TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

Arrangement

Restrictions

Detailed Description

Series VIII: Personal Papers, 1920-1971

Thomas J. Dodd Papers

Series VIII: Personal Papers

Arrangement

Series I: Outgoing Correspondence (1959-1970)

Series II: Subject Files (1959-1969)

Series III: Administrative and Legislative Files (1949-1971)

Series IV: Investigative Files (1956-1970)

Series V: Foreign Travel Files (1954-1969)

Series VI: Campaign Files (1949-1970)

Series VII: Nuremberg Trial (1919-1995)

Series VIII: Personal Papers (1920-1971) consist primarily of personal correspondence between Thomas Dodd and acquaintances from 1959-1970. Many of these individuals were Connecticut businessmen, community leaders, and other citizens with whom Dodd enjoyed more than passing contact during his political career. Although these letters are not intimate, they do convey a sense of the personal network that Dodd developed through a lifetime of public service. Some examples include Californian Karl Bissell, a close Dodd friend with whom he corresponded throughout his Senate years. Their letters discussed such matters as Dodd's ongoing battle to pass gun control legislation and opposition by the National Rifle Association. In 1963 Dodd appointed John Barber, president of the New Haven NAACP chapter, as an administrative assistant. A controversy ensued because Barber had stated that he would "like to tattoo my initials on his face with a switchblade" in reference to a visit to Connecticut by segregationist governor of Alabama, George Wallace. Barber ultimately declined Dodd's offer. Correspondence and newspaper articles detail this incident. Dodd maintained frequent contact with powerful New York lawyer Morris Ernst from 1960-1966. Ernst had connections with the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, including Hubert Humphrey and President Johnson. Dodd and Ernst discussed a wide variety of major issues and how they might influence executive branch officials. A file of letters between Dodd and one of his staffers, David Martin, proves revealing in two respects. Martin helped the senator deal with charges of ethics violations in 1967 and his public battle with Senator J. W. Fulbright over Vietnam in 1969. This series includes several boxes of support letters written during and shortly after the 1967 Senate censure proceedings against Thomas Dodd. All correspondence is arranged alphabetically by sender. Brochures and reports of the Connecticut National Youth Administration (1935-1938) provide insight into this early phase of Dodd's professional life. Box 420 includes newspaper articles written by Grace Dodd from a column on Washington life that ran from 1963-1965. A variety of miscellaneous material including some of Dodd's diplomas complete this series.

Series IX: Scrapbooks (1935-1971)

Series X: Photographs (1920-1970)

Series XI: Awards and Memorabilia (1926-1970)

Series XII: Audiovisual Materials (1946-1969)

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions to the information in this this collection. The majority of the collection has been photocopied for preservation purposes and requests to use the original materials should be directed to the Curator.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

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Detailed Description