Historical note:

            The Cool Moose Party was a grass roots effort to include a third party in the political process in Rhode Island with the goal of putting ordinary people into the political process. The idea for the party began in 1986 when Robert Healey ran against Edward DiPrete, Bruce Sundlun, and Anthony Affigne for Governor of Rhode Island. In this contest he received 3% of the vote. Healey ran for governor again in 1994 against Republican Lincoln Almond and Democrat Myrth York, and received 9% of the vote. This percentage qualified the Cool Moose Party to put themselves on the ballot for future years.

            In 1996, over twenty candidates ran for a variety of offices, and received 15% of the vote. In the town of Hopkinton, two candidates were elected to the town council. Healey was on the ballot, for a District 88 House seat, with another Cool Moose candidate in order to challenge Rhode Island's primary laws. However, winning the primary was never his intention and it became necessary to write a letter to his supporters to explain why he was withdrawing from the race. Healey was back in the governor's race in 1998, earning 6% of the vote against York and the incumbent Almond. The party maintained a low profile in the 2000 and 2002 elections, although Healey mounted an independent campaign for lieutenant governor in 2002, making the abolition of the office the basis of his platform.

            Robert J. Healey, the party's founder and central figure, was born in 1958 and graduated from Rhode Island College, Boston University, New England School of Law and Northeastern University. He has a B.A., two Masters (one in Education) a J.D., and has completed all the class work for a Ph.D. In 1982 he was elected to the Warren School Committee as an independent, and served until 1986. At that time he ran for governor and established a legal practice serving the public. At the time of his second run for governor in 1994, he was the Secretary of the Bristol County Bar Association. He served as the chairperson of the Cool Moose Party from 1994 to 1998. As part of his platform for governor he wrote a variety of position papers concerning his views on voter initiative, taxation, judicial reform, gambling, the environment, employment, education, crime, and abortion. He currently resides in Warren and works as a wine importer.

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Scope and content:

            This collection, ranging from 1982 to 2001, has been divided into six series.

            Series 1: Pre 1994 contains material pertaining to Healey before his second bid for governor in 1994. This material includes: articles about Healey, 1986 campaign notes, Reform92 voter lists, material on the RI Ethics Commission, and information on campaign finances.

            Series 2: 1994 bid for Governor. This material includes articles about Healey and the Cool Moose Party, campaign finances, campaign notes, a court case between Healey and the State of Rhode Island, election results, miscellaneous papers concerning gubernatorial opponents Lincoln Almond and Myrth York, governmental reform organizations, the Cool Moose platform and position papers, as well as press releases.

            Series 3: Cool Moose Party 1995-1997. This material includes press releases from Gov. Lincoln Almond, articles about the Cool Moose Party, campaign finances of all 3 political parties, press releases, correspondence, court cases, governmental reform organizations, material pertaining to the primaries, newsletter, party convention material, questionnaires, voter initiative campaign, and voter lists.

            Series 4: 1998 bid for Governor. This includes: material related to Gov. Lincoln Almond and democratic candidate Myrth York, articles about the Cool Moose Party, campaign finances, press releases, correspondence, court cases, issues pertaining to the campaign, material pertaining to the primaries, questionnaires, voter initiative campaign, and voter lists.

            Series 5: Post-1998 Cool Moose Party and undated material contains correspondence from 1999 and 2000, and a 2001 list of Cool Moose supporters. Also included is undated material, such as correspondence, miscellaneous items, a resume, and proposed amendments to the Warren Planning Board regulations.

            Series 6: Subject Files is material pertaining to issues directly related to Rhode Island. These include: the airport, animal rights, auto insurance, the budget, children, crime, disabilities, the economy, education, electoral reform, the environment, ethics, gambling, gay rights, health care, local government, police, the mall, pensions, taxes, and welfare.

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Provenance:

            This collection was donated by Robert J. Healey in August of 2000.

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Processing note:

            This collection arrived with only very loose organization, so material was divided into six series based around Healey's election campaigns. A large majority of the press releases in the collection had no dates. They were given dates according to the material that was filed with them. However, some of the press releases for any given year may be misidentified. This may especially be true for the press releases for 1997 and 1998. 1997 has an abundance of press releases, however, there are few releases for 1998 when Healey ran for governor.

            Several computer floppy discs containing information on voter lists and press releases were included within this collection . The discs pertaining to press releases and a database of Cool Moose supporters were printed out and integrated into the collection. The discs pertaining to voter lists were transferred to the Printed Collection. Many other items were sent to the Printed Collection, the Graphics Division, and the Museum Department.

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Inventory:

Series 1: Pre-1994

Box 1, folder 1. Articles: Healey, 1982-1986

Box 1, folder 2. Campaign, 1986

Box 1, folder 3. Division of campaign contributions annual report, 1993

Box 1, folder 4. Manual for campaign finance, 1993

Box 1, folder 5. Rhode Island Ethics Commission, 1992

Box 1, folder 6. Senate resolutions pertaining to elections, 1993-1998

Box 1, folder 7. Voters list for Reform92, 1992

Series 2: 1994 Bid for Governor

Oversized folder: Schedule and appointment calendar

Box 1, folder 8. Almond, Lincoln: campaign finances

Box 1, folder 9. Almond, Lincoln: miscellaneous

Box 1, folder 10. Articles: Healey and Cool Moose Party

Box 1, folder 11. Campaign

Box 1, folder 12. Campaign finances: Robert Healey

Box 1, folder 13. City of Pawtucket vs. Bruce Sundlun

Box 1, folder 14. Common Cause

Box 1, folder 15. Correspondence

Box 1, folder 16. Education: Judge Needham's judgement

Box 1, folder 17. Forums

Box 1, folder 18. Gubernatorial candidate briefing

Box 1, folder 19. Platform

Box 1, folder 20. Position paper: economic development

Box 1, folder 21. Position paper: education

Box 1, folder 22. Position paper: judicial reform

Box 1, folder 23. Position paper: taxation

Box 1, folder 24. Press

Box 1, folder 25. Press

Box 1, folder 26. Primary: democratic

Box 1, folder 27. Procedure for drawing general election lotteries

Box 1, folder 28. Referenda and ballot questions

Box 1, folder 29. Tabulation of votes cast: referendum

Box 1, folder 30. Tabulation of votes cast: federal and state election

Box 1, folder 31. Voting equipment

Box 1, folder 32. York, Myrth: campaign finances

Box 1, folder 33. York, Myrth: miscellaneous

Court case: Robert J. Healey vs. State of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Secretary of State, 1994

Box 1, folder 34. Affidavit of plaintiff

Box 1, folder 35. Answer of Barbara M. Leonard: Rhode Island Secretary of State

Box 1, folder 36. Complaint

Box 1, folder 37. Correspondence

Box 1, folder 38. Defendant's objection to plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction

Box 1, folder39. Memorandum of the secretary of state in opposition to plaintiff request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction

Box 1, folder 40. Order

Box 1, folder 41. Plaintiff's memorandum

Box 1, folder 42. Plaintiff's supplement to memorandum

Box 1, folder 43. Plaintiff's motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction

Box 1, folder 44. Response to plaintiff's motion to dismiss

Series 3: Cool Moose Party, 1995-1997

1995

Box 1, folder. 45. Almond, Lincoln: press releases from the office of governor, January-March

Box 1, folder 46. Almond, Lincoln: press releases from the office of governor, April-June

Box 1, folder 47. Almond, Lincoln: press releases from the office of governor, July-September

Box 2, folder 1. Almond, Lincoln: press releases from the office of governor, October-December

Box 2, folder 2. Almond, Lincoln (governor): miscellaneous

Box 2, folder 3. Board of Elections: performance audit

Box 2, folder 4. Campaign finances: Cool Moose Party

Box 2, folder 5. Cool Moose Party vs. State of Rhode Island

Box 2, folder 6. Convention: Cool Moose Party

Box 2, folder 7. Common Cause, 1995-1997

Box 2, folder 8. Correspondence

Box 2, folder 9. Economic development: a candidate's thoughts

Box 2, folder 10. Forums

Box 2, folder 11. General Assembly member list, 1995-1996

Box 2, folder 12. Notes

Box 2, folder 13. Press

Box 2, folder 14. Questionnaires, 1995-1996

Box 2, folder 15. Rhode Island Ethics Commission, 1995-1996

Box 2, folder 16. State information/services system: development of

Box 2, folder 17. Town meeting agendas, 1995-1996, including Barrington, Bristol, and Warren

Box 2, folder 18. Voter lists: North Kingstown

1996

Box 2, folder 19. American Bar Association: journal articles, 1996-1997

Box 2, folder 20. Almond, Lincoln: press releases from the office of governor, January-March

Box 2, folder 21. Almond, Lincoln: press releases from the office of governor, April-June

Box 2, folder 22. Almond, Lincoln: press releases from the office of governor, July-August

Box 2, folder 23. Almond, Lincoln: miscellaneous

Box 2, folder 24. Articles: Cool Moose

Box 2, folder 25. Barrington town officials, 1996-1998, including current officials and candidates for office

Box 2, folder 26. Campaign

Box 2, folder 27. Campaign finances: Cool Moose candidates

Box 2, folder 28. Campaign finances: Republican/Democratic parties

Box 2, folder 29. Chariho Regional School

Box 2, folder 30. Conferences/conventions/forums/lectures

Box 2, folder 31. Convention: Cool Moose Party

Box 2, folder 32. Correspondence

Box 2, folder 33. Correspondence

Box 2, folder 34. Gill vs. State of Rhode Island, 1996-1997

Box 2, folder 35. Government Accountability Project (GAP)

Box 2, folder 36. Forms: individuals interest in the Cool Moose Party

Box 3, folder 1. Mail ballots: certified

Box 3, folder 2. Mail ballots: certified

Box 3, folder 3. Mail ballots: democratic/republican primaries

Box 3, folder 4. Mail ballots: uncertified by state

Box 3, folder 5. Membership of Cool Moose Party

Box 3, folder 6. Natural Law Party

Box 3, folder 7. Newsletter

Box 3, folder 8. Papers pertaining to Robert Healey's work as a lawyer, 1996-1998

Box 3, folder 9. Press

Box 3, folder 10. Primary

Box 3, folder 11. Voter initiative

Box 3, folder 12. Voter initiative

Box 3, folder 13. Voter initiative election results

Box 3, folder 14. Voters: town party affiliations

Box 3, folder 15. Voter lists: Barrington

Box 3, folder 16. Voter lists: Burrillville

Box 3, folder 17. Voter lists: East Greenwich

Box 3, folder 18. Voter lists: East Providence

Box 3, folder 19. Voter lists: Exeter

Box 3, folder 20. Voter lists: Lincoln

Box 3, folder 21. Voter lists: Little Compton

Box 3, folder 22. Voter lists: Middletown

Box 3, folder 23. Voter lists: Narragansett

Box 3, folder 24. Voter lists: Newport

Box 3, folder 25. Voter lists: North Kingstown

Box 3, folder 26. Voter lists: Pawtucket

Box 3, folder 27. Voter lists: Portsmouth

Box 3, folder 28. Voter lists: Smithfield

Box 3, folder 29. Voter lists: South Kingstown

Box 3, folder 30. Voter lists: Warren

Box 3, folder 31. Voter lists: Warwick

Box 3, folder 32. Voter lists: Westerley

Box 3, folder 33. Voter lists: West Greenwich

Box 3, folder 34. Voter lists: West Warwick

Box 3, folder 35. Voter lists: Woonsocket

Court case: The Cool Moose Party and Robert J. Healey vs. State of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Secretary of State, 1996-1999

Box 3, folder 36. Authorities cited, 1996-1998

Box 3, folder 37. Authorities cited, 1996-1998

Box 3, folder 38. Authorities cited, 1996-1998

Box 3, folder 39. Authorities cited, 1996-1998

Box 4, folder 1. Answer to complaint for declatory and injunctive relief, 1996

Box 4, folder 2. Amended complaint for declatory and injunctive relief, 1996

Box 4, folder 3. Answer to the amended complaint for declatory and injunctive relief,1996

Box 4, folder 4. Answer of defendant Secretary of State for the State of Rhode Island to plaintiff's amended complaint, 1996

Box 4, folder 5. Answer of defendant State of Rhode Island, 1996

Box 4, folder 6. Complaint for declatory and injunctive relief, 1996

Box 4, folder 7. Election laws: various states, 1996-1997

Box 4, folder 8. Pretrial order - nonjury case, 1996

Box 4, folder 9. Settlement conference statement of defendants State of Rhode Island and Secretary of State, 1996

Box 4, folder 10. Settlement statement of defendant Rhode Island Board of Elections, 1996

Box 4, folder 11. Supporting memorandum, 1996

Box 4, folder12. Defendant State of Rhode Island's adoption and incorporation of pre-trial memorandum, 1997

Box 4, folder 13. Memorandum of the defendants Secretary of State for the State of Rhode Island and State of Rhode Island in support of cross motion for summary judgement, 1997(?)

Box 4, folder 14. Memorandum in support of defendant Board of Elections for the State of Rhode Island, 1997

Box 4, folder 15. Memorandum in support of the plaintiffs, 1997

Box 4, folder 16. Plaintiff's motion for summary judgement, 1997(?)

Box 4, folder 17. Plaintiff's specification of issues, 1997

Box 4, folder 18. Pretrial memorandum of defendant Secretary of State for the State of Rhode Island, 1997

Box 4, folder 19. Reply memorandum of plaintiffs, 1997

Box 4, folder 20. Request for additional time to frame agreed statement of facts by agreement of all parties in this action, 1997

Box 4, folder 21. Settlement conference statement of the plaintiffs, 1997

Box 4, folder 22. Statement of stipulated facts, 1997

Box 4, folder 23. Memorandum and order, 1998

Box 4, folder 24. Appeal: brief of appellant, 1998

Box 4, folder 25. Appeal: notice, 1998

Box 4, folder 26. Reply brief of appellants, 1998

Box 4, folder 27. Appeal: brief on the State of Rhode Island Secretary of State and Board of Elections, 1998

Box 4, folder 28. Appeal: judgement, 1999

Box 4, folder 29. Notes, undated

1997

Box 4, folder 30. Articles: Cool Moose

Box 4, folder 31. Campaign finances

Box 4, folder 32. Convention: Cool Moose

Box 4, folder 33. Correspondence

Box 4, folder 34. Fusion-multiparty candidates

Box 4, folder 35. Lobbyist application

Box 4, folder 36. Mail ballots

Box 4, folder 37. Notes

Box 4, folder 38. Request for proposals: optical scan precinct count ballot tabulation system

Box 4, folder 39. Press

Box 4, folder 40. Press

Box 4, folder 41. Press releases: compilation

Box 4, folder 42. Red Alert, 1997-1998

Box 4, folder 43. Rhode Island Ethics Commission, 1997-1998

Box 4, folder 44. Voter initiative legislation

Box 4, folder 45. Voter lists: Barrington

Series 4: 1998 Bid for Governor

Box 4, folder 46. Almond, Lincoln: miscellaneous

Box 4, folder 47. Arkansas Educational Television Committee vs. Forbes

Box 4, folder 48. Articles: Cool Moose

Box 4, folder 49. "Black Owners/Investors of Broad St. Car Wash, Inc. vs. State of Rhode and Lincoln Almond and et als."

Box 4, folder 50. Campaign

Box 4, folder 51. Campaign finances

Box 4, folder 52. Correspondence

Box 4, folder 53. Correspondence

Box 5, folder 1. Intermodel surface transportation efficiency act

Box 5, folder 2. Ocean state fisherman's association

Box 5, folder 3. Personal rapid transport

Box 5, folder 4. Press

Box 5, folder 5. Primary

Box 5, folder 6. Questionnaires

Box 5, folder 7. Race relations

Box 5, folder 8. RI Coalition Against Marijuana Prohibition (RICAMP)

Box 5, folder 9. Voter initiative

Box 5, folder 10. Voter lists: Narragansett

Box 5, folder 11. Voter profile

Box 5, folder 12. York, Myrth: miscellaneous

Series 5: Post-1998 Cool Moose Party and Undated material

Box 5, folder 13. Correspondence, 1999

Box 5, folder 14. Correspondence, 2000

Box 5, folder 15. Cool Moose database of members, 2001

Box 5, folder 16. Correspondence, undated

Box 5, folder 17. Miscellaneous, undated

            Recipe for jellied moose nose

            Militia information

            Appointment to canvassing board

            Basic rules for running a meeting

            Affidavit of person changing party designation

Box 5, folder 18. Resume

Box 5, folder 19.Warren planning board regulations: proposed amendments

Series 6: Subject files

Box 5, folder 20. Airport, 1993-1994 and undated

Box 5, folder 21. Animal rights, 1995-1998

Box 5, folder 22. Auto insurance, 1993 and undated

Box 5, folder 23. Budget, 1993

Box 5, folder 24. Children, 1993-1994 and undated

Box 5, folder 25. Crime/penal system, 1993 and undated

Box 5, folder 26. Disabilities, 1993-1998 and undated

Box 5, folder 27. Drugs, 1993 and undated

Box 5, folder 28. Economy, 1993-1997 and undated

Box 5, folder 29. Education, 1994-1998

Box 5, folder 30. Electoral reform, 1994 and undated

Box 5, folder 31. Environment, 1995

Box 5, folder 32. Ethics, 1992-1996

Box 5, folder 33. Gambling, 1992-1993 and undated

Box 5, folder 34. Gay rights, 1993

Box 5, folder 35. Health care, 1994

Box 5, folder 36. Local government, 1992-1994 and undated

Box 5, folder 37. Mental health, 1994-1998

Box 5, folder 38. Miscellaneous, 1993-1994, including legal service, Victory Day, and the death penalty

Box 5, folder 39. Pensions/pay schemes, 1993

Box 5, folder 40. Police, 1993

Box 5, folder 41. Providence Place Mall, 1994

Box 5, folder 42. Taxes. 1993-1994 and undated

Box 5, folder 43. Welfare/homelessness/assistance, 1993

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Subjects:

African Americans - Rhode Island - Providence.

Airports - Rhode Island.

Almond, Lincoln, 1936-.

Animal rights - Rhode Island.

Barrington (R.I. : Town) - Politics and government.

Bristol (R.I. : Town) - Politics and government.

Broad Street Car Wash (Providence, R.I.)

Burrillville (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Campaign funds - Rhode Island.

Carlevale, John M., Sr.

Chariho Regional School (Richmond, R.I.)

Children - Rhode Island.

Common Cause (U.S.)

Crime - Rhode Island.

Drugs - Law and legislation - Rhode Island.

East Greenwich (R.I.) - Politics and government.

East Providence (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Education - Rhode Island.

Elections - Rhode Island.

Environmental health - Rhode Island.

Ethics - Rhode Island.

Exeter (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Gambling - Rhode Island.

Gill, Donald.

Government Accountability Project.

Healey, Robert J., 1958-.

Insurance, Automobile - Rhode Island.

Lincoln (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Little Compton (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Medical care - Rhode Island.

Mental health policy - Rhode Island.

Middletown (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Narragansett (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Newport (R.I.) - Politics and government.

North Kingstown (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Pawtucket (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Pensions - Rhode Island.

Plante, Robert F.

Police - Rhode Island - Barrington.

Political candidates - Rhode Island.

Portsmouth (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Providence Place Mall (Providence, R.I.)

Public welfare - Rhode Island.

Red Alert (R.I.)

Rhode Island Coalition Against Marijuana Prohibition.

Rhode Island - Economic conditions.

Rhode Island Ethics Commission.

Rhode Island - Politics and government.

Smithfield (R.I.) - Politics and government.

South Kingstown (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Sundlun, Bruce, 1920- .

Taxation - Rhode Island.

Voting-machines.

Voting registers - Rhode Island.

Warren (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Warwick (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Westerly (R.I.) - Politics and government.

West Greenwich (R.I.) - Politics and government.

West Warwick (R.I.) - Politics and government.

Woonsocket (R.I.) - Politics and government.

York, Myrth, 1946-.

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RIHS1822