Paula Hawkins Collection  United States Senator and Winter Park citizen Born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 24th 1927, Paula Hawkins became the first female U. S. Senator form the State of Florida. She was probably best known for her tenacious fight for the welfare of children and families and for authoring the legislation that established the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Married for over 60 years to her husband, Gene, she was also a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She died on December 4, 2009 at the age of 82 years. The Paula Hawkins Collection is a part of our Winter Park History and Archives Digitized Collections.  The main emphasis of the Paula Hawkins Collection is her service in the United States Senate.  Included is correspondence from various political figures (state and national), records of her legislative activities, letters, ephemera, photographs, awards, and materials from her various senatorial campaigns.  The Collection measures 294 cubic feet. The majority of the materials were generated by Hawkins (from her official and public duties and business), and can provide the researcher with both a survey of Florida's political environment in the 1970's and 1980's, and a profile of Senator Hawkins as a politician. On a broader scale, the Collection contains a look into the activities and issues that were of interest to the Florida Congressional Delegation during Senator Hawkins' terms in the Senate (1980 - 1987).  Issues include the Cross-Florida Barge Canal, immigration, the citrus industry/agriculture, foreign trade, and illegal drugs. In summary, the Collection contains, when used in conjunction with other sources (papers of political and historically important figures), a comprehensive picture of Florida's political climate during a period of political conservatism and reemergence of the Republican Party in state politics. A guide to this Collection is available. The following photographs and other images are from the Collection.     Senator Paula Hawkins, U.S. Senate (Florida) 1981-1987 Senator Paula Hawkins was elected to the United States Senate as a Republican in 1980, sworn in on January 3, 1981, and served until January 3, 1987. Ronald W. Reagan (1911-2004)  Ronald W. Reagan was elected President of the United Stated as a Republican in 1980 and and again in 1984. President Reagan gave this photograph to Senator Hawkins for her support during his campaigns.  Gerald R. Ford (1913- 2006) After Richard M. Nixon resigned as President on August 9, 1974, Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office as the 38th President. President Ford expressed his appreciation for Senator Hawkins' support with this photograph. Representative Claude Pepper, Senator Paula Hawkins, President Ronald Reagan November 1983 In this photograph are (left to right) Representative Claude Pepper (Democrat - Miami); Senator Paula Hawkins (Republican - Winter Park); and President Ronald Reagan. Commemorative Swearing-in Invitation The Commemorative Invitation commemorates the official swearing-in ceremony of President Ronald Reagan held on Sunday, January 20, 1985.  As the invitation states, this was only the sixth time that the date of a Presidential Inaugural fell on a Sunday, with the public swearing-in ceremony taking place on Monday, January 21, 1985. Inaugural Ball Invitation January 21, 1985 This official Inaugural Ball Invitation was sent to Senator Hawkins from President Reagan, requesting "the honor of your company" for the event.           Press Release From Bob Dole November 20, 1985 In this "News from Senator Bob Dole" press release, Senator Dole announced his selection of Senator Paula Hawkins for chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control. The Caucus was designed to monitor international treaties on drug trafficking.   Philip Crosby Associates, Inc. Board Of Directors 1989 This photograph shows Paula Hawkins and the Board of the Winter Park-based Philip Crosby Associates, Inc. Pictured from left to right are:  Pamela Gray, Philip B. Crosby, Clifford M. Hames, Senator Paula Hawkins, Russell P. Hulbert, Larry N. McFadin, Philip B. Crosby, Jr., and Lance H. Arrington.