material from women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color elected or appointed to federal office and/or involved in the policymaking process on the national level. The Ohio Public Policy Archives also seeks to expand its collection efforts to include other organizations and groups involved with and informing the federal policymaking process but who do not serve in an elected role. This may include political parties, activists, grassroots organizations or political action committees in addition to public policy scholars from Ohio.

  3. Collecting Priorities

    The following is an example of the types of materials collected by the Ohio Public Policy Archives. Individual collections will be assessed and weighted against the goals of this policy and by budgetary considerations necessitated by their acquisition.

    • The papers and related materials of members of the Ohio delegation to the U.S. Congress.
    • The papers and related materials of Ohio officials elected or appointed to federal office.
    • The family and personal papers and related materials of Ohio politicians and officials elected or appointed to federal office during their careers prior to or after their terms in office.
    • The papers and related materials of individuals and/or organizations from Ohio involved in policymaking or national public service.

D. Statement on Diversity in Collecting Activities

The Ohio Public Policy Archives acknowledges that archives are not neutral and the pursuit for neutrality in archival collection and description has further underrepresented, maligned, and misrepresented communities and people. The Ohio Public Policy Archives commits to regularly assessing the adequacy of this policy, collecting practices, and programs to ensure they reflect the diversity of the Ohio Public Policy Archives’ constituent populations and researchers.

Effective September 2020.