IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
MARGARET McDONALD (1925
- )
PAPERS, 1966-1991
2 linear feet
|
ACQUISITION: |
The papers
(donor no. 112) were donated by Margaret McDonald in 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978,
1981 and 1992. |
|
ACCESS: |
The papers
are open for research. |
|
COPYRIGHT: |
Copyright
has been transferred to the University of Iowa. |
|
PHOTOGRAPHS: |
In box 4. |
|
PROCESSED
BY: |
Bridget
Butler, 1992. |
Biography
Margaret McDonald was born in Indianola,
Iowa in 1925. She graduated from
Capitol City Commercial College and attended the University of Iowa. During World War II she served as secretary
to future president Ronald W. Reagan who was a captain in the United States Air
Force stationed in California. In 1952
McDonald became actively involved in politics during her husband James L.
McDonald's successful campaign for Cherokee County, Iowa Attorney (a post he
held until 1985 when he was appointed district judge). From 1952 to 1964 McDonald was active in the
Republican Women's Organization of Cherokee County and served in many
offices. In 1966 she managed Wiley
Mayne's successful campaign for United States Congress and was elected County
Republican Party co-chair, a post she kept until 1970.
In 1970 McDonald was elected
co-chair of the 6th District of the state Republican party and became a member
of the state Central Committee of the Republican Party. From 1973 to 1980 McDonald served as
co-chair of the State Republican party; during most of those years the party
chair was John McDonald (no relation).
In 1980 she was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in
Detroit and chaired the 1980 State Convention in Cedar Rapids. From 1981 to 1987 she served on the Iowa
Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Development Disabilities Commission and
was chair during part of her tenure.
McDonald was field representative for Robert Dole's presidential
campaign in 1987-1988 and a Dole delegate to the 1988 Republican National
Convention. In 1990 she was a field
representative for Tom Tauke's senate campaign and in 1992 served as a member
of the party finance committee of Cherokee County.
Scope and Content Note
The Margaret McDonald papers measure
2 linear feet and date from 1966 to 1991. Margaret McDonald was active in Iowa Republican politics from 1973
to 1980. Her papers contain letters,
memoranda, notes, photographs, press releases, speeches, and position papers
relevant to both Iowa politics and national presidential primary campaigns
during those years. There is little of
a biographical nature in the papers.
Correspondence includes letters from
the Republican National Committee, particularly from Mary Dent Crisp and Mary
Louise Smith, relating to efforts of the Republican party during the 1970s to
encourage women to join and become more active in the party. During her years as Republican Party
Co-Chair, McDonald received correspondence from national political figures such
as Gerald Ford, Robert Dole, Richard Nixon, Nelson Rockfeller, and Ronald
Reagan
The Republican Party State Central
Committee and state elections material includes notes, memoranda, and studies
regarding campaign strategy. There are also newspaper clippings both of Republican party activities,
editorials, and letters to the editor.
An autographed photograph of Ronald
Reagan from the mid-1940s is included in the photographs.
Box no. Description
Box 1
Republican Party Materials
Cherokee County Co-Chair
Materials, 1966-1970
District Co-Chair Papers,
1970-1973
Iowa Federation of
Republican Women, 1971-1980
National Conference of
Republican State Chairmen, 1977
Newsletter, The Iowa
Indicator, 1974-1976
Newsletter, The Iowa
Republican, 1970-1973
State Central Committee,
1973-1977
State Central Committee,
1978-1979
State Co-Chair, 1973-1980
State Convention, 1974
State Convention, 1976
State Convention, 1978
State Convention, 1980
State Elections, 1974
State Elections, 1978-1980
Social and Fundraising
Events, 1968-1981
Box
2
Correspondence
1969-1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
January-June
July-December
1976
1977
Box
3
1978
1979-1980
1989
Press Releases
1974-1975
1976
1977-1978
1979
Speeches
1966-1974
1975-1976
1977-1978
1979
Newspaper Clippings
1966-1974
1975
1976
1977-1991
Box
4
Presidential Campaign Material
Ford Campaign, 1975-1976
Bush Campaign, 1979-1980
Dole Campaign, 1988
Personal
Resume, 1992
Republican Party Convention
Badges, 1976-1980
State Inaugural Memorabilia,
1971-1979
National Inaugural
Memorabilia, 1973-1989
Awards and Recognition,
1970-1988
Campaign Stickers
Autographs
Photographs
Box
5
Scrapbook