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Collection Overview

Creator:
Common Cause (U.S.)
Title:
Common Cause Records
Repository:
Public Policy Papers
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/1c18df779
Dates:
1968-1991
Size:
328 boxes and 4 items
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Boxes 1-293; 295-331; 100-01
Language:
English

Abstract

Common Cause is a non-profit advocacy organization committed to honest, open and accountable government and participation in the democratic process. The Common Cause Records consists of files of various staff members, general correspondence, reports of projects and studies, recordings of meetings and testimonies of staff, state files, and other corporate papers.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

Consists of the records of Common Cause, a non-partisan citizens' lobby. Included are files of various staff members, such as John W. Gardner, Robert E. Gallamore, David Cohen, Georgia Rathbun, and Nan Waterman; general correspondence; reports of projects and studies; recordings of meetings and testimonies of staff, including Archibald Cox (elected chairman in 1980), before congressional committees; copies of "Letters to the Hill" (1971-1981); state files; and other corporate papers. Also present are the files (1968-1970) of a predecessor organization, the Urban Coalition Action Council. Material is added to the archives as it becomes currently available.

Arrangement

This is an unprocessed collection and remains in its original arrangement.

Collection Creator Biography:

Common Cause (U.S.)

Common Cause is a non-profit advocacy organization committed to honest, open and accountable government and participation in the democratic process. The group was founded in 1970 by John Gardner, who served as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Lyndon B. Johnson and later as chairman of the National Urban Coalition. Originally created with the intention of representing citizens' interests in Washington, the group soon became a vehicle for protesting the Vietnam War. Since its inception, Common Cause has remained committed to the ideals of democracy and fair government, leading fights for campaign finance reforms, ethics and accountability, and open government at all levels, as well as civil rights legislation, wasteful weapons programs, and voting process reforms.

Collection History

Appraisal

No information about appraisal is available for this collection.

Processing Information

This is an unprocessed collection. The contents list provided is a preliminary inventory.

Biography written by Jessica Marati, '08.

Portions of the inventory created by Tal Eisenzweig in August 2008.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Common Cause Records; Public Policy Papers, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/1c18df779
Location:
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
65 Olden Street
Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
(609) 258-6345
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Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Boxes 1-293; 295-331; 100-01