Guide to the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Dedication Collection April 2003-December 2003

0.5 Linear Feet.

2004.112

Abstract

Planning materials from the dedication ceremonies of the Emerson Bridge over the at Cape Girardeau. Emerson was an eight-term Southeast Congressman who was influential in securing funds to construct the bridge. Collection includes correspondence with Southeast Missouri State University’s University Relations Department, which coordinated the event, planning committee minutes, newspaper clippings, planning notes, photographs, and a VHS tape and DVD of the dedication ceremony on December 13, 2003.

Processed By Robyn A. Mainor, 2004

Special Collections and Archives Kent Library One University Plaza, MS 4600 Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 Phone: (573) 651-2245; Fax: (573) 651-2666; Email: [email protected]

Descriptive Overview

Provenance: Diane Sides, University Relations

Citation: The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Dedication Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Southeast Missouri State University

Restrictions: None

Historical Note

Mr. Bill Emerson was an eight term Southeast Missouri Congressman who was most influential in securing the funds needed to construct the new bridge across the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and East Cape Girardeau, Illinois. After his death in June 1996, a contract was awarded for the construction of the bridge and funding was supplied by the Federal Highway Administration. Three days after his death, colleagues from the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed legislation to rename the new bridge in honor of Bill Emerson and former President Bill Clinton signed the bill. The late Bill Emerson’s congressional seat is now held by his widow, Rep. JoAnn Emerson, and she has also followed in her late husband’s footsteps to ensure the completion and availability of this new bridge for citizens of Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, and Northwest Tennessee.

The new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge was dedicated on December 13, 2003, seventy-five years after the dedication of the first Cape Girardeau Traffic Bridge on September 3, 1928. The construction of this cable suspension bridge used approximately 13 million pounds of reinforced steel, cables that stretch for 171 miles, 243, 688, 500 pounds of concrete, weighs 266 million pounds, each beam weighs 15 million pounds, and the bridge is 100 feet wide to accommodate the four lanes of traffic. The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge is 4,000 feet long with the highway about 60 feet above the Mississippi River and the towers that hold the support cables rise another 300 feet above the highway. The bridge’s traffic is roughly 14,000 cars a day. An estimated 140 lights illuminate the bridge at night. The estimated cost of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge construction was $100 million dollars.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of correspondence and manuscript materials pertaining to the planning of Opening Day events. Included is correspondence sent to and copies of documents from Diane Sides, Director of University Relations at Southeast Missouri State University regarding the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Dedication planning. Also included are planning committee minutes, newspaper clippings, planning notes regarding motorcade assignments, seating arrangement, signage for attending guests, Diamond Club ribbons, and photographs of the opening day ceremony featuring Rep. JoAnn Emerson, widow of Bill Emerson, and other dignitaries. The collection also includes a VHS tape and DVD of the entire dedication ceremony on December 13, 2003.

Rules or Conventions: Finding Aids prepared using DACS

Page 2 of 3 Container Listing

Box 1766 Folder 1 Incoming Correspondence 2003 Jun-Oct Folder 2 Incoming Correspondence 2003 Nov-Dec Folder 3 Outgoing Correspondence 2003 Jun-Dec Folder 4 Outgoing Correspondence undated Folder 5 Articles for Immediate Release 2003 Sep-Dec Folder 6 Published Newspaper Articles 2003 Dec 17 Folder 7 “The Bridge That Spanned the Great Depression,” Missouri Historical undated Review Article. Folder 8 Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Opening Committee Minutes (Chamber of 2003 Apr-Nov Commerce) Folder 9 Dedication of Emerson Memorial Bridge Minutes (University Center) 2003 Jun-Aug Folder 10 Emerson Media Committee Bridge Meeting Minutes 2003 Sep-Dec Folder 11 Media Member’s Guide undated Folder 12 Work Orders and Internal Logistics undated Folder 13 Bridge Dedication State Seating Diagram and Lists undated Folder 14 Motorcade Assignments undated Folder 15 Event Invitations undated Folder 16 Emerson Bridge Committee Agendas, 2003 May-Nov Folder 17 Miscellaneous Items including contest advertisement, Idea Sharing 2003 Session List, Dedication Schedule as of December 4, 2003, email from Angie Wilson to Erin Hamm, StLouis.com Bridge Article, University Museum Newsletter for Summer 2003, handwritten notes, and River Campus Parking Memorandum. Folder 18 Volunteer List and Assignment Checklist undated Folder 19 SEMO Diamond Club, Membership Spreadsheet. undated Folder 20 Reserved Seating Sign (3) undated Folder 21 JoAnn Emerson at Bridge Dedication(4”x6”) Color Photographs (10) 2003 Dec 13 Folder 22 JoAnn Emerson and Unidentified Speakers at the Bridge 2003 Dec 13 Dedication(4”x6”) Color Photographs (10) Folder 23 Pageant winner Tatum Dodd, Unidentified Speakers at the Bridge 2003 Dec 13 Dedication, Motorcade, and the Budweiser Clydesdales (4”x6”) Color Photographs (10) Folder 24 Crowds on Bridge, Unidentified Speakers at Dedication, View Inside the 2003 Dec 13 Transportation Shuttle with Dr. Dobbins, and motorcade carrying Missouri Department of Transportation (4”x6”) Color Photographs (5)

Box 1766 Loose 1 VHS Tape of the bridge dedication ceremony. 2003 Dec 13 1 DVD of the bridge dedication ceremony. 2003 Dec 13 2 Ribbons worn by Diamond Club Honorees (in acid free paper sleeves). Undated 1 Commemorative Edition Medallion in case. Obverse: Bill Emerson 2003 Memorial Bridge dedicated December 13, 2003 with image of the bridge. Reverse: Cape Girardeau Mississippi River Bridge dedicated September 3, 1928

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