A Guide to the Papers of
Jean Ford
Collection No. 93-41

Jean Ford

Photo: Jean FordImogene Evelyn Young Ford (Jean) was born in Miami, Oklahoma on December 28, 1929 and was raised in Missouri. She married Samuel Ford on April 9, 1955 and had two daughters: Janet Ford Spelman (born 1956), and Carla Ford Oberst (born 1958). The Fords were divorced in 1977.

Jean received her B.A. in Sociology (cum laude) from Southern Methodist University in 1951 and her M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1978. She served in the Nevada State Assembly as a Republican from 1972-1976 and the Nevada State Senate as a Democrat from 1977-1982.

Jean headed two consulting firms bearing her name: Jean Ford Associates and the Jean Ford Company. She co-owned the tour company, Nevada Discovery Tours from 1984-1985. She was director of the Nevada Office of Community Services, 1985-1989 and managed the Reno-Tahoe Company from 1989-1991. She served as acting program coordinator and instructor of the Women's Studies Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, from 1991-1995. Jean was project surveyor for the Nevada Women's Archives project from 1992-1996 and compiled a guide to women's archives in Nevada entitled Nevada Women's History: A Guide to Archives and Manuscripts in Nevada Repositories. She co-founded the Nevada Women's History Project in 1996.

Jean has played a leading role in many community activities and organizations in Nevada: Soroptimist International, the League of Women voters, the Governor's Commission on the Future of Nevada, the Nevada State park Advisory Committee, the Nevada Women's Conferences, the Governor's Library Conference, Nevada Elected Women's Network, and the National Issues Forum. She is an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada and served as president of the U.U.

In the fall of 1997 Jean was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. Since then, her oral history was recorded and published by the Oral History Program of the University of Nevada, Reno. It is called Jean Ford: A Nevada Woman Leads the Way.

 

The Papers of Jean Ford

This is the second collection of the papers of Jean Ford in the Special Collections Department. The first gift was donated to the Special Collections Department by Ms. Ford in 1989 and was accessioned as collection 89-19. It consists primarily of her political papers and materials on the topic of women. A guide to that collection is available.

This collection, 93-41, was initially accessioned in 1993 and includes additions of 1994, 1996, and 1998. It consists of seven and one-half cubic feet of materials dating from 1949-1998; there are no restrictions on use of the bulk of the collection but the records relating to the election of Governor Richard Bryan have been restricted and may be viewed only by permission of Jean Ford until Bryan leaves public office, at which time they will be open with no restrictions.

The collection consists primarily of materials created and/or used by Ford during her years as Nevada state legislator; during the operation of her businesses, Jean Ford Associates, the Jean Ford Company, and Nevada Discovery Tours; as head of the Nevada Office of Community Services; as manager of the Reno-Tahoe Company; and as program director and instructor in the Women's Studies Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. A few personal files are included: correspondence (Christmas letters), college year book, certificates, and photographs of Jean and her family. A series which was added in 1996 contains materials about the many organizations and committees she has been involved with in her professional career.

 

Processed by: Susan Searcy
Date: August 11, 1993; updated August 24, 1994; May 28, 1996; and July 6, 1998.

The papers of Jean Ford have been arranged into the following series:

I. Jean Ford's Businesses and Professional Positions.

II. Political Interests and Career

III. Personal Files

IV. Nevada Women on the Frontier Classes

V. Professional Affiliations

 

93-41/I Series I
Jean Ford's Businesses and Professional Positions. 1965-1996. 1.5 cu. ft.

This series contains materials related to Ford's businesses, Jean Ford Associates (JFA), the Jean Ford Company, and Nevada Discovery Tours; to her position as acting head of the Women's Studies Program; biographical materials, and project files for her businesses. The donor's original arrangement has been retained; new additions were placed at the end of the series.

 

Box 1

I/1-2 Correspondence. 1977-1993.

I/3 Ford biographical materials. 1965-1984.

I/4 Jean Ford Associates bylaws.

I/5 JFA office.

I/6 JFA.

I/7 JFA project - Nevada Association for the Handicapped.

I/8 JFA project - Desertview Development Services.

I/9 Clark County Library District.

I/10 JFA - National Extension Homemakers' Council. Western Region Leadership Training evaluations. 1982.

I/11 McCarran [Airport] orientation.

I/12 Reno Business College. Class taught by Ford on tour guiding. 1991.

I/13 Convention services.

I/14 Work samples.

I/15 Proposals and agreements.

I/16 Conventions.

I/16/1-2 AIREA. 1983, 1985.

I/16/3 COSCAH Tahoe. 1988.

I/16/4 National Air Transportation Association. 1985.

I/16/5 NTDRA. 1982.

I/16/6 Pilot International. 1984.

I/16/7 Sweet Adelines. 1984.

I/17 JFA. Minutes, incorporation and dissolution certificates, financial statements. 1981-1982.

I/18 Reno-Tahoe Company. Business plan, reports, financial statements. 1989-1991.

I/19 Legislative Almanac administration. 1981-1986.

 

Box 2

I/20 Business cards, letter head for various Ford businesses and positions.

I/21 UNR Women's Studies position.

I/22 Nevada Discovery Tours.

I/22/1 Advertising.

I/22/2 CCSD professional development courses for educators. 1984-1985.

I/22/3 Corporate legal documents.

I/22/4 Evaluations.

I/22/5 Gray Line.

I/22/6 Financial.

I/22/7 News clippings.

I/22/8 News releases.

I/22/9 Photos.

I/22/10 Tour descriptions

I/22/11-24 Clients/tours

I/22/11 AAA Crawford County, Ohio.

I/22/12 Arvada Ranch.

I/22/13 Corbin Tour/Moapa Valley. 1985.

I/22/14 Cowboy Poetry - Unitarians. 1989.

I/22/15 Discovering the Other Nevada. 1980.

I/22/16 Goldfield Gold Mine Auction. 1984.

I/22/17 Jim butler Celebration. 1984.

I/22/18-19 Legislative Action Tours. 1985.

I/22/20 Lincoln County Seniors. 1984.

I/22/21 Marigolds and Glory Holes. 1984.

I/22/22 Quaking Aspen. 1984.

I/22/23 Reno Familiarization. 1985.

I/22/24 Western Village. 1984.

I/22/25 Press clippings - tourism related. 1983-1985.

I/23 Videos: "Women and Leadership Workshop." 1981.
"Marketing Yourself." 1982. Transferred to photo archives.
 

93-41/II Series II
Political Interests and Career. 1966-1997. 1.75 cu. ft.

This series reflects Ford's long term interest and career in Nevada Politics, including her terms as Nevada Assemblyman and State Senator. An extensive series of clippings documents her activities, and files on individual legislative sessions track bills introduced by Ford and their final disposition. There is one folder related to Hank Greenspun and his columns in the Las Vegas Sun in which he attacked Ford and other southern Nevada legislators for their stand on the issue of nuclear waste disposal in Nevada. Ford was also involved in the Governor's Conferences on Women in Nevada and several folders are filled with related materials.

This series also includes files related to Ford's term as head of the Nevada Office of Community Services and her consultancy with Richard Bryan's campaign for governor. The campaign files are closed until Bryan leaves public office but may be viewed by permission of Jean Ford. Other topics in this series include the campaign to designate Great Basin a national park, the Center for American Women and Politics, and the arts and tourism in government.

 

Box 2

II/1-10 Clippings. 1975-1985.

II/11 Hank Greenspun columns.

 

Box 3

II/12 Legislature. 1966-1972.

II/13 Legislature. 1973.

II/14 Legislature. 1975.

II/15 Legislature. 1977.

II/16 Legislation sponsored by Ford. 1979.

II/17 Legislative roll call, 1979 Regular Session.

II/18 Report of the Governor's Commission on the Future of Nevada. Dec. 1980.

II/19 Legislature. 1981.

II/21-23 Mailing lists.

II/24 Racism Workshop. 1968.

II/25-27 Governor's Conferences on Women. 1986-1990.

II/28 Northern Nevada Women '91 Conference presented by Senator Harry Reid. 1991.

II/29 Nevada State Capitol Complex Master Plan, draft. 1989.
Report, "Recreation in Nevada," parts I & II.

II/30 Assembly campaign (won). 1972.

II/31 Senate campaign (lost). 1976.

II/32 Senate campaign (won). 1978.

II/33 Nevada State Education Association. 1982 legislative activities.

II/34 Gojack, Wagner, Maya Miller campaigns. 1974-1982.

II/35 Election. 1994.

 

Box 4

II/36 Ford legislative remarks. 1973, 1979, 1981.

II/37 Ford and the League of Women Voters. 1967-1972.

II/38 Nevada Equal Rights Amendment.

II/39 Nevada Office of Community Services.

II/39/1 General.

II/39/2 Resignation, job hunting.

 

Box 9

II/40-43 RESTRICTED. Governor Richard Bryan files. Closed until he leaves public office but may be used with permission of Jean Ford.

II/40 Bryan campaign - tourism. 1982.

II/41 Bryan campaign - general. 1982.

II/42 Bryan - volunteerism.

II/43 Bryan/Ford. 1983-1987.
 

Box 4

II/44 Great Basin National Park. 1986-1987.

II/45/1-2 Center for American Women and Politics. 1992-1997.

II/46 Arts/tourism/government. 1979-1982.

 

Box 8

Political campaign buttons.

 

93-41/III Series III
Personal. 1949-1998. 1 cu. ft.

The contents of this series include Christmas letters sent by Ford to friends, family, and associates, certificates of appointment and appreciation, notes for a class Ford taught at UNLV, and a 1949 yearbook from Oklahoma College for Women. There are also a number of photographs of Jean and her family, photos used in some of her political campaigns, and images of tours arranged by Ford when she worked in the travel industry. The photographs have been transferred to the Special Collections photographic archives.

Materials added in 1998 include those related to honors bestowed upon Jean in 1997 and 1998; clippings; month-at-a-glance calendars; career planning; general vitae; household budget record, 1985-1991; and her diploma from Southern Methodist University.

 

Box 4

III/1 Christmas letters. 1965-1992.

III/2 Certificates.

III/3 Notes for class: Nevada Legislature: Action '77.

III/4 Argus yearbook of Oklahoma College for Women. 1949.

III/5 Jean Ford honors and recognition.

III/5/1 Misc. Honors. 1997-1998.

III/5/2 Nevada Women's Fund Gala, Oct. 24, 1997; and Women of Achievement Luncheon, May 1998.

III/5/3 Tourism luncheon/tribute to J. Ford. Dec. 15, 1997.

III/5/4 Wildflowers and Sage Event. Oct. 25, 1997.

III/6 Clippings. 1997.

III/7/1-11 Month-at-a-glance calendars. 1985-1995.

 

Box 5

III/7/12-13 Month-at-a-glance calendars. 1996-1997.

III/8 Career planning.

III/9 J. Ford Celebration. June 1996.

III/10 Diploma, Southern Methodist University. 1951.

III/11 Graduation program, UNLV. 1989.

III/12 General vitae.

III/13 Household budget record. 1985-1991.

 

93-41/IV Series IV
Nevada Women on the Frontier Class Materials. 1992-1995. 1 cu. ft.

Beginning with the Spring, 1992 semester, Ford taught a class at the University of Nevada, Reno, entitled Nevada Women on the Frontier. Course requirements included a research paper about a Nevada woman, a paper on a Nevada community, and a personal log kept by class members during a spring break trip to several Nevada communities. In addition to these papers, the collection donor has included course syllabi and reading lists. Arranged by class year.

 

Box 5

NOTE: When the date is indicated as 1992 or 1993, it is understood that this refers to the Spring, 1992 or Spring, 1993 course.

IV/1 Class tributes to Jean Ford. 1993.

IV/2 Syllabus. 1992.

IV/3-4 Project A papers: Nevada Foremothers. 1992.

IV/5 Project B papers: Community Profiles. 1992.

IV/6 Project C papers: Journal summaries. 1992.

IV/7 Project D: special topics. 1992.

IV/8 Tour information, reading list. 1992.

IV/9 Syllabus. 1993.

IV/10-13 Project A1 papers: Nevada women in history. 1993.

IV/14-15 Project A2 papers: community profiles. 1993.

IV/16-18 Project B1 papers: research topics. 1993.

IV/19-21 Project C papers: journal summaries. 1993.

IV/22 Tour information and reading list. 1993.

IV/23 1992 and 1993 anthology.

 

Box 6

IV/24 Spring 1994. Syllabus, handouts.

IV/25 Spring 1994. "Foremothers" student papers.

IV/26 Spring 1994. Project B research papers on Nevada women in various roles.

IV/27 Spring 1994. Tour. Itinerary, roster, evaluations, correspondence.

IV/28 Spring 1994. Tour. Student journals.

IV/29 Spring 1995. Syllabus, readings.

IV/30 Spring 1995. Project A, "Foremothers" student papers.

IV/31 Spring 1995. Project C, research topics.

IV/32 Spring 1995. Project D, journals.

IV/33 Spring 1995. Field trip.

 

93-42/V
Professional Affiliations. 1966-1995. 1 cu. ft.

In addition to her business and political interests, Jean Ford has always maintained many community and civic contacts and been a member of numerous boards and commissions. This series contains materials acquired as a result of her participation in the Women Executives in State Government, the League of Women Voters, National Women's Fund, Nevada Elected Women's Network, and Judicial Assessment Commission. Also included are correspondence and certificates received in connection with those activities.

 

Box 6

V/1 Certificates, honors. 1974-1995.

V/2 Clippings. 1991-1992.

V/3 Clippings, correspondence. 1993.

V/4 Correspondence. 1994.

V/5 Clippings. 1994.

V/6 Clippings. 1995.

V/7 Correspondence. 1995.

V/8-13 Women Executives in State Government. 1991-1995.

V/14 League of Women Voters. Newsletters, reports. 1966-1984.

V/15-16 National Women's Education Fund. 1979-1984.

V/17 National Women's Conference Center. 1982-1994.

 

Box 7

V/18 Florence McClure. 1991-1995.

V/19-31 Judicial Assessment Commission, also known as the Urban Court Workload Assessment Commission, chaired by Robert Rose.

V/19 Agendas, correspondence. 1993-1994.

V/20 Minutes. Dec. 1993-Aug. 1994.

V/21 Minutes. Aug.-Oct. 1994

V/22 Minutes. Nov. 9, 1994.

V/23 Urban Court Workload Assessment Manual: Working Paper 1. Jan. 9, 1994.

V/24 Recommendations. n.d.

V/25 "Simplifying the Maze: The Future of Nevada's Court System." Report of the Judicial Assessment Commission. Sept. 1994.

V/26 Reports by Robert Rose on legislative action. 1995.

V/27 "The Presage Sentence" by Deputy Chief Paul N. Conner. Nov. 1994.

V/28 Family Court.

V/29 Neighborhood Justice Center Progress Report. Dec. 31, 1992.

V/30 "Protocol for Making Reasonable Efforts to Preserve Families in Drug-Related Dependency Cases." Jan. 1992.

V/31 Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution. Report to the Membership. 1990.

V/32 Nevada Elected Women's Network.

V/32/1 Financial records.

V/32/2-3 Elected women's Day at the Legislature. 1991, 1995..

V/32/4 General records.

V/32/5 Lists of elected women in Nevada.

V/32/6 Membership.

V/33 Tahoe Rim Trail.