IV. Priorities and limitations of the collection :

A. Present identified strengths :
1. Congressional Papers : The BCPM is strongest in the area of congressional papers from U.S. Representatives from the 1940s to the 1980s. The major subjects covered include the House agriculture, foreign policy, and judiciary committees, and international cooperation.


2. Congressional Documents : There are extensive congressional documents dating from 1830 to 1872.


3. Extremist Organizations : Radical or single-issue materials are represented in three collections : Ed Gossett Papers, the Tiller Papers, and Extremist Organizations' Materials.


4. Texas Government : State legislative materials are represented by several collections including that of the current (1994) lieutenant governor.


5. Editorial Cartoons : There is a large collection of editorial cartoons from the 1960s to the 1980s.
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B. Present identified weaknesses :
1. Local Government : Due in part to a passive collecting policy, the BCPM is weak in the area of local government. Little has been done to collect Central Texas political party or organization files.


2. Personal Papers : Only in the case of Congressman Poage, has the BCPM collected personal papers which document the life of the individuals whose papers are in the collections. More effort needs to be put into acquiring materials necessary for understanding the character, goals, and ideals of each legislator.


3. Books: The book collection is also weak in areas that support the congressional papers in the subjects of agriculture, foreign policy, international cooperation, and the legislative process. However, other Baylor Libraries supplement the collection in these areas.


4. Ancillary papers : Few ancillary materials have been collected to supplement current holdings.
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C. Present collecting level :
1. Central Texas : The BCPM documents the political and governmental functions of the U.S. Congress as these have been represented by Texas congressmen, in particular those of the 11th congressional district.


2. Other districts : While the emphasis has been on Central Texas, other congressional districts represented include the 1st, 5th, 7th, 13th, and 21st.


3. Texas Government : State legislative materials for Central Texas are collected when possible.


4. Judicial papers : While judicial materials have not been actively sought in the past, the BCPM does contain papers from three judges.
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D. Desired level of collecting to meet objectives :
1. Manuscripts : As a research center on Central Texas political history, the BCPM should exhaustively and aggressively collect materials that pertain to the political history of Central Texas including material written by and about Central Texas leaders, organizations and issues.
[see IV.B and IV.C above] Level 5 - Comprehensive .


2. Personal Papers : Sufficient materials need to be collected for each individual who donates papers in order to document their entire life and in order to understand their character, goals, and ideals.


3. Ancillary papers (see footnote 5) : Staff/organization papers related to the political process. Level 2 - Basic Information


4. Books : Books are to be acquired in the following subject areas and on the levels indicated. Some books deemed essential to Central Texas political history may be duplicated in other University libraries.


a. U. S. Congress :Books about how congress operates.
Level 4 - Research.


b. Agriculture : U. S. agriculture policy, including related topics such as land use, farmers' groups' political activities, and rural life.
Level 3 - Study/Instructional Support.


c. Politics : Topics in support of the study of Congress and agricultural polity such as interest groups, elections, political parties, and political history.
Level 2b - Basic Information, Advanced.


d. History of Central Texas politics and government.
Level 5 - Comprehensive .


e. Studies in public policy areas based on the primary legislative interests of legislators whose papers are deposited in the BCPM.
Level 2b - Basic Information, Advanced.


5. Media : Donations only or Level 0, Out of Scope.


6. Government publications : Donations or Level 1 - Minimal .


7. Serials : Level 1 - Minimal .


8. Newspapers : Donations only or Level 0 - Out of scope.


9. Microforms : Donations only or Level 0 - Out of scope.


10. Book catalogs : Level 1 - Minimal .


11. Campaign materials : Level 3 - Study/Instructional Support.


12. Maps : Level 1 - Minimal .


13. Biographical materials :

a. Central Texas politicians, Level 5 - Comprehensive.
b. Other Texas politicians, Level 2 - Basic Information.
c. Other politicians, Level 0 - Out of scope.


14. Vertical File materials : Level 2 - Basic Information.
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CD Introduction | CD Outline | CD Bibliography