Frequently Asked Questions

Our collections include the records of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole that were created and accumulated during their respective decades of national public service. This includes documents, photographs, objects and memorabilia, and audio-visual material.

A wide variety of topics can be researched using our collections, as they cover a breadth of social and political history from the latter part of the 20th century. For some examples of how our collections can be used, check out the following pages:

We also have some material relating to Bob Dole's early life and post-political career, as well as his Presidential campaigns. In addition, we have some collections from people associated with Senators Dole, including family, staffers, employees, and others. These primarily serve to complement the archive's main holdings.

For a more detailed look at our materials, see:

The Dole Archives is open to everyone on an equal basis. Our researchers include everyone from middle school students to professional scholars to members of the community. All are welcome.

No. We do have some material available in digital format, and all of our finding aids are available online. Please check out our online collection interface to browse our collections and to search for specific topics by keyword.

The vast majority of our collections must be viewed in person in our Reading Room.

You can feel free to contact us with some questions. We may be able to help you remotely with what you're looking for. In addition, we do offer travel grants and fellowships for qualified researchers. Please see our Research Fellowships and Travel Grants page for more information.

The best place to start is through our digital archive interface. Here you can search for keywords or browse through our digital content. If you have further questions or do not find what you are looking for, please feel free to contact us and we can try to help you.

Start by checking out this page (including the links in the left sidebar): Using Our Collections . This covers general use and fees.

In addition, be aware that the Dole Archives does not hold the copyright for most of the material that we have, and permission may need to be obtained from the copyright holder. In many cases, Dole Archives staff can help identify a contact person for this process. It is, however, the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions prior to use.

We will do our best. We love to help people find information that they are looking for. Feel free to send us a note, and the appropriate staff member will contact you, usually within 48 hours.

You can also feel free to search our collections through our online collection interface. This will give you a good starting point to see what we might have.

The mission of Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections at the Dole Institute of Politics is to collect, preserve, and promote unique materials documenting the life of Senator Robert Dole and Senator Elizabeth Dole, subject areas designated as relevant to their lives and careers, and materials documenting the activity and history of the Dole Institute of Politics.

If you have something that you think we might be interested in, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact us and let us know what you have:

Audrey Coleman
Associate Director & Director of Museum and Archives
amcoleman@ku.edu
785-864-1405