RG0743.AM: Helen G. Boosalis, 1919-2009
Misc papers/ephemera: 1959-1986
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb.: Mayor; city council member
Size: 1 folderBIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Born August 28, 1919 as Helen Geankoplis in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she married Michael Boosalis in 1945. The Boosalis family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1951. Helen was elected to the Lincoln City Council in 1959 and was re-elected three times. Boosalis then defeated Sam Schwartzkopf in 1975 to become Lincoln's first female mayor.
After completing her tenure as Mayor in 1983, Boosalis was appointed Director of the Nebraska Department of Aging in the Cabinet Governor Bob Kerrey. In 1986 Boosalis announced her candidacy for Governor of Nebraska. She lost the election to then-State Treasurer Kay Orr. This was the first state gubernatorial election in U.S. history where the candidates of both major national parties were women.
Helen G. Boosalis died on June 15, 2009 at the age of 89.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The manuscript collection consists of one folder containing a few ephemeral items relating to Boosalis' political career. For more information about Helen Boosalis, see the NSHS Library collection for the following publications:
Prairie politics : Kay Orr vs. Helen Boosalis, the historic 1986 gubernatorial race, edited by John Barrette, 1987. [324.9 B274p]
Mayor Helen Boosalis: my mother's life in politics by Beth Boosalis Davis, 2008. [921 B724m]
INVENTORY
"Helen Boosalis for Lincoln City Council" flyer, ca 1959
Helen Boosalis nomination materials for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Certificate of Commendation for Public Officials (nominated by the NSHS), 1982.
Campaign material relating to the 1986 Governors Race.
"Thanks Helen" Publication produced by the Lincoln Journal-Star at the end of Boosalis' terms as Mayor.
ADDED ENTRIES:
Boosalis, Helen G., 1919-2009
Nebraska Democratic Party
Politics -- Nebraska
TMM 04-04-2012
Encoded 04-04-2012
For additional information about this collection, please contact our Library Staff.