Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Jeanette Rankin collection, 1886-2009
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Jeanette Rankin collection
- Dates
- 1886-2009 (inclusive)18862009
- Quantity
- 1.0 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 785
- Summary
- Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to Congress and served twice as Montana's United States House Representative from 1917 to 1919 and from 1941 to 1943. The Jeannette Rankin collection consists of pamphlets and form letters related to her campaigns and positions on legislative issues and some stationery. It also includes Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) files on Rankin and the Jeannette Rankin Brigade, as well as other research material gathered by James J. Lopach and Jean A. Luckowski for their book Jeannette Rankin: A Political Woman.
- Repository
-
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Jeannette Rankin was born on June 11, 1880 to John Rankin and Olive Pickering Rankin near Missoula, Montana. Jeannette Rankin graduated from the University of Montana in 1902. She was involved in women's suffrage movements in Washington State and Montana in 1910 and eventually ran for Montana's seat in the House of Representatives in 1916. Rankin won the election and became the first woman elected to the United States Congress. After her first term, Rankin ran for the Senate but lost in the Republican primary. Decades later, Rankin was again elected to the United States Congress as Montana's representative in 1940. A pacifist, Rankin voted against both Woodrow Wilson's war resolution in 1917 and Franklin Roosevelt's war resolution in 1941. Rankin's was the only vote against Roosevelt's resolution.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Jeannette Rankin collection is an 'artificial collection' of various documents and items by and about Rankin pulled together into one collection by archives staff. Series I includes a 1917 campaign letter from Jeannette Rankin addressed to "Dear Friend," a 1938 anti-war campaign button, two 1940 election campaign buttons, and a 1980 invitation to the dedication of a Jeannette Rankin statue. Series II consists of pamphlets and form letters related to Rankin's congressional campaigns and key issues she faced as a member of the House from 1917 to 1942. Specifically, there are mailings and pamphlets reflecting her views on United States involvement in World War I and World War II, as well as a bill relating to federal control of mines.
Series III, FBI Research Files, were acquired by Professor James J. Lopach during his research for the book, Jeannette Rankin : A Political Woman that he cowrote with Professor Jean A. Luckowski. The series includes two copies of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) file on Jeannette Rankin and the Jeannette Rankin Brigade from 1941 to 1968 that have slightly different content and slightly different redactions by the FBI. It also includes Lopach's correspondence with the FBI regarding the file and the Freedom of Information-Privacy Acts, these materials are dated from 2000 to 2009.
Series IV, General Research Files, are photocopies of original materials, guides, interviews, and articles acquired by Professor Lopach during the research for the book he cowrote with Professor Luckowski, these materials date from 1886 to 2009.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to the University of Montana.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Jeannette Rankin Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection is divided into four series:
Series I, Miscellaneous, 3 folders, 1917-1980
Series II, Campaign and Position Literature and Stationery, 1 folder, 1917-1942
Series III, FBI Research Files, 3 folders 1941-2009
Series IV, General Research Files, 0.8 linear feet, 1886-1999
Custodial History
The chain of custody for Series I and II is unknown. The papers in Series III and Series IV were acquired for research by Professor James J. Lopach.
Acquisition Information
The letter from Series I was donated by Helen Croyman on October 7, 1989. James J. Lopach donated materials in Series III in 2010 and materials in Series IV in 2012. The donor/s and date/s of donation for all other materials are unknown.
Processing Note
The first three series were processed into Mss 785, a single collection, in 2011. Previously, Series I was reprocessed by Teresa Hamann in 2002 as Mss 139. Series II was processed by Steven Bingo in 2011. One to two duplicates were retained for each document. Extra duplicates were removed from the collection and deaccessioned. Series III was processed by Teresa Hamann in 2011 and Series IV in 2012. The materials in Series IV were removed from 3-ring binders and placed in folders during processing.
Related Materials
Several collections of materials produced by Jeannette Rankin exist within the United States. The most notable is at the Schlesinger Library at Radcliffe College. The collection is titled the Jeannette Rankin Papers, 1879-1976 and has collection number of MC 246. The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library holds copies of these papers and those of other women politicians in a microfilm collection titled "Women's Studies Manuscript Collections from the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe College. Series 2, Women in National Politics."
Other collections exist at the Montana Historical Society and at the University of Georgia. The collection at the Montana Historical Society is titled the Jeannette Rankin Papers, 1916-1919 and has collection number MC 147. The collection at the University of Georgia is titled the Jeannette Rankin Collection, 1914-2001 and has collection number Ms 3085.
The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library also retains the Rankin Family Papers, 1888-1946, collection number Mss 280.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Miscellaneous, 1917-1980Return to Top
This series contains miscellaneous materials relating to Jeannette Rankin's career including an election campaign letter and campaign buttons.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Letter from Jeannette Rankin
addressed to "Dear Friend" |
1917 |
1/2 | Three campaign
buttons |
1938 & 1940 |
1/3 | Invitation to dedication of
Jeannette Rankin statue |
1980 |
Series II: Campaign and Position Literature and Stationery, 1917-1942Return to Top
This series contains materials identifying Jeannette Rankin's position on various issues.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/4 | Campaign and Position Literature
and Stationery |
1917-1942 |
Series III: FBI Research Files, 2000-2009Return to Top
This series contains files kept by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Jeannette Rankin and on the Jeannette Rankin Brigade, a group led by Rankin protesting the Vietnam War in 1968.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/5 | Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) file for Jeannette Rankin and the Jeannette Rankin Brigade |
1941-1968 |
1/6 | Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) file for Jeannette Rankin and the Jeannette Rankin Brigade |
1941-1968 |
1/7 | James J. Lopach's correspondence
with the FBI regarding Jeannette Rankin's FBI file and the Freedom of
Information-Privacy Acts |
2000-2009 |
Series IV: General Research Files, 1886-1999Return to Top
This series contains various materials on the life of Jeannette Rankin from James Lopach's and Jean A. Luckowski's research files.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/8 | Copies of articles |
1904-1973 |
1/9 | Copies of articles and
correspondence |
1886-1951 |
1/10 | Rankin articles |
1971-1999 |
1/11 | Schlesinger Library reel index of
Rankin papers |
undated |
1/12 | Montana Historical State
Archives, copies of relevant collection guided |
undated |
1/13 | Jeannette Rankin, from
Suffragists Oral History Project |
1973 |
2/1 | Photocopied images of Jeannette
Rankin and her family |
1900-1917 and undated |
2/2 | Photographs |
1914 and undated |
2/3 | "Steps to Political Equality"
from
Frontiers
|
1997 |
2/4 | "The House Beautiful: Media
Responses to Jeannette Rankin...", by Sara Hayden |
undated |
2/5 | "Rebel with a Cause: Jeannette
Rankin" by Dave Walter in
Montana Magazine
|
1991 |
2/6 | "The Search for Jeannette
Rankin's Past" by Joan Hoff Wilson |
1979 |
2/7 | "Fighting Pacifist: Jeannette
Rankin and her Times" by Norma Smith |
undated |
2/8 | Miscellaneous articles and
stories about women |
1926 |
2/9 | "The Rhetoric and Revold of
Jeannette Rankin," M.A. Thesis, University of Georgia, by Katrina Rebecca
Check |
1969 |
2/10 | Wellington Rankin research
materials |
1914-1990 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Mining law--United States
- Peace movements -United States
- Political campaigns--Montana
- Representatives, U.S. Congress--United States
- Women legislators--United States
- Women pacifists--United States
- Women political candidates--Montana
- Women--Political activity--Montana
- Women--Political activity--United States
- World War, 1914-1918--United States
- World War, 1939-1945--United States
Personal Names
- Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973
Geographical Names
- Montana--Politics and government--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- Campaign insignia