Two decades of U.S. politics preserved in Tulane’s Gingrich Collection

Lindsay Cronk is all smiles as she talks about one of Tulane University Libraries’ newest donations. As dean of Tulane Libraries, she says the Gingrich Congressional Collection, now open to the public, is one of the most significant and extraordinary additions ever made to Tulane’s massive inventory of historical records.

The collection arrived at Tulane in March 2024 courtesy of Newt Gingrich, a Tulane alumnus who served as the 50th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999 and as a Member of the House from 1979 to 1999.

“By donating my papers to Tulane’s archives, I sincerely hope that these documents will inspire future generations not only as historical records but also as springboards for active participation in our democracy — and for embarking on their own intellectual pursuits and citizenship,” Gingrich said.

The collection, which consists of more than 3,450 boxes and spans 1,600 linear feet, includes campaign files, legislative work, news coverage, videos, audio tapes and correspondence from major political and governmental figures during Gingrich’s 20 years in Congress. Cronk credited Head of Collection Management Jennifer Waxman and her team with their ongoing work in processing the collection.

Cronk’s excitement isn’t rooted in politics but in the opportunity to preserve an important chapter of history.

“Gingrich is the single-most consequential American politician to ever come out of Tulane,” she said. “He transformed the speakership, and that’s why we have incredibly strong speaker figures today. Our job is to steward the legacy of the university and to make sure these papers are open to  researchers.”

Spanning two decades of congressional service, the collection documents pivotal events such as the Contract with America, the strategy for the Republican Revolution, Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and major legislation that helped define the political landscape of the late 20th century.

The collection also includes information related to former U.S. Sen. Robert Dole, former U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp, 1988 Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, former President Ronald Reagan, the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977, the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, the Food Stamp Program, prayer in public schools, the Clean Air Act, the 1981 air traffic controllers strike and the Congressional Space Caucus (1981-89).

Most of the collection is housed at the library’s annex in Mid-City, where the expert team can host visiting researchers in the reading room on request. Through a form, requested items can also be brought to Special Collections at Jones Hall for viewing.

Until recently, a sampling of Gingrich memorabilia had been on display on the fifth floor of Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. It included his 1968 master’s thesis and 1971 PhD dissertation, a photo of Gingrich during his time at Tulane and an article in the Tulane Hullabaloo that quotes Gingrich as spokesman for a group called Mobilization of Responsible Tulane Students. The display also featured memorabilia from his time in Congress: a printout of Republican reforms from the Committee on House Oversight in 1996, an award given to Gingrich in 1993 by the Christian Coalition and photos of Gingrich with various foreign leaders.

“His papers are invaluable for understanding both his term in office and the events that helped shape the United States of today,” said Lee Miller of Tulane’s Special Collections, which also includes the papers of Huey Long and Hale Boggs, among other Louisiana politicians. “They allow students and scholars from around the world to gain deep insights into one of our country’s most exciting and dramatic times.”

Tulane Archivist Ann Case said the papers will enable researchers to trace the evolution of Gingrich’s political career from college through his retirement.

“It’s such a treat to now have material that represents the professional achievements of such a prominent Tulane alumnus,” she said. “The Gingrich Papers complement and provide a historical continuum with Special Collections’ records of Speaker Gingrich’s activities as a graduate student at Tulane.”

Gingrich attended Emory University as an undergraduate, then studied European history at Tulane, where he received both a Master of Arts degree in 1968 and a PhD in 1971. In addition to his two decades in Congress, he campaigned for the Republican nomination for president in 2012. He is now chairman of Gingrich 360, a multimedia production and consulting company. He is a frequent contributor to major news media and has authored 44 books, including 19 fiction and nonfiction New York Times bestsellers. Gingrich is married to Ambassador Callista L. Gingrich. The Gingriches reside in McLean, Virginia, and Naples, Florida, and have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Cronk said she has been in touch with Gingrich, and he is thrilled that his collection is now being housed at Tulane, having previously been stored at the University of West Georgia, where he taught for several years before getting into politics.

“I think he is really pleased that we understood the importance of this collection,” she said.

Written By: Barri Bronston

Published 9-22-2025