Thomas R. Carper congressional papers

II. Administrative Files, 1982-1992

Memoranda, financial documents, calendars, schedules, guest books, news clippings, speeches, press releases, Capitol Comments, Congressional Directory, House Rules and Manual, Congressional Pictorial Directory.

This subgroup comprises general office administration files, communications files, constituent correspondence, and schedules. Of note are the manuals -- one for freshmen members of Congress, one on the legislative process, and those for interns -- which give insight into how the office was run by Tom Carper's staff. Rolodex cards from the office are housed in Series III.D. Personal Files -- Ephemera. Caucus membership lists reflect Congressman Carper's special interests and congressional networks. Guest books, which cover the whole of Carper's tenure in office, and schedules record the Congressman's daily activities as well as the delegation of regular duties among his staff. Carper kept a very busy schedule, commuting at least three times a week, by train from Wilmington to Washington, D.C. When not in the capital, his schedule shows that he was busy traveling around Delaware, holding town meetings, visiting with constituents, and attending events.

Series II.B. Communications comprises the files of Carper's press secretaries, including Timothy Gay, Sharon Fitzgerald, and Jeff Bullock. Capitol Comments, Carper's official newsletter, issued weekly reviews of activities and current legislation on Capitol Hill. Clippings and press releases, and some speeches, as well as scripts for appearances and interviews complete this series. Press secretary files from Carper's first years in the House are found in Series I.A. TC Personal Files.

Arrangement

Two series: II.A. Office Administration and II.B. Communications. Series II.A. Office Administration is arranged alphabetically; with guest books and schedules in chronological order at the end of the subseries. Series II.B. Communications files consists of three subseries: Capitol Comments, 1983-1991, are in reverse chronological order; News Clippings are organized by year and topic; News and Press Releases are arranged in reverse chronological order. Printed materials include copies of the Congressional Directory and Jefferson's Manual on Rules and Practice, and a copy of the Congressional Pictorial Directory for 1991.