Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers donates papers to Ohio State

Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers has donated his official congressional papers to The Ohio State University.

Stivers served in the Ohio Senate from 2003 to 2008 and later represented the 15th Congressional District of Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 until May of this year, when he resigned his seat to become the president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

“The records from former Congressman Stivers’ almost six terms in office offer a lens into his legacy of service to the university community, the state of Ohio and the nation,” President Kristina M. Johnson said. “I thank the Congressman for donating these documents to Ohio State, where they will be preserved and protected for future generations, providing valuable insights into the inner workings of our government to students and researchers alike.”

“It was an easy decision to house my Congressional archives at The Ohio State University,” Stivers said. “I am not only a graduate of the university but I also have the greatest appreciation and respect for the professors, students and facilities at this great institution.”

The Stivers collection includes materials related to his terms in the U.S. House along with additional materials from his service in the Ohio Senate. The documents include legislative files, materials related to district events and initiatives, speeches and three-dimensional items.

Stivers earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and his MBA from Ohio State. He holds the rank of major general in the Ohio Army National Guard and served in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Djibouti. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his leadership during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During his years in Congress, Stivers focused on legislation related to economic development, fiscal responsibility, employment opportunities for returning veterans and combating Ohio’s opiate epidemic. Before he entered politics, Stivers worked for the Ohio Company and Bank One.

Stivers’ papers will become part of the Ohio Public Policy Archives (OPPA), a special collection of the Ohio State University Libraries. OPPA compiles, preserves and makes accessible the unique historical materials documenting the immediate and long-term impact of Ohio members of the U.S. Congress. 

The Stivers collection will be open to students, faculty and the general public in 2031, after the papers have been sorted and arranged by archivists. 

For further information, contact Carly Dearborn, Public Policy Archivist, at 614-247-1605 or dearborn.8@osu.edu.