IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
OPAL MILLER (1915- )
PAPERS, 1960-1998
4 linear inches
|
ACQUISITION: |
The papers (donor no.
502) were donated by Opal Miller in 1998. |
|
ACCESS: |
The papers are open for
research. |
|
ARTIFACTS: |
In box 1. |
|
COPYRIGHT: |
Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa. |
|
PHOTOGRAPHS: |
In box 1. |
|
PROCESSED BY: |
James Boucher, 1998; John Williams-Searle, 1999. |
|
REVISION: |
Bobby Jett, 7/30/99 [WORD 7 MillerOpal.doc] |
Biography
Opal Dellinger was born on October
6, 1915 in Rockwell City, Iowa.
Dellinger graduated from Rockwell City High School in 1933. She then studied elementary education and music
at the Iowa State Teacher’s College (now the University of Northern Iowa) for
three years. Dellinger married Raburn
Gray “Hap” Miller of Zearing, Iowa in 1935.
The Millers had six children.
“Hap” Miller was a college coach, and the family moved several times as
he took jobs at different schools.
During this time, Opal Miller served as Deputy Recorder of Warren and
Allamakee counties. Upon “Hap” Miller’s
retirement the couple moved back to Rockwell City.
In 1972 “Hap” Miller was elected to represent
District 47 in the Iowa House of Representatives. In April of 1974, before the General Assembly had ended the
session, “Hap” Miller died suddenly.
Opal Miller ran successfully for his seat in the election of 1974. During her two terms as a Democratic
Representative in the Iowa House,
Miller served on the House Committees of Agriculture, County Government,
Education, the Juvenile Justice Interim Committee, and the Social Services
Division of the Budget Committee. After
running and winning again in 1976, Miller served her last two years in the Iowa
Legislature.
In January of 1978 Miller married her brother-in-law
of forty-one years, Charles Sergeant.
Sadly, Charles Sergeant died in June of 1979. Shortly thereafter, Opal Sergeant changed her name back to Opal
Miller. Miller then moved to Sitka,
Alaska to do three semesters of volunteer secretarial work with Volunteers In
Mission (VIM), a Presbyterian group.
Miller worked at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, for one and a
half years. She then volunteered for
three years as secretary at a hospital in Katmandu, Nepal; spent thirteen
months in Rutland, Massachusetts with the Heifer Project International (an
organization that sent animals to underdeveloped countries), and volunteered at
the Menaul School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
After four years of work at the Menaul School, Miller moved to Des
Moines, Iowa.
Miller has been involved with the Legislative
Ladies’ League, Eastern Star, Business and Professional Women’s Club, Iowa
Women’s Political Caucus, National Organization of Democratic Women State
Legislators, Calhoun County Historical Society, Federated Women’s Club, and the
Board of Northwest Iowa Presbyterial.
Scope and
Content Note
The papers date from 1960
to 1998 and measure 4 linear
inches. The papers contain biographical
material, correspondence, newspaper clippings, speeches, and writings and
information on Miller’s political career and volunteer work.
Related
Collections
“A Political Dialogue: Iowa’s Women Legislators”
oral history project
This collection contains the transcript of an oral
history interview conducted by Suzanne Schenken, December 28, 1989.
Box no. Description
Box 1
Biographical material,
1974-1998
Campaigning, 1972-1977 and
undated
Correspondence, 1974-1987 and
undated
General political
information, 1974-1980 (2 folders)
Legislature, 1977 and
undated
Newspaper clippings,
1960-1978 and undated
Speeches and writings,
1975-1977 and undated
Volunteer activism,
1980-1987 and undated
Sheldon Jackson College
(Sitka, Alaska)
Elderhostel, 1987
Newsletters, 1980
College newspapers,
1979-1981, 1984, 1987
Volunteers in Mission
reunion, undated
“Oldest Alaskan College
Wavers,” 1981
Photographs, 1974-1980 and
undated
Artifacts, undated