Callahan Library Acquires Congressional Papers of Former Congressman Tim Bishop

February 09, 2016

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – February 9, 2016 – The Callahan Library at St. Joseph’s College (SJC) is pleased to announce that it will soon acquire the congressional papers of former Congressman Tim Bishop. The collection is the first of its kind for the Callahan Library, and consists of more than 12 years of congressional papers that will be formally presented to Executive Director of Libraries Elizabeth Pollicino Murphy, Ed.D. for inclusion into the College’s archives.

“The Callahan Library is pleased to accept Tim Bishop's congressional papers,” said Dr. Pollicino Murphy. “The papers cover a range of issues and will be a valuable resource for our students, faculty and visiting researchers. We are grateful for Tim’s generosity and are ready to process the collection with the goal of opening it for researchers in 2017.”

The congressional papers cover a broad range of issues that Bishop was involved in during his 12 years in office. During his time in Congress, Bishop served on the education, budget and transportation committees. He was the Ranking Member of the water resources and environment subcommittee, and was a senior member of the higher education subcommittee. The congressional papers include briefing papers, notes and original documents relating to legislation considered by all of the committees named above, including reauthorizations of the Surface Transportation Bill, Higher Education Act and the Water Resources Development Act of 2013, of which Bishop was one of four principal authors. The collection will be curated and housed in the Callahan Library at SJC Long Island where students and visitors can access them for research purposes. 

“I am delighted that SJC and the Callahan Library have accepted my congressional papers,” said Bishop. “I hope that they will prove to be a useful and beneficial source of research materials for SJC’s students and others for many decades to come.” 

Members of Congress often decide to donate their personal papers to research repositories once their service in the House of Representatives ends. These collections of papers can include correspondence with constituents and other members of Congress, campaign materials, and speeches and statements delivered by the Member. 

Prior to serving in the United States Congress from 2003-2015, Bishop was an administrator at Southampton College of LIU for 29 years, the last 16 of which he spent as provost. As a representative for New York’s 1st Congressional District, Bishop served most of central and eastern Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown and the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island. Among his legislative accomplishments, Bishop was one of four authors in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (H.R. 3080), and wrote major sections of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (H.R. 2669) and the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 (H.R. 3221).

For more information, contact Dr. Pollicino Murphy at 631.687.2629. To learn more about SJC, visit sjcny.edu. 

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St. Joseph’s College has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan area with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the College provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility and service. Through SJC Brooklyn, SJC Long Island and SJC Online, the College offers degrees in more than 45 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs.