The Personal Series consists of agendas, articles, calendars, clippings, correspondence, job applications, legal documents, lists, minutes, notes, press releases, programs, reports, resumes, a strategic plan and a speech.

Materials in this series cover the period 1955-1989, from Steorts’ high school graduation through her alumni work with Syracuse University. The bulk of the materials dates from 1970 to 1989 and documents her search for employment after leaving the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The series is arranged alphabetically by folder title and chronologically within each folder.

Most of the correspondence pertains to Nancy Harvey Steorts’ search for positions in the private and government sectors. There is correspondence between Steorts and head hunter agencies at the end of her tenure as Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for Consumer Affairs in early 1977, as well as correspondence between Steorts and U.S. senators, Cabinet members and White House personnel in regard to the possibility of gaining a position with them.

Family correspondence consists of letters and cards sent to Nancy Harvey Steorts from her mother Josephine Harvey. There are a few notes from Richard N. Ames, an attorney from Coulter, Fraser, Carr, Ames & Bolton in Syracuse, New York, in relation to Steorts getting power of attorney for her mother, as well as the possibility of moving Mrs. Harvey to a retirement facility.

There are also materials related to Pierson Associates, Inc. Steorts signed up for their career evaluation program to improve her personal, professional and career advancement skills. The files contain information on such topics as how to create a position for oneself, how to stay positive in a negative world, plus negotiations, personal contact lists, personal research calls and letters. In addition, there are evaluations by and of Ms. Steorts as well as a number of her handwritten notes.

Biographical materials related to her job search can also be found in the series. There are copies of Steorts’ resumes, dating from 1959 to 1992 and copies of the federal government Standard Form 171 she filled out when applying for federal positions. Other biographical material in this series includes listings in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, Who’s Who in Maryland, Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who of American Women and World Who’s Who of Women.

A considerable amount of information on Steorts’ activities on behalf of her alma mater, Syracuse University, can be found in this series. The materials focus on two areas: Syracuse University Alumni Association and the College for Human Development. Nancy Harvey Steorts was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Syracuse University Alumni Association in 1992 for the 1992-1995 term. She served on the Nominations/Awards Committee and the Alumni Concerns Subcommittee. The alumni materials are filed in the folders entitled “Syracuse University,” and mainly relate to meeting agendas, lists of members, letters and a few press releases.

The other area, the College for Human Development, relate to the period when Nancy Harvey Steorts became a member of the Visiting Committee in 1991 and the Corporate Advisory Council of the School of Management in 1994. The files contain correspondence and background information on the College for Human Development and the School of Management. There is a copy of the 1982-1983 annual report, a strategic plan for 1988-1991 and beyond, as well as a report on development priorities. In addition, there are minutes of meetings and background information for some of the meetings of the Visiting Committee. Finally, there are letters, clippings, programs, notes, and a schedule of events concerning the 75th Anniversary of the College of Human Development which was celebrated on April 10-11, 1992, as well as a copy of Steorts’ speech, “Quality: The New National Priority,” which she gave at the event.

Clippings relating to various subjects are filed in this series. Topics include business and employment, Earl Butz’s resignation as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Jimmy Carter’s record as a politician. There is also an article on Carol Tucker Foreman, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Food and Consumer Services in the Carter Administration.

Correspondents include George H. W. Bush; Barbara Bush; U.S. Senators Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms and Robert J. Dole; U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block; U.S. Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldridge; U.S. Secretary of Transportation Andrew L. Lewis, Jr.; Chase Untermeyer, the Presidential Personnel Director of the Bush Transition Team; Ron Kaufman, Deputy Chief of Personnel, Reagan Administration; Robert Estrada, Office of Presidential Personnel, Reagan Administration; and Nancy Thurmond, wife of U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond.