Collection Guide

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Administrative Information

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research. The written permission of the donor shall be required for publication of all or parts of said papers.

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Use of Collections:  The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

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Biographical Note

Dick Clark was born September 14, 1929, on a farm in Linn County and grew up in the town of Lamont, in nearby Buchanan County, where his father operated a general store. Clark served with the army in Germany from 1950 to 1952, and then received a Bachelor's Degree from Upper Iowa University at Fayette in 1953. He received a Master's degree in history from the University of Iowa in 1956. From 1959 to 1964, Clark was an assistant professor of history and political science at Upper Iowa University and from 1965 to 1972 he was the administrative assistant to Iowa Second District Congressman John Culver. In 1972 he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate after a 1300 mile campaign walk across the state. He served in the Senate until January 1979.

Clark was a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Democratic Steering Committee. He chaired Subcommittees on Rural Development and African Affairs. After leaving the Senate, Clark served as U.S. Ambassador for refugee affairs and then, in 1980, he worked in Senator Edward Kennedy's unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency. He is now Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies in Washington, D.C.

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Scope and Contents

The Dick Clark papers are arranged in nine series and three addenda. Series I is comprised of Alphabetical files of correspondence. Series II is comprised of subject files, broken down chronologically from the years 1973 to 1978. The subject files include materials from his Washington, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids offices. Series III is made up of casework files, which includes items from his Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Council Bluffs offices as well as educational casework and correspondence. Culver files make up Series IV, which include memos, office files, robos, and schedules. Series VI is composed of issues statements, Series VI of clippings, and series VII of audio, visual, and film materials. Photographs and slides are found in Series VIII. Finally, Series XI contains miscellaneous materials. Most of these series are divided into subseries.

There are also three addenda and an index. The 1986 addendum is arranged into three groups: subject files, arranged alphabetically, followed by clippings and speeches. The 1994 addendum consists of appointment books, photographs, and speeches. The undated addendum consists of 1982 campaign materials, speeches, materials relating to U.S. Soviet Bank, and clippings. The index pertains to the main body of the collection, and does not reflect materials in the addenda.

Areas and subjects of special concern to Clark range from Africa and international relations to agriculture and conservation, Democratic Party politics to the aged, and education to transportation.  

Photographs:Boxes 128 – 130, 142

Film/Video: Film: Box 127; Videos: Boxes 123 – 127.

Audio Material: Audiocassettes: 122 – 123; Audio reels: Box 12

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Acquisition and Processing Information

These papers were given to the University of Iowa Libraries by Senator Clark in 1979.

Guide posted to Internet: 1998

Addenda: 1986, 1994, undated

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Inventory

Series I: Alphabetical Files

Series II: Subject Files

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

Series IIA: Other Miscellaneous Files -- Washington Office

Series IIB: Other Miscellaneous Files -- Des Moines Office

Series IIC: Polls

Series IID: Miscellaneous Subject Files

Series IIE: Miscellaneous Subject Files, Various Years

Series III: Casework

Series IV: Culver Files

Series V: Issue Statements

Series VI: Clippings

Series VII: Audio, Video, and Film

Series VIII: Photographs and Slides

Series IX: Miscellaneous

1986 Addendum

1994 Addendum

Undated Addendum

Index

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