SHIRLEY CHISHOLM

The papers of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to be elected to Congress, are approximately 4.4 cubic feet in size, comprising 10 manuscript boxes, a photograph box and a newspaper box. The collection spans the period 1969-1994, but the bulk of the material falls within the period 1969 to 1994. The papers contain speeches, congressional files, newsletters, newspapers and magazine articles, photographs, campaign miscellany, and audio cassettes. The collection is divided into two sub- groups; Shirley Chisholm and Robert Frishman, her speech writer. The Shirley Chisholm sub-group has six series, and the Robert Frishman sub-group has four.

Shirley Chisholm sub-group

The Shirley Chisholm sub-group contains the following series: SPEECHES, CONGRESSIONAL FILES, GENERAL FILES, NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS, NEWSLETTERS, and PHOTOGRAPHS.

The sub-group consists of files kept by Shirley Chisholm documenting her political career as both a member of the New York State Assembly and as a Congresswoman from New York's Twelfth Congressional District. The SPEECHES are particularly important because they show Chisholm's ideas, particularly on African- Americans, the Civil Rights movement, health care, education, minorities and women's issues, and how far these "ideas" were disseminated.

Robert Frishman sub-group

The second sub-group in the collection documents the work of Robert Frishman, Shirley Chisholm's speech writer. The Robert Frishman sub-group includes the following series: SPEECHES, CONGRESSIONAL FILES, PHOTOGRAPHS, PUBLICATIONS. The series in this sub-group also document Chisholm's ideas, but show the role of Robert Frishman in writing her speeches. It documents the same issues that are covered in the Shirley Chisholm SPEECHES series, issues that Chisholm felt strongly about which she addressed and wanted to change as a member of Congress.

CONGRESSIONAL FILES primarily consist of Chisholm work on various bills while in Congress. That series compliments the CORRESPONDENCE series which contains correspondence with business associates, famous people and constituents, as well as memos that outline various bills she brought to Congress.

In addition to paper formats the collection contains two audio cassettes of Chisholm being interviewed by a radio station.

PHOTOGRAPHS contains photographs primarily of Chisholm attending various functions, as well as portraits and color snap shots of Chisholm's family and friends.

PUBLICATIONS consists of clippings in newspapers and magazines that document Chisholm's work in Congress as well a list of references.

The NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS were copied onto acid free paper for preservation purposes, and the originals discarded.

Oversized photographs and publications, campaign posters and buttons are stored separately.