The papers document Molnar's leadership in the opposition to the Gulf War within the Military Families Support Network (MFSN), as well as his educational activism and philosophy. The vast majority of the paper documentation in the collection relates to the Gulf War era, although the documentation of Molnar's educational ideas and interests is greatly enhanced by the many sound recordings in the collection. Although Molnar was the unofficial archivist of MFSN, it is likely that the records in his custody were incomplete. Few original files from the Washington, D.C. office are included, and some basic organizational records such as minutes of board meetings are obviously missing. Although the records do not permit a complete organizational history, they are nevertheless very useful and the correspondence Molnar received from both supporters and opponents of the Gulf War around the country--approximately half the entire collection-- provide an excellent source for examining national attitudes about the Persian Gulf War. Furthermore, the collection contains broad representation of the sympathetic attention MFSN received from the media, a focus that distinguishes it from the anti-war activism of the Vietnam era. The photographs received with the collection are available in Milwaukee, with photocopies available in Madison. The photographs document Molnar and his family, the Milwaukee office of MFSN, and daily life of soldiers in Saudi Arabia. Other featured personalities include Jesse Jackson and actor Mike Farrell.
The papers are arranged as MILITARY FAMILIES SUPPORT NETWORK RECORDS (MFSN) and EDUCATIONAL PAPERS. The MILITARY FAMILIES SUPPORT NETWORK RECORDS are comprised of General Files and Subject Files, each of which is alphabetically arranged. Correspondence, which makes up the bulk of the MFSN series, is subdivided into General Correspondence, which concerns the overall administration and activities of the network, and Family, Opponent, and Supporter letters. These exchanges are supplemented by the State Chair Files, which include letters and information from local leaders and activists from California, Florida, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and many other states. The telephone logs and the 900 number file also provide information about the reaction that MFSN received from the general public.
Although minutes of board meetings are generally missing, the collection includes useful files of fact sheets, promotional literature and mailings, weeded clippings, newsletters (Newswire), photographs, reports and files on lobbying at the Capitol, and two press conferences. There is also information on the relationship to the Fund for New Priorities, which sponsored the network, although again the files are not complete. Information about this relationship is supplemented by a videotaped press conference sponsored by FNP at which the formation of MFSN was announced and taped proceedings of the FNP conference about the war that took place on the same day. This conference included Daniel Ellsberg, Morton Halperin, and Admiral Gene La Rocque.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the collection is its strong documentation of the attention MFSN received from the nation's media. In a paper that is included in Box 11, University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student Suzanne R. Yows analyzes this attention. The majority of media documentation falls into the category of interviews and news coverage. The national and Milwaukee coverage is fairly complete here, but it is likely that local chapters received additional attention from broadcasters that is not documented in the collection. The records include videotaped national programs, which are located in Madison, such as Larry King Live, Phil Donahue, ABC Primetime Live, Sunday Morning, and Today; the interviewees generally include Molnar, who quickly emerged as an exceptionally articulate and sympathetic spokesman for opposition to the war, as well as co-founder Judy Davidson, who had both a son and a husband in the Persian Gulf, and veteran Bill White, whose son and daughter both served in the war. There is also a fair sampling of local Milwaukee television coverage particularly by public broadcaster Joe Smith. The television coverage generally consists of off-the-air recordings so the quality is uneven. In addition to the aforementioned broadcasters, individuals appearing on the videotapes include Sam Donaldson, Bryant Gumbel, and Charles Kuralt. Other featured individuals include actors Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins; politicians Henry Hyde, Gerald Klezcka, John McCain, and James Moody; and activist Ron Kovic. (The October 10, 1990 interview of Molnar, Millie Tally, and Bill White by Harry Smith on Good Morning America is a 1 inch video that is currently unviewable on WHS equipment.) The sound recordings, which are located in Madison, document Molnar's appearance on a number of live call-in programs and on NPR. (The interview on WMSE follows an extended rebroadcast of a biographical interview of Hank Aaron by Bob Costas.) The Yows thesis also focuses on the attention MFSN received from print media. The large volume of newspaper clippings received with the collection about the war has been weeded to retain only those stories that mentioned MFSN or its leaders.
In addition to broadcast interviews and news stories the collection includes public service announcements prepared to enlist support for MFSN. These include “Dying for the Emir,” which television stations viewed as too controversial for broadcast, and “Dear President Bush,” a longer spot that included Molnar reading his letter to the President. Also included are several radio public service announcements, one of which was specifically addressed to Wisconsin Congressman Les Aspin.
The MFSN Subject Files is a collection of secondary information about the Gulf War collected by MFSN. This file has been weeded to retain information that is specific to MFSN involvement or that is not generally available. In addition to documentation about medical and drug-related issues related to the war, there are numerous mailings from the National Campaign for Peace in the Middle East, the National Task Force on the Gulf Crisis, and National Coalition to Stop U.S. Intervention in the Middle East and other organizations opposed to the war.
The EDUCATIONAL PAPERS document Molnar's electoral campaign for the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction as well as his general educational views. The campaign files include audio and video spot announcements which are located in Madison, campaign literature, clippings, and a recorded political panel that discussed the campaign which is also located in Madison. This panel included Gary George and Barbara Ulichny. The Molnar on Education files comprise the most important segment of this series. In addition to two volumes of planning papers (these cover only the years 1994 and 1995) the collection includes a large number of recordings of Molnar's regular educational call-in program dating from 1992 to 1995. The topics discussed were among the most important educational issues of the 1990s, and the guests included not only professional leaders, but also notable individuals such as John Benson and Paul Wellstone. The section entitled General Education and Political Papers is entirely comprised of non-text documentation. Included are sound recordings of several professional presentations and comments on the 1992 presidential election and the candidacy of Ross Perot, whom Molnar briefly supported. This section also includes videotaped footage located in Madison of an unidentified educational panel that included Annette Polly Williams.
