Jane Sinner Papers, 1981-1992
Collection Overview
Title: Jane Sinner Papers, 1981-1992
Predominant Dates:1985-1992
ID: OGLMC1267
Primary Creator: Sinner, Jane (1931-)
Extent: 8.75 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 01/25/1993
Subjects: Politics and Government - North Dakota Governor, Women's History
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
When received, the Jane Sinner Papers consisted of nine boxes with documents and materials related to or created by Jane Sinner during her eight years as North Dakota's First Lady. Folders containing correspondence were, for the most part, arranged chronologically. The bulk of the collection consisted of folders that were organized by subject. Subject headings were primarily arranged in alphabetical order. One box was filled with appointment books and a guest book.
When processed, the Jane Sinner Papers were arranged into three series - Correspondence, Subjects, and Appointment and Guest Books. Audio/visual materials and photographs were separated.
Collection Historical Note
Elizabeth "Jane" (Baute) Sinner was born January 13, 1931 in Lebanon, Kentucky, where she lived until 1948. She attended St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1948 and then Webster University, also in St. Louis, from 1949 through 1951. While at Webster University she met George Sinner, future governor of North Dakota. The two were married in 1951 and moved to Casselton, ND, Sinner's home town. The Sinners raised ten children. Before becoming the state's First Lady, Jane Sinner involved herself with a variety of local social and arts groups as well as the North Dakota Mental Health Association.
As North Dakota's First Lady, 1985-1992, Sinner initiated several social and cultural projects. First among them was the "Celebration of Lights," which she began in conjunction with the North Dakota Mental Health Association. Held statewide during the Christmas season, "Celebration of Lights" is an annual awareness and fund raising campaign that benefits the ND Mental Health Association.
Jane Sinner also was concerned about problems associated with teen pregnancy and violence in children's television programming. She spoke often on both subjects, addressing parents' groups and school boards. She also participated in a September 1987 Western Governors' Association conference on television violence.
Her position as First Lady enabled her to promote local arts. Jane Sinner helped form the Sleepy Hollow Performing Arts Camp, a summer program for North Dakota youths interested in theatre. She also attended art shows across the state, presenting Governor's Awards to local artists and displaying their work at the Governor's Residence in Bismarck.
In addition to acquiring art for her state home, Jane Sinner established a private, non-profit foundation, "Friends of the Residence," to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of the Governor's Residence. Of the Residence's 18 rooms, 16 were restored and redecorated under her direction.
To promote the beautification of state lands, especially roadsides, Jane Sinner founded "North Dakota Goes Wild!" The private/public partnership gathered information about North Dakota's wild flowers and distributed seed packets and related documentation to individuals and groups across the state.
After Governor Sinner's second term expired in December 1992, the family moved to Fargo.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Jane Sinner, Governor's Residence, Bismarck, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation; 93-1862
Related Materials: George Sinner Papers, OGLMC 269
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Jane Sinner Papers. OGLMC 1267, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding added to Archon in February 2014.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Correspondence],
[Series 2: Subject Files],
[Series 3: Appointment Books and Guest Books],
[Videotape :],
[Photographs :],
[Cassette Tape :],
[All]
- Series 2: Subject Files
- Subjects are arranged alphabetically and include events, projects, topics, organizations, and associations with which Jane Sinner was involved during her eight years as First Lady. Some subjects, such as "Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting" and "Optimal Pregnancy Outcome Project (OP-OP)," include overlapping documents. After locating desired materials within the Subject Series, researchers are encouraged to examine related time frames within the Correspondence Series for associated documents.
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Abortion Veto, April 1991
- Folder 2: Accounts - household, 1985-1986
- Folder 3: Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting - correspondence, 1985-1986
- Folder 4: Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting - correspondence, 1987-1989
- Folder 5: Art for Governor's Residence
- Folder 6: Art Shows
- Folder 7: Art Shows
- Folder 8: Art Shows
- Folder 9: Art Associations
- Folder 10: Articles, clipped
- Folder 11: Articles, clipped
- Folder 12: Articles related to Lola Perpich, First Lady of Minnesota, 1989
- Folder 13: Bicentennial Commission of the US Constitution
- Folder 14: Bicentennial Commission of the US Constitution
- Folder 15: Bicentennial Commission of the US Constitution
- Folder 16: Bicentennial Commission of the US Constitution
- Folder 17: Bicentennial Commission of the US Constitution
- Folder 18: Bicentennial Commission of the US Constitution
- Folder 19: Bicentennial Commission of the US Constitution
- Folder 20: Bill of Rights Traveling Exhibit, 1991
- Folder 21: Celebration of Lights, ND Mental Health Association
- Folder 22: Capitol Arts and Historic Preservation Committee
- Folder 23: Capitol Grounds
- Folder 24: Centennial "Party of the Century," 1989
- Folder 25: Centennial Commission, 1990
- Folder 1: Abortion Veto, April 1991
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Child Abuse, North Dakota
- Folder 2: Children's TV Programming - correspondence, 1987-1988
- Folder 3: Christmas Cards and Lists
- Folder 4: Christmas Cards List, Governor's Residence
- Folder 5: Christmas Cards received from other governors
- Folder 6: Christmas Decorations on loan
- Folder 7: Christmas, Governor's Staff
- Folder 8: Christmas 1985, Germans from Russia
- Folder 9: Christmas 1986
- Folder 10: Christmas 1987
- Folder 11: Christmas 1988, Swedish
- Folder 12: Christmas 1989, Norwegian
- Folder 13: Christmas 1990, Ukrainian
- Folder 14: Christmas 1991, English
- Folder 15: Constitutional Celebration Committee
- Folder 16: Directories
- Folder 17: "Enough is Enough"
- Folder 18: Friends of the Residence - general file
- Folder 19: Friends of the Residence - correspondence, 1987-1989
- Folder 20: Friends of the Residence - correspondence, 1988-1992
- Folder 21: Friends of the Residence - corporate fundraising
- Folder 22: Friends of the Residence - thank you letters to contributors, January 1992
- Folder 23: Friends of the Residence - foundation letter to oil companies, September 1991
- Folder 24: Friends of the Residence - Meridian Oil press release, February 1992
- Folder 25: Friends of the Residence - mailing labels
- Folder 26: Friends of the Residence - manual part I
- Folder 27: Friends of the Residence - manual part II
- Folder 28: Functions, 1984-1985
- Folder 29: Functions Regretted, 1985
- Folder 30: Functions Attended, 1986
- Folder 31: Functions Attended, 1986
- Folder 32: Functions Regretted, 1986
- Folder 33: Functions Attended, 1987
- Folder 1: Child Abuse, North Dakota
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Functions Regretted, 1987
- Folder 2: Functions Attended, 1988
- Folder 3: Functions Regretted, 1988
- Folder 4: Functions Attended, 1989
- Folder 5: Functions Attended, 1989
- Folder 6: Functions Regretted, 1989
- Folder 7: Functions Attended, 1990
- Folder 8: Functions Regretted, 1990
- Folder 9: Functions Attended, 1991
- Folder 10: Functions Regretted, 1991
- Folder 11: Functions Attended, 1992
- Folder 12: Functions Regretted, 1992
- Folder 13: Functions held at the Governor's Residence, 1985-1988
- Folder 14: Functions held at the Governor's Residence, 1989-1992
- Folder 15: Functions - Inaugural Ball, January 1989
- Folder 16: Functions - American Energy Assurance Council, September 1989
- Folder 17: Functions - Interstate Oil Compact Commission, June 1990
- Folder 18: Functions - "The Brass Bash," June 1991
- Folder 19: Functions - Mother of the Year, 1981-1986
- Folder 20: Functions - Mother of the Year, 1986-1992
- Folder 21: Gifts - pottery bowls
- Folder 22: Gifts sent, 1986
- Folder 23: Gifts received
- Folder 24: Legislative committees, 1989
- Folder 25: Legislators' directories
- Folder 26: Legislature, 1991-1993
- Folder 27: Mental Health
- Folder 28: Midwest Living article
- Folder 1: Functions Regretted, 1987
- Box 5
- Folder 1: National Governors' Association - arts review
- Folder 2: National Governors' Association - governor list
- Folder 3: National Governors' Association, 1990
- Folder 4: National Governors' Association, 1991
- Folder 5: National Governors' Association, 1992
- Folder 6: Optimal Pregnancy Outcome Project (OP-OP)
- Folder 7: Personal File
- Folder 8: Policy Statements related to the Residence, Campaign, and Governor's Office
- Folder 9: Presidential Scholars
- Folder 10: Press and Press Releases, 1984-1992
- Folder 11: Proclamations
- Folder 12: Pro-Life Mail, 1984
- Folder 13: Quilt of governors' wives
- Folder 14: Quilting Project for governor's residence guest room
- Folder 15: Quotes
- Folder 16: Recipes and Recipe Requests
- Folder 17: Republic of China Mission, August 1986
- Folder 18: Governor's Residence Decorating
- Folder 19: Governor's Residence Guest Room
- Folder 20: Governor's Residence Personnel
- Folder 21: Retired Senior Volunteer Program, April 1987
- Folder 22: Sinner Family Information
- Folder 23: Sleepy Hollow Arts Park, Performing Arts Camp
- Folder 24: Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre "Annie Get Your Gun," 1990
- Folder 25: Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre "Plain and Fancy," 1991
- Folder 26: Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre "Oklahoma!," 1992
- Folder 27: Speeches/Remarks/Etc. - Assorted Topics, 1985-1991
- Folder 28: Speeches - RSVP Recognition Banquet, October 1986
- Folder 29: Speech notes, etc.
- Folder 30: Speeches/Remarks/Etc. - Teen Pregnancy, 1986-1988
- Folder 31: Governors' Spouses Correspondence, 1985-1988
- Folder 32: Governors' Spouses Correspondence, 1988-1992
- Folder 33: Governors' Spouses Seminars, general
- Folder 34: Governors' Spouses Seminars, general
- Folder 35: Governors' Spouses Seminars, general
- Folder 36: Governors' Spouses Seminar Handbook, May 1985
- Folder 37: Governors' Spouses Seminar Handbook, May 1985
- Folder 1: National Governors' Association - arts review
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Governors' Spouses Seminar papers, May 1985
- Folder 2: Governors' Spouses Seminar Handbook, April 1986
- Folder 3: Governors' Spouses Seminar Handbook, November 1986
- Folder 4: Governors' Spouses Seminar Handbook, November 1990
- Folder 5: Governors' Spouses Seminar Handbook, September 1991
- Folder 6: State Historical Society
- Folder 7: State Hospital
- Folder 8: Stationary
- Folder 9: Teddy Bears
- Folder 10: Teddy Bears
- Folder 11: Television Programming for Children
- Folder 12: Tourism
- Folder 13: Transition, 1992
- Folder 14: Travel, Canada
- Folder 15: Travel, Japan
- Folder 16: Travel, Little Rock, Arkansas
- Folder 17: Travel, Norway
- Folder 18: Travel, Republic of Korea
- Folder 19: Travel, Seattle
- Folder 20: Travel, Telluride, Colorado
- Folder 21: Travel, Utah
- Folder 22: Travel, West Germany
- Folder 23: Volunteer Service Awards, 1981-1988
- Folder 24: Wildflowers - North Dakota Goes Wild! (NDGW) handbook part I
- Folder 25: Wildflowers - NDGW handbook part II
- Folder 26: Wildflowers - NDGW booklet requests, 1991
- Folder 27: Wildflowers - NDGW brochures
- Folder 28: Wildflowers - NDGW brochure requests
- Folder 29: Wildflowers - NDGW catalogs & seed information
- Folder 30: Wildflowers - NDGW correspondence, 1990-1991
- Folder 31: Wildflowers - NDGW form letters
- Folder 32: Wildflowers - NDGW general file
- Folder 33: Wildflowers - NDGW magazine articles
- Folder 34: Wildflowers - NDGW slide program
- Folder 35: Wildflowers - NDGW meeting, September 1990
- Folder 36: Wildflowers - NDGW meeting, March 1992
- Folder 37: Wildflowers - brochures and pamphlets
- Folder 38: Wildflowers - brochures from other states, 1991
- Folder 39: Wildflowers - "Creating Your Own Wildflower Garden or Prairie Restoration" by ND Game & Fish Department, 1989
- Folder 40: Wildflowers - mail, 1989
- Folder 41: Wildflowers - mail, 1990-1992
- Folder 42: Western Governors' Association - George R. Ariyoshi correspondence
- Folder 43: Western Governors' Association - correspondence, 1990
- Folder 44: Western Governors' Association - general file part I
- Folder 45: Western Governors' Association - general file part II
- Folder 46: Western Governors' Association - Fargo, 1990
- Folder 47: Western Governors' Association - South Dakota, 1991
- Folder 1: Governors' Spouses Seminar papers, May 1985
- Box 7
- Box 2
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Correspondence],
[Series 2: Subject Files],
[Series 3: Appointment Books and Guest Books],
[Videotape :],
[Photographs :],
[Cassette Tape :],
[All]