[Smlr_net] {Rul_everyone] Lecture on the History of ERISA at Rutgers Library-May 7, 5 pm]

Dear colleagues,

You are cordially invited to an event to celebrate the first year's progress of the Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. Archives Project. This event will be held Monday, May 7th , 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., on the fourth floor of Alexander Library on the New Brunswick campus at Rutgers University.

Guest speaker, Dr. James Wooten, Professor at the University at Buffalo Law School, will speak about his book "The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA): A Political History" (University of California Press, 2004) and how collections like the Senator Harrison A. Williams papers at Rutgers are vitally important to preserving the legacy of great work done by elected representatives on behalf of citizens. Professor Wooten's research focuses on legislative policy-making and, in particular, the history and development of the ERISA. In a time of increasing cynicism about the workings of government and the role of special-interest lobbies, Professor James A. Wooten's book of legal history is refreshing. It tells the story of a major piece of legislation that benefited millions of workers and came about because public servants wanted to do what was right.

At the May 7th event, Larry Weimer, senior archivist, will present a report on the progress in describing and preserving the massive Harrison Williams Collection.

Harrison Williams (1919-2001) represented New Jersey in the U.S. Senate from 1959 until 1982. He also served in the House of Representatives from 1953 through 1956. He was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources for a full decade, 1971-1980. Williams was at the forefront of fundamental reform that ranged across civil rights, occupational safety, health programs, pension protections, access to education, mass transit, conservation, equal employment opportunity, women's rights, meals on wheels, and more.

During his 26 years as a U.S. Congressman and Senator, Williams amassed a large volume of documentation regarding constituent concerns, project proposals, legislative initiatives, and political campaigns. The Williams Papers Project began in January 2006. The Williams Papers, managed by Special Collections and University Archives, are a rich resource for use by historians and other scholars, journalists, and the general public. The project is privately-funded and has benefited from the generosity of labor unions, foundations, individuals, and friends.

The program will be followed by a reception.

To RSVP for this event, please call 732-932-7505 or send email to: events@rci.rutgers.edu <mailto: events@rci.rutgers.edu> -- Ronald L. Becker Head, Special Collections Rutgers University Libraries 169 College Avenue New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1163 (732) 932-7006 x362 phone (732) 932-7012 FAX rbecker@rci.rutgers.edu http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/libs/scua/scua.shtml