Folder labelled "Senate Election file 1973" relating to Mary Robinson (MR)'s successful campaign to be elected Senator in the Dublin University constituency, held in May 1973. Material includes correspondence relating to changes in the electoral register, individual changes in addresses and lists of amended addresses; completed nomination forms with signatures of supporters along with correspondence to MR from some; booklet on Statutory Instruments re Seanad Elections Free Postage Regulations, 96and photocopied signed form from MR certifying number of unpaid communications tendered, date stamped by Controller, Dublin Postal District 12/03/1973; correspondence relating to printing of communication from MR, 12/03-17/05/1973; newspaper cuttings; flyers for official election addresses MR, TT West, Lionel Fleming, Joe Revington, Dr David John McConnell, Nessa O'Byrne Healy, Derrick Waldron-Lynch, William John Edward Jessop, Dr Noel Browne and David Boyd Redmond Cabot, 1973; flyers for election addresses for TT West, Catherine M Doohan, Cabot 1970; copies of communication and draft communication from MR to voters; official supplement listing panels of candidates prepared by Seanad Returning Officer for Seanad General Election May 1973, published 30/03/1973; letters of congratulations on her election and other correspondence, 30/04-26/06/1973, including from Mr Brennan, Australia Embassy, Mr Justice John Kenny, Rev Enda McDonagh, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Eilish MacCurtain, Department of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Gemma Hussey, Women's Progressive Association, Miriam W Pike, [Dublin University] Women Graduates Association, Mother Aquinas, Convent of Jesus & Mary, Crosmolina County Mayo (Great aunt of MR), Rev Arthur Butler, Bishop of Connor, Professor Jessop, Trinity College Dublin, CP O'Brien for Ballina Urban District Council, along with members of the public; letters of support and general correspondence including from public ahead of election, 20/01-27/04/1973, including from Rev J Nally Goulden, Ballycastle County Antrim, Kader Asmal, Trinity College Dublin, Wing Commander Stanley Towell, RAF [Royal Air Force, United Kingdon], Aiden Hannigan, Department of Legal Studies, University of Melbourne, Australia; material relating to candidates on other panels outside of University panel MR was on [Labour Panel, Cultural and Educational, Industrial and Commercial, Agricultural, Administrative] including correspondence from other candidates looking for support, 05/02-17/07/1973, list of [winning?] candidates for each panel in MR's handwriting, and flyers of election addresses for candidates including Paddy Murphy, Mícheál Cranitch, Irish Congress of Trade Unions candidates and Sean Brosnahan, (Labour Panel), Mary Walsh, Maurice O'Connell, Valentine O'Kelly, Henry Edward Counihan, Timothy McAuliffe and Michael, Marquis of Headfort (Cultural and Educational Panel), Thomas C Skehan, John O'Connor, Sylvester Muldowney, James Gallagher, John O'Connor and Elexis FitzGerald (Industrial and Commercial Panel), Jack FitzGerald, Michael Ferris and Michael O'Mahony (Agricultural panel), Bernard McGlinchey, Michael Gallanagh, Peter Smithwick. Pat Kerrigan and Jim Doolan (Administrative panel), John J Kelly, Patrick M Rabbitte, John Horgan and Sean M Lavelle (National University of Ireland constituency).

[Archivist's note: reference is made in several correspondence to MR's mother dying during the campaign]

Material relating to Mary Robinson (MR)'s term in Seanad Éireann in the late 1970s including election to Seanad Éireann, 14/08/1977. It includes folder of correspondence supporting her run and congratulating her success, some of which references her failed run in the Dáil [lower house of Irish parliament], 20/05/-06/10/1977; folder of election addresses including from MR, Antoin E Murphy, Trevor West, Alan J Shatter, David Norris, Vincent J McBrierty, Conor Cruise O'Brien, Declan Budd, Catherine McGuinness, David Boyd Redmond Cabot, Shane PN Ross, and standard letters seeking support; notice from the clerk of Seanad Éireann to MR of roll call on 6-8 September [start of new Seanad term?], 30/08/1977; photocopy list of names and addresses for electors living abroad, 1977; correspondence relating to change of addresses of electors, 23/06/1977-31/07/1978; correspondence between MR and members if supporting committee in relation to her decision to join the Labour party, and accept the whip, 25/10/1976-11/02/1977.

Material relating to Mary Robinson (MR)'s run in the Seanad Éireann [Irish Senate, upper house of parliament] Election, 1981 including correspondence supporting her run and congratulating her success, 21/06-04/09/1981; general correspondence sent to all candidates from the Seanad Electoral Officer, Returning Officer and Controller, Dublin Postal Districts, 12/06-05/08/1981; drafts and copies of correspondence from MR to potential voters and typed and handwritten lists of addresses; handwritten tally of votes; handwritten list of [volunteers to stuff envelopes?]; forms of nomination with signatures of nominees for MR; letters seeking support for MR and drafts, from Kader Asmal, Grainne Flynn, Ronald C Cox, Dr Mary Henry, Bride Rosney and Henry O Bourke (brother), 26/06-14/07/1981 and same for Shane Ross 02-03/07/1981; candidate election addresses from MR, Catherine McGuinness, David Boyd Redmond Cabot, Barry Cullen, Tommy Murtagh, Trevor West, David Norris, Shane Ross and Owen Quinn, 1981; correspondence with Hugh Alexander Boyd, offering support and advice over various election campaigns, 27/02/1973-28/09/1981; newspaper cuttings, 16/06-13/08/1981, and election 1981 copy of Trinity College Gazette, 10/07/1981.

Material relating to the General Election 1982, including correspondence from Labour party candidates seeking support from Mary Robinson (MR) 10/02-17/02/1982; background reports on achievements of Labour party in Government in areas of housing, sanitation services, and budget proposals, government education programme for 1982 and future policies; Labour party circulars to members 29/01/1982; handwritten letter from John [Roche/Locke?], [Labour] Constituency Secretary, Dublin North East, asking her to consider standing; statement by Minister for Finance Mr John Bruton, on medium-term policy and economic and social reconstruction, 26/01/1982; election flyers for Michael Gannon, and for Ruairí Quinn (with photo of MR and two other councillors supporting him); booklets on Labour party Local Government Elections Manifesto, and European Election policy statements, 1979; newspaper cuttings, 28/01-24/02/1982.

Folder marked "Senate 1982" relating to Mary Robinson (MR)'s run and subsequent election to Seanad Éireann [Irish senate, upper house of parliament]. Includes letters and drafts seeking support for MR from Gráinne Flynn, Kader Asmal, Ronald C Cox, David Spearman, Henry Clarke and Alex Schuster, 03-19/03/1982; material relating to printing of MR's election address including drafts, receipts, handwritten notes on numbers required 24/11/1982-04/03/1983; nomination papers with nominators' signatures; folder labelled "Post Office Info" with blank P&T [Post and Telegraphs, predecessor to "An Post" the Irish postal service] parcel tags, signed form of certificate" to accompany each batch of bundles of communication tendered for posting", typed summary of "Seanad Elections (University Panels) Free Postal Regulations" [MR was vying to be elected on the University panel], and booklet of Statutory instruments "The Seanad Elections (University Members) Free Postage Regulations, 1961"; correspondence supporting her run and congratulating her success, 25/02-30/06/1982; electoral register correspondence, and handwritten and typed lists; folder labelled "names canvassed" with handwritten and typed lists of names and some notation; drafts of and background notes for correspondence and addresses from MR to voters; candidate election addresses for MR (including drafts and 1973 address with notation), Brendan Ryan, David Norris, Trevor West, David Cabot, Shane PN Ross, Catherine McGuinness, David Norris and Barry Cullen, 1982; folder labelled "helpers" consisting of lists of names, dates and some correspondence from people volunteering to help MR in her campaign, 16/02-21/04/1982; University of Dublin Careers and Appointments Service annual report 1981; folder labelled "those requiring results of election" and "results" consisting of typed certificates of results of poll with notation, and correspondence 13/08/1981-12/07/1982; text for articles for Trinity News, "Liberty" and "TCD Gazette", 03/1982, along with newspaper cuttings, 03/02/1982-12/01/1983 and copies of Trinity College Gazette, 11/03/1982 and 16/12/1982.

Material relating to Mary Robinson (MR)'s run and subsequent election to Seanad Éireann [Irish senate, upper house of parliament] in 1983. Includes letters and drafts seeking support for MR from Samuel L McCutcheon, Ronald C Cox, GR Henry, Eamon P Tuffy, Rev VG Griffin, Penny James, FX Martin, Bride Rosney, Alex Schuster, Siobhan Lohan, Veronica Canning, David Spearman as well as from MR herself and letters seeking support from fellow candidates David Norris, Shane Ross and David Cabot, 26/11-20/12/1982; folder labelled and containing "Senate Registration Forms" for those wishing to go on electoral register; correspondence supporting her run and congratulating her success, 04/01/1982-26/09/1983; candidate election addresses for MR, David Norris, Brendan Ryan, Fergus O'Gorman, Ray Kennedy, Catherine McGuinness, Trevor West, David Cabot and Shane PN Ross, 1983; folder labelled "helpers" consisting of lists of names, dates and some correspondence from people volunteering to help MR in her campaign, 01-15/12/1983; folder labelled "Those requiring results of election 1982" and results, 15/12/1982-01/02/1983; folder labelled "Election results" with photocopies of tallies given in newspapers; newspaper cuttings, 16/11/1982-26/03/1983. Some material from the 1982 election can be found here also and was possibly referred to during preparation for the 1983 campaign.

Folder marked "Senate Election 1987" relating to Mary Robinson (MR)'s run and subsequent election to Seanad Éireann [Irish senate, upper house of parliament] in 1983. Includes letters and drafts seeking support for MR from Sally Shiels, Dr CD McGimpsey, Valentine Rice, JK Taaffe, Melissa and Michael Webb, Adrian Bourke (MR's brother), David H Davison, Sarah Foster, Alex Schuster, Bride Rosney, Marion Palmer, Valerie Beatty, John Feely, Martin Lohan, GR Henry, Victor G Griffin, Michele Sweetman, Ronald Cox, Grainne O'Flynn, Gerry Whyte, Dr Mary Henry, and Penelope James as well as from MR herself and letters seeking support from fellow candidates David Norris, Shane Ross and Ben O'Rafferty, 30/01-18/03/1987; correspondence supporting her run and congratulating her success, 14/12/1986-06/05/1987; folder labelled "Results", consisting of photocopies and original correspondence to/from those requesting election results 28/02-20/05/1987, photocopy of certificate of result of poll in Seanad Éireann election, 16/04/1987 and photocopies of Oireachtas addresses; folder labelled "Misc" relating to canvassing and including lists of volunteers and voters to be canvassed and volunteers, tasks, receipts for printing, mock-up thank you cards from MR, and background information, 20/12/1982, 30/01-19/05/1987; folder labelled "Helpers" consisting of lists of volunteers and material relating to party MR had after the election 26/02-12/05/1987; folder labelled "Change of Address" relating to address changes for voters, Feb-March 1987; folder labelled "Post Office" includes sample envelopes for MR's campaign, photocopies of forms of certificate to accompany each batch of bundles of communication tendered for posting, dated 27/02/1987 and 10/12/1982, typed summary of "Seanad Elections (University Panels) Free Postal Regulations" [MR was vying to be elected on the University panel], and booklet of Statutory instruments "The Seanad Elections (University Members) Free Postage Regulations, 1961" with notation; candidate election addresses for MR, William John McCormack, Catherine McGuinness, Shane Ross and Ben O'Rafferty, 1987; correspondence relating to a visit by MR to Belfast to give a lecture in Queen's University and carry out some press interviews, during her campaign for election to Seanad Éireann, 14/01/1986, 08/02-24/03/1987; newspaper cuttings and letters to the editor, 25/01-15/04/1987; Official Supplement 20/03/1987 - Seanad General Election Panel of candidates, and instructions sent to each elector, 23/03/1987.

Material relating to 1989 Seanad election (which Mary Robinson (MR) didn't put herself forward for) including correspondence congratulating MR on 20 years in Seanad and wishing her luck, 23/05-04/07/1989, official statement from MR on why she didn't go for election, 22/05/1989, photocopy of comments from fellow senators on MR's decision, during session in Seanad Éireann, 24/05/1989, candidate election addresses from Patrick Smyth, David Norris, Mary Henry and Shane Ross, 1989, and correspondence seeking her support 27/06-13/07/1989.

Material in this subsubsubseries relates to the six Seanad Éireann election campaigns from 1969 to 1987 and is arranged chronologically. It includes correspondence, election addresses, flyers, electoral maps, election tallies and other ephemera.

Material in this section is divided into three files covering the 1973 and 1977 Seanad Éireann [Irish Senate] elections (P143/2/2/1/1/2/1-2), and the Bill "7th Amendment of the Constitution (Election of members of Seanad Eireann by Institutions of Higher Education) Bill 1979" (P143/2/2/1/1/2/3). Mary Robinson ran successfully for both as an independent candidate in 1973, becoming a member of Labour in 1976 before the end of that term, and as a candidate for the Labour party in 1977.