Tauscher Congressional papers now archived at University Library
Ellen Tauscher
- September 22, 2009
Ellen O. Tauscher, who served the East Bay in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 13 years, has donated her congressional papers to the archives of the University Library at California State University, East Bay. Tauscher resigned from her 10th District Congressional seat on June 26 to accept an appointment from President Barack Obama as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security affairs.
The announcement was made by Cal State East Bay President Mo Qayoumi during the university’s fall convocation ceremony Sept. 21.
“Ms. Tauscher is making a significant contribution to the intellectual growth of Cal State East Bay with donation of her congressional papers,” Qayoumi said. “Her papers will help generations of young scholars understand the history of this region and appreciate the work of government as it impacts the lives of citizens now and in the future.”
“I’m honored that the papers from my 13 years in the House of Representatives will be stored and accessible at Cal State East Bay’s library,” Ms. Tauscher said. “I hope students, faculty and independent researchers can use the papers to provide better insights into how Congress works and add more understanding to the myriad policy issues I worked on. I also hope there’s some fun memorabilia to put on display, as a way to bring Congress to life.”
Tauscher had represented the district, which includes the university’s Concord Campus, since 1996. The 10th District includes eastern Contra Costa County and El Cerrito in western Contra Costa County, parts of Solano and Sacramento counties, and the city of Livermore in Alameda County.
“Ellen Tauscher’s papers are the first complete set of congressional documents received by the library and will be a centerpiece for our growing public history curriculum,” said Linda Dobb, Cal State East Bay librarian and interim associate provost. “Though a relatively young institution, Cal State East Bay has for 30 years been actively collecting and preserving items that have regional significance.”
The Tauscher papers will provide future researchers with an historical perspective on her work and that of the US Congress during her time as a legislator. The papers include speeches as well as correspondence to the White House, cabinet members, executive agencies, state and local officials, and other dignitaries. They also include photos, awards, press clippings, news releases, letters of thanks and praise from constituents, Web site materials, schedules, and records related to Tauscher’s interests as a member of Congress.
Cal State East Bay faculty members Diana Wakimoto and Robert Phelps will organize the Tauscher documents. Wakimoto previously was a library intern at the Kennedy Library in Boston. Phelps, a writer of regional history and author of a book on early Hayward, is an associate professor in Cal State East Bay’s public history program and serves on board of directors of the Hayward Historical Society.
Dobb pointed out that the work of one of Tauscher’s aides, Cal State East Bay alumna Terrie Gillem, was particularly helpful in making the donation possible.
President Qayoumi said Tauscher’s papers should one day be a significant element of the collection in a joint-use regional library facility, serving both the Concord Campus of Cal State East Bay and public library patrons of Contra Costa County, when the university develops a campus on 150 acres at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.