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.
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,
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.
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
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.
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.
[Name of document or photograph number], Jeannette Rankin Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
This series contains miscellaneous materials relating to Jeannette Rankin's career including an election campaign letter and campaign buttons.
This series contains materials identifying Jeannette Rankin's position on various issues.
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.
This series contains various materials on the life of Jeannette Rankin from James Lopach's and Jean A. Luckowski's research files.