Series 8: General Correspondence

The Bowen Collection consists of some 270 cubic feet of files, documents, publications, photographs, and memorabilia. Much of the material reflects Bowen's interest and expertise in agricultural matters. He served on three House of Representatives subcommittees: Agriculture, Merchant Marine and Fisheries, and Foreign Affairs. In addition, he served on numerous subcommittees of these committees, chairing the Agriculture Subcommittee on Cotton, Rice, and Sugar, and participating on other Agriculture subcommittees including Oilseeds; Dairy and Poultry; Conservation and Credit; Forestry; and Department Operations and Foreign Agriculture. Bowen wrote and floor managed significant sections of omnibus farm bills in 1973, 1977, and 1981, the Rice Production Act of 1975, the Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1976, the Forest Management Act of 1976, and legislation in 1981 and 1982 regarding agricultural export credits and revolving funds. He played key roles in securing funds for cotton research and preservation of acreage, in promoting increased agricultural production and markets in so-called Third World countries, and in expanding and protecting overseas markets for American farmers.

The Bowen Collection is open to researchers except for some case files and some unprocessed material. The bulk of the Collection is arranged in two-year segments by Congressional terms. The terms represented are the 93rd (1973-1974) through the 97th (1981-1982). A series called White Files contains general outgoing correspondence for the entire scope of Bowen's congressional career. Additional series have been created for materials which did not fit neatly into those mentioned above. They include: General Subject; General Correspondence; Mississippi Schools; Donner Foundation; Foreign Travel; Pre-Congress; Campaign Material; Public; Mississippi State University; Agriculture; Photographs; General Office; Memorabilia; Post-Congress.