The R. Michael Ferrall Papers are a well organized collection of political papers which are revealing both about legislative initiatives with which Ferrall was publicly identified and his activities as assistant floor leader. Unfortunately the majority of the papers pertaining to his early years in the Assembly appear to have been destroyed. There are also no campaign or personal papers in the collection.
Included in the collection are constituent correspondence, floor debate materials, committee files, research material, and publicity. Available on microfilm is a very complete file of biographical clippings and press releases. Archival arrangement of the collection reflects the original order in Ferrall's office, although because the collection has been extensively weeded and because the original arrangement changed over time, the distinctions between series are not as evident as they were when the files were originally created.
RESEARCH FILES comprise five cubic feet of reference material such as correspondence, memoranda, reports, and other background information prepared by constituents and advocacy groups to influence legislation. This file is arranged alphabetically by topic, and appears to date from the second half of Ferrall's legislative career. Also pertaining to the floor debate on specific pieces of legislation are the LEGISLATIVE FILES which combine his former “Floor Debate Folders” and “Bill Correspondence.” This material pertains to the 1977-1978 and 1979-1980 legislatures only. The files are arranged by session and then by bill number. Most notable here is the extensive notebook on the alternative energy bill (AB 777) which Ferrall authored during the 1979 session. Similar materials relating to the 1977-1980 budget and budget review bills are included as a separate legislative category.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMITTEE FILES are made up of what was formerly the “Vandoros Inner and Outer Office Files.” Filed here are minutes, memoranda, and correspondence pertaining to Ferrall's committee assignments and to duties associated with his assistant majority leader post. Of the committee files, those on the Special Committee on Product Liability and the Racine Special Transportation Advisory Committee are most extensive. The administrative files contain information on the internal operation of the Assembly and the Democratic Caucus and through Ferrall's membership on the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board, the physical management of the Capitol building.
The CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE FILE contains carbon copies of all outgoing Ferrall letters for 1976. It is not known if the file was maintained for a longer period. Despite its somewhat redundant nature, the file was retained because of the incomplete coverage of the subject-filed correspondence for this period, and because it presents a detailed, day-by-day picture of the legislator's activities for this one year.
Constituent correspondence is filed in two series: SUBJECT CORRESPONDENCE, which includes constituent letters filed alphabetically by topic and CONSTITUENT CORRESPONDENCE, which includes more general constituent letters.
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS FILES include copies of newsletters, sample constituent questionnaires and tabulations of results, and extensive runs of press releases and biographical clippings. The latter two types of documentation were filmed so that the originals could be returned to the donor.
