Parks Library’s Special Collections could be the key to succeeding in any research study.

Choosing a topic to do extensive research on can be quite daunting, but a visit to the Special Collections can be the solution.

From papers composed by George Washington Carver to the last letter written by Jack Trice the night before he died, the library has a wealth of material.

The most recent collection to be added to this array of material are congressional papers from former U.S. Congressman Edward Mezvinsky, of Iowa, during his two terms from 1973-77.

His papers include first-hand accounts of the actions of Watergate.

Edward Goedeken, library professor and coordinator of collections and government documents, described the importance of such materials to graduate research.

“These papers form the ‘bed rock’ of the information chain that begins with the correspondents that someone has from one person to another,” Goedeken said, “What we know about what goes on is usually by the press, they might interview someone or listen to a speech, but there is a whole lot that goes on that the press never sees.”

Mezvinsky’s papers illustrate the communication that went on between political figures. 

From the communication to the negotiation done by congressmen and congresswomen, gives researchers and students a behind the scene look of how the people in Congress truly act.

“A graduate student can do any number of theses by using his papers as the anchor for research,” Goedeken said, “This is primary material there is nothing more foundational than this kind of communication and correspondent.”

Olivia Madison, dean of Parks Library, said in a recent library satisfaction survey that the library is providing satisfactory print collections to graduate research.

“Fifty-four percent of graduate students said we, [the library,] were important to their academic success,” Madison said.

Mezvinsky’s papers can interweave with additional collections in the library, both print and online, to create an even deeper story, Goedeken said.

“Without this information, you can’t get the real story,” Goedeken said. “[The papers] put the meat on the bone. … This information is essential in understanding the real story.”

Although the papers regarding Watergate are not available until 2024, due to a Congressional law, Mezvinsky’s papers not pertaining to Watergate are available in the archive and special collection section of the library.

“What were his constituents writing about, what were their concerns, how was her responding to them,” Goedeken said, “This is just a huge paper trial that is foundational to understanding an era, a Congress, or a person.”

The Mezvinsky papers will be on display from now until March 2014 in the Special Collections Reading Room.