The Donnelly collection (1 linear foot) contains a wide variety of materials relating to her political activities. The collection has been arranged into two series: Topical Files and Women in the Military. The Topical Files series is arranged alphabetically by topic, and composed of clippings, correspondence, articles, press releases, newsletters, brochures, and schedules. There are four folders dealing with Donnelly's anti-ERA efforts (1973-1986). Also included here material concerning her endorsement of political candidates, including Ronald Reagan (1980, 1984), Jack Kemp (1986-1988), and Richard Chrysler (1986).
The Women in the Military series documents her work as executive director of the Center (formerly Coalition) for Military Readiness and her activities as a member of the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces.
Elaine Donnelly is founder and president of the Center for Military Readiness (CMR), an independent, nonpartisan public policy organization that reports on and analyzes military/social issues. Since its founding in 1993, CMR has advocated for high, uncompromised standards in all forms of military training and sound priorities in the making of military/social policies.
Donnelly has been an active opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment(ERA).
Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger appointed Mrs. Donnelly to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) for a three-year term (1984--1986). In 1992, President George H. W. Bush appointed her to the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces. For a full year, the commission studied all aspects of issues surrounding women in combat in all branches of the service.
Mrs. Donnelly is the author of a chapter titled "Defending the Culture of the Military," which was published by the Air Force University Press in the book Attitudes Are Not Free -- Thinking Deeply About Diversity in the U.S. Armed Forces released in May 2010. She also wrote a comprehensive, peer-reviewed article titled "Constructing the Co-Ed Military" for the May 2007 edition of the Duke University’s Journal of Gender Law & Policy. Elaine Donnelly has published articles on military personnel issues in many newspapers and magazines nationwide, including theWashington Post, USA Today, the Boston Globe, CNS News, National Review Online, the Washington Times, Congressional Quarterly Researcher, and the Naval Institute's Proceedings.
Donnelly has provided testimony to Congress several times and participated in educational programs before organizations such as the Heritage Foundation, the American Legion, the Marine Corps War College, the United States Military Academy, and Hillsdale College. She has also appeared on most network and cable network discussion programs, including a two-hour PBS Firing Line debate on a team with the late William J. Buckley, Jr. She's been an anti-ERA activits.
In 2002 Donnelly was the recipient of the American Conservative Union's Ronald Reagan Award. She attended Schoolcraft College and the University of Detroit and resides in Livonia, Michigan.
