Rare Book & Manuscript Library
 

Mary Lasker papers, 1940-1993

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.: MS#0745
Bib ID 4077415 View CLIO record
Creator(s) Lasker, Mary
Title Mary Lasker papers, 1940-1993
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.

Arrangement

Arrangement

Material arranged into 10 series.

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.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

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.

Subject Headings

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

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Address books Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Addresses Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Albums (books) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Announcements Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Appointment books Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Appraisals (financial records) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Articles Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Awards Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Brochures Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Bulletins Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Certificates Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Contracts Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Financial records Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Galley proofs Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Interviews Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Inventories Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Invitations Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Invoices Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Itineraries Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Journals Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Layouts (printed matter) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Lists (document genres) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Lithographs Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Memorandums Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Notebooks Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Obituaries Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Oral histories (literary works) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Passports Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Photographs Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Poems Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Programs (documents) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Recipes Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Releases Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Reports Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Surveys (documents) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Visas Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Wills Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
diplomas Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

Subject

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Albert Lasker Awards Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Alcoholism Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
American Public Health Association Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Art -- Collectors and collecting Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Birth control Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Bush, George, 1924- Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Capote, Truman, 1924-1984 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Carter, Jimmy, 1924- Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Civic leaders -- United States Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Dalí, Salvador, 1904-1989 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Eisenhower, Dwight D (Dwight David), 1890-1969 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Federal aid to research Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Fromm, Erich, 1900-1980 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Health insurance Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Heart -- Diseases -- Research Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912-2007 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Kennedy, Edward M. (Edward Moore), 1932-2009 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Kennedy, John F (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Kennedy, Robert F., 1925-1968 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Landers, Ann Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Landscape protection Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Lasker, Albert Davis, 1880-1952 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Loewy, Raymond, 1893-1986 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Luce, Henry Robinson, 1898-1967 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Malraux, André, 1901-1976 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Medicine -- Research Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Mental health services Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
National Institutes of Health (U.S.) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy, 1929-1994 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Performing arts Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Philanthropists -- United States Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Portraits Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Psychiatry -- Research Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Public health Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Reagan, Ronald Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Roadside improvement Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Roosevelt, Franklin D (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Scrapbooks Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Stevenson, Adlai E (Adlai Ewing), 1900-1965 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
United States. Public Health Service Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Urban beautification Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Women civic leaders -- United States Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

History / Biographical Note

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.