Collins, Cardiss, 1931-2013

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Cardiss Hortense Collins (née Robertson; September 24, 1931 – February 3, 2013) was an American politician from Illinois who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the fourth African-American woman in Congress and the first to represent the Midwest. Collins was elected to Congress in the June 5, 1973 special election to replace her husband, George, who had died in the December 8, 1972 United Airlines Flight 553 plane crash a month after being elected to a second term. The seat had been renumbered and combined from the 6th district to the 7th, and had been redrawn to include the Loop. She had previously worked as an accountant in various state government positions.

Throughout her political career, she was a champion for women's health and welfare issues. In 1975, she was instrumental in prompting the Social Security Administration to revise Medicare regulations to cover the cost of post-mastectomy breast prosthesis, which before then had been considered cosmetic. In 1979, she was elected as president of the Congressional Black Caucus, a position she used to become an occasional critic of President Jimmy Carter. She later became the caucus vice chairman. In the 1980s, Collins warded off two primary challenges from Alderman Danny K. Davis, who would finally be elected to replace her in 1996. In 1990, Collins, along with 15 other African-American women and men, formed the African-American Women for Reproductive Freedom.

Collins did not seek re-election in 1996, citing her age and the Republican majority in the House. In 2004, she was selected by Nielsen Media Research to head a task force examining the representation of African Americans in TV rating samples. Collins lived in Alexandria, Virginia at the time of her death on February 3, 2013, at the age of 81.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Collins, Cardiss W., 1931-. Cardiss W. Collins : commercials , 1984 University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Records of the Task Force on National Health Care (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 1994. Steven Edelstein's Files, 1993 - 1994 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn General Records of the Department of Justice, 1790 - 2002. Congressional Committee Chairmen Correspondence Files, 1982 - 1998. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn White House Press Releases (Ford Administration), 1974 - 1977. Press Releases, 1974 - 1977 Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Sampson, Edith S. (Edith Spurlock), 1901?-1979. Papers, 1927-1979 (inclusive) 1934-1979 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Counsel to the President (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Jane Schaffner's Files, 2000 - 2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the Office of Speechwriting (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Lowell Weiss' Files, 1998 - 2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the Federal Highway Administration, 1956 - 2008. Subject Files of Director Kenneth L. Pierson, 1978 - 1987 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Federal Highway Administration, 1956 - 2008. Congressional and Administrative Correspondence, 1989 - 1989 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Papers, 1927-1979 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Candidates for public office campaign materials, 1966-1976 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Public Liaison (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Alexis Herman's Files , ca. 1993 - ca. 1996 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf The HistoryMakers Video Oral History with The Honorable Cardiss Collins The HistoryMakers
Relation Name
memberOf Chicago (Ill.). City Council corporateBody
spouseOf Collins, George Washington, 1925-1972 person
employeeOf Illinois. Dept. of Revenue. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Northwestern university corporateBody
associatedWith Sampson, Edith S. (Edith Spurlock), 1901?-1979. person
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Detroit MI US
Chicago IL US
St. Louis MO US
Alexandria VA US
Subject
Advertising, political
Radio advertising
Occupation
Accountants
Auditors
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Stenographers
Activity

Person

Birth 1931-09-24

Death 2013-02-05

Female

Americans

English

Information

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