CAROL CONNOLLY:
An Inventory of Her Papers
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| Creator: | Connolly, Carol, 1934-. |
| Title: | Carol Connolly papers. |
| Date: | 1964-2004. |
| Abstract: | The Carol Connolly papers include
correspondence, minutes, memoranda, legal documents, newspaper clippings,
magazine articles, and other printed material documenting the activities of St.
Paul poet, playwright, columnist, activist, and politician, Carol Connolly.
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| Quantity: | 11.4 cu. ft. (12 boxes and 1 partial oversize
box). |
| Location: | See Detailed Description section for shelf
locations. |
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Carol Connolly (neé McLellan), a lifelong resident of St. Paul,
Minnesota, was born in 1934. Connolly's first career was raising seven children
born to her and husband John S. Connolly. Although active as a volunteer in
many organizations during her twenty-one years of marriage, it was after
divorcing in 1979 that Connolly's public life took on a higher profile.
Throughout the years since then, Connolly has been variously known as a
political candidate, activist, journalist, poet, and playwright.
An active DFL member, Connolly first became politically involved
through the peace movement of the 1960s and the various campaign activities of
her husband, who later became a Ramsey County District Court judge. While a
1980 bid for a seat on the St. Paul City Council was unsuccessful, Connolly
remained politically involved over the years through fund raising for the
campaigns for many other, mainly female, candidates.
Women's rights emerged as the focus of her civic and political
activities, which included serving as co-chair of the Minnesota Women's
Political Caucus and coordinating the Wonder Woman Foundation, a New York
City-based organization which recognized and rewarded women over forty for
heroic accomplishments, as well as work with numerous other feminist and
women-centered organizations in the Twin Cities area. In 1977 Connolly was
appointed to the St. Paul Human Rights Commission, where she served for nine
years, five of them as chair. As the first woman ever appointed to the
commission, she worked to bring women's causes to the forefront. Motivated by a
desire to make sure that women would have a presence in the new industry,
Connolly sought and received an appointment from the governor to the Minnesota
Racing Commission when it was formed in 1983 and served as chair of the
commission's affirmative action committee.
In addition to her civic and political activities, Connolly gained
attention and acclaim for her literary accomplishments. She began writing
poetry in 1976 by accident, when the fiction class she wanted to take was full.
She signed up for a poetry class instead and published her first collection,
Payments Due, in 1985. The poems were later
adapted for a stage performance that played successfully to audiences in the
Twin Cities and Los Angeles. In 1989 and 1991 she appeared as a stand-up comic
in the Dudley Riggs Experimental Theatre Company (Minneapolis, Minn.)
production entitled, What's So Funny About Being
Female? From 1988 to 1991 she wrote a gossip column called "Connections"
for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch
newspaper. She also wrote for Mpls.-St. Paul,
the Star Tribune, Minnesota Journal, and
Ladies Home Journal. Connolly was also a political
and gossip commentator for Barbara Carlson's radio show on AM 1500 KSTP.
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Materials date from 1964 to 1994, but primarily cover the period from
the late 1970s to the late 1980s. The collection is organized into series
representing Connolly's activities in the St. Paul Human Rights Commission, her
own and other political campaigns, women's organizations, other organizations,
and her literary career, as well as personal papers.
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| A videotaped 1993 interview with Carol Connolly for the PBS
television show Northern Lights and Insights is
separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society's sound and visual
collections. |
| Carol Connolly's book of poetry, Payments
Due, is separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society's book
collection. |
| Records of the Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, 1971-1985, of
which Connolly served as chair, are separately cataloged in the Minnesota
Historical Society manuscript collections. |
| Records of the Minnesota Racing Commission, many of which were
collected and donated by commission member Connolly, are separately cataloged
in the Minnesota State Archives. |
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| This collection is indexed under the following
headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers
desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the
catalog using these headings. |
| Topic Head: |
| | Affirmative action programs -- Minnesota. |
| | Arts -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area --
Societies, etc. |
| | Discrimination in housing -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul. |
| | Divorce - Minnesota -- Saint Paul. |
| | Electioneering -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul. |
| | Feminism -- Minnesota. |
| | Feminists -- Minnesota -- Societies, etc. |
| | Homosexuality -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul. |
| | Irish-Americans -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
-- Societies, etc. |
| | Politics, Practical -- Minnesota. |
| | Presidents (U.S.) -- Election -- 1968. |
| | Presidents (U.S.) -- Election --1988. |
| | Women in politics -- Minnesota. |
| | Women poets, American -- Minnesota. |
| | Women prisoners -- Minnesota. |
| | Women's rights -- Minnesota. |
| Persons: |
| | Amundson, Roland C. |
| | Bouza, Anthony V. |
| | Connolly, John Stevens. |
| | Hodgson, Jane E. |
| | Humphrey, Hubert H., 1942-. |
| | McCarthy, Eugene J., 1916-. |
| Organizations: |
| | Coffee House Press. |
| | Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. |
| | Minnesota Programs for Victims of Sexual Assault. |
| | Parents Anonymous of Minnesota. |
| | Project Interaction (Saint Paul, Minn.). |
| | Saint Paul (Minn.). City Council -- Elections --
1979. |
| | Saint Paul (Minn.). City Council -- Elections --
1980. |
| | Minnesota Women's Political Caucus. |
| | Saint Paul Human Rights Commission. |
| | Wonder Woman Foundation. |
| | Meridel LeSueur Library Foundation (Minneapolis,
Minn.). |
| Occupation: |
| | Politicians -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul. |
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| Preferred Citation: |
| | [Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. Carol Connolly Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. |
| | See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples. |
| Accession Information: |
| | Accession numbers: 12,841; 13,044; 13,295; 13,371; 13,554; 13,681;
14,221; 14,975; 15,058; 15,287; 15,657; 15,930; 16,063 |
| Processing Information: |
| | Processed by: Lara D. Friedman, June 1997 and August 2002; and Rich
Arpi, December 2005 |
| | Catalog ID number: 1729441 |
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Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the
location and box numbers shown below.
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Biographical Information
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| Location | Box |
| 151.F.9.12F | 1 |
Biographical information, 1976-2004.
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St. Paul Human Rights Commission
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| Connolly's nine years of service on the St. Paul Human Rights
Commission (1977-1986) are represented by a series of files including minutes,
memoranda, reports, and other related papers arranged chronologically. In
addition to these general files, there are files documenting the commission's
work on the issues of affirmative action, gay and lesbian rights, and
discrimination against families with children in rental housing. Also of
interest are materials relating to the commission's study of the St. Paul Human
Rights Department, which was undertaken on the heels of a 1984 controversy
surrounding criticisms directed at the state human rights department. |
| Location | Box |
| 151.F.9.12F | 1 |
Chronological files, undated and 1977-1987. 19 folders.
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| | | Minutes, agendas, memoranda, correspondence, and related
papers. |
| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.7B | 2 |
Miscellaneous printed materials, undated and 1974,
1978.
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Applications for director, A-Z, 1980. 2 folders.
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Transcripts of hearings on child discrimination in
rental housing, July 10 and 11, 1979.
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Affirmative Action Task Force, June 1982-December 1983.
2 folders.
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Refugee Task Force, January - April 1983.
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Gay/Lesbian Rights Task Force, 1982-1985. 2 folders.
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Study Committee:
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Supporting documentation: Attachments A-Z, AA.
2 folders.
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Response to report of April 15, 1985, with
attachments, July 9, 1985.
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Newspaper clippings, 1979-1980.
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Political Papers
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| Political papers in the collection consist of two major groups of
material: files documenting Connolly's 1980 St. Paul City Council campaign, and
her fund raising and support for other political candidates. The latter are
organized alphabetically by candidate name. |
| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.7B | 2 |
City Council Campaigns, 1979 and 1980:
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Appointment.
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Endorsements.
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Issues. 2 folders.
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Labor.
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Money and financing (including receipts).
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Press (including news releases and newspaper
clippings).
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Scheduling. 3 folders.
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| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.8F | 3 | |
Speeches.
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Volunteers.
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Miscellaneous papers.
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Miscellaneous political printed items,
1968-1982.
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Miscellaneous political papers, 1978-1991. 12 folders.
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Campaign Files by Name:
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Martha Ballou for City Commissioner,
1984.
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Tony Bouza for Governor campaign, 1994. 2 folders.
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Chris Coleman for City Council,
1999.
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Judi Dutcher for Governor,
2001-2002.
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[Kathleen] Gearin campaign, 1986.
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[Joan] Growe for Senate, 1984.
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Hubert H. Humphrey III 1988 U.S. Senate Race,
1987-1988.
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Hubert H. Humphrey III for Governor, 1997-1998.
3 folders.
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Marlene Johnson for Mayor, 1993-1994.
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Roger Moe for Governor, 2002.
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Sandy Pappas for Mayor, 1997.
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| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.9B | 4 | | |
Sharon Sayles-Belton for Mayor,
2001.
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| | | | | Also includes items from R.T. Rybak. |
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St. Paul Mayor's Race,
2001.
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| | | | | Includes mailings and pamphlets from DFL candidates Bob
Long, Jerry Blakely, Jan Benanav, and Randy Kelly. |
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Paul Simon,
1987-1988.
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Rosalie Wahl campaign, 1977-1978.
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Rosalie Wahl for Minnesota Supreme Court,
undated and 1977-1994.
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Miscellaneous candidates, 1987-1988.
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Women's Groups and Activities
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| Materials documenting Connolly's involvement in women's
organizations and activities consist primarily of records from two groups. The
Wonder Woman Foundation was a short-lived organization (1981-1986) founded by
Warner Communications, Inc. and DC Comics, Inc. to honor heroic women over
forty years of age. Connolly worked as a consultant to the foundation and
coordinated its annual awards ceremony. Files include correspondence, publicity
materials, awards programs, program scripts, and biographies of nominees. The
materials focus primarily on the tasks of raising awareness of the foundation
and its awards as well as fund raising. |
| The other major group of files in this series document Connolly's
involvement in the Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, which she served as
chair. These files include minutes, agendas, memoranda, correspondence,
publicity, and other materials related to the organization's work of supporting
female candidates for political office. Materials are mainly from the
state-level branch of the organization but also include some items from the
national and county organizations. |
| Also extensively documented is the Women's Consortium, an
association of feminist individuals and organizations devoted primarily to
influencing legislation affecting women. |
| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.9B | 4 |
Wonder Woman Foundation:
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Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1982-1985.
5 folders.
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Nominations: Drafts, 1984.
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Nomination forms: Barry - Spencer, 1984.
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Script of awards program, 1984.
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Biographies: A - W, undated.
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Minnesota Women's Political Caucus:
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Ramsey County Women's Political Caucus, 1973-1982,
1985.
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National Women's Political Caucus,
1977-1982.
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Miscellaneous papers, 1973-1989. 4 folders.
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Membership, 1979.
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Legislative matters, 1979.
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Annual Giving Task Force, 1979.
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| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.10F | 5 | |
Events, 1978-1980.
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Judicial selection project, 1978-1981.
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Newsletter, 1978-1981, 1993.
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Faculty Women's Club Community Concern Section,
1972-1974.
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Women's Consortium, 1980, 1982, 1984-1989. 2 folders.
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Women's Campaign Fund, 1986, 1993.
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Miscellaneous groups, A-Z, 1975-1989. 6 folders.
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Feminist groups, 1983-1984. 2 folders.
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Building for Women Project,
1994.
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National Women's Political Caucus mailings and
correspondence,
1996-2002.
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Other Organizations and Activities
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| The collection documents many other organizations and activities
in which Connolly was involved. Files on artists and artistic groups include
diverse materials such as programs and publicity for events around the Twin
Cities, correspondence from a local book club, as well as a Guthrie Theatre
script for Execution of Justice, a play concerning
gay rights and the murders of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and City
Supervisor Harvey Milk. Also of particular interest are files relating to
Project Interaction (PI House), a halfway house for women released from the
state reformatory in Shakopee, Minnesota. |
| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.10F | 5 |
Artists and artistic groups, 1984, 1986-1989.
6 folders.
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| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.11B | 6 |
Applications and fund raising information,
1985-1994.
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Cedar Exchange Board of Directors information,
2001-2002.
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Coffee House Press papers, 1996-1998. 5 folders.
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Commodore, undated and October-December
1983.
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Contracts, 1983-1984.
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Dead Poets' Society materials and correspondence,
undated and July 1992-January
2001.
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Displaced Homemakers, 1987-1989.
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Dramatists Guild newsletters and correspondence,
1992-1995.
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Equal Rights Amendment rally, 1982.
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Ethics Committee papers, 1993-1997.
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Jane Hodgson tribute,1995. 2 folders.
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Irish activities, 1984-1989.
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Irish Caucus, 1977-1981.
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Mental Illness Awareness materials,
1988-1989.
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Meridel Le Sueur Library Foundation Development
Committee: Minutes and related papers, 1990-1991.
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Mildred Pierce Cafe, 1998-2003. 3 folders.
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| | | Includes financial records, graphic designs, and general files
of the restaurant owned and operated by Connolly's daughter Shelagh. |
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Minnesota Million, 1992[?].
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Minnesota Program for Victims of Sexual Assault:
Anniversary Program, 1986.
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Minnesota Racing Commission, 1982-2000.
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NAACP and Urban League, 1986-1988.
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National Association of Women Judges, 1985.
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Parents Anonymous of Minnesota, 1986-1987.
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| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.12F | 7 |
Project Interaction (PI House), undated and 1972-1975.
4 folders.
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Saint John's Bible mailings, 1999.
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St. Paul city government and activities,
1982-1983.
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St. Paul YWCA, December 1984 - April 1985.
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Sweatshop Health Club correspondence,
1996-2001.
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Third Age Quarterly issues
and correspondence, 1996-1997.
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UC Video correspondence, 1987.
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University Club, 1984.
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Victory House, Inc., 1978-1980, 1985-1986.
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Miscellaneous, 1968-1985, 1999.
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Literary and Journalistic Activities
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| A complete run of the gossip column, "Connections," written by
Connolly for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and
Dispatch is included in the collection, along with related
correspondence. Also available are copies of articles written for the magazine
Mpls.-St. Paul. |
| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.12F | 7 |
Downtowner magazine
columns, 1992-1993.
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KSTP Radio materials, 1998.
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Law and Politics (Joan
Growe articles and drafts), 1998.
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Law and Politics columns
and notes, 1992-1998. 3 folders.
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Mpls.-St. Paul magazine
columns and notes, 1989-1994. 4 folders.
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Minnesota Women's Press
articles and drafts, 1989-1993.
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Newspaper Guild membership cards, 1988-1991.
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News clippings, 1982-1989.
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| Location | Box |
| 144.I.18.10F | 8 |
Pioneer Press columns,
1988-1991. 5 folders.
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Pioneer Press
column-related correspondence, 1987-1991. 9 folders.
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Poetry, undated and 1978-1996.
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Poetry readings and speaking engagements,
undated and 1977-1996.
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Personal Papers
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| Personal papers in the collection include correspondence,
invitations, financial papers, notebooks, and newspaper clippings documenting
Connolly's activities, travels, family and social life, and wide acquaintance.
A series of files containing correspondence, legal documents, and financial
records provide extensive documentation of Connolly's divorce from John S.
Connolly in the late 1970s. Transcripts of depositions given by Connolly and
her husband in preparation for the divorce trial provide a detailed picture of
the family's financial and other issues that arose during the divorce process.
The personal papers also include a series of notebooks used by Connolly to plan
her activities, jot down thoughts, and draft correspondence. Researchers should
note that much of the material in these notebooks is written in shorthand. |
| Location | Box |
| 144.I.18.10F | 8 |
Divorce Files:
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Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1964,
1971-1980. 4 folders.
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Miscellaneous financial papers, 1977-1982.
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Connolly Trust records, 1975-1980.
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| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.13B | 9 | |
Transcripts of depositions, 1978-1979.
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1382 Summit Ave., St. Paul 55105, undated and
1979-1986.
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Burglary, 1979-1981.
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John S. Connolly: Congress, 4th District, 1986; U.S.
Senate, 1978; Judicial appointment, 1986.
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Lists, 1967-1980s[?].
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Ledger, 1981-1985.
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Calendar and notes on activities, undated and
1984.
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Interview questions from Channel 11 program entitled
"Between Friends" with Steve Allen, September 1990.
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Newspaper clippings and miscellaneous printed materials,
1979-1993.
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Personal correspondence, 1969, 1971-1985. 9 folders.
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| Location | Box |
| 152.I.13.14F | 10 |
Personal correspondence, 1985-2001. 21 folders.
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| Location | Box |
| 152.I.14.1B | 11 |
Roland Amundson correspondence, 1988, 1994-2000.
2 folders.
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R.A. (Jim) Randall correspondence, November
1992-November 2000.
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Joan Solomon correspondence, 1998-1999.
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Marge Anderson memoir correspondence,
1998-1999.
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Greeting cards, undated and 1989-1990, 1995.
3 folders.
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Invitations, 1985-2000. 12 folders.
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| Location | Box |
| 146.K.9.11B | 13 |
Notebooks, undated and 1977-1988. 5 folders, including 11 spiral notebooks.
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Miscellaneous papers, 1981-1988, 1995-2000. 11 folders.
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Oversize Items
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| Location | Box |
| 142.C.13.3 | 12 |
Program for the play, "Ripening," based on Meridel Le
Sueur's writings (for Carol Connolly's campaign committee), November
1980.
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Poster from "7th" International Indian Treaty
Conference, White Earth Indian Reservation, June 4-11, 1981.
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Poster: "Sing Heavenly Muse, Poetry and Fiction Reading
Program, Minneapolis, June 25, 1987. Featuring Carol Connolly, Ellen Hawley,
and Sheila Packa."
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