Papers of Emily Couric ca. 1983-2002

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Papers of Emily Couric, Accession #12986, 12986-a, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Papers of Emily Couric, Accession #12986, 12986-a, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of the papers of Virginia State Senator Emily Couric (1947-2001), ca. 1983-2002, ca. 20,000 items (80 Hollinger boxes, 33.5 linear shelf feet). The collection consists of files regarding Emily Couric's legislation in the Virginia General Assembly; constituent mail and replies; her Virginia Senate campaigns in 1995 and 1999, as well as her initial steps toward declaring candidacy for lieutenant governor; speeches; and files of media appearances (newspaper and magazine articles, audio and Videotapes). Some personal correspondence is present. The largest groups of material in the legislative issues series reflect her interests in issues pertaining to education and health.

"Interest Groups and Ideology" (Spring 1994), Accepting the Nomination as the Democratic Candidate for the 25th District of the Senate of Virginia (May 16, 1995), "The More General Diffusion of Knowledge"- Curry School of Education Forum, University of Virginia (September 1995), Campaign Victory Speech (November 1995)

Including: Graduation Speech- Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (June 12, 1996), Nelson County High School Commencement Exercises (June 15, 1996), Orange County Special Education Workshop (1996), Curry School of Education Dinner (November 22, 1996).

Including: Red Cross Breakfast (March 19, 1997), Mary Baldwin College Commencement (May 25, 1997), Leadership 2000 Remarks "Responsible Self-Governance" (June 4, 1997), "Our Government and Our Children: The Responsibilities and Limitations of Public Policy" (September 4, 1997), "Higher Education: Critical Issues for Virginia's Next Generation"- Forum on Higher Education (October 2, 1997), "The Final Exam: Dealing in Faith"- Rosh Hashanah 5758 October 1997).

Including: University of Virginia School of Nursing School Health Conference Keynote Address (March 7, 1998), Charlottesville Women's Forum Speech (March 20, 1998), Virginia Emergency Nurses Association- "Legislators, Legislation, and Health Care Reform" (March 24, 1998), Salvation Army Annual Dinner (March 24, 1998), Mid-Atlantic Association of Women in Law Enforcement 1998 Conference (April 6, 1998), University of Virginia Women Faculty and Professional Association and the Junior League of Charlottesville (April 9, 1998), Virginia Council Against Poverty (April 9, 1998), Nurses' Day Celebration, University of Virginia (May 6, 1998), Village School Commencement Address (June 4, 1998), Virginia Association of Assessing Officers (July 15, 1998).

Including: Virginia Sheriffs Association Annual Conference (September 1998), Portsmouth Public Schools Back-to-School Convocation, (September 2, 1998), AARP Charlottesville-Albemarle Chapter Luncheon Meeting (September 3, 1998), "The Role of State and Local Governments in the Support and Development of Technology Businesses"- Charlottesville Venture Group (October 20, 1998), Page County Democratic Committee Dinner (October 22, 1998), Wise County Democratic Committee Luncheon (October 31, 1998), VA COOL Keynote Address- "Changing the World, One Student at a Time" (November 7, 1998), Downtown Charlottesville Speech (1998).

Including: Re-Election Campaign Announcement Speech (March 30, 1999), Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) Ceremony (April 22, 1999), Breast Health Coalition Recognition Breakfast (May 12, 1999), Remarks Upon Accepting the Democratic Nomination for the 25th District of the Senate of Virginia (May 26, 1999), Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Day Ceremony (May 31, 1999), Monticello High School Graduation (June 1999), "Standards, School Reform and Equalizing Educational Opportunity in the Next Millennium" Panel Discussion, Curry School of Education (July 7, 1999), Piedmont Environmental Council Annual Meeting (September 11, 1999), Youth Leadership Initiative Senate Candidate Debate (October 19, 1999), AARP Conference (November 1999), Virginia Cooperative Extension Leadership Council Fall District Meeting (November 11, 1999).

Including: Third Regional Conference on Community Relations Keynote Luncheon Speech (May 4, 2000), Arlington Young Democrats 2000 Spring Banquet (May 11, 2000).

Including: "The Role of Government in Protecting Individuals Against Genetic Discrimination"- University of Virginia School of Medicine (March 30, 2001), Knickerbocker Luncheon (September 20, 2001), Speech on Education (n.d.), Speech on Education- Reference Materials.

Including: Phi Delta Kappa Initiation Remarks, Downtown Charlottesville Speech, Education Funding, Rural Preservation Speech, Roast of L.F. Payne.

Biographical / historical:

Emily Couric (1947-2001) was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1995 and 1999, representing the 25th Senate District of the Commonwealth of Virginia, consisting of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Madison County, Green County, and parts of Nelson County and Orange County. Couric also served as the Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, and was preparing for a campaign for lieutenant governor in 2001 when she was diagnosed with cancer.

She served on the boards of several organizations, including the Jefferson Area Board for the Aging, Boys & Girls Club, Camp Holiday Trails and the Sustainability Council for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District, as well as chairman of the Charlottesville School Board, where she served for six years.

Couric began her career as a high school biology teacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1969-1971) and worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service (1971-1973), the U.S. Department of Labor (1974-1978), and as a reporter for Legal Times, Washington, D.C. (1979-1981). Until she began her service in the Virginia Senate, she worked as a writer, publishing in a variety of law-related and general interest publications. She also published two books with St. Martin's Press pertaining to the law, The Trial Lawyers and Divorce Lawyers.

She was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 5, 1947, and moved to Virginia in 1951, graduating from Yorktown High School, Arlington, Virginia, in 1965. Couric attended Smith College and graduated in 1969, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. At the time of her death, she was married to Dr. George A. Beller and had two sons, Ray and Jeff, from a previous marriage.

Acquisition information:
This collection arrived in two phases; the first group (MSS 12986) was given by Dr. George Beller, Charlottesville, Virginia, on March 20, 2004. The second group (MSS 12986-a) was given by Tracy Eppard, from the office of Creigh Deeds, Charlottesville, Virginia, on March 14, 2005. The two groups were considered as a unit and have been interfiled under the original accession number (MSS 12986), with a single guide and box arrangement.
Arrangement:

Series I: Legislative Issues and Files (Boxes 1-45) Series II: Campaigns (Boxes 46-64) Subseries A: 1995 Campaign (Boxes 46-51) Subseries B: 1999 Campaign (Boxes 51-62) Subseries C: Lt. Governor Campaign (Boxes 63-64) Series III: Administrative Files (Boxes 65-68) Series IV: Constituent Mail (Boxes 69-78) Series V: Speeches (Boxes 79-80) Series VI: Audiovisual Materials (only materials in 12986-a) Subseries A. Legislative Subseries B. Couric for Senate Subseries C. Other Politics Subseries D. Presentation and Demo Reels Subseries E. Memorial and Tributes Subseries F. National Television Subseries G. Miscellaneous Subseries H. Public Television Subseries I. Medical Subseries J. Politics General Subseries K. Debates