Ann C. Petersen papers
Scope and Contents
The Ann C. Petersen papers date from 1950 to 2014 and measure 5.21 linear feet (11 boxes and 1 oversized folder). The collection is organized into five series: Biographical, Education, Professional Life, Organizations, and Photographs.
The Biographical (1950-2012) series feature personal correspondence, newspaper clippings, certificates and diplomas, biographical publications, speeches, and three scrapbooks. The series also includes presidential campaign pins, an apron, and International Order of the Rainbow for Girls merit pin.
The Education (1962-2012) series feature Delta Gamma ephemera, a Muscatine High School newsletter, a student identification card, and creative writing including an original musical adapted by Petersen. The series also includes a University of Michigan law license, Fred Schwengel internship materials, West Junior High marching band patches, and a Delta Gamma pin.
The Professional Life series (1976-2014) feature official correspondence, general counsel trips, newspaper clippings, briefing material, press releases from the U.S. Department of Air Force. The series also includes artifacts such as a Bush–Quayle Holiday Ball ornament, a farewell signature board, flight suit patches, pins, challenge coins, and service medallions.
The Organizations series (1978-2012) includes correspondence, administrative reports, photos, and memorabilia of Petersen’s affiliation in the National Federation of Republican Women, Women’s National Republic Club of Chicago, the Republican Mainstream Committee, The Aerospace Corporation, the Air University Board of Visitors, and other organizations.
The Photographs (1951-2007) series feature biographical pictures including panoramic photos of Petersen’s participation in marching band and Lambda Chi Alpha, as well as polaroids of Petersen with family and friends. The series also captures Petersen’s career in the U.S. Department of Air Force with photos of flight instillations, diplomatic trips, professional development conferences, presentation slides, and award ceremonies including images of when Petersen took an oath of office.
Dates
- Creation: 1950 - 2014
Creator
- Petersen, Ann C. (1950-2019) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The papers/records are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa.
Copyright status for collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives as the source of the material. For further information, visit the Special Collections and Archives website.
Biographical / Historical
Lawyer and pilot Ann Christine Petersen was born in 1950 and grew up in Muscatine, Iowa. In her adolescence, Ann joined the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls.
After graduating high school, Ann received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1973, where she was a sorority member of Delta Gamma and graduated with honors in political science. She received her juris doctorate, cum laude, from the University of Michigan in 1976.
After her internship for the Department of State under U.S. Representative, Fred Schwengle, Petersen’s lawyering career began when she joined Chicago law firm Wildman, Harrold, Allen, and Dixon. As an associate, she practiced principally in civil litigation and in 1983, became a partner of the firm. Ann later went on to marry Bruce H. Weitzman, a Chicago attorney.
In 1989, Petersen was nominated by former U.S. President, George H. W. Bush and appointed to serve as the General Counsel for the Department of the Air Force. As general counsel, she acted as the final legal authority on all matters arising within or referred to the Airforce, except those involving military justice. She served as a member of the Intelligence Oversight Panel, advised the Debarment and Suspension Review Board, as well as performed liaison duties for the U.S. Department of Justice before stepping down in 1993. Peterson went on to teach Employment Discrimination Law as an adjunct professor at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago.
In her professional life, Ann was a member of the Women’s National Republican Club of Chicago, the National Federation of Republican Women, Republican Mainstream Committee, The Aerospace Corporation, The Air University Board of Visitors, and The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church, among other organizations.
Ann’s strong religious faith led to her becoming an elder at Fourth Presbyterian Church where she served on both the Session and Board of Trustees, as a member of its Personnel Committee and Legal Committee, usher, and in a variety of other roles. Petersen also served as a Commissioner to the General Assembly in 1997 and to the Presbytery of Chicago.
Ann Christine Petersen died in 2019, at the age of 69.
Full Extent
5.21 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Lawyer and pilot who served as the General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Airforce between 1989 and 1993.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Ann C. Petersen papers (donor no. 1638) were donated by the Ann C. Petersen estate and Molly Klowden (co-trustee) in 2020.
- Title
- Ann C. Petersen papers
- Author
- Michelle Garcia, 2026.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Iowa Women's Archives Repository
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5068
319-335-5900 (Fax)
lib-women@uiowa.edu