Jeanne Hurley Simon Papers, 1938-1999 | Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center

By Walter D. Ray and Monica L. Rongere

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Collection Overview

Title: Jeanne Hurley Simon Papers, 1938-1999

Predominant Dates:1956-1999

ID: 4/1/PP01

Primary Creator: Simon, Jeanne.

Extent: 10.3 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The papers are arranged in nine series: 1) Personal Papers, 2) Professional Activities, 3) Chair, National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, 4) Paul Simon Campaigns,5) Codename Scarlett, 6) Print and Near-Print, 7) Photographs, 8) Memorabilia, 9) Audio/Visual.

Date Acquired: 03/01/2000

Subjects: Elections., Political campaigns, Women legislators

Forms of Material: Correspondence., Diaries., Joyce, James, 1882-1941. - Manuscripts, Photographs, Simon, Paul, 1928-2003. - Interviews, Speeches, addresses, etc.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Jeanne Hurley Simon papers include correspondence and campaign literature from her successful 1956 and 1958 campaigns for Illinois State Legislature, a schedule book from Paul Simon's 1982 congressional campaign, and Jeanne Simon's notebooks and schedules from Paul Simon's 1984 senate campaign. From Paul Simon's 1987-1988 campaign for the Democratic nomination for president the papers include the files of Jeanne Simon's chief of staff and scheduler and Jeanne Simon's campaign notebooks from which she wrote "Codename Scarlett." Also related to this book are manuscripts of chapters and correspondence with the publisher. There is a smattering of personal correspondence, including engagement, bridal shower and wedding congratulations. Otherwise it appears she did not systematically preserve her personal correspondence. There are Jeanne Simon's appointment calendars for 1956 and 1978-1996, with the exceptions of 1982, 1989 and 1992, and phone logs covering August 1985-June 1987, August 1991-December 1992, and December 1993-January 1995. The Phone Log for September 1986-June 1987 contains notes related to Paul Simon's presidential campaign. A few files cover Jeanne Simon's activities during the period Paul Simon served in the U.S. Congress and Senate, including a notebook recording attendance at the Congressional Spouses' Book Club, files related to her consulting activities with the Advisory Council on Women's Educational Programs and the American Association of Retired Persons, and a file documenting preparations for the Ladies of the Senate luncheon with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1993. From the same period come a notebook and two files from a 1982 trip to Somalia with the Interchurch Response for the Horn of Africa. A large part of the material relates to the period after Paul Simon left the senate in 1997. There are files of correspondence and mailings from the various organizations on whose boards Jeanne Simon sat, and two linear feet of material related to her service as Chair of the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, including correspondence (bulk, post-1996), meeting packets and project files. Not represented in the papers are Jeanne Simon's service as Washington governmental affairs representative of Illinois Attorney General Neil Hardigan and as director of the Emeritus Attorneys Program of the Emeritus Foundation. There are files of speeches Jeanne Simon gave from 1956 to 1999. Some of the speech files include research notes, clippings and correspondence related to the speeches. Included in the papers are letters of condolence received by Paul Simon after Jeanne's death in 2000 and correspondence related to the Jeanne Hurley Simon memorial fund of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Audio/visual material includes a VHS recording of a speech Jeanne Simon prepared for a Rural Libraries conference and cassette tape recordings of various shows Jeanne Simon appeared on publicizing "Codename Scarlett."

Biographical Note

Jeanne Hurley Simon (1922-2000), wife of U. S. Senator Paul Simon, was a lawyer, Illinois State Representative, author, and a significant public figure in Illinois and the nation. She played an active role in each of her husband's campaigns. A life-long advocate for public libraries, she was twice appointed chairperson of the U. S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS).

Born Jeanne C. Hurley in Chicago, Simon was a graduate of Barat College and Northwestern University Law School. From 1952 she served as assistant State's attorney in Cook County, Illinois. In 1956 and 1958 she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives where she met her husband, Paul Simon. They were married in 1960, the first and thus far only wedding of two sitting Illinois state legislators. They had two children, Sheila and Martin. Though she left the legislature in 1961, Simon remained active in politics and public life. She participated actively in her husband's campaigns, both successful--for lieutenant governor of Illinois (1968), U. S. Congressman (1974-1982), and U. S. Senator (1984 and 1990)--and unsuccessful, for Illinois governor (1972), and for the Democratic nomination for president (1988). She wrote a book, Codename Scarlett, chronicling her activity in this last campaign. She was active in the Women's Bar Association of Illinois, of which she was president in 1959-1960, the Congressional Spouses' Book Club, the Ladies of the Senate, the League of Women Voters, and the American Association of University Women. Among her many trips abroad, she traveled to Somalia with the Interchurch Response for the Horn of Africa in 1982, to Cali, Columbia with the Christian Children's Fund in 1994, and with the Carter Center observation team monitoring the elections in Liberia in 1997. She was a frequent public speaker throughout her career. She served on the board of directors of numerous service and advocacy organizations, including the American Foundation for the Blind, the Illinois Humane Society, NARAL, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism, the Library Media Project, the WSIU (Carbondale, Ill.) Friends Board, and the Board of Visitors of Morris Library (Southern Illinois University at Carbondale), where she was an adjunct professor from 1997 until her death. In 1993 and again in 1997, she was appointed chair of NCLIS by President Bill Clinton.

Subject/Index Terms

Elections.
Political campaigns
Women legislators

Administrative Information

Repository: Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center

Alternate Extent Statement: 13 boxes

Access Restrictions: Unrestricted access.

Use Restrictions: To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult Special Collections Research Center to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.

Acquisition Source: Paul Simon

Acquisition Method: The papers were sent to SCRC by Paul Simon via the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute following Jeanne Hurley Simon's death in 2000. In September 2006 Sheila Simon completed a Deed of Gift for the papers.

Original/Copies Note: For more information please see http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=exact&CISORESTMP=results.php&CISOVIEWTMP=item_viewer.php&CISOMODE=grid&CISOGRID=thumbnail%2CA%2C1%3Btitle%2CA%2C1%3Bdescri%2CA%2C0%3Bsubj.

Related Materials: Paul Simon Senatorial papers.

Preferred Citation: Jeanne Hurley Simon papers, Special Collections Research Center, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Processing Information: Processed in the fall of 2006.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal Papers, 1956-2000],
[Series 2: Professional Activities, 1956-2000],
[Series 3: Chair, U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, 1993-2000],
[Series 4: Paul Simon Campaigns, 1968-1988],
[Series 5: Codename Scarlett, Correspondence and Drafts, 1988-1989],
[Series 6: Print and Near Print, 1938-2000],
[Series 7: Memorabilia, 1960-2000],
[Series 8: Photos, 1956-1999],
[Series 9: Audio/Visual, 1989-1999],
[All]

Series 4: Paul Simon Campaigns, 1968-1988

This series documents Jeanne Hurley Simon's participation in the political campaigns of her husband, Paul Simon. There is a program from his 1968 campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois and Jeanne Hurley Simon's September schedule from the 1982 congressional campaign. But the bulk of the material comes from Simon's 1984 senate campaign and 1987-1988 campaign for the Democratic nomination for president. This material includes Jeanne Hurley Simon's campaign journals and schedules. Included for the 1987-1988 campaign are the files of Jeanne Hurley Simon's Chief of Staff, Lea Sinclair, and scheduler, May Mineta.

Sub-Series 1: Early Campaigns

Box 6

Folder 14: Campaign for Lt. Govenor, Belleville, Illinois Dinner Program, July 13, 1968
Folder 15: Paul Simon Lt. Governor, Inauguration Invitations, January 1969
Folder 16: 1982 Congressional Campaign, Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule Notebook, September 1982

Sub-Series 2: 1984 Senate Campaign

Box 6

Folder 17: Simon Family Campaign Schedules, Campaign Biographies of Jeanne and Sheila, July-November 1984
Folder 18: Campaign Correspondence, 1984
Folder 19: Congratulations Correspondence, 1984
Folder 20: Campaign Journal, January 16-March 27, 1984
Folder 21: Campaign Journal, May 4-August 1, 1984
Folder 22: Campaign Material Found in Jeanne Simon's Journals, 1984
Folder 23: Various Address Lists, 1984
Folder 24: Paul Simon Dinner, Barbara Mikulski's Speech, 1984

Sub-Series 3: 1988 Presidential Campaign

Box 6

Folder 25: Jeanne Hurley Simon Campaign Biography, 1988
Folder 26: Campaign Journal, April-August 1987
Folder 27: Campaign Journal, August 1987-August 1988
Folder 28: Letter from Mrs. Adlai Stevenson III, 1987
Folder 29: Personal and Campaign Correspondence, 1987
Folder 30: Campaign Correspondence, June 1987 - May 1988
Folder 31: Constructive Campaign Correspondence, 1988
Folder 32: Campaign Volunteers, 1987
Folder 33: International Club Luncheon Invitation, June 1987
Folder 34: Wisconsin State Democratic Convention, Jeanne Hurley Simon's Speech Notes, June 1987
Folder 35: First Ladies Forum, Polk County Iowa, July 1987
Folder 36: Jeanne Hurley Simon Speech to the Illinois Hospital Association, August 1987
Folder 37: Illinois Federation of Business and Professional Women, Jeanne Hurley Simon Speech, October 24, 1987
Folder 38: Women's Democratic Club Luncheon with Jeanne Hurley Simon, Guest List, February 1988
Folder 39: Witt School Visit, March 1988
Folder 40: Polling Data, April- May 1987
Folder 41: Campaign Literature, 1988
Folder 42: Arms Control Issue File, 1987
Folder 43: Education Issues File, 1987
Folder 44: Family Agenda Issue File, 1986-1987
Folder 45: Democratic County Chairmen of Illinois, 1986-1988
Folder 46: Fairfax County, Virginia, District Democratic Committees, 1987
Folder 47: Jeanne Hurley Simon, Fundraising Phone Call List, 1988
Folder 48: Controversial Iowa Caucus Vote, American Politics Magazine article, 1988
Folder 49: Correspondence File of Lea Sinclair, Jeanne Hurley Simon's Chief of Staff, September 1987
Folder 50: Correspondence File of Lea Sinclair, Jeanne Hurley Simon's Chief of Staff, November - December 1987
Folder 51: Correspondence File of Lea Sinclair, Jeanne Hurley Simon's Chief of Staff, Janury of 1988

Box 7

Folder 1: Coorespondence File of Lea Sinclair: Jeanne Hurley Simon's Chief of Staff, February 1988
Folder 2: Correspondence File of Lea Sinclair, Jeanne Hurley Simon's Chief of Staff, March 1988
Folder 3: Correspondence File of Lea Sinclair, Jeanne Hurley Simon's Chief of Staff, April 1988
Folder 4: Jeanne Hurley Simon Staff Memo, November 1987-February 1988
Folder 5: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule Request, from the file of Mrs. May Mineta, 1987-1988
Folder 6: Polk County Democratic's First Ladies Forum Talk, Des Moines, Iowa, July 26, 1987
Folder 7: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, planned by May Mineta, 1987
Folder 8: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: California, January, 1988
Folder 9: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: New York, December 1987-January 1988
Folder 10: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: Massachusetts, September 1987-January 1988
Folder 11: Scheduler Correspondence, November 1987-February 1988
Folder 12: Jeannr Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: Interum, March 1988 - July 1988
Folder 13: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: Washington D.C., November-December 1987
Folder 14: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: Washington, D.C., October 1987-February 1988
Folder 15: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: Illinois, November 20, 1987 - January 5, 1988
Folder 16: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: Florida, December 6, 1987 - February 28, 1988
Folder 17: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: Iowa, December 1987
Folder 18: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files, Maryland, October-December 1987
Folder 19: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: Illinois, Seoptember 1987- Janury 1988
Folder 20: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: North Carolina, November 1987-February 1988
Folder 21: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scheduler Files: North Carolina, September 1987-January 1988
Folder 22: Jeanne Hurley Simon Travel Invoices, July 1987-November 1987
Folder 23: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedules, July 1987-January 1988
Folder 24: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, Planning Calendar, July-December 1987
Folder 25: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, July-August 1987
Folder 26: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, June 1987
Folder 27: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, July 1987
Folder 28: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, August 1987
Folder 29: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, September 1987
Folder 30: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, October 1987
Folder 31: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, December 1987
Folder 32: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, January 1988
Folder 33: Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedule, February 1988
Folder 34: Paul and Jeanne Hurley Simon Schedules, April 1988