Our primary collections include the records of Senator Dole that were created and accumulated during his 35 years in Congress (U.S. Representative 1961-1968, U.S. Senator 1969-1996). 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 Dole's early life and post-political career, as well as his Presidential campaigns. In addition, we have some collections from people associated with Senator Dole's, 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:
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.
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, subject areas designated as relevant to his life and career, and materials documenting the activity and history of the Dole Institute of Politics.
Things we generally collect:
- We are currently collecting material relating to or from "Dole Alumni": Dole family members, legislative staff, campaign staff, and closely-related individuals.
Things we generally do not collect:
- Papers or material not directly related to Senator Dole's career
- Papers or material primarily from published sources (such as newspaper clippings, magazine articles, etc.)
- World War II memorabilia
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 ColemanAssistant Director & Senior Archivist
amcoleman@ku.edu
785-864-1405
