Senator David H. Pryor Papers Opened to Researchers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The papers and collections of former U.S. Sen. David H. Pryor will be opened to researchers in an afternoon ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2005, in the Helen Robson Walton Reading Room in the U of A’s Mullins Library.

“The materials in Sen. Pryor’s collection document a lifetime of public service to Arkansas, the United States, and the world,” said Chancellor John A. White.  “Without question, David Pryor exemplifies the ideal of the public servant. We are so proud he is an alumnus of the University of Arkansas.”

Carolyn H. Allen, dean of Libraries said, “Senator Pryor has always been a consistent and generous supporter of the Libraries. We are honored that he entrusted his papers to our Special Collections.”

Pryor was a representative in the Arkansas legislature from 1960-1966, a U. S. representative from 1966-1972, the governor of Arkansas from 1974-1978, and a U. S. senator from 1978-1996. He served as a Fulbright Distinguished Fellow of Law and Public Affairs at the University of Arkansas in 1997, and as a fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1999. He was the Institute of Politics’ director from 2000-2002. In 2004, Pryor became the founding dean of the Clinton School of Public Service at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock.

The Senator David H. Pryor Papers were donated to the University of Arkansas Libraries’ Special Collections in two major accessions. Early career, congressional, and gubernatorial papers were donated by Pryor in 1978 following his election to the Senate. The senatorial papers were donated by Pryor in 2000. The collection measures 821 linear feet in 705 boxes and contains more than 4,000 unique photographs. The collection also includes correspondence, speeches, legislative bills, position papers, microfilm, scrapbooks, posters, video and audio tapes, and artifacts. 

Tom W. Dillard, head of Special Collections, said, “David Pryor is one of the titans of Arkansas history. It is exciting to have his papers. Generations of students and scholars will find these records invaluable to their research.”

The University Libraries’ Special Collections was created in 1967 to encourage research and writing in the history and culture of Arkansas and the surrounding region. Its mission is to acquire, preserve, and provide access to historical manuscripts and materials to support scholarly investigation of the state, its customs and people. Special Collections houses papers from some of Arkansas’ most influential citizens, including Daisy Bates, Dale Bumpers, J. William Fulbright, John Paul Hammerschmidt, and Sid McMath.

Pryor, who will be honored at the event, said, “I hope that the items in this collection will be of benefit to those who research and study this time period in our state's history. I am grateful that the university has accepted this gift and has worked tirelessly to bring some order and organization to it.”

Speaking at the event will be White, Allen, and Dillard.  A reception will follow.