This finding aid is made available for public use following the Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons designation.
Contents list, 103p
Material arranged into 10 series.
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.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Mary Lasker papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Reproductions 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.
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.
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.
Gift of the Mary Lasker Estate, 1994 & 2000.
Papers Processed HR 1997.
Papers Processed HR 10/24/2000. Processed by PN, WC, and PL 1997-2000.
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.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Albert Lasker papers, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Cataloged materials are located on-site.
(with envelope)
(Includes a clipping from Collier's Magazine)
(With 1 t.l.s. from Muriel Humphrey to May Lasker, 31 July 1967)
(Also, a signed
(With 2 related telegrams)
(With 1 telegram re. his Requiem Mass and 1 t.l.s., 1 a.l.s. from Bobby Kennedy, Jr.)
((with envelope))
(Box also contains some clippings)
(Includes two letters by Mary Lasker)
(Includes note from Mary Lasker)
(With clipping and t.l.s. (copy))
((with one envelope))
(Also individual folders for: American Cancer Society, Congressional Record, 23 June 1952, Direct Mailing Lists, European File, 1949, European File, Paris, 1951, European File, London, 1951, Friends of Democracy, Janeway, Eliot)
(Also individual folders for:,Lasker, Louia,Lincoln, Richard M. (Simon & Schuster),Lists of Contributors, Luckman, Charles, National Fund for Medical Education, -N.B.C., 1949, N.Y.C. Cancer Committee, Office Data, Parties, 1949-1951, Pepsodent, Portis, Dr. Sidney A.)
(Also individual folders for:Reis, Bernard J. & Co., Reves, Emery, Rosenberg, Anna, Rosensohn, Mrs. Samuel J., Royal, John, Sarnoff, David, Screening Notices, Wertheimer, Pierre)
(Includes information regarding: arthritis, business, Dr. Stanler)
(See Cancer for American Cancer Society)
(Includes the Washington Azalea/ Dogwood/ Cherry Tree Planting, Columbia Island Project, contributions, fountains, Longwood Gardens, Highway Improvement Bill, New York City, Washington, D.C., Nash Castro, photos, clippings, slides.)
An extensive series of files dealing with all aspects of cancer., There are over 273 folders in 48 boxes covering the years 1944-1992
(Upholstery and drapery services )
(See Kennedy Center)
Includes: dedication of The Michael E. Debakey Center for Biomedical Education and Research at Baylor College of Medicine
Includes national, state, and local bodies
(The Lord Florey Memorial)
(The Women's Zionist Organization of American, Inc.)
(See also: correspondence series)
includes benefits, personal, general, accepted and regretted
Journalism Awards, Correspondence, jury vote, publicity, lists to receive, entries lists, dinner meeting awards, journalism awards, and journalism entries and rejected entries
(A revised and up-dated version of the compilation published by the NHEC under the title
(See also: information on Hadassah, Boxes 207 & 208)
(Includes letters to and from Francis K. Lloyd, Hao Choh Li, Dr. Henri Laborit, Lyndon E. Lee, Philip Levine,Dr. Frank Longo, Terry R. Lierman, Dr. Robert Levy, Lilia(?) and miscellaneous)
(Includes materials regarding members of his family)
(Includes copies of her autobiography)
Includes photographs; materials regarding her stamp and coin collections, Materials regarding her work with cancer organizations, Reader's Digest article about Dr. Rhoads written by Mary Lasker, Time magazine article ,Town & Country article ,Information regarding the Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee ,Mary Lasker's Professorship of Health and Sciences in the Harvard School of Public Health and University of Wisconsin ,Accounts of annual activities, and materials regarding Lasker's death
(No Boxes 316A-G in collection)
(No boxes 315E or 315F)
Cystic fibrosis, Cerebral palsy, The American Public Health Association, The Federal Legion of Honor, The Fifth Avenue Association, Radcliffe College, The American Cancer Society, The International Cardiology Foundation ,The Horticultural Society of New York, Multiple sclerosis, The American College of Cardiology, The Women's Architectural Auxiliary, Various awards received, November 1959.
Cystic fibrosis, Cerebral palsy, The American Public Health Association, The Federal Legion of Honor, The Fifth Avenue Association, Radcliffe College, The American Cancer Society, The International Cardiology Foundation ,The Horticultural Society of New York, Multiple sclerosis, The American College of Cardiology, The Women's Architectural Auxiliary, Various awards received, November 1959
(Accountant)
(See also, cataloged correspondence series)
(Lawyers)
Legislation, includes files on: Arthritis and rheumatism (Boxes 349, 351, 362), Cancer (Boxes 349, 351, 352, 358, 362), Children (Boxes 349, 351), Cortisone (Box 349), Health insurance (Boxes 349, 351), Heart disease (Boxes 349, 351, 358, 362, 365), Medical education (Boxes 349, 350, 351, 362), Mental health (Boxes 349, 350, 351, 362), Various subjects (Boxes 349-369)
(Also: Box 349: Local Public Health Units Bills; Box 350: National Science, Omnibus Research Bill, Survey of Sickness Bill, Cerebral Palsy Bill, National Insititute of Health; Box 354: congressional records; Box 355: Senate testimony; Box 356: Nuclear Powered Desalination Plant; Box 359: Presidential memos and meeting; Box 363: President's library, Luke Quinn; Box 366: S. Strickland, Mansfield Scott, Schmidt (Boxes 353A and 353B do not contain legislation materials))
(Chief, Children's Bureau of U.S. Department of Labor)
(Creators of fine linens and lingerie)
Includes materials regarding Macalester College ,Mr. and Mrs. Edward McSweeney, McCall's magazine, The Cecelia McPartland Case, Amabassador William McBlair Jr.)
(Includes information regarding: Arteriosclerosis, Dept. of Agriculture, Appropriations from the U.S. budget, Stanley Medeiros, Arthritis, Blindness, Cancer, Chemotherapy, Gallup polls, Cerebral palsy, Cerebral vascular disease, Death rates, Dental fact sheets, Diabetes, Epilepsy, Funding, Heart disease, Head & spine injuries, Life insurance, Mental health, Maternal & child health, Medical education & training, Alcoholism, Multiple sclerosis, New York City hospitals & health committees, Parkinsonism, Popularism, Rehabilitation, Tuberculosis, Voluntary health agencies)
(Includes information regarding both instructional and applied medical research, The Menninger Foundation, Medical World News, Sir Charles Mendl, The Raymond Rich Report)
(Includes information regarding: Mental retardation, The Mental Health Act, National Association for Mental Health, National Committee Against Mental Illness, National Institute for Mental Health, National Committee for Mental Hygiene, National Mental Health Committee, Bernard Reis, Organizations' finances. The 8 volumes are NMHC account books and are in boxes 417 A & 417B)
(Includes information regarding: Bernard Reis, Atlas Press, Albion Secretarial Service, Brentano's, Franklin T. Baldwin, Capital Office Supply, The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co., Columbia Business Services, Mike Gorman, expense vouchers, Harold Mantell, public relations consultants, the Menninger Foundation, Metropolitan Printers, Inc., magazine & book subscriptions, National Advertising Service, Remington Rand, Inc., Royal Typewriter Co., Inc., David Stowe, Western Union Telegraph Co., Dorothy D Friedenberg, Lynn Adams, bills, and the Mental Health Drive)
Includes information regarding: contracts and plantings, bulbs ordered, correspondence, Salute No. 1, Fordyce and Hamby, Claire Lang, 5th Avenue Association, Salute No. 2, photographs, and publicity
(Includes photos and correspondence)
(Accountant)
(Includes information regarding: Claire Lang, Park Department, Ruth Maier, Commerce Department, Fordyce and Hamby, Publicity, Central Park Pool, Tree plantings, Mrs. Houp's cherry tree plantations)
(See also: Series III)
(Also a senator at one time)
(Files regarding one or more of the following: Blindness, Cancer, Geriatrics, Health insurance, Lasker Awards, Legislation & budgeting, Medical education, Mental health, Personal, Friends, Planned Parenthood, Polio, Tuberculosis, McCarthy, Multiple sclerosis, National Science Foundation, Ulcers, Veterans rehabilitation, Viruses, A.P.H.A. Awards, Arthritis, Rheumatism, Cerebral palsy, Epilepsy, Child care, Cortisone, Deafness, Dental, Diabetes, New drugs & techniques, Hearth, Hospitals, Hypertension, American Legion Magazine, Alcoholism, Atom bomb defense, Budgets, Flu, President's Health Commission, Medical research, Air pollution, Atlantic Power, Diet & nutrition, Miscellaneous.)
(Folders marked with months, days, and years; Box 605 contains only miscellaneous clippings not arranged by date)
(Box also contains Christmas thank you notes)
(Boxes 613-618 contain miscellaneous clippings from 1951-1969)
Photographs and correspondence relating primarily to public philanthropic works (e.g. Central Park improvements), and photographs of art works. Very few photos of Lasker herself.
Includes a color photograph of Mary Lasked in a full gown on a staitcase.
(Material is unsorted; includes Boxes 630 A, 630 B, 631A, 632A, 633A, 634A, 635A, 636A, 637A, 638A, 639A, 640A, 641A, and 642A; Boxes 631-642 contain inscribed books)
(Mostly removed from frames)
Arranged
(photocopies, removed from binder)
(photocopies removed from binder)
(photocopies removed from binder)
(photocopies removed from binder)
(photocopies removed from binder)
(photocopies removed from binder)
(photocopies removed from binder)
(His book was made into a movie by Disney called "Victory Through Air Power")
(Mary Lasker's father)
(Mary Lasker's mother)
(See also: "Documents" subseries)
Contain general correspondence, Address lists, Distribution information regarding Fact Books published about arteriosclerosis, Materials regarding the 1957 Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation "Conference on the Use of Estrogens in Arteriosclerosis"
(Personal collection of Mary Lasker; vol. 4 missing)
(Planned Parenthood was formerly called Birth Control Federation of America. These files indicate early health activism on the part of Mary Lasker)
(Hillary Clinton was the guest speaker that year)
(See also: "Manuscripts" subseries)
(From Mary Lasker's private collection; see also: "Documents" subseries)
(From Mary Lasker's private collection)
(From private Lasker collection; see also: "Documents" subseries)
("Memories" is in a white box)
(From Mary Lasker's private collection)
(Note: items may also be under the last names of Woodard or Reinhardt)
(Note: From Mary Lasker's personal collection)
(From Mary Lasker's personal collection)
(From Mary Lasker's personal collection)
(Is stored in Box 202 of Flat Box series)
(See also: "Oversize" series)
(Many of people in the photographs are unidentified; first folder contains a photo of Mary Lasker with Bob Hope and "Ann Landers.")
See also: Flat Box Series
(Christmas party albums were a gift from Esther (Eppie) Lederer, a.k.a. "Ann Landers.")