Mary Lasker papers, 1940-1993

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#0745
Bib ID:
4077415 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Lasker, Mary
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
353 linear feet (795 boxes; 7 flat boxes; 20 CMI boxes 1 tube box)
Language(s):
English .
Access:
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

Boxes 1-678; 685-784 are located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Scope and Content

The collection consiste of correspondence, memoranda, reports, bulletins, clippings, photographs, awards, and printed material. The files, arranged by genre and topic and reflect her philanthropic and legislative work in the areas of health, specifically cancer, heart disease, and mental health. Her civic and legislative work is covered in detail, as well as her private interests and activities.

Arrangement

Material arranged into 10 series.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

Boxes 1-678; 685-784 are located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Mary Lasker papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Related Materials

Albert Lasker papers, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of the Mary Lasker Estate, 1994 & 2000.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Papers: Source of acquisition--Lasker, Mary - Estate. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1994. Accession number--M-1994.

Papers: Source of acquisition--Lasker, Mary - Estate. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--2000. Accession number--M-2000.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Papers Processed HR 1997.

Papers Processed HR 10/24/2000. Processed by PN, WC, and PL 1997-2000.

Revision Description

2009-06-26 File created.

2012-02-20 xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz

2018-07-18 box and folder titles added for boxes 93-107, series III American Cancer Society KWS

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Biographical sketch

Mary Woodard Lasker (1900-1994), civic worker and philanthropist, was a businesswoman prior to her marriage in 1940 to the advertising executive and philanthropist, Albert Davis Lasker (1880-1952). With her help, Lasker re-ordered his life and priorities. Together they shared a life centering on philanthropic work. They founded the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation which gives awards in the fields of medical research and public health administration. Mary Lasker had a strong interest in the arts, civic beautification, reproductive planning, dress design, and health issues, specifically cancer and heart disease. She was actively involved with the promotion and development of national bodies dealing with cancer, heart disease, arthritis, mental health, neurological disease, and blindness. She was an able and effective Washington lobbyist and knew many statesmen, legislators, artists, and scientific pioneers. Lasker was decorated as a Chevalier Officer of the French Legion of Honor and, in 1969, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Address books CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Addresses CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Albums (books) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Announcements CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Appointment books CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Appraisals (financial records) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Articles CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Awards CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Brochures CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Bulletins CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Certificates CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Contracts CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Financial records CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Galley proofs CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Interviews CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Inventories CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Invitations CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Invoices CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Itineraries CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Journals CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Layouts (printed matter) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Lists (document genres) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Lithographs CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Memorandums CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Notebooks CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Obituaries CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Oral histories (literary works) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Passports CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Photographs CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Poems CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Programs (documents) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Recipes CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Releases CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Reports CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Surveys (documents) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Visas CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Wills CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
diplomas CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Name
American Public Health Association CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Bush, George, 1924- CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Capote, Truman, 1924-1984 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Carter, Jimmy, 1924- CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Dalí, Salvador, 1904-1989 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Eisenhower, Dwight D (Dwight David), 1890-1969 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Fromm, Erich, 1900-1980 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912-2007 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Kennedy, Edward M. (Edward Moore), 1932-2009 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Kennedy, John F (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Kennedy, Robert F., 1925-1968 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Landers, Ann CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Lasker, Albert Davis, 1880-1952 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Loewy, Raymond, 1893-1986 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Luce, Henry Robinson, 1898-1967 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Malraux, André, 1901-1976 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
National Institutes of Health (U.S.) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy, 1929-1994 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Reagan, Ronald CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Roosevelt, Franklin D (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Stevenson, Adlai E (Adlai Ewing), 1900-1965 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
United States. Public Health Service CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Place
United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Subject
Albert Lasker Awards CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Alcoholism CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Art -- Collectors and collecting CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Birth control CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Civic leaders -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Federal aid to research CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Health insurance CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Heart -- Diseases -- Research CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Landscape protection CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Medicine -- Research CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Mental health services CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Performing arts CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Philanthropists -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Portraits CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Psychiatry -- Research CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Public health CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Roadside improvement CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Scrapbooks CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Urban beautification CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Women civic leaders -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID