Decades of paper and documents covering the long political career of U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe will be housed at Oklahoma State University.
The Senator, about to retire next month after serving in the U.S. House and Senate starting in 1967, announced he chose OSU as the repository for his official papers and senatorial archives. The documents will also cover the time that Inhofe served in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives, Oklahoma State senator and as Mayor of Tulsa.
The records contain constituent mail, Sen. Inhofe’s schedules, legislative, press and audio visual files, awards and memorabilia.
“I am proud to have selected Oklahoma State University as my official repository, holding my official papers and other items from my time in public office,” said Inhofe.
“In time, OSU will be able to provide access to the collection for students and researchers seeking to understand the history of our state and what we have done together. I am confident in OSU’s ability to preserve these papers, and I look forward to seeing how future students will use them in the course of their studies.”
“After nearly three decades in the United States Senate, Sen. Jim Inhofe’s archive contains a wealth of historical context and information,” said Oklahoma State University President Dr. Kayse Shrum. “We are honored that he has chosen Oklahoma State University, to keep and curate this collection. We thank Sen. Inhofe for his many years of service to our state and nation and for this senatorial archive, which will serve as an invaluable learning tool for students interested in history, public service and more.”
“We are honored to serve as the repository for Senator Inhofe’s papers,” said Sheila Johnson, Dean of Libraries and Clerico Family Chair for Library Excellence. “Our Special Collections and University Archives endeavor to gather and protect significant records that preserve our history and culture. Senator Inhofe’s career has helped shape today’s Oklahoma and left a mark on national discourse. His papers represent an important element of Oklahoma history, and this collection will serve as a valuable resource for researchers for generations to come.”