More than 150 boxes representing Bill Graves’ 16 years in the Statehouse arrived Wednesday at Kansas University.

In an agreement with the Kansas Historical Society, archivists at KU’s Dole Institute of Politics will process the papers — provided they get to keep copies of some.

Dole Institute officials volunteered for the job after learning last month the Historical Society didn’t have money to hire an archivist to organize the papers, as it usually does for outgoing governors.

“The collection will get processed as a priority and we’ll be able to copy what we want to copy,” said Richard Norton Smith, Dole Institute director. “It means the papers won’t sit neglected or unprocessed. It’s a win-win situation.”

The 153 boxes that arrived by truck Wednesday will be stored at KU’s Spencer Research Library. The boxes include campaign and official papers from Graves’ terms as secretary of state and governor. They also include mementos, audio and video tapes and photographs.

Jean Bischoff, Dole archivist, said the institute had guaranteed the Historical Society processing would be complete in two years, but she said it likely wouldn’t take more than one year.

Graves’ official gubernatorial papers will be returned to the Historical Society, which is required by law to store the papers. Campaign papers and copies of the gubernatorial papers will be kept at the Dole Institute, which is constructing a new building on West Campus.

Boxes of Gov. Bill Graves' political papers await processing at Kansas University's Spencer Research Library.

Bischoff said a second archivist, scheduled to start work in March, would oversee the project, which will include a database, which can be searched by topic. Student assistants also will help.

“You never know what’s in the next box,” Bischoff said. “It’s very interesting, especially if you have an interest in Kansas history or politics in the 20th century.”

Bischoff also will continue archiving the 4,000 boxes of papers from former Sen. Bob Dole’s political career.

Bobbie Athon, a spokeswoman for the Historical Society, declined to comment on the arrangement, saying she didn’t know enough about it.

Judy Krueger, deputy chief of staff for Graves, said the governor appreciated the Dole Institute stepping up to process the papers.

“This is a very much appreciated gesture on the part of the Dole Institute, rather than just having the papers tossed somewhere,” she said. “Real archivists will get the papers ready for the Historical Society to use.”

Jennifer Wade, 19, a student archivist at Kansas University's Spencer Research Library, goes through some boxes of Gov. Bill Graves' political papers. KU's Dole Institute of Politics volunteered to process the papers when the Kansas Historical Society announced it didn't have the money to hire an archivist.

¢ Graves, in transition, announces grant for preserve (1-04-02)¢ Unity troubles await post-Graves GOP (12-16-02)¢ Graves unconcerned with legacy (12-14-02)¢ No historic research slated for Graves era (12-09-02)