Historical heaven
Dole archivist
Dole conferences set for spring
turns mess of
documents into
historical database
ran Culph never imagined that he'd be picked up by a whirlwind of Kansas his tory and set down in Lawrence.
Stories by Markhew Friedrich
mathewukans.edu
But the quiet archivist who now works
Photos courtesy Dole Archives
accessible, Stanley said.
But the elicite archivist, who now collection of a small office in the Kansas Collection began working for Senator Robert Dole in 1992. And after Dole donated his political cows to the University of Kansas the University be the Dole archivist.
lineal Culp to the Dole exclusion and a
mutilated Mutinean exhersion.
umbrella. said a rough catalog of the Dole materi.
Cupid asked a rough catalog of the Dole materi.
sale existed when he began working in the Sen-
sen's office.
as Dole's office shut down. He then worked for the Senate historian and for the Senate banking committee
and for the Senate banking committee.
It was not the future Culpa envisioned as a student. After studying history as an under graduate and obtaining a masters degree in history from East Tennessee State in 1990, he decided the job market at universities for his torians was too tight. He completed another masters degree in 1992 from the University of Montessin in archival science.
He also continued his association with Dole as
While he was working at Dan Green, a friend told him to talk to Dan Steele.
U. S.Amy, 1943
Some items were stored in the kususei and other conditions in the national archives where heat and other conditions were not conductive to preservation. We had to get the items that might deteriorate out of that type of environment. Culp said he also developed searchable databases that contain the results of Senate roll call votes about 12,000 press releases and Dole speeches.
a campaign volunteer. "During that time I worked in the evening on a volunteer basis and tried to make a case for preserving campaign materials." Cupsaid.
Doue's administrative assistant.
Doue's office had employed a part-time archivist prior to Culp's arrival, but the materials and record generated by a 30-year professional presence needed organization.
Byron Culp, University of Kansas archivist holds a book about Robert Dole that he is using for some research. Culp has given to the university. Photo by Ranshan KAANSAN
Stanley, now Secretary of the Kansas Department of administration, said Dole and his record to be prepared if he ran for president and his record to preserve the material for the historical record to preserve the material for the historical record.
Cup's most significant creation was a cup-shaped most record database that included complete record of Dole's comments on the floor of the House and Senate dating from 1951. Cup said other full-text electronic databases generally don't include information earlier than the mid '80s.
tion that Dole was a premier figure in modern history and that all of the material he value, Stanley said.
Stanley said the Cub staff's decision to hire Cub was easy because of Culp's professional reputation and skills.
Dolphus then offered the me.
Culp's interaction with Dole was often in the form of memos, but Saturday morning Dole worked out of his Senate office. Culp said he had the opportunity to ask about things Dole's family, and his feelings about different issues. "I got to observe a lot," Culp said. "I got to take notes. I got to meet the Dole network of staffers which is very large because he has been in offices since 61."
Called to active service in the U.S. Army
Attier Dole is unsuccessful presidential bid the University of Kansas and Dole announced on April 25 plans for the Robert J. Dole institute for Public Demean and Public Policy William Crowe, dean of the libraries had previously met Culp, Crows said the University decided to hire Culp to handle arrangement for the transfer of Dole's papers from Washington D.C. to Lawrence.
Jake Thompson is author of the biography
Babe Dole. Rep昂莱克 Man for all Seasons,
which was published in 1995.
Culp said he was fascinated by Dole's work ethic, his strength of character and his drive. Culp found that others were also interested in Dole's career.
The University then hired Cupd full-time as an archivist.
There's a lot of commish about Congress. His civic virtues are commendable, Culp said. As a former student of history, a staff member for one of this country's most powerful Senators and an archivist, Culp said the archives will provide important information for the future.
As a Dole staffer, Dole organized the material generated by Dole in his Kansas Senate office and his Republican leadership office. A great deal of material would come through that office every day." Dale said. Cuyh's greatest contribution came from his ability to group material not just retrieving information from storage but not just a matter of retrieving a letter, but more retrieving all the documents relevant to an issue. Stanley said.
facts, said William Crowe,
dean of the libraries.
Cup accepted a job offer from the University and began working on June 22.
"You can look at an archive as a storage room, attic, or basement that gathers dust, or you can look at it as some very vital records that have an intellectual content that can be used and reused," said Culp.
Staffers could leave any documents they no longer needed with Culp with the certainty that important information would remain
tury of public service.
The University of Kansas announced plans April 25 to establish the Robert J. Doll Institute for Public Service and Public Policy.
students, scholars and pubi
tieurs will soon be en-
fit from the experience.
Bob Dole gained in half a cen
responsible once again for the care and study of records generated during Dole's career The Dole Archives document the contributions made to Kanasa and to the U.S. by a great
nompson, who is now the Washington bureau chief for the Onoma World Herald, said he remembered watching a collection of campaign banners in Dallas. DAILY JOURNAL
He and Culp watched the ads and some inter view footage in the Senate recording studio in the basement of the Capitol.
"Both of us were marveline
thrown on us were marveling at the history. Thompson said.
wim president Richard Nixon, 1971
The University will work to make the archives an active source of scholarly research, not only in the history of politics, but in the future of public policy and public service.
The University is attempting to raise private money to pay for a building for the Institute said Burdett Loomis, professor of political science and director of the Dole Institute.
"He was not interested in a monument." Crowe said. "A monument was not his goal. He was very emphatic to the chancelor about that."
A committee, headed by Loomis, is also developing a plan for the physical components of the archives and composing how to include the public service and public policy missions of the Institute. Despite the lack of a physical facility, the Institute will sponsor conferences that utilize the Dole papers beginning next spring Loomis said.
Doele a Congressional career ended on June 11, 1996, when he resigned from the Senate to campain full-time for President. Culp remained in the office to organize papers
about the scope of government.
The institute, which events,
the people.
Loomis said the box of letters to Loomis told his university campaign posters, campaign pictures and other paraphryalis stored and displayed in a new facility in about three years.
the institute is planning small conference next spring about most-favored-nation trading status for China, and larger conference next fall about the scope of government
The Institute, which eventually will be housed in a building on west campus near the Lied Center, will contain the long-time Kansas Senator's papers.
the ma we currently stored in opencer Research Library.
Loomis said Dole's archives could be the largest collection of one politician's papers out side of presidential collections because of Doles extensive leave is legislative experience. Republican can Party leadership roles and presidential campaigns.
When it opens, the Institute
Chairman; Republican
National Committee
The University was excited to receive Dole's donation of historical documents and arti-
Other portions of Dole's papers will become available by special request, or as programming dictates.
Former Kansas State Bob Dole speeds the announcement of the institute in his honor. The announcement was April 25, Photo by R. Steve Dick/University Relations
situation it can happen now early he wants to open things, said Bryan Culp Dole archivist.
Dole and Ford at GOP
Re-elected
Kansas is district
Re-elected
Kansas 1st district
City, Mo., 1976
Serenely faced,
on the Italian front;
Casel d'Alno, Italy
Elected U.S. Congressman, Kansas 1st District
More recent Dole papers like information from the 1996 presidential campaign will not be available right away. Usually collections wait a minimum of 10 years before releasing archival material, Culp said.
WELCOME!
TO
BOB DOLE COUNTRY
RUSSELL, KANSAS
Scheduled V.A.   Can-Diddie by  Gerrillard Foch
Set-off V.A.   Can-Diddie by  Gerrillard Foch
Enrolls at the University of Kansas
Elected Kansas
State Legislator
Regardless of the timetable, the Dole Institute promises to provide a historical perspective an important time in American and world history. "It's going to be a great tool to study politics in the late 20th century," Culp said.
Resigned from Senate to run for president
Robe Dole (right)
Bob Dole for Memorial
Sunday, 1942
Ke-electea,
Kansas 1st district
Wim sham January 1996
The Congressman in Washington,1961
Election night, Dole for Senate Campaign.
Re-elected, U.S.
Senator, Kansas
Founded The Dole Institute
Re-elected, U.S.
Senator, Kansas
Re-elected, U.S.
Senator, Kansas
'80 '81 '83 '84 '86 '87 '92 95 '90
Appointed Senate Finance Committee Chairman
San Gregory,
Senate Finance
Dale, Senate Finance
Committee hearings
Announced bid for president
Hill topics · The University Daily Kansan
Friday, November 14, 1997 * page 6A