Aging Committee Candids, 1982

The greater part of the Synar collection, some 97,000 items, consists of legislative and research materials used by the Synar office during his years as a Congressman from Oklahoma. These materials range in date from 1979 to 1994 and include, but are not limited to, internal memos, drafts of bills, hearing materials, and background research.

The materials cover a variety of topics relevant to Congress and Oklahoma but provide particular focus on issues that galvanized the Synar office such as the advertisement and distribution of tobacco, campaign finance reform, Native American interests, and multiple environmental concerns.

The collection also includes nearly 60,500 items of constituent correspondence related to legislative issues or requesting assistance from the Synar office, received by Synar throughout his time in office. Other, less extensive series in the collection include: campaign materials (some 1,025 items) which include internal memos and debate notes, departmental materials (some 4,000 items) related to the relationship between Synar’s office and various government agencies and Native American tribes, office materials (nearly 30,500 items) containing administrative and scheduling materials, and copies and drafts of speeches given by Synar (some 1,700 items) and photographs (some 750) maintained by the office.

Of particular note is the court case series which contains some 1,100 items related to prominent court cases Synar participated in including Bowsher v. Synar and the impeachment of Judge Alcee Hastings.