Special Collections
Richard W. Bolling Papers
Bolling Collection Photographs Now Available Online
The donation of the personal and professional papers of Congressman Richard W. Bolling has been one of the most important additions to the University Libraries’ Department of Special Collections. The Bolling Collection has proven to be an invaluable resource for researchers in such areas as 20th-century history, political science, and particularly U.S. congressional history.
Richard
W. Bolling (1916-1991) served with eight different presidents and through
several crucial events in U.S. history as a Missouri Democratic Representative
to Congress from 1949 to 1983. His long tenure gave him a unique perspective
as a witness to such historical events as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean
War, the Vietnam War, Watergate, and the assassination of a president. Bolling
served on several House committees including the Select Committee on Committees,
the Joint Economic Committee, and the Committee on Rules. His papers provide
original, firsthand insight into a variety of national issues, including civil
rights, labor reform, the federal budget process, and liberalism. In particular,
the collection pertains to Bolling’s most direct and lasting influence as
a participant in the efforts to reform Congress in the early 1970s. Bolling
was arguably the most important player in this reform movement and he was
largely responsible for bringing to the floor many of the committee rules
and structural changes considered during the 93rd Congress (1973-74). As chair
of the Select Committee on Committees at this time, Bolling spearheaded this
reform movement which transformed the legislative process during the 1970s
and created our current system.
The Bolling collection has been consulted by a variety of researchers since 1994. Areas of interest have included Sam Rayburn and other House Speakers, the Vietnam War, Congressman Thomas P. ‘Tip’ O’Neill, and even the home Mr. Bolling resided at in Silver Springs, MD. The collection has proved especially useful for comparing Congressional reform during the 1940s, 1970s, and 1990s. In the year 2000, in addition to Congressional reform, researchers have used the collection for materials involving Hale Boggs, John McCormack, Sam Rayburn, and Bolling’s House leadership battle against Carl Albert in 1962.
Arranged roughly by term, the Papers contain internal memos,
legislation, appointment schedules, clippings, invitations, constituent requests,
and other documents generated during Bolling's term in office. There are also
memos, published and unpublished reports, scrapbooks, schedules, invoices,
bills, letters, photographs, audio and video tapes, film strips and other assorted media.
Inquiries regarding the Richard W. Bolling Collection can be answered by limited staff research. Inquiries should be sent to the Special Collections Librarian or the Library Assistant (below) for evaluation. There is a container and folder inventory outlining the contents of the collection available in Special Collections. Photocopying by departmental staff is available but is subject to the condition of the material and approval of the Special Collections Librarian.
Connect to the transcript of a tape-recorded Oral History Interview with Richard W. Bolling conducted in1988-89 for the Harry S. Truman Library.
Special Collections is a non-circulating and non-browsing resource center. The Special Collections Reading Room is open to researchers Monday through Friday during the academic year. Public service hours for the current semester are listed at http://library.umkc.edu/spec-col/index.html#hours but researchers are encouraged to call ahead for verification of hours due to University intersessions and other events. Special Collections is located on the fourth floor of the Miller Nichols Library at 5100 Rockhill Road in Kansas City, Missouri. All inquiries concerning access to the collections should be addressed to Special Collections Library Information Specialists Teresa Gipson or Kelly McEniry.
| Teresa Gipson Special Collections Library Information Specialist Miller Nichols Library 5100 Rockhill Rd Kansas City, MO 64110 (816) 235-1532 Teresa Gipson Fax (816) 333-5584 |
Kelly McEniry Special Collections Library Information Specialist Miller Nichols Library 5100 Rockhill Rd Kansas City, MO 64110 (816) 235-1532 Kelly McEniry Fax (816) 333-5584 |
