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David C. Hollister papers

 Collection
Identifier: UA-10.3.428

Scope and Contents

The David C. Hollister collection contains papers biographical and personal in nature, as well as papers from his political career. The collection contains information about his childhood and includes documentation of his school years from elementary through graduate school. There is also material about his teenage activities including sports, journalism, and student government. There are letters to his friends and parents including information about his high school sweetheart Judy Artz, whom he married while in college. Information and photos can be found covering his tenure as an Ingham County (Michigan) Commissioner (1968-1974), Michigan House of Representatives member (1974- 1993), City of Lansing Mayor (1993-2002), and Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (2003-2006). A large portion of the material is classified as campaign material, public relations and news releases. The videotapes include early manorial debates and stories recorded from local television news stations about Mayor Hollister and Lansing issues. There are some transitional items from Mayor Antonio (Tony) Benavides, dated 2003/2004.

This collection would be useful to anyone researching Ingham County, Lansing, or Economic Development in Michigan.

Dates

  • Creation: 1957 - 2008

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Biographical Note

David Clinton Hollister is a prominent Michigan politician and civic leader. He has served at the local, regional, and state levels since 1968. Hollister attended Lakeview High School in Battle Creek, where he was interested in politics, football, and journalism, graduating in 1960. He then attended Kellogg Community College, earning an associate’s degree, and Michigan State University, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in History and Government. In 1997 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Michigan State University. Upon graduating college in 1965 Hollister became a public school teacher, notably working for the Cristo Rey Re-Entry Program and Eastern High School in Lansing. An advocate for civil rights and public education, he spent the summers of 1966 and 1968 at the Mississippi Freedom Schools, specifically Rust College. Upon returning home in 1968, and while still teaching full-time, he launched a new career in politics by winning a seat on the Ingham County Commission. After eight years as a county commissioner, Hollister ran and was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, where he served for nineteen years. His appointments included the Appropriations Committee and chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Social Services. His most notable achievements include work with social, public and community services programs and legislation. In 1993, David Hollister was elected as the Mayor of Lansing, and was subsequently reelected for two more terms. His programs focused on rebuilding the city’s infrastructure and promoting economic development. Some of his achievements include establishing tax sharing agreements with neighboring townships, promoting industry (General Motors), bringing minor league baseball and the Stadium District to Lansing, partnering with the State of Michigan for construction of new government buildings, and expanding the city’s relationship with neighboring Michigan State University. Hollister was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm, to her cabinet as director of the newly formed Department of Labor and Economic Growth in 2003. This department oversees Michigan’s economic growth and urban development. He left this role in 2006 to establish the Prima Civitas Foundation (PCF). PCF works to foster economic development for Lansing/Mid-Michigan area via a regional approach to building partnerships. Areas of particular interest are education, technology, and jobs creation/training. In 2011, Hollister transitioned from his position as PCF’s President and CEO to the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives concentrating on partnerships in Flint and international opportunities.

Extent

43 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Related Archival Materials

Pictures from January 1974 of Hollister teaching at Cristo Rey Community Center can be found in State News collection (UA 12.7.2), Box 5393, Folder 21.

Legal Status

Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to Michigan State University but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Copyright restrictions may apply. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Processing Information

Record group changed from 00234 to UA 10.3.428 to reflect Hollister's connection to MSU. -M. Badgley-Malone, January 2023.

Title
David C. Hollister Papers
Status
4 Published And Cataloged
Author
W. Miller
Date
October 2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives and Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
Conrad Hall
943 Conrad Road, Room 101
East Lansing MI 48824 US
517-355-2330