William R. Cotter Papers

Collection

Identifier: 1991-0002

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection contains newspaper clippings, information on legislative bills, correspondence, executive and campaign records, grant files, questionnaires, press releases, and various Connecticut Town files. There is very little personal material.

The materials added to the collection in 2006 have not been processed but the box numbers and rough inventory information has been incorporated into the appropriate series as part of the description of the collection.

Dates

Creation: undated, 1970-1981

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

Biography

William R. Cotter, Democratic Member of Congress for the First District of Connecticut, was born in Hartford, Connecticut on 18 July 1926. He attended public schools, and received a bachelor's degree in economics and history from Trinity College (Hartford) in 1949. In 1953, Cotter was elected to the Hartford Court of Common Council, and served as an aide to United States Senator Abraham Ribicoff (1955-1957), as Deputy Insurance Commissioner (1957-1964), and as Insurance Commissioner of Connecticut (1964-1970). He developed and introduced laws to regulate rates and solvency of insurance companies in Connecticut, and developed a comprehensive automobile liability insurance reform program.

Cotter was elected to the ninety-second Congress on 3 November 1970 and was reelected five times. He represented the First District in Connecticut from 1971 until his death. The towns Cotter represented varied over the years, but included Berlin, Bloomfield, Bolton, Cromwell, East Hartford, East Windsor, Glastonbury, Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, and much of Portland. As a congressional representative, Cotter served on the Banking and Currency Committee, and the Science and Astronautics Committee. He was also an active member of the House Ways and Means Committee. William Cotter died on 8 September 1981.

Extent

179.8 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

William R. Cotter, Democratic Member of Congress for the First District of Connecticut, was born in Hartford, Connecticut on 18 July 1926. In 1953, Cotter was elected to the Hartford Court of Common Council, and served as an aide to United States Senator Abraham Ribicoff, 1955-1957, as Deputy Insurance Commissioner, 1957-1964, and as Insurance Commissioner of Connecticut from 1964-1970. He developed and introduced laws to regulate rates and solvency of insurance companies in Connecticut, and developed a comprehensive automobile liability insurance reform program. Cotter was elected to the ninety-second Congress on November 3, 1970 and was reelected five times. He represented the First District in Connecticut from 1971 until his death.

Arrangement

Series I: Legislative Correspondence (1971-1981)

Series II: Executive Records (1971-1981)

Series III: Voting Records (1977-1981)

Series IV: Bill File (1973-1980)

Series V: Campaign Records (1970-1976)

Series VI: Press Releases (1975-1980)

Series VII: Meeting Notices and Schedules (1971-1978)

Series VIII: Questionnaire Replies (1974-1975)

Series IX: State and Town Files (undated, 1971-1978)

Series X: Grant Files (1977-1981)

Series XI: Project Files (undated, 1971-1981)

Series XII: Personal Correspondence (1971-1979)

Series XIII: Redistricting Materials (1970-1973)

Series XIV: Office Management Files (1971-1979)

Series XV: Speech Files (1970-1980)

Series XVI: Topic Files (undated, 1972-1980)

Series XVII: Audiovisual materials (undated)

Series XVIII: Unsorted materials (undated, 1970-1981)

Custodial History

The Papers were transferred to the Connecticut State Library by the late Representative Cotter's office staff in October 1981. Some additional records remained in the Washington and Hartford offices, and some materials of no historical value were destroyed by agreement.

Acquisition Information

In February 1991, the papers were deaccessioned by the State Library and transferred to the University of Connecticut Libraries. A deed of ownership dated 15 September 1991, signed by Elizabeth Cotter Adinolfi, sister of William R. Cotter, transferred ownership of the papers to the University of Connecticut.

In 2006, the University of Hartford Library transferred Cotter materials that had been donated to them by Ms. Adinolfi.