Manuscript Register

 

EARL M. WILLITS PAPERS

 

Collection Dates: 1970 -- 1979

3 linear ft.

 

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

 

Posted to Internet: September 2002

 

Acquisition Note:These papers were donated to the University of Iowa by Mr. Willits in 1979.

 

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

 

Photographs: Box 7.

 

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

 

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

 

Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections.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.

 

Biographical Note

 

Earl M. Willits (1946 -- 1990), a graduate of Iowa State University and Drake University, was first elected to Iowa's House of Representatives at the age of twenty-four. He was elected to the State Senate in 1972, and later served as an assistant majority leader. Willits was known as an advocate for social justice, particularly for Iowa farmers. In 1976, he went to work for Iowa's Attorney General Tom Miller and was appointed Miller's top assistant in 1982. Willits later became the Deputy Attorney General for Administration. When he left public office, he practiced law in Des Moines. Earl Willits died in 1990 at the age of forty-three.

 

Scope and Content

 

The papers of Earl M. Willits are arranged chronologically within an alphabetical sequence. They relate to his service in the Iowa legislature and the State Attorney General's office. Approximately five boxes contain correspondence, and the remainder consists of subject files concerning legislative issues ranging from abortion to the Iowa Commission for the Blind.

 

Box List

 

Box I

Abortion Legislation, 1970 -- 1971

Abortion Legislation:

Abortion Legislation:

Abortion Legislation:

Abortion Rights Action League (Iowa) 1979

Campaign, 1978:

Campaign, 1978:

Box 2

Correspondence:

Box 3

Correspondence, continued:

Box 4

Correspondence, continued:

Box 5

Correspondence, continued:

Box 6

Correspondence, continued:

Form Letters, 1978

Invitations and Appointments, January -- October 1979

Iowa Commission for the Blind, 1972 -- 1978 (2 folders)

Box 7

Iowa Democrats Campaign Manual, 1978

Juvenile Justice Legislation, 1979

Newsletters (6 folders):

Obituary and eulogy, 1990

Photographs, 1978

Press Clippings, 1972 -- 1978

Questionnaire, 1972, responses and replies

Questionnaire, 1975, responses and replies

Questionnaire, 1977, responses and replies

Questionnaire, 1979, responses

Scientific Creationism Legislation, 1979

Spouse Abuse Legislation, 1977 -- 1978

Teacher Coaching Legislation, 1977 -- 1978

Terrace Hill Society, 1979

Valley Bank Building, 1979