Suzanne Pennypacker Morris was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. Her parents are Ann and Henry Pennypacker. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Trinity College, Washington, D.C., 1966. She also studied in Pau, France and Oxford, England, and undertook graduate studies in history at the University of Montana. As an active community volunteer, she has been involved in such organizations as Headstart, the Drug Crisis Center, and the Parent Teacher Association. She was also a Montana delegate to the National Right to Life Committee board of directors and an delegate to the International Women's Year in 1977. Morris served as president of the Montana Right to Life Association from 1977 to 1981.
Suzanne Pennypacker Morris ran in the Republican Congressional primary in 1980 and 1982. She was defeated in both primaries. She made the right to life issue the main issue in her campaigns. Her other core issues were employment and the economy. She is married to Patrick Morris, a Forest Service employee, with whom she has three children.
The collection includes correspondence, speeches and writings, organizational literature, clippings, and photographs from Suzanne Pennypacker Morris' Republican primary campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980 and 1982.
The collection is divided into five series:
Series I: General Correspondence, 1 folder, 1980-1983
Series II: Speeches and Writings, 2 folders, 1980-1982
Series III: Organization, 2 folders, 1980-1982
Series IV: Clippings, 2 folders, 1975-1982
Series V: Photographs, 2 items, 1980
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], Suzanne Pennypacker Morris Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Materials in this collection remained with the creator until donation to the K. Ross Toole Archives.
Gift of Suzanne Pennypacker Morris, 1990
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2002, the collection was re-described.
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.
The series contains ingoing and outgoing correspondence related to Morris' campaigns in 1980 and 1982. Some of the letters in the series are mass-mailings from several organizations in which Morris was involved, including the National Right to Life Committee, National Rifle Association, and the Montana Republican State Central Committee. There are letters of endorsement from the National Right to Life Committee and contribution letters from Morris' supporters. The series also contains letters to her primary opponents, Ken Dunham and Jack MacDonald, in addition to negative letters from citizens over the issue of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, a contentious issue during the 1982 campaign.
The series contains speeches and writings by Morris from her 1980 and 1982 campaigns. There are copies of speeches with revision notes. Most of the series contains press releases Morris wrote in response to particular issues, including the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Libby Dam, and gun control. There are also copies of mass-mailing letters written by Morris.
The series is arranged in chronological order, wherever possible.
The series contains organizational materials involved in Morris' 1980 and 1982 campaigns. The series consists of paperwork related to her advertising account, receipts, schedules, mailings, contact lists, and a copy of Morris' Financial Disclosure Statement, 1982, notes on issues, campaign strategy, letter heads, etc.
The series is arranged in chronological order. However, much of the literature is undated.
The series contains clippings from Montana newspapers and organizations concerning Morris' social activism, including her 1980 and 1982 campaigns for Congress. The clippings are from the Montana Right to Life Association, of which Morris was the president. The clippings are also from several Montana newspapers with coverage of the 1980 and 1982 primaries, many of which spotlight Morris' stand on issues and campaign strategies.
The series is arranged chronologically, wherever possible.
The series contains two studio portraits of Suzanne Morris that were used for campaign literature.