Frequently Asked Questions
1. What kinds of primary sources are in the collections?
2. Which of these sources lend themselves well to thesis research?
3. What graduate research has been done in the past based on the materials in the collections?
5. Are tours of the collections for interested students and researchers offered?
6. What are your times and days of operation?
7. When will the Bob Bullock Collection be available for research?
8. Why can't some maps and cartoons be accessed online?
9. Does BCPM have jobs and assistantships?
1. What kind of primary sources are in the collections? | TOP |
The Baylor Collections of Political Materials (BCPM) contains the personal and political papers of twelve former U. S. Congressmen, four judges, several Texas legislators, a Mayor of Waco, a former Lieutenant Governor of Texas, and various other ancillary papers such as editorial cartoons, map and JFK assassination materials.
2. Which of these sources lend themselves well to thesis research? | TOP |Most of the collections now have finding aids that describe and list the contents of the papers. A Baylor law professor and his son used a number of different types of primary resources including newsletters, newspapers, videos, oral memoirs, speeches, scrapbooks, maps, photos, and personal papers for research on the early history of the Rural Electrification Administration. Any of the collections could be used for similar research.
3. What graduate research has been done in the past based on the materials in the collections? | TOP |
- An LSU graduate student used BCPM resources for his thesis on U.S. House leadership controversy in 1975 and for his dissertation on the 1980s budget.
- A Baylor graduate student used the Poage papers to write a biography of Poage.
- An A&M graduate student used the collections to write a paper on the heated Poage-Cross campaign of 1940.
- The head of TCU history department spent a week researching "Cotton since 1945."
- The head of ETBC history department has visited several times researching the life of Congressman Sam Hall.
- A graduate student from England spent a week researching the Gun Control Act of 1965.
- Dr. William Leuchtenburg from the University of North Carolina used several congressional collections for information on American presidents and the South.
- Several students have used the papers of the Mayor of Waco for research about Cameron Park Zoo, Cottonwood Golf Course, and The Texas Rangers’ Museum.
- A student at the School in Economics in Stockholm requested editorial cartoons about Italy.
- A Ph.D. student in Australia requested editorial cartoons about Japan.
- A Baylor graduate student used the Poage Papers to write her thesis on Central Freight.
- A Baylor graduate student used the Dowdy Papers to write a thesis on the trial and conviction of Congressman Dowdy.
- A law firm in Dallas used campaign materials related to judges for a court case.
4. If I had to write a thesis based on materials in the collections, which two or three projects seem the most promising?|TOP|
The Baylor Collections of Political Materials compiled a list of Suggested Research Topics in 1996which has been placed on the BCPM web page. http://www3.baylor.edu/Library/BCPM/Research/Topics/research.htm
This site lists 160 topics that could be researched extensively using BCPM resources. These include such varied subjects as Agriculture, Fort Hood, Humane Slaughter, Immigration/Displaced Persons, Interparliamentary Union, Palestine, REA, Simpson-Mazzoli Act, Texas Tidelands, and Urban Renewal.
Narrowing the focus down to just two or three projects, you might research:
· John Kennedy and assassination conspiracy theorists.
· Palestine and the Establishment of Israel.
· Bob Bullock and the Texas state income tax amendment.
5. Are tours of the collections for interested students and researchers offered?| TOP |
The staff of the Baylor Collections of Political Materials would be pleased to offer tours of our resources at any time. The BCPM is located in the W. R. Poage Legislative Library between Moody and Jones libraries.
You may contact us at 710-3540, visit us
through the BCPM
web site, or send Email.
To tour us online, browse through the BCPM
sitemap for a condensed view of collections titles. <http://www3.baylor.edu/Library/BCPM/bcpm_sitemap.htm>
6. What are your times and days of operation? | TOP |
The collections are generally open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon-Fri. except major holidays. Consult the individual collections' home page to determine if a collection is closed to research during any processing or archival activity. <http://www3.baylor.edu/Library/BCPM/ >
7. Is the Bob Bullock Archive available for research? | TOP |
Yes, the collection is officially opened in Summer 2004. A small amount of Bullock political memorabilia can be viewed in the exhibit area in Poage Library and there is an extensive Bullock web page: <http://www3.baylor.edu/Library/BCPM/Bullock/welcome.htm>
8. Why can't maps and some cartoons be accessed online? | TOP |
Only a part of our extensive political cartoon collection has been digitized. Many other political collections contain sketches, doodles, and cartoons that have been included in each Photographs section. Maps have not yet been transferred to digital format. If you see a cartoon title that interests you, please email us and we can fax or scan a copy for you. For large quantities, copying charges may apply.
Digital collections: <http://www3.baylor.edu/Library/BCPM/DigitalImages/digitalimages.htm>
Digitized cartoons: <http://www3.baylor.edu/Library/BCPM/Cartoons/welcome.htm>
9. Does BCPM have jobs and assistantships? | TOP |
Current Baylor students may apply for work study positions and Bullock Archive assistantships. See <http://www3.baylor.edu/Library/BCPM/Students/welcome.htm>
BCPM FAQ: http://www3.baylor.edu/Library/BCPM/faq.htm`
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