The online exhibition complements the physical exhibit running through the end of March in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML). Both exhibits feature correspondence, manuscripts, notes, drafts of speeches, photographs, and memorabilia from RBML's extensive collection of Frances Perkins' papers. Material is continually being added to the website as images of items in the physical exhibit become available.
The Frances Perkins Papers at Columbia University constitute the largest group of her papers anywhere in the world. Roughly half of the 170 boxes of materials were given by Perkins herself in 1955. The other half was given by her daughter, Susanna Perkins Coggeshall, over many years following the death of her mother. A detailed finding aid for the papers, keyword searchable, is available through the Rare Book & Manuscript Library's website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/archival/collections/ldpd_4079571/index.html
In addition, Columbia's Oral History Research Office holds her extensive oral history created in 1955, amounting to 5,566 pages of typed transcript. The Frances Perkins Papers and Oral History are open to all researchers.
The creation of both exhibits was overseen by Jennifer B. Lee, Performing Arts Curator in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library. This exhibition is the eleventh to be published online by the Libraries Digital Program Division. These exhibitions, and others to follow, will become permanent electronic resources accessible to the Columbia community and the public.