Donald Dean Avenson Papers
Scope and Contents
A complete inventory of the papers is available as a 19-page finding aid in Rod Library Special Collections. The records processor offers the following general description of the contents of the collection. Don Avenson's papers that fall into the A, B, C, D, and E series were in fairly good order upon arrival in Special Collections. Most documents and newspaper clippings were in well-labeled folders in boxes with similar materials. Overall, the papers in these series are in excellent condition. After examining this collection, the processor found that the materials fell into five different areas: Campaign Materials, Correspondence, Legislative Matters, or Course Work.
Series A, Campaign Materials, is a good source of information about campaigns and elections occurring between 1966 and 1988. It contains a large collection of newspaper clippings from local and national newspapers. These clippings outline political issues involved in each campaign, and also provide examples of campaign publicity. This series also contains a well-developed collection of materials about individual candidates and is arranged chronologically.
Avenson's correspondence is found in Series B. The five boxes in this collection include letters dating from 1972 to 1990. They are arranged chronologically by year, and within each year by the individual's last name. Within this series there are approximately 25 folders which contain correspondence related to a specific subject. For example, Avenson created folders of correspondence dealing with abortion, gun legislation, and the drinking age. This area is a good source of information about the issues that were of greatest concern to Avenson's constituents throughout his terms in the General Assembly.
Series C contains materials on legislative matters. The strengths of this area are the lengthy treatment given to the Iowa redistricting plans, the Volga Lake recreation project and other environmental issues, and education. This series also contains many of Avenson's speeches, the Governor's "State of the State" addresses, and other official addresses. The folders are arranged chronologically beginning in 1969 and extending through 1990.
Series D contains class notes and research papers Avenson completed for graduate courses at the University of Northern Iowa in 1971 and 1972.
Series E contains materials related to campaign finance from Avenson's political campaigns.
Dates
- c. 1966-1990
Creator
- Avenson, Donald Dean (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials entirely in English.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions. Materials are open for research.
General Use, Reproduction, and Copyright Policies
Many items housed in the Rod Library Special Collections & University Archives, including unpublished images and manuscripts, may be protected by copyright, publication rights, trademarks, or model release rights which the library does not own and for which the library cannot grant permission or licensing. Materials currently under copyright are usually still available for research and limited reproduction under Fair Use laws. However, it is the sole responsibility of the patron to determine whether or not their use of a given material falls within Fair Use guidelines and to obtain permission for said use from the rightful copyright owner.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy or similar laws, and the Iowa Open Records Law (see Iowa Code ยง 22.7). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of Northern Iowa assumes no responsibility.
Biographical / Historical
Donald Dean Avenson was a state representative in the Iowa General Assembly from 1972 through 1990. Avenson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 16, 1944. Early in his childhood, his family moved to Oelwein, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in Avenson received his bachelor of science degree in political science and history from the University of Wisconsin in 1970, and in 1971 and 1972 he completed graduate work in history at the University of Northern Iowa. After graduating from college, Avenson became office manager of the family business, Oelwein Tool and Die Company. He remained at the company throughout his political career, becoming its president in 1984. He and his wife Diane, whom he married in 1964, had three children.
He was an wildlife supporter of wildlife and held memberships in the Fayette County Conservation Club, Ducks Unlimited, Wildlife Federation, and the Iowa Wetlands Group. Because of these interests, Don Avenson was a strong supporter of legislation for improving and promoting recreation and tourism in Iowa. He particularly focused on environmental legislation concerning natural resources. In 1972, Avenson, a Democrat, was elected State Representative of the Fayette County district in the Iowa House of Representatives, an office he held until 1990. In addition to his responsibilities as a representative, he held three leadership positions: Assistant Majority Floor Leader in the Iowa General Assembly (1975-1978); House Minority Floor Leader (1979-1982); and Speaker of the House (1983-1990). In 1990, he was unsuccessful in his bid to become Governor of Iowa, losing to Terry Branstad.
Extent
30 Linear Feet (24 boxes)
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into five series:
- Campaign Materials
- Correspondence
- Legislative Matters
- Class Notes and Research Papers
- Political Campains.
Processing Information
Records processed and finding aid prepared by Library Assistant Susan Witthoft, January 1996; additional material processed and finding aid amended by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson, October 2004; last updated, January 30, 2015 (GP). Linear feet count updated on August 9, 2017.
- Title
- Donald Dean Avenson Papers
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script