Lynn Woolsey, a progressive Democrat, served as representative to the United States Congress for California's 6th congressional district. The collection is comprised of legislative research, introduced and passed bills, speeches, manuscripts, awards, and visual media documenting her years of service to the counties of Sonoma and Marin. Lynn Woolsey championed causes related to the environment, women, children, diversity, and peace. She served on the Committee on Education and the Workforce; the Committee on Science, Space and Technology; and the Foreign Affairs Committee. She chaired the Workforce Protection Subcommittee, co-chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus and served on many other caucuses and informal committees. Her active opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be her greatest legacy. The papers offer a wealth of research materials to students, faculty, and the community and present a window into the workings of Congress and the role of elected representatives.

In 2013, the Honorable Lynn C. Woolsey, retired representative for California's Sixth Congressional District, donated her official papers to the Sonoma State University Library. During her tenure in the House of Representatives (1993–2013), Lynn Woolsey championed causes related to the environment, women, children, diversity, education, workers' rights, civil rights, and world peace. Lynn C. Woolsey was born to John and Lynn Robinson in Seattle, Washington in 1937. She spent much of her adolescence living in Seattle, Washington. After receiving her high school diploma, Ms. Woolsey attended the University of Washington (1955-1957). She left school to marry Terry J. Critchett and the couple settled in Northern California in 1958. They had three children before the marriage ended in 1967. Subsequently, Ms. Woolsey found a secretarial job at Harris Digital Telephone Systems, a local high tech company but was forced to accept welfare assistance to support herself and her children. She worked her way up the company ladder to become a human resources manager and, in 1980, she founded Woolsey Personnel Services. Lynn Woolsey married David C. Woolsey in 1971 and give birth to her fourth child. When the marriage ended, Lynn Woolsey returned to higher education, attending the University of San Francisco, where she received her Bachelor of Science in human resources and organizational behavior. Lynn Woolsey first entered politics in 1984 by winning a seat on the city council of Petaluma, in Sonoma County. She would serve on Petaluma’s city council until 1992, holding the post of vice mayor for her last year. In 1992, she was elected to the House of Representatives, filling five-term incumbent Representative Barbara Boxer’s seat. Lynn Woolsey represented California’s sixth district, which consists of Marin and Sonoma counties. At the end of the 112th Congress, in 2013, Lynn Woolsey retired.

One hundred and seventy linear feet, 116 boxes

The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary property.

Collection is open for research by appointment