1st Lady Illinois State Fair Video, 2006

The Rod Blagojevich Papers are arranged into the following series: biographical and personal records; general political documents; Illinois House of Representatives, 33rd District; United States House of Representatives, Illinois’ 5th Congressional District; governorship of Illinois; impeachment and imprisonment; correspondence; opposition research files; Mila "Millie" Blagojevich; photographic prints, negatives, and slides; books; audiovisual materials; digital materials; artifacts; and oversize materials.

The biographical and personal series (boxes 1 through 6) spans the period from 1962 to 2021. It consists of items pertaining to Rod Blagojevich's education, including schoolwork from Chicago public schools he attended and his Illinois bar exam study notes. Included are also documents relating to Chicago's 33rd, 40th and 47th Ward. Materials are organized into a chronological arrangement. Items within each folder have been placed in chronological order.

Boxes 7 through 11 contain a variety of general political documents such as speeches and quotes of historical figures; newspaper coverage concerning Blagojevich; postal addresses of Serbian churches and their congregants; business cards, contact lists and informational materials relating to acquaintances; papers documenting the economic and educational conditions in Illinois; and campaign materials and voting tabulations relating to various Illinois politicians. The series spans the period from 1910 through 1994. Folders in this series are arranged first chronologically, when dates are known, and then topically.

Illinois House of Representatives, 33rd District records (boxes 12 through 15) consist of materials relating to the beginning of Rod Blagojevich’s political career after winning the Democratic primary and serving one term in the Illinois House. Materials consist of campaign disclosure documents; political flyers; newspaper articles; House bills and amendments; and contributions reports. This series spans the period from 1992 through 1996. Folders are arranged by topical headings in alphabetical order. Items within folders are chronologically arranged.

Boxes 15 through 62 contain materials on Rod Blagojevich’s step from state to national politics and his career as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois' 5th Congressional District. Included are documents relating to State of Illinois fiscal matters and its relationship with the federal government; health care; children, school, and teacher programs; gun and environmental laws; House bills; fundraising events; and campaign contributor documentation. This series spans the years from 1993 to 2002. Folders are arranged in chronological order and then by topical headings.

Records related to Rod Blagojevich's campaign, election and re-election to Governorship of Illinois are housed in boxes 62 through 86 and span the period from 2001 to 2009. Materials include speeches; appointment calendars; documents relating to campaign budgets and contributions; fundraising events and receptions; voter lists and analyses; legislation; Friends of Blagojevich (a campaign support organization) documents; and political strategy documents. Folders are arranged by their headings in alphabetical order, and items within each folder are arranged chronologically.

Copies and originals of legal documents related to Rod Blagojevich's impeachment and imprisonment are in box 87. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order by topical headings. A portion of this series consists of letters and cards that Rod Blagojevich received in prison; those are arranged alphabetically by the surnames of correspondents and are housed in boxes 88 through 98. This series includes the years from 2008 through 2021.

Correspondence (letters, cards, and postcards), largely incoming and written by Rod Blagojevich’s associates, friends, and neighbors; by family members; and by prominent individuals, particularly political figures, fill boxes 99 through 108. Folders are arranged alphabetically by the surnames of correspondents. This series spans the period from 1976 through 2021.

Boxes 109 through 112 contain opposition research files on Rod Blagojevich's Republican opponent for the governorship of Illinois, Judy Baar Topinka. Prominent within this series are reports and research analyses of Baar Topinka’s earlier work as treasurer of the State of Illinois. Folders in this series are arranged in chronological order and then by topic and span the period from 1994 to 2006.

Materials related to Blagojevich's mother Mila Blagojevich fill boxes 113 through 116 and consist mainly of sympathy cards that the family received after her passing on January 8, 1999. This series spans the period from 1991 to 1999. Folders are arranged in chronological order.

Color and black and white photographic prints, negatives, and slides are arranged in boxes 116 through 134. This series spans the period from 1955 to 2010. It includes pictures pertaining to Blagojevich's personal and professional life, such as press conferences; speeches; 4th of July parades in Chicago neighborhoods; campaigns; and events. Also included are head shots and photographs of family members. These are arranged principally by photographic format and chronology.

One box (135) contains books on various topics, including Blagojevich’s personal life (including his amateur boxing career), public policy; politics; and history. Items are arranged alphabetically by authors’ surnames.

Audiovisual materials relating to Blagojevich's life and career, including television news appearances, fill box 136 (audio- and microcassettes); boxes 137-145 (CDs and DVDs); boxes 146-168 (VHS cassettes); and box 169 (audiotapes) and span the period from 1995 to 2008. All materials are arranged chronologically by date of events.

Digital materials (box 170) consist of 3.5-inch floppy disks and one flash drive and span the years 1997 through 2002.

Boxes 171 through 187 contain artifacts which span the period from 1979 to 2007. Included in this series are both general and political campaigns artifacts (flyers, t-shirts, key chains, magnets, stickers and other promotional materials); Rolodexes and address records of associates; plaques and awards; campaign buttons and pins; and personal objects as well as a collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia (Blagojevich was noted for his appreciation of Presley’s music); and banners. Items within this category are arranged in subcategories as mentioned above, and then according to descriptive identification in alphabetical order by key descriptive terms.

Oversized materials, located in boxes 188 through 204, consist of diplomas, certificates, and awards; signs and posters; newspapers; photographs; textiles; and one oil painting and span the period from 1983 to 2020. Items placed into dropfront and tubular boxes are arranged largely according to physical format and, within format categories, when possible, by date.